|
|
|
December 2003
Golf Etiquette
Golf etiquette is an extremely important part of the game of golf. The etiquette golfers show to one another out on the course is the most important thing that distinguishes it from the trash-talking sports we watch on TV.
Golf requires a lot of concentration. If you are trying to make a putt or hit your tee shot, it becomes much more difficult if someone is laughing, rattling clubs, or running around the green or tee.
There are a few rules of etiquette that apply in all situations on the golf course and the practice areas.
1. The most important rule is safety.
Don't take practice swings toward another person. Don't swing your clubs when someone is walking around-and don't walk around when someone is swinging golf clubs. Don't take divots on practice swings.
2. Quiet is required on the golf course. Keep your voice down.
3. Help maintain the course by repairing ball marks on the greens and by raking any footprints in bunkers.
4. Be ready to play when it is your turn. And when it is your turn, get on with it without any undue delay.
5. Leave the green as soon as everyone has finished putting and mark your card on the way to the next tee.
6. One of the most important aspects of golf etiquette is pace of play, letting faster groups play through when a hole or holes are open.
April 2003
COMMON GOLF RULES
The following contains common rules, situations and options that often arise during a game of golf.
Out of bounds is defined as ground on which play is prohibited.
1. If your ball is out of bounds, you must play another ball at the spot from which the original was played. The penalty is one stroke.
2. If your ball "may" be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, you may play a provisional ball before going forward to look for the original, provided you announce your intention to do so. If your ball turns out to be in a water hazard or is found outside the water hazard, you must abandon the provisional ball.
3. If your ball is "lost" outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, add a penalty stroke and play the provisional or, if you did not play a provisional, replay the shot.
March 2003
COMMON GOLF RULES
The following contains common rules, situations and options that often arise during a game of golf.
1. Obstructions are artificial(man-made) objects. Objects defining out of bounds such as fence posts or stakes.
2. Movable obstructions may be moved no matter where they are located. If your ball moves, replace it without penalty.
3. If an immovable obstruction interferes with your stance or swing, you may, except when your ball is in a water hazard, drop within one-club length of the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole. In a bunker, drop in the bunker, and on the putting green, place in the nearest position which affords relief, no nearer the hole. There is no relief from an immovable obstruction that intervenes between the ball and the hole unless the ball and the obstruction are on the putting green, in which case place the ball in the nearest position such that the obstruction no longer intervenes.
4. If your ball is lost in an immovable obstruction(water hazard) take the same relief based on the point where the ball entered the obstruction.
We know how anxious everyone was to return to GMGC and start playing again. Unfortunately the weather simply would not allow us to reopen the golf course the last couple of weeks in January. With that in mind I would like to revisit our Frost and Frozen Green Policy.
When frost occurs, neither the regular greens nor the temporary greens will be available until the frost has melted. When frozen ground conditions occur, the Golf Course Superintendent or the Assistant Superintendent will check the greens and let us know when the greens are playable . When we have below freezing temperatures night after night and the day time temperatures are at freezing or just a little above, the greens will not thaw. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding.
December 2002
A GOLF CLUB FOR A KID
Our second A Golf Club For A Kid was a great success. Thirty seven boys and girls were custom fitted with a club and given individual instructions on how to hit a golf ball.
I would like to thank the following people for helping with this event:
Carol Atkins and Nancy Laughlin for registering each child. Tim Rose and Dale Newell for cutting and gripping each club. Neil Bartlett, Bill Simms, Mike Farfour, Poonie Durham, Doug Allen, and Richard Costner for giving individual instructions to each child.
We all are looking forward to the possibility of a junior golf clinic in the spring of 2003.
November 2002
A GOLF CLUB FOR A KID
Our first "A Golf Club For A Kid" was a huge success. Forty-seven kids were custom fitted with a club and giving individual instructions on how to hit a golf ball. The kids had fun, the parents had fun, and our staff had fun! Who knows how many future golfers were among the participants.
