Ladies Club Newsletter 2018 Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for the congratulations, kind words and offers of support for my Captaincy in 2018. I can assure each of you that I will endeavour to be a great representative of the Ladies Club and I hope to grow our numbers in 2018 through the Get Into Golf program. I want to wish everyone a very happy golfing year and for those not playing regularly or at all I wish you health and happiness and hope to see you all in the club over the course of the year. I would like now to set out upcoming events and competitions for 2018. I would ask if everyone can give special attention to the Venus Vs Mars Competition that we are running after a few years hiatus. The competition is a chance to have a fun match of ladies vs gents early in the season. We will leave an entry sheet in the Ladies Locker room beside the computer screen this weekend and we would love as many ladies as possible to enter the spirit of fun and play. If anyone is not around to fill in the sheet, please text me and I can add your names.
Competitions 2018: Louise Mateer is continuing as our Competition Secretary in 2018 and has put together the list below of our upcoming season s competitions. Louise did a fantastic job last year as Comp Sec along with her Competition Committee and I want to thank everyone that has volunteered to help with the competitions this year. Date Details February Sunday 18 th Venus V Mars March Saturday 17th Shamrock Bowl April Saturday 7th ILGU AIG Match - Tee from 11.39am Sunday 8th Tuesday 17th Saturday 21st Lorraine Milner May Saturday 12th Professional Prize Thursday 24th Sunday 27 th June Saturday 9th Presidents Prize - Alan Bennett Thursday 14th Sunday 17 th Friday 22nd Saturday 30th Friday night Invite Mid-Summer BBQ Lady Captains Day - Sarah Jane Farrell July Saturday 21st Captains Prize - Eoghan Mateer Thursday 26th Sunday 29 th
August Sunday 12th Club Championship round 1 Sunday 19 th Club Championship round 2 Tuesday 21th Saturday 25th September Saturday 8th Thursday 13th Sunday 16th Sunday 23rd Lady Captains Weekend away Captains Fundraiser ** Please note that these dates are subject to change, but all members will be advised well in advance ** Fundraising 2018: Following on from the success of the raffle for the golf trolley in December 2017 we have decided to continue with a few more draws over the course of 2018. It is our intention to have another raffle for a Powercaddy golf trolley and the draw will take place on Saturday 17 th March. The cost will be 10 per ticket and ticket numbers will be restricted to 100. We want to thank the Lady Members for their support in our last draw and hope the draw in March goes as well. Interclub Matches 2018 Vice Captain Alison Corrigan is looking after our Teams this year as Manager of Managers and I want to wish her the best of luck in her role.
The draws for the ILGU Interclub Competitions have been completed and below are the confirmed dates for matches so far: Irish Mixed (Ladies & Men s Mixed Foursomes) - Match to be played on or before Sunday 8 th April - Knightsbrook vs Hollywood Lakes (3 Away & 2 Home) Junior Cup (Handicap 9-15) - Hollywood Lakes vs Ardee - Match to be played in Skerries Golf Club Saturday 7 th April @ 1.05pm Intermediate Cup (Handicap 16-21) - Ashbourne vs Hollywood Lakes - Match to be played in Co. Meath Saturday 14 th April @ 9.45am Minor Cup (Handicap 22-27) - Dundalk vs Hollywood Lakes - Match to be played in Concra Wood Castleblaney Sunday 15 th April @ 1.30pm We are also entering the Revive Fourball and O Grady Cup (Ladies & Men s Mixed Foursomes), the draws for these 2 competitions have not yet been made. I would like to remind everyone that the sheets are up for all the above competitions and we want all ladies eligible to play on teams to enter if possible. I hope that this is the year when we go all the way.
