Tauranga Golf Club  Players Committee Newsletter

                            February 2024

Firstly, the introductions and a brief summary of our main duties

Following on from the various AGMs the Player’s Committee (PC) now looks like this.

• Club Captain:- James March
• Men’s Captain:- Stu Mc Fadyen
• Men’s Vice Captain: - David Hill
• Men’s Seniors:- Bruce Partridge
• Ladies Captain:- Kim Copestake
• Ladies Vice Captain:- Karen Collins
• 9 Hole:- Marion Guy
• Course Superintendent Carl:- Rumble
• Golf Operations:- Hayden Beard
• General Manager:-Michelle Towersey

The Club’s Constitution requires the PC to be accountable to the Board of Management with full responsibility for the following highlighted areas.

1. To co-ordinate the Programming of Club Competitions
2. To act as the Club’s Handicap Committee and to resolve any Handicapping matters
3. To act as a Course Advisory Committee working within the terms of the Course Management Policy Document.

We also work on both the setting and the updating of the various on course Policy settings such as our on-course Etiquette and Dress code standards.  We are also the ones who also get to remind (Nag) members about their unrepaired pitch marks or unraked bunkers etc.

Here are the usual reminders:-

Cart Usage – Please:

• Do not drive your cart between the green and a Bunker
• Do not drive your Cart onto the Tee – this includes the 2^nd , 5th & 12th tees. We had a very serious incident today where two valued members rolled a cart on the slope on the 5th tee. We can't stress enough the importance of following instructions and observing the cart policies which are well published.
• Do not drive or park your Cart on the side of the Knoll
• Keep the Cart at least 5 mtrs away from any green

Bunkers – Please

• Leave the rake IN the Bunker with the handle pointing down the fairway
• Rake your footprints and any that have been left by other players
• It is club policy that the lowest handicapper in any group of players is responsible for the Etiquette of his group, which means that he/she should ensure that they are leaving the bunkers properly raked for the following field of golfers.
• This short you tube link will show you how to rake a bunker properly  - yes there is a right and a wrong way! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mRBMJkmFgQ

Pitch Marks – Please

• Repair both your own and any others that you see
• Again, there is a right way and a wrong way to repair a pitch mark and doing it the wrong way tears the roots of the grass and will bring unsightly soil to the surface. This short You Tube link will show you how to repair one properly. 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKACx883Fd0

Digital Scorecards

• Paper Score Cards are being phased out with many clubs already no longer issuing them; we are not there yet but we are asking that you please try to get into the habit of using digital as soon as possible.
• This You tube video  link will show you how to obtain and use a Digital scorecard in NZ  
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ2dyFpcXhs
• As regards Ladies Golf, Home links and the LGU accept Digital but it seems for now that BOP women run events still require a paper scorecard.

Ready Golf and the Pace of Play

• Tauranga Golf Club has adopted the policy of Ready Golf to help minimise the frustrations associated with slow play.
• The ‘Rules’ of ready golf can be found on this link  https://howdidido.blob.core.windows.net/clubsitespublic/file_bb6ddf7f-fe96-4e5f-987c-cb9e922a5cfb.pdf

Upcoming Competitions

• Members are reminded that all of our competitions are listed, on a month-by-month basis, in the Club’s Calendar of Events, which can be found on the Club’s web site within the members section.

Complaints Procedure

• Valid complaints are important as if we see a regular theme or pattern then we can, if possible, do something about the issue.
• With that in mind, if you are not happy with something that you see on or around the Course or Clubhouse and you wish to complain or voice an opinion then, as a member, that is your right. But we ask you to, please, follow the Club’s established policy and put it in an email or letter to your respective Captain:  As a complaint is not a complaint unless it is in writing.  If your Captain cannot answer your complaint then they will in turn, pass it on to the PC.  The PC will always give you a written response addressing the points raised.  I can also advise that any such complaints will also be flagged at our Board meetings.

Renovation Week 11^th – 15^th March

• As usual the course will be closed for the week to allow essential maintenance work to be done
• The greenkeepers will be concentrating on the greens with Verti draining and a light sanding.

Regards,

James March