Emails or Letters inviting entries to the Society's Competitions will be sent out to members approximately four to six weeks before each event. These will contain information about location of the golf course and catering arrangements. Details will also be published here on the website.
The closing date for entry will normally be one to two weeks before the competition. Full payment may accompany the completed entry form / reply email. Payment may be made preferably by Bank Transfer, but also cheque or in exceptional circumstances, cheque / cash on the day. Late entries will not normally be accepted.
All queries about competitions should be made to our Match Secretary, Eddie Faulkner.
Please read our notes on: Meeting before we play; Slow Play
This Winter, we have four fixtures as usual - Bullwell Forest
(October), Ramsdale Lee Course (November), Beeston Fields (February
'23) and Rufford (March '23). Download a fixture list here.
Eddie, our Match Secretary, has managed to secure a full fixture list for 2023 :
April 12th (Weds) Springwater - Team StablefordDownload a copy of the Fixture List here (print on one sheet of A4 and fold twice to form an A6 leaflet).
A simple knock-out competition between Society members.
Each year we play a match, against Poynton Baptists , a Society with similar aims to ourselves. Whilst these are competitive matches, played for a trophy, they are played in fourballs and in a very friendly spirit and you need not worry about "not doing well" or "not being good enough".
The most recent is on Thursday 20th October at Shirland Golf Club.Guest speaker Carole Dumphy from Tiny Tim Trust, the Captain's Charity.
Abbeydale
Alfreton
Ashbourne
Bakewell
Bawtry
Beauchief
Bondhay
Buxton and High
Peak
Breadsall
Priory
Cavendish
Chesterfield
Chevin
College
Pines
Davenport
Disley
Hallowes
Horsley
Lodge
Matlock
Morley Hayes
Oakmere
Ormonde
Fields
New
Mills
Ramsdale
Park
Renishaw
Rufford
Sickelholme
South
Chesterfield
Springwater
Stanedge
Tapton
Tytherington
Wollaton
Park
We had got into the habit of not meeting together at the beginning of
an outing.
This had 2 practical outcomes,
First, whoever is organising that day doesn’t know who has arrived and who has not arrived! That means we have to worry about whether teams are full or not AND we don’t know numbers for paying the final balance cheque to the club nor for confirming catering arrangements for the club. (Do you fancy having to worry about this before getting ready for teeing off?),
Second, whoever writes out the cards has to go looking for people to make sure the scoring system works!
So, please do continue to ‘check in’ beforehand, to say ‘hello’ and
to enable things to go smoothly and to help those who have the job of
organising things.
Our Society is known for some good things– the friendliness when we meet and play, and the concern and care we show for each other.
Let’s face it, we do take a long time to get our rounds played. Don’t stop reading, because this is really a matter of being considerate to other players – as well as being better for oneself. We cannot afford to be, and don’t want to be, unwelcome at courses because we have a reputation for slow play.
Have you ever noticed how much less tired you are during the second 9 if the play is faster? And being less tired, you tend to play better on the back 9.
Not noticed this? – well I certainly have. And playing better on those last few holes in much more enjoyable than staggering in feeling exhausted with a poorer score.
We are not often blessed with warm conditions when we play golf up here on the hills, and the longer we are out on the course the colder we get. And being cold always results in a poorer score.
Lastly, do you, like I do, feel rushed and unable to concentrate when they games behind are continually ‘pushing’ you? It really makes me feel uncomfortable and puts me right off my game. i much prefer to know that I am keeping up with the play of the team in front.
But as a society should really be our first consideration. Having to wait to tee off or play through the green is, for most players, irksome and reduces their concentration.
They start to play badly and this increases their frustration – ultimately making the round less of a pleasure.
I will try to suggest a few things each month – so that you can get into better habits slowly.
When I started playing it was considered good manners (good etiquette) to learn these techniques and get into good playing habits.
1. Trolleys at the greens.
The best way is to take your trolley past the flag and towards the next tee. This way you walk back to the green with sand wedge and /or chipper and/or putter, putt out and then walk away from the green - leaving it free for the next game to play their approach shots as soon as it is safe. Even when the next tee is to the side or in front of your green, it is good manners to make sure your trolley is well away from the line of play of the team behind.
I have many times seen our members leave their trolleys in front of the green until they have putted out. The game behind has then had to wait extra time as you walk back to collect the trolley, notice the guys behind and rush off muttering ‘Sorry’.
If it is a new and unknown course, just go to the back of the green and find out where the next tee is AFTER putting out.
2. Marking the score card.
The best way is to remember your own score and for the card marker to write it down on the next tee. Don’t stand around on the green asking who had what and writing the card while holding up the next game.
To help this, let the card marker to tee of last in a group. It puts less pressure on the marker as well as being quicker.
3. Think ahead.
Be thinking about the next shot, and your club selection, as you walk up to the ball. Then have the club out of the bag and ready BEFORE it is your turn to play.
Playing in teams of 4, it is also permissible to play ‘out of turn’ to speed up play – especially if the other player(s) have no chance of scoring.
Enough on this for now, but remember – what we are concerned with is only good manners and being considerate to others. It is not hassle for the sake of appearances.
Just try these 3 things for your next few rounds and get into good habits!