Captains Corner
Daryl Muir

With the introduction of the coloured balls to the practice fairway it is now considerably easier to locate your ball should you end up there (provided you are not using a yellow ball).  This will give the player a defined point where the ball has come to rest.

This now allows relief under Rule 16.1b nearest point of relief 1 club length from the blue stakes/oil line (on the hole in play), no closer to the hole. 

Should the ball be lost within the Abnormal Ground Conditions in this case GUR then under rule 16.1e, relief must be taken at point of entry, i.e. where the ball first crossed the line.  One club length outside the oil line/blue stakes, no penalty for lost ball.

In the interest of both safety and speed of play please observe the 3 minute rule when looking for your ball and be aware of the players using the practice area.  The Local Rule now reads:

ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS RULE 16 GUR

Defined by blue stakes/oil lines.  Compulsory relief must be taken 1 club length on the hole in play.  Rule 16.1b or 16.1e applies, no penalty for a lost ball.  Includes bare ground on fairways, vehicle tracks and formed gardens.

Practice Fairway

There are now rules that have been put in place for the use of the practice fairway.  In the interest of the safety of players on the course please observe these rules when using the practice facility, they are located next to the starters office and a temporary sign adjacent to the practice tee blocks.

The most significant of these is there is now a limit of 180 metres with any club used.  This will help protect those on the ladies 9^th tee and also players approaching or playing their second shots on the 9^th and 18^th holes.  Please observe this.

Opening Day – Sunday 4^th February 2024

Our next club event is Opening Day on Sunday 4^th February with a 9.30 am shotgun start.  Ambrose teams of 4 – stableford.  You can book in online or at the office, $15.00 per person, please pay at the office on the day.

Breakfast will be provided free of charge at 8.30 am – English muffin with bubbles.  See you all there.  This event is sponsored by The Clubroom.

Elvis Night – Saturday 24^th February 2024

The tickets are on sale at the office and are going fast, at last count there were 100 tickets left.  $50.00 includes dinner and show.  The dinner will commence at 6 pm with last meals at 6.30 pm.  The tables to be cleared with the show starting promptly at 7.30 pm and finishing at 10 pm. Full bar service available.  It should be a great night as Trevor Needham comes highly recommended.

There have been many requests from non members to attend so get in quick before we open it to those enquiries.

Manager's Message
Marcus Niles

House Accounts
Our new Point of Sale system allows for members to have a ‘House Account’ at the club.  After a trial period, these are now open to all members.  Please see below more information regarding how this will work

• All playing members automatically have a House Account.
• You can top up in the office with EFTPOS or cash
• You will be able to see your balance when you are logged into our club website, Golf.co.nz and the Golf NZ App. You will find your balance and transaction history under My Account. Note that online top ups incur a transaction fee
• Vouchers can be loaded into your house account.  Please bring them in to the office to process
• The quickest and easiest way to use your account at the bar is to scan the QR code in your Golf NZ App on your phone.  This will significantly speed up service, and ensure the correct account is being debited.  If you can’t use the app, you can quote your 4-digit golf number.
• House account funds can only be used in the Shop, Bar or Café.  They cannot be used for membership fees or cash out.
• To make purchases, your account must be in credit.  If you have insufficient funds the transaction will be declined.
• Please be patient with staff as we get used to the new system
• Vouchers will continue to be accepted in the short term
• Some player groups MAY decide to use House Accounts for their haggles instead of giving out vouchers or prizes.

Practice Fairway
As mentioned by Daryl, we have new rules for our practice fairway.  See below:

• The OGC practice area (green and fairway) is open to members and visiting green fee players only, unless by prior arrangement.
• Max length – 180m.  Please don’t use clubs that hit further.
• Please do not hit while golfers are within your range on adjacent holes.
• Practice balls can be hired from the shop.  Do not collect hired balls.
• Hitting of your own balls is only permitted after 4pm.  If you hit your own balls, please collect them. 
• Do not collect balls while someone else is hitting.
• Please hit from the allocated bays.  When there are others using the fairway, please do not proceed beyond the front of the hitting bays.
• Hitting balls back towards the clubhouse is prohibited
• Do not hit while staff are collecting balls
• Short chipping only permitted onto the practice putting green
• Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times

9 Hole Men
Fred Hartley

Men’s Nine Hole Golf, Thursday 25^th January 2024

The year is starting with yet another good field- 37 members playing an Ambrose game prior to the official opening next week.