Handicaps Information 2018: Our Handicap Secretary Ann Hallinan attended the annual meeting of the ILGU in relation to Handicaps and put together the following interesting and informative report for the Ladies Club: There are changes in the handicap system for 2018 onward. The maximum handicap that can be awarded in now 54, however the ILGU have recommended that any new handicaps that are issued should be 45 and the player can either increase or decrease as normal. All HANDCAP SECRETARIES HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LOOK AT THEIR PLAYERS WHO ARE SITTING ON 36 HANDICAP. Some can play to 36, however there are a number of players who really need an adjustment and this should help them compete against their other members and it should also encourage them to play in 18 hole competitions. I have up until 30th April to look at our ladies. The guidelines that have been given are as follows; Players with scores 5/9 above the Buffer Zone will be considered for a 2 shot increase. Players with scores 10/19 above the Buffer Zone will be considered for a 4 shot increase. I will be carrying out this exercise shortly and everyone will be notified. Players may decline this increase, however after 30th April 2018 no player has the option to decline a handicap increase. All cuts/ increases under the Annual review stand. After April I will have to write to my handicap co-ordinator and advise her of any adjustments that I make. A further review is to take place before the end of July 2018 at which stage I can adjust up or down under the General Play Adjustments. I n relation to the new 54 handicap, it is welcomed for the following reasons; Declining and Ageing membership- makes it easier for older members to remain competitive.
Inclusivity large number of players sitting on 36 handicap inactive or unable to compete. Game for all integration of juniors, CGI Introductory memberships, golfers with disability. Difficult game to take up new handicap limit will give beginners a chance to compete form the start. Encourage more participation encourage 9 hole competitions makes golf more enjoyable for players getting started. Ladies Get Into Golf 2018 In conjunction with CGI we will be running the Get Into Golf program for 2018, it is intended that this will commence from Tuesday 10 th April. The program is initially run over 8 weeks, 4 weeks of lessons with our Pro Alan Staunton and 4 weeks of on course mentoring with members of the Ladies Club. The cost for the 8 weeks will be 80 and a follow-on membership cost from June till December will be 200 with additional competitions set up for the new ladies. It is important to note that these new ladies cannot play in member s times or competitions as they will not be fully affiliated and will still be learning the game. If any Ladies are available to assist with the mentoring programme if you could contact me and I can establish a list of volunteers. The importance has been stressed from CGI that if these ladies are integrated with fellow members there is a much higher chance that they will remain within the club and we can hopefully build our membership. I will be compiling a list of ladies interested in the program over the next few weeks.
9 Holes Mixed Competition The Ladies & Men s Clubs have decided to enter The Nine-Hole Championship which is a joint run competition between GUI & ILGU for 2018. The competition is a mixed team with both team members using the 9 Hole Qualifying Score Cards and the combined score of both is entered. The winning pairing from the club will go forward to a regional qualifier as Hollywood Lakes Club Team. This competition will run in late April early May and additional details will follow from the club nearer the date. In addition to this 9 Hole Team competition it is the club s intention to again run 9 Hole Qualifying Competitions. This will give members the opportunity to enter the competition mid-week and play 9 holes for handicap purposes. These competitions will be run one evening a week from 5pm-7pm and it will also provide a fantastic opportunity to play qualifying rounds late in the evening with friends or family with a GUI / ILGU handicap. Friday Night Invite 2018 The Friday Nights will return this year from 27 th April and will run till the end of August. Cost will remain the same 3 per Member and 5 per Guest. Payment can be made in the Pro-Shop or at the Bar. The format is 9 Holes Singles Stableford and cards must be returned after the 9 Holes to the Red Box which will be located on the reception desk at the entrance to the club. This competition can be entered at any time during a Friday by a member and if a visitor has paid a green fee or is part of a society they can enter if with a member anytime during the day also. We will be running the Mid-Summers BBQ on 22 nd June where we hope to have a fancy-dress competition and depending on numbers entertainment provided.
Last year the Friday Nights were a great success and we hope that this year they grow in popularity and support from the Ladies Club. Ladies Weekend Away 2018: This year the away weekend is Saturday 8 th September and the venue is Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa & Golf Resort. Cost is 150 per person sharing for 1 Bed & Breakfast, Evening Meal & 1 Round of Golf There is a 30 single supplement for single rooms Tee times are from 12.40am-13.20am Pre-Dinner Drinks will be in my room (time to be arranged closer the date) & dinner will be served in the Siddeley Private Dining Room I will be putting a sheet on the Competition Board in due course and hope to see as many of you attend as possible. Finally, I hope that you have found this first newsletter of interest and I hope to continue these updates over the course of the year. Yours in Golf Sarah Jane