COVID-19 (NSW Health Rules)

All golfers when visiting the Clubhouse for any reason (including to enter your scores into the computers and when booking in for golf) are required to:

• Undergo compulsory temperature checks upon entering the Club.

• Swipe your membership card upon entering and again when existing the Club.

• Use hand sanitiser whenever possible.

Anyone NOT wishing to abide by these rules may leave their scorecards with the Pro Shop and/or book in via the Pro Shop.

Camden Golf Club values the health and safety of our members and guests.  Please help us to keep you safe.

Around the Course

Members will have noticed that the soil that had been located near the driving range has now been moved to various locations around the course.  The bulk of the soil has been used to create an amphitheater effect around the green on the 12th hole.  It has also been used on a new tee box on the 14th, a number of hard-pan areas around the course (on 5, 13, the gully on 8 and others).  These areas will be shaped in the coming weeks.  Many thanks to the Greens staff, the volunteers and of course the donation from the local soccer field - this soil has been a fantastic free resource.

Rules:

1. An interesting email from R&A regarding a clarification of the new golf rules from 2019.  One rule that maybe I should have been aware of, but wasn't, involved the embedded ball rule.  Players are eligible for free relief on both the fairway and rough for an embedded ball.  However, part of the ball must be below the ground surface.  This could be a contentious issue in the rough and must be closely scrutinised by the marker.  Also by definition, it is very unlikely for a ball to become embedded after the first bounce or after rolling.
2. Have you ever hit your ball into the water next to the green on the fourth hole?  If you have, where did you take a drop?  It seems that many players make an incorrect decision on where the drop should occur.  Players must not drop at point of entry if this point is nearer the hole - if the point of entry is pin high, where must you go???  (Sometimes it may be necessary to drop behind the pines, as this may be the nearest point no closer to the hole, or go back to where the previous stroke was played under stroke and distance penalty).  It seems that we may need to create a few drop zones to avoid players making an incorrect decision here.  Stay tuned on this one.
3. The Golf Committee has discussed a few areas of the course where we may need to create penalty areas (red) to avoid significant delays in play.  The scrub to the right of the 13th fairway is a typical example.  Players often hit in this area and then struggle to find their ball.  In a stroke round, this requires them to return to the tee box which is time consuming and slows the entire field.  If these areas were penalty areas, a player would take the penalty at point of entry and play would not be further delayed.  Further discussion is planned.

• Booking in on a Saturday and then pulling out has become a major concern.  Certain members are constantly involved in such practice, causing late reduction in the field and not allowing time for others to fill the vacancy.  Repeat offenders may be suspended from competition play.

• In next week's edition of Golfing News, members will be asked to complete a survey regarding prizes at our Annual Presentation Night.  The Golf Committee is keen to ensure that winners receive an appropriate award which may or may not include a trophy.

• When members arrive at the course for a social game, please report to the Pro Shop.  Due to heavy demand for playing time in recent months, there may not be suitable time or the member may need to wait.  To avoid disappointment it is best if you book a time either online or by phoning the Pro Shop.

• Juniors Xavier King and Bodhi Jedryhowski played in a junior Ambrose event at Campbelltown Golf Club last week with the boys finishing 2nd place (7 over of the stick).  Well done to these young stars of the future.
  

Foursomes Championship Report

Saturday Report:  Players were met with beautiful conditions on Saturday. No wind, sunny and warm.  However, tough pin positions, fast greens and Championship tees meant a scratch score under 80 was going to be close to the lead, while a nett score in the mid 70's would also be competitive.

Scratch Division 1:  Leaders after round 1 were the reigning champions, Mitch Arnold and Shelley Chapman with a fine score of 78.  This gave them a solid 4 stroke lead over the  father/daughter team of Kendell Hunt and Gary Hunt. Not far behind - Mindy Ross and Bob Zelesco with an 84, while Candice and Bill Bell were a further 2 shots back with 86. 

In the Nett Division 1, the leading scores were Bob and Mindy with a 71 1/2 closely followed by Mitch and Shelley with 72 1/2.

Scratch in Division 2:  Leaders after round 1 were Steve O'Donnell and Yvonne Day, closely followed by Stephen Humphreys and Maureen Wackett.

In the Nett Division 2, Club President, Stephen and partner Maureen were showing the way with a great score of 73 1/2 and leading comfortably.

All teams spent a relaxing Saturday evening in the knowledge that it was all happening again the next day.

Sunday Report:  Another great day: light winds, warm and sunny.  Another challenging day on the greens - but I guess nothing when compared to Bryson DeChambeau's challenges in the latest PGA event (he got a 10 on one of the holes - although there were a few 10's at Royal Studley also).

In the end, the champions remained the Club Champions and will be looking for a 'threepeat' in 2021.  Shelley Chapman and Mitch Arnold had a very good first 12 holes to take a commanding lead and won comfortably by a massive 15 strokes over the team of Kendell and Gary Hunt.

Division 2 scratch winners and also the nett winners - Maureen Wackett and Stephen Humphreys.  A very consistent performance over two days, winning the nett by a large margin.  

Nett winners in Division 1 were the team of Val Jameson and Duncan Skinner with a narrow 1 stroke victory over the scratch winners.  A solid 3rd placing one further shot back was Frank Michael and Maxine Malcolm.

Nett runners up in Division 2 were Darren Kable and Wendy Hyndman, while Steve and Yvonne held on for runner up in the scratch.

The overwhelming thought on Sunday evening was that there were only 365 sleeps before we 'get to do it all over again'.

Ladies Report

• Recently the ladies played in their annual Rider Cup event, which was played over two rounds with the best combined stableford score taking out the trophy.  This year, a very consistent Maria Thorn won with a score of 69, followed closely behind by Mindy Ross, with a score of 67.  Well done Maria!  The broom will be ready for you to ride come Presentation Night!

• The first round of the ladies Turner/De Cean Match Play event was played on Wednesday 22nd.  Well done to the teams that won!

Kerry Cahill & Patricia Gleeson def Shelley Chapman & Patricia Morrison - 2 up

Mindy Ross & Lola Harris def Bernadette Johnston & Annette Wilson - 2/1

Maria Thorn & Annie Brady def Dirkje Kingma & Rita De Jong - 2 up.

Diane Markow & Wendy Hyndman def Kim De Cean & Melinda Humphrey - 6/4.

Abandoned Golf Clubs

A golf bag containing a set of golf clubs has been left in the men's locker room for several weeks now.

Anyone with information regarding the owner of these clubs etc will need to contact Pete Southby (pictured right) on 0407 194 640.

Please Note:  If claiming these you will need to be able to identify the brand of bag/clubs and contents within.