Rick custom fits each club
Individual instructions
I would like to thank the following folks for helping with this event:
Carol Atkins and Nancy Laughlin for registering each child. Tim Rose and Dale Newell for cutting and gripping each club. Neil Bartlett, John (Fox) Willis, JD Morgan, Doug Allen, Ed Langston, and Mike Farfour for giving individual instructions to each kid.
We all are looking forward to the next "A Golf Club For A Kid" that will be held on Saturday, November 9th from 1:00-3:00 pm.
October 2002
A golf club for a kid
On October the 26th Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course will hold a golf clinic for kids between the ages of 6 and 15. They must be accompanied by an adult. We will provide a golf club for each child and will cut the club to fit each one. I will instruct them on the golf swing and then they will be allowed to hit golf balls. When the clinic ends, each kid will keep the club that was customed fitted.
We hope that through this golf clinic that we can stimulate an interest in learning to play golf in each child, something they will enjoy doing the rest of their lives.
The clinic will run from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm. We are looking forward to this clinic and hope to see you then. If you have any questions please call the Pro Shop at 735-0411.
I would like to take this time to revisit some of the rules that govern play at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course.
1. All players must sign in prior to play.
2. Shirts with collars are required for playing golf, using the putting green, and practice on the driving range.
3. GMGC is a soft spike facility. No metal spikes allowed.
4. All players must observe cart path rule of the day. Carts must stay on paths on all par threes and on hole # 3. Carts must exit at cart exit poles. (Brown posts with white tops)
5. Do not start on # 10 without permission from the Pro Shop.
6. Fivesomes are allowed only with permission from the Pro Shop.
7. Every player must have individual bag and clubs.
8. No one is allowed to drive a golf cart unless they have a drivers license.
9. Observe golf etiquette: maintain the pace of play, allow faster players through, repair ball marks and divots, rake bunkers, etc.
10. Upon completion of 18 holes of play, players must surrender golf carts should other players be waiting for carts to begin their play.
11. Individuals failing to observe golf course rules may be required to leave the premises and may be refused future playing privileges on the Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course.
12. The Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course is owned by the City of Goldsboro and operated by the Goldsboro Recreation and Parks Department.
August 2002
Heat on the Golf Course
Your foursome is ready to play, the temperature is near 98 and the heat index is 107. What you don't know is that one in the group will not make it past the 12th hole because of heat stroke. Playing golf in very hot weather can bring about three heat-related emergencies: dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
The effects of even mild dehydration are decreased coordination, fatigue, and impairment of judgment.
Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is not life-threatening. There is little or no rise in body core temperature. There is fatigue, nausea, lightheadedness and possibly heat cramps. Heat exhaustion usually comes on several hours after exertion and dehydration.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency. You generate heat faster than you can shed it and this causes the core temperature to rise to dangerous levels. Once your cooling mechanism fails, death can occur in as little as 30 minutes. As the brain overheats, a person may become disoriented, combative, argumentative, and may hallucinate wildly. Cool the individual as rapidly as possible and call EMS or carry to the local emergency room.
Heat stroke, like all heat-related illnesses, is preventable. The guiding principle is to stay well hydrated. Do not rely on your thirst mechanism to tell you when and how much you need to drink. Under conditions of heat, humidity, and exertion, it is probably impossible to drink to much water.
Wear shorts and light colored shirts. A wet towel on the back of the neck can help. Eat a banana or some other fruit. Hats can make you warmer. Take them off when not directly in the sun.
We all want to enjoy our round and play our best. If you are careful and follow a few of these tips, you can make sure that your next round of golf isn't your last.
July 2002
Yellow Stakes/Red Stakes
Yellow and red stakes have been placed around the water hazards on our course. The following explains all of your options:
June 2002
Key on The Knee
We all would like to improve our golf game. Its hard to play well if your right knee (left for southpaws) straightens, buckles, or becomes otherwise unstable during the backswing. When this happens the the swing arc or swing plane changes, making it difficult to deliver the clubhead to the ball. Even worse, an unstable knee greatly diminishes the amount of power producing torque you can achieve between the upper body and lower body.
