Captain’s Log – April 2024

With the “Shoot Out Final” and “Hambrose” from 2023 finally completed along with the Easter Bunny’s visit to BGC , we can draw breath, and take a moment to look back at all the events that have impacted our Club since the last Captain’s Log.

So much for the members to contend with of late, but even so, we should look at some of the positives that are coming….such as a new Pro-Shop and driving range.

it has been a difficult time, and we would like to thank all the staff for making every effort to continue to make our experience at Brisbane a good one, and we would like to extend thanks to everyone who has continued to be patient as we negotiate all these changes.

A gentle reminder, we are all members playing on a Member’s Course, so please have consideration for your fellow members by filling in your divots, and raking the bunkers.  Also remember that rakes are to be situated in the belly of the bunker in the direction of play.

Pace of Play
It would not be a Captain’s Log without mentioning this. As we push further into our golfing calendar in 2024, pace of play is again being monitored on the bigger competition days.  As a reminder please click here to see our Pace of Play policy. Go to page 8 of the Member’s Handbook. What we are looking at are the times taken for the round as well as the time groups finish behind the preceding group.

As a reminder the parameters are as follows: finish your round over 4 hours 10 minutes, be more than 13 minutes behind the group ahead when you finish.  If you obtain both of these, you are flagged in these reports, and as such, there will be a Committee member coming for a chat to understand if there were any extenuating circumstances.  These reports are designed to have a discussion, not to point the finger, so please take these discussions as a proactive attempt to understand.

As we move into winter with the shorter days, we can ensure all groups finish in daylight by being aware of where the group ahead is… if you can’t see them, you have a problem.  Basing your pace of the round on where the group behind is, does not help anyone. It only takes one group to hold up the entire field and the flow on effect is significant to the later groups.
If you do find yourselves lagging there are several strategies one can employ:

• If any of your group has putted out, move to the next tee, to tee off.
• Mark your scores after you have teed off
• If you drive a motorised buggy with a partner, after hitting your shot, do not waste time trying to return your clubs to your bag, simply get into the buggy with your club, and drive to the next ball, where you can return your clubs to your bag, whilst the other player is selecting their clubs for their shot.
• Play ready golf whenever possible, provided it is safe to do so, and being mindful of the other players.
• Your chats on the course, while interesting, and important should not hold up play. Hit your ball, and then make your point.
• Remember a maximum of 3 minutes is allowed to search for a lost ball, after which you should apply Modified local Rule E-5, where for a 2 shot penalty you can drop a ball, within 2 club lengths from the edge of the fairway, near the estimated lost ball, or back along the line where your ball crossed the edge of the no play zone (eg the 8th hole) or OB (eg the 9th hole).

Honour Board Events
We are about half way through the Honour Board events for the year, with the big one yet to come, but we wanted to inform members that there has been a culture over the past 12 months of qualifying for Honour Board events only to pull out of the finals. This creates so much more work for the ProShop staff and is not something that we like to see as a club. Whilst we understand that sometimes life gets in the way and there are valid reasons for doing so (illness, work, or anything else unscheduled), we ask that you be mindful when ticking that qualifying box that you can play all components of the event.

Last year we implanted a process to capture this information, so by way of a reminder: Members who pull out after qualifying without a valid reason (attending a wedding is not a valid reason…unless it is a shotgun wedding) will be given a warning and placed on a list for 12 months. If any member on this list qualifies and again pulls out, they will forfeit their right to qualify for the next event. This is something that the club takes seriously as Honour Board events are sought after prizes. So please take care when you are deciding to qualify for any event.

What Colour Tees Should I use?
This is a frequently asked question, and even some long-time members are not aware of the answer. Essentially, for any competition that is not an Honour Board, Monthly Media or has the word compulsory, you may choose what colour tee you play that round from. As a default, Tuesday Women’s competition is played off red tees, Wednesday Men’s competition is played off white, and Saturday Men’s competition off blue. However, if it is not an Honour Board, Monthly Medal or compulsory tee you are free to play off any colour tee you wish…this is for Men and Women. If you wish to utilise different tees for your round, please tell the Golf Shop when you check in prior to your round. The only exception to the above is for our Centurion Members (those whose age and handicap are 100 or above) who can play off Yellow Tees for any competition.

Penalty between the 2nd, 7th and 8th hole.
You have all probably noticed that the area between the left of the 2nd hole, the back of the 7th and to the left of the 8th tee is now marked with red stakes indicating a penalty area. If you are certain or virtually certain your ball has strayed into this area, you do not have to look for you ball – Like all other penalty areas on the course, for one penalty stroke you drop another ball applying Rule 17.1b.

Rules
Whilst we are on rules, we wanted to ensure that all members understand that a “gimme” putt only exists in matchplay and social rounds. There is no such thing as a gimme putt in any competition play at The Brisbane Golf Club unless you wipe that hole in Stableford/PAR event or take the “mercy” rule of 5 over par in a Stroke event. Reports from members that this is happening during competition is alarming and this practice is to cease immediately. If you are seen not holing out during competition, unless you wipe or take 5 over, you will be disqualified from that competition as per rule 3.3c Failure to Hole Out.

Women’s Pennants
Women’s Pennants, the structure being notably different to Men’s Pennants. There are two separate competitions, run on Friday and Sunday. With 2 main divisions on each day, being Yellow Diamond and Sapphire.  Sapphire is for players with higher handicaps and is subdivided further into geographical zones, to allow a maximum number of Clubs within the Brisbane District to participate. Brisbane entered 3 teams last year, Yellow Diamond on both Friday and Sunday, winning both pennants, and one Sapphire team on a Friday, winning their zone. A terrific result!

In 2024 we have 4 teams entered – Yellow Diamond on both Friday and Sunday, with 2 Friday Sapphire teams which will play in different geographical zones. Pennant’s is due to start around 19th April and we hope that the shots are true, and the putts short, trying to repeat the results of 2023. Regardless of the final outcome, we would like to wish all pennant players and caddies an enjoyable season, acknowledging the opportunity to play different courses and meet a number of players from different areas of Brisbane.

As always if you have any questions, please reach out to any Committee member or staff in the Golf Shop.

With a final word from Bruce Crampton “Golf is a compromise between what your ego wants you to do, what experience tells you to do, and what nerves let you do!“

See you on the course!

Janet Nathanson
Women’s Captain
The Brisbane Golf Club

Ash Sturmer
Men’s Captain
The Brisbane Golf Club