Scoring was very close, the top three groups all finishing with the same net score of 31, placings were by a countback:

1^st             Tom Hansen, Allan Winter, Alan Hoskins, Frank Brown 

2^nd            Tony Welch, Fred Hartley, Steve Crossfield, John Carmichael

3^rd             Alan Poore, Trevor Smith, John Cotton, Mike Holibar

Next week    Opening Day Dawn Pairs, mystery prizes.

Twilight
Pink Leow

A record turnout at Twilight this week with 126 players in the field. The format was Foursomes Nett which seemed to be very popular with some people visiting parts of the course they never usually go to. 

The weather was a little cooler this week, but in spite of the cooler temperature Jonathan had a bit of a meltdown when it came time for the results. He had forgotten that in the Nett round it is the lowest score that is the winner - not the highest ! So, after a false start and then a quick recount, the winners on the night were Mary Gainford and Fraser Littlejohn with a Nett score of 30 - who received a $30 petrol voucher each courtesy of Mike Deane Motors.. They were followed by Cathy Berry and Carol Downes with a Nett 33, on a count back from Jeff and Jamie Warren. Jeff and Jamie have opened up a bit of a lead on the season long leader board which can be found here.

Nearest the pin winners were Lesley Paton, Glenda Gourley, Wilson Tamaki and Howard North - all receiving a sleeve of Titleist golf balls courtesy of Par nz Golfing Holidays. Longest putt winners were Alan Hoskins and Manie van Emmenes, who each received a cooler bag courtesy of OneStaff recruitment. The lucky winner of the complementary meal courtesy of Brittany and Ana was Mary Jane Leuch. 

Finally, the lucky draw prize of 2 golf towels again courtesy of Par nz Golfing Holidays went to the team with the worst score on the night - Cliff and Robyn King (though initially Jonathan had them as the winners!!)

Vets Vibes
Ross Milne

Dates to keep in mind.

31 January - Vet’s Haggle  (Nett)
7 February - Vet’s Haggle (stableford & Outta the Blue Hidden Holes)
12/13/14  February - 3 Day Pairs
26 February – BOP Vet’s at Omokoroa
4 March – Vet’s Quad’s at Tauranga

Results

Results from this week’s  Haggle were;

Twos – Donna Dyer, Rob Mitford-Burgess, Swampy, Michael Dow, John Vartha and Ross Capill.

Stableford, Division 1 - Alan Thomson 38pts, Ken Joyce 37, Bill Neeley 36

                     Division 2  - Barrie Barmes 38pts, Paul Kasper 35, Ian Jory 35.

Nearest the pin on the 11^th – Lois Amaru and John Vartha.

Three Day Pairs Event – 12/13/14 February

A handful of Volunteers would be helpful.  Give me a yell if you are willing and able.

Thanks, one and all for your support of this popular annual event proudly sponsored again by Omokoroa Country Estate.  The event is now closed to any additional entries.

New Members

Welcome to two new members,  Elva Travers and Paul Kasper.

If you are a new member of our Golf Club reading this newsletter – Welcome. If you want to play Vet’s Golf and haven’t done so yet, or you want to receive the occasional email I send to Vet’s players about upcoming events and the like, give me a call or text me on 02102242799 or email Scott at scott.j.gwynne@gmail.com

Friday Haggle
Terry Golder

19 January 2024 (72 Entries)

Div 1   Les Hallam      39
            Rod Murray     37
            Ken Joyce         37

Div 2   Ian Jory            40
            Janice Bell       38
            Bruce Lewer    37