Captains New Year message Hello everyone and a happy new year to you all wishing you a safe and healthy 2021. What a year we have had in 2020. A virus that we all knew nothing about arrived at the start of 2020, and soon developed into a global pandemic. Every one of us had to get used to following lockdown rules and protocols, to try and slow the spread of Covid-19 and to help our hard-working NHS and carers around the country. It has certainly been a challenge in so many ways, but hopefully, with the introduction of the vaccine, we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. With the golf club in mind, there are a lot of decisions being made by the government and the executive that we have absolutely no control over and compliance has to be the position taken by the club. There are, nonetheless, matters that we can decide on in relation to the club that I wish to focus on. Course maintenance; As a club we decided early in this pandemic, to furlough only 2 of our 5 greens staff and hold the mindset, that the upkeep of the course is a priority. All 5 greens staff are being fully employed during the current period of lockdown. Some of our neighbouring clubs have furloughed their entire greens staff, but we as a club took the decision that the course had to be maintained as our main asset. We have a group of professional, hard-working greens staff, who have made every effort to produce the best playing conditions for us all to enjoy. Even though the weather conditions have been less than favourable, we still had access to the course when lockdown protocols allowed. The greens staff continues to work at the course, remodelling the 11th tee box in an effort to encourage a certain shape of a tee shot that avoids a hard hook left. The new hospital car park to the left of the 11th fairway is probably not the best place to be !!! New ladies tee on the 13th is being developed to offer a better ‘sightline’ for the tee shot. All the fairways and greens have been hollow tined to remove underground thatch and to help to dry the course. First grass cuts of the year have taken place and further maintenance projects are keeping us ahead in our winter management of the course. Members’ Competition; I would like to offer my thanks to every club member, who without exception, has continued to support the club by maintaining their membership fees. As a members club, we are responsible for the upkeep of the club with staff wages, utilities and other bill payments that need to be maintained. Thank you all for your continued support. As a way of thanks and in an effort to celebrate your loyalty, the club will hold a series of competitions for members at the start of the new season. This series of competitions will be completely free to enter, with an extended range of prizes over every category, funded entirely by the club!!! This aims to be a fun series of golf for members and a chance to celebrate ‘your’ success in bringing our club through some difficult times. Dates for this series of competitions will be announced as soon as protocols allow. Golf at Knock; The men’s golf committee have been hard at work putting in place the structure for the upcoming playing season. The fixture list includes all the club Trophies, ladies and gents opens, Members week, Open Week, qualifying sweeps, monthly tankards to name but a few. Hopefully, you have all managed to understand the new handicapping system and are waiting patiently to put your handicap to the test once restrictions have been eased. The men’s committee is looking at ways to deliver competitive golf to all our members and recognising that golf does not always need to solely rely on singles Stableford points formats. Foursomes, fourball, scrambles to mention a few, can be very competitive but also fun. Busy lifestyle, don’t have 4 hours free for 18 holes, why not play on an evening in a full qualifying 9 hole competition to suit the time you have available. Golf needs to evolve and to adapt to meet those needs. Golf is and should always be, a fun social event played by members using all the formats of golf to that end. We enhance our membership in engaging in all aspects of this game while also remaining competitive. Nothing better than winning the ‘pound’ after a fun day on the course!!! Golf Ireland team competitions; Interclub competitions are back into the golfing calendar for 2021 and Knock golf club will be placing a full entry of teams into these events.
This is a fantastic opportunity for members of all ages, male or female to aspire to represent the club in a competitive team format. The teams require members of all handicaps ranging from low, medium or high. It does not matter what your handicap is, the only thing that matters is your willingness to join the squad of players and to be available for selection. The teams are a great way to get to know more like-minded members and to expand your social connections in the club. As someone who has played for a number of club teams, I can tell you, that there is no better feeling than to be selected to represent the club and step unto the first tee and give it your best shot. So, step up, put your name forward and let's bring as much success as we can, to the Knock teams. Look out for club communications from team captains, as to the team and handicap requirements and good luck !!! The club remains focused on making sound financial decisions, on your behalf, with our business model and completing the winter maintenance of the course in preparation for the upcoming season. These are matters that we can be decisive with and take under our own control. I look forward to meeting you all on the course, or the clubhouse, in the very near future and once again thank you for your continued support. Gary Patterson Captain Knock Golf Club
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