The following advice should correct this swing fault.
1. Set the majority of your weight on the inside of your right foot at address (left for southpaws) and keep it there throughout the backswing.
2. Place a wedge (doorstop) or something similar under the outside part of your right foot. This will help to lock your knee in place. Practice your golf swing and in a short period of time you should begin to feel a coiling sensation as you take the club back. This drill will help you maintain the correct arc and plane. Remember, the correct knee action will improve your distance and consistency, something all of us could use.
A friend calls, you rush to the course, and you smash that first tee shot into the fourth row of trees on the 18th fairway! Often we don't take the time to warm-up before a round of golf. We all could benefit from the following suggestions.
1. Arrive at the course with enough time to do some stretching before teeing off. Stretches can serve to prevent injuries and as a warm-up before playing. Make a few full, easy practice swings.
2. Hold a club behind your back and turn to the left and then to the right. Do this several times.
3. Take several clubs and hold them in a baseball grip and make slow swings back and through.
4. If time permits, go to the driving range and hit a few balls. Start with a 7 or 8 iron and finish with your driver.
Now you will be ready to impress your foursome on the first tee.
April 2002
GOLF ETIQUETTE
One of the most important aspects of the game of golf is golf etiquette
There are certain standards that should be followed by every golfer, especially by those new to the game. You will be more comfortable and the game will be more fun when you know what to do and how to behave.
1. Replace fairway divots or fill with sand.
2. Repair other golfer's divots.
3. Know how to repair a ball mark:
a. insert divot tool or tee at the edges of the divot and bring the edges to the center.
b. do not lift the center.
c. try not to tear the grass.
d. never replace the wad of grass that was left by the ball mark.
4. Repair your ball mark and others on the putting green. A repaired ball mark will heal in two to three days, an unrepaired ball mark will take three weeks.
5. Keep golf bags away from the putting surface.
6. Take care with the flag sticks when removing and replacing them.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
March 2002
GOLF ETIQUETTE
One of the most important aspects of the game of golf is golf etiquette
There are certain standards that should be followed by every golfer, especially by those new to the game. You will be more comfortable and the game will be more fun when you know what to do and how to behave.
1. Plan your shot while walking to your ball or while others are playing.
2. Be ready to play when it is your turn.
3. Walk directly to your golf ball unless assisting in a search.
4. When riding take several clubs with you so you won't have to walk back to the cart.
5. Be efficient with pre-shot routines.
6. Don't step off yardage for every shot.
7. Play a provisional ball if you think that the original may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds.
8. Record scores on the next tee.
December 2001
I would like to pass along the following changes that will become effective December 1, 2001.
GMGC will allow walking on weekends and holidays after 2:00 p.m. Walkers will start from the first tee only.
Cart fee for seniors will increase to $10.00 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The senior cart fee will remain the same on Mondays and Tuesdays
The membership drive will begin December 1, 2001 and end February 28, 2002. During this drive, single membership initiation fees will be $500.00 and family membership initiation fees will be $750.00. New members will be allowed, after making a down payment of $200.00 for a single membership or $300.00 for a family membership, to complete the initiation fee payment in three installments.
These installments will be collected during the three months immediately following the sign up.
November 2001
FROST & FROZEN GREEN POLICY
With winter approaching, we here at GMGC are sure that everyone remembers the delayed openings and the closings for frost and frozen greens we endured last year. While these delays and closings were necessary to protect our greens, we will continue to make every effort to minimize this type of inconvenience to our golfers. With this in mind, we have “cut in” and over seeded temporary greens on every hole at GMGC. These temporary greens will be placed in play when frozen ground conditions prevent play on our regular greens.
