Captain’s Update

This Saturday the 16^th of January is the North Ryde Amateur Cup and the North Ryde Amateur shield. The Amateur Cup is a Golf NSW Vardon event with players from all around Sydney coming to our event. The field size this year is as big as we have ever had with 102 starters. It should be interesting to see the scores again this year as most visitors find our course a bit more of a challenge than expected. The Amateur Shield is for the members not playing in the cup and is a best net event over all grades. Good luck to all those that are playing.

The Golf Committee has worked closely with MiClub and has resolved the issues with the waitlist. The auto waitlist will be back on the 25th so those who don’t get onto the time sheets can go straight onto the waitlist once again.

I would like to comment in regard to our time sheets. We have noticed many players have been crossing out on the day of the competition, for example Wednesday 13 we had 23 players cross out in the morning prior their game. It wasn’t a hot day; in fact, it was perfect golfing weather. I understand that there will always be the exceptions where people have to cross out due to illness or work, but it’s important to sort out if you can or can’t play much earlier than on the day. We all know how hard it is to get on the sheet and with 23 players pulling out it costs our fellow members who would have loved a game, instead missing out. Please let’s try to sort these things out earlier.

I have been asked lately when we are going to get rid of the modified local rules regarding not touching the flags, no bunker rakes etc. The board was going to move back to normal playing conditions at the beginning of the new year but because of the latest COVID-19 clusters around Sydney we have just held back for the moment. The board will monitor the governments recommendations and will make a decision as soon as deemed safe. Please keep abiding to our COVID Safe rules.

This Thursday January 14 North Ryde Golf Club held its annual Junior Open. It was a great day and congratulations to Joshua Todd from the Australian on winning the boys cup with an equal course record of 66, and to Rachel Lee from North Ryde for defending the title she won last year with a score of 74. A big thank you to all the volunteers who came out to help on the day.

The Major Pennant competition has arrived again, this year North Ryde has drawn Killara, Castle Hill and Cabramatta in their division. Once again, we are in a very strong group but after making it through to the semi finals last year the team feels like it can go one better this year and make the finals. If members would like to come and watch some good golf please come and watch, the boys always appreciate spectators. Good luck team.

Finally, just a reminder that this year’s fixtures books are in the office if anybody would like one.

Good Golfing – Glenn Woodley