Fellow members,

I would like to take this opportunity to address a few concerns that I feel may be bubbling under the surface of our otherwise smoothly functioning Golf Club. Please be mindful that this message is not directed at the 99% of our membership who do the ‘right thing’.

Over the last few years, as a Club, we have endeavoured to move more toward a genuine ”Golf Club”, and away from the perception of being a large ‘social club’. As a collective we have embraced diversity of competition types, adapted to and learned the updated rules of golf, shifted toward a more modern interpretation of post-Covid golf with electronic scoring and flags in and out. And most importantly we have come to appreciate the value of time.

Over the last year, with the interests of the broader membership in mind, the Committee, and in particular the Match Committee, have made great strides toward improving the golfing experience of all members. The dress code has caught up with the modern, relaxed and inclusive style – the blend of competition types reflects the wishes of the majority whilst valuing the traditions of golf, and we have dramatically improved the average round playing times.

Only 12 months ago it was not unusual to experience a 4 3/4 or 5 hour round on some days, particularly toward the back end of the field – and not just on stroke days. This experience was the catalyst for the committee to take action. No-one has 5 hours+ to commit to a round of golf in these days of competing priorities and demands, and we are no longer a ‘social club’ where it is acceptable to rock up and play like a Sunday driver with no regard for any impact on the rest of the field or following public players.

With this last thought in mind, after extensive research and comparison to other club practices, your Club Committee set a target round time of 4 hours and 10 minutes, and to a large degree, the statistics show that members have embraced this target and more often than not often exceed it – whether it is through the summer heat or battling the winter slog of mud. cold and preferred lies.  The statistics of over 40 weeks, 160 competition rounds, nearly 15, 000 player rounds demonstrate that this has been a massive success.

Only a very few groups have received emails from the Match Committee enquiring as to legitimate reasons for a slower than acceptable round – and a very, very few have had to be asked twice.  

Your Committee work very hard – in their own time – to ensure that each week members can play in a well run and organised competition. If, for any reason, the Committee or Match Committee have to enquire into an incomplete round or a slower than acceptable round, it is completely unacceptable for any member to take it upon themselves to cajole, berate, belittle or harangue the committee for doing the job they volunteer to do on behalf of the entire membership.   

Your Match Committee do not go out of their way to manufacture issues – it would be much easier to ignore the blatant breaches of guidelines or to not worry about slow rounds – but that would be a serious disservice to the broader membership who do do the right thing, and to the other players that frequent our course.

Pace of play is a simple concept – keep up with the group in front of you, you can’t go any faster than that. If there is no group in front of you, there is no reason for you to have a slow round.

If your coach wants you to go through a tantric meditation before each shot, visualise the ball in flight, read your putt from every angle, or take preferred lies for every ball, every time – simply walk faster. Get to you ball quicker. Be ready to play. Play ”out of turn” if it is safe to do so.

But do not complain if your play is brought into question by the Match Committee. There is a simple equation: time score submitted minus tee time = round time. It is simple math and cannot be fudged, fiddled or manipulated – and 99% of our members have no issues keeping up with the group in front, or setting the pace for the field. The statistics do not lie.

It is completely unacceptable for some (few) members, who cannot abide by the recommended rules of golf, including Pace of Play guidelines, or answer a simple “please explain” email in a disrespectful, sarcastic or uncivil manner or to call into question the motives or actions of the Match Committee.

Any member who feels that it is their prerogative to be disrespectful or flippant or abusive may find their playing options severely restricted.

As your Club President I am more than happy to play with any member or group to demonstrate the pace of play guidelines, whilst still shooting scores (close) to handicap and enjoying the round, but I will not accept any disrespect shown to the Match Committee.

As you know, and as many have experienced, I am more than happy to take a phone call on any issue – whether to respectfully discuss differing points of view or explain rules, processes or procedures, but I will not accept any member disrespecting your Committee members for doing the job they were elected to do, unless you are prepared to give up your time to step up and walk a mile in their shoes.

Bottom line – we are walking, breathing and playing golf. We are not in Ukraine, the Congo or Afghanistan having our human rights and freedoms trampled.

The rules of golf are simple. Play the ball as it lies, respect the game, the course, your fellow competitors and your club.

Stuart Thompson

President 

Yarrambat Golf Club

0421 332 275

 

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