When frost occurs, neither the regular greens nor the temporary greens will be available until the frost has melted. When frozen ground conditions occur, the temporary greens will be placed in play. During these periods, the Golf Course Superintendent or the Assistant Superintendent will check the greens at the top of every hour and will contact the club house staff at each check with a status report. In the case of frost, the course will be opened as soon as possible without causing damage to our greens. In the case of frozen ground conditions, the regular greens will be placed back in play as soon as thaw occurs.
We would like to thank you in advance for you patience and understanding during these times of inconvenience.
September 2001
August 2001
July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
GOLF COURSE SAFETY
When our members and guests come out to GMGC for a round of golf they expect to have fun and to be safe. From personal observations and from those of my staff, it appears to me that some golfers throw caution aside and put themselves and others at risk. While enjoying the day at the course, golfers should be aware of some basic rules that will help keep everyone safe:
- Be aware of other players at all times.
- Observe cart rules.
- Observe signs on the course that direct you to entry and exit points.
- Do not hit into the group playing in front of you. This is extremely dangerous and very rude.
- When you bring your children to the course, you are responsible for them. Do not allow them to play in the sand traps and on the greens and especially, do not allow them to take full swings while on the greens. You will be held responsible for any damage caused by your children.
- When the driving range opens, hit in designated areas only.
Recently here at GMGC, Bruce Parker had a double eagle on our par 5 number 1 hole. Bruce hit driver and nine wood. Witnessing this rare feat were Dan Mooring, Jesse Thompson, Jim Moore, and Charlie York. Congratulations Bruce!
Did you know that in the United Kingdom, a double eagle is called an albatross?
March 2001
SLOW PLAY, FAST PLAY
I would like to share with our patrons my views on the pace of play here at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course. Most of our complaints have been about slow play. Slower players should allow faster players to play through when the next hole is open. Playing times area based on foursomes and the 90-degree rule being in effect. The average playing time here at GMGC is one hour and fifty minutes per nine holes.
I would suggest that we all consider the following:
- Golf courses are shared by players of different abilities.
- Golf courses are not for one’s private adventure.
- If you do not have the time to enjoy the round, don’t play. You will make the day less than enjoyable not only for yourself but for those around you.
- If your group plays fast and the course is crowded, slow down your pace of play.
- If your group plays slowly and holes are open ahead, let faster groups through.
Most importantly, be considerate of others. It will help make yours and everyone’s round more enjoyable.
After experiencing the winter we’ve had, its time to thaw out for the upcoming golf season. In hopes of starting the 2001 golf season on a positive note, you may find the following tips helpful:
- Start slowly-get your golf muscles back in shape. Weak hands, arms, and legs lead to bad golf swings and strained muscles.
- Inspect your golf equipment-grips, shoes, gloves, bag, and clubs. If your grips are just dirty, clean them with dishwashing liquid. If worn or cracked, replace them new grips. Check shoes to see if spikes are worn or missing, and replace as needed. Examine shoelaces and replace if frayed or broken. Replace gloves if worn or torn. Golf bags can have damaged bases and straps-repair or replace as required. Clean your clubs, especially the grooves on your irons. Dishwashing liquid and a toothbrush will do just fine.
These few tips can help make the start-up of your golf season more enjoyable and just may shave off a few of those early season strokes!
December has been one of those months! It seems like we have been closed more days than we have been opened. I can understand and appreciate the frustration and disappointment from our patrons when GMGC is closed because of cold weather. Let me share with you why the course cannot be opened for play while we have freezing temperatures:
- Greens with frost will be damaged for several months if walked on. Ice crystals can puncture the blades and result in weaker turf in the spring.
- Deciding when to allow play on greens that have been frozen is more difficult to determine. The greatest damage occurs when the top layer thaws while the deeper soil remains frozen. Walking on green in this condition will cause the surface to become uneven and severe root damage can occur. It is also important to remember that all greens do not thaw at the same time because of differing amounts of shade from surrounding trees.
Please continue to be patient and work with us during this time. We will have you back playing as soon as possible.
Your PGA Professional Rick Atkins
|
|
