Category: News

New Local Rule

Posted on by greenacresgc

Accidental Movement of a Ball on a Putting Green

Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1 are modified as follows:
When a player’s ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment.
The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1.
This Local Rule applies only when the player’s ball or ball-marker lies on the putting green and any movement is accidental.

Note: If it is determined that a player’s ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstances is replaced.”

Ready Golf

Posted on by greenacresgc

“Ready golf” is a commonly used term which indicates that players should play when they are ready to do so, rather than adhering strictly to the “farthest from the hole plays first” stipulation in the Rules of Golf.

“Ready golf” is not appropriate in match play due to the strategy involved between opponents and the need to have a set method for determining which player plays first. However, in stroke play formats it is only the act of agreeing to play out of turn to give one of the players an advantage that is prohibited. On this basis, it is permissible for administrators to encourage “ready golf” in stroke play, and there is strong evidence to suggest that playing “ready golf” does improve the pace of play. For example, in a survey of Australian golf clubs conducted by Golf Australia, 94% of clubs that had promoted “ready golf” to their members enjoyed some degree of success in improving pace of play, with 25% stating that they had achieved ‘satisfying success’.

When “ready golf” is being encouraged, players have to act sensibly to ensure that playing out of turn does not endanger other players.

“Ready golf” should not be confused with being ready to play, which is covered in the Player Behaviour section of this Manual.

The term “ready golf” has been adopted by many as a catch-all phrase for a number of actions that separately and collectively can improve pace of play. There is no official definition of the term, but examples of “ready golf” in action are:

  • Hitting a shot when safe to do so if a player farther away faces a challenging shot and is taking time to assess their options
  • Shorter hitters playing first from the tee or fairway if longer hitters have to wait
  • Hitting a tee shot if the person with the honour is delayed in being ready to play
  • Hitting a shot before helping someone to look for a lost ball
  • Putting out even if it means standing close to someone else’s line
  • Hitting a shot if a person who has just played from a greenside bunker is still farthest from the hole but is delayed due to raking the bunker
  • When a player’s ball has gone over the back of a green, any player closer to the hole but chipping from the front of the green should play while the other player is having to walk to their ball and assess their shot
  • Marking scores upon immediate arrival at the next tee, except that the first player to tee off marks their card immediately after teeing off

The International Kings Cup

Posted on by greenacresgc

The International Kings Cup is a fantastic opportunity for all your members to win a place on to the Irish Team to take on  the USA. Due to the success of the 2016 event  I was asked to take the qualifiers across the island of Ireland and that  is what I’ve done.

The event is for male golfers and  is unique in that is has two age brackets 18+   & Seniors 50+  but also  has four flights of handicap so  anyone who has a GUI handicap can enter.

For each pair that makes it through  the two qualifying stages and on to the team we will

  • Provide 4 night’s accommodation bed & breakfast at  the beautiful Lough Erne Resort
  • Provide a Glenmuir Uniform for each day of the match-play tournament
  • 4 Rounds of Golf on The Faldo Course – Practice round and 3 tournament days
  • Team members will get to attend the Gala Opening  & Closing  Dinners

This year the format for the qualifiers will be pairs betterball.  Half of combined handicap  will distinguish which flight the pairs team will play under

Flight Handicaps:

Championship 4.9 or less
A Flight 5.0 9.9
B Flight 10.0 14.9
C Flight 15.0 and above

Provincial Qualifying Dates

Ulster Qualifier Ardglass Golf Club Friday 24th March
Leinster Qualifier Dunmurray Springs Golf Club Sunday 26th March
Munster Qualifier Ennis Golf Club Friday 31st March
Connaught Qualifier Westport Golf Club Saturday 1st April
Final Qualifier  Lough Erne Resort Sunday April 23rd

TOURNAMENT DATE   22nd May to 25th May  — Lough Erne Resort

HOW TO ENTER

Entries for each provincial Qualifier will run through the office of each hosting club.
Entry Fee Provincial Qualifier £40 / €50 per person  
Each Qualifying Club Will Take Entries Direct

Ardglass Golf Club on Friday 24th March    
Tel: 02844841022  ROI : 048 44841022
Entries Online: CLICK HERE

Dunmurray Springs Golf Club on Sunday 26th March  
Tel: + 353 45 531400 ROI: 045 531400
Entries Online: CLICK HERE

Ennis Golf Club on Friday 31st March
Tel: +353 65 682 4074 ROI: 065 682 4074
(Telephone bookings only)

Westport Golf Club on Saturday 1st April
Tel: +353 98 28262 ROI: 09828262
Entries Online: CLICK HERE

Here is a video of last year’s event  https://youtu.be/Qi20rWlPOiU and the flyer for this year’s competition. Ulster Qualifier

Moving into May will hopefully bring some warmer weather!
Kind Regards
Lynn

Lynn McCool
Director of Golf & Head Professional
Lough Erne Resort