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Since our last meeting at the beginning of December I have attended two Regional meetings at Edgbaston and the EWGA AGM at the National Motorcycle Museum.
I also stood in for our Regional Committee Chairman at the Operational Board meeting of 12th December.
The first Regional meeting was to establish the guidelines for the new Midlands North Regional Competitions. By now you should have all received your posters for these competitions and I trust they have been prominently displayed all over the county. I can only re-iterate again, how important it is for you to promote these competitions within your club or it is likely that they will be lost. Presently, EWGA are funding any losses that may be suffered by the host county whilst running these competitions, but obviously this situation will probably not continue long term. The first of the new Regional competitions is the Midlands North 36 Hole Foursomes at Chesterfield Golf Club in Derbyshire on Monday 27th April. I know that there are still plenty of places available so please encourage people to enter. This is a handicap competition but there is also a prize for the best gross.
At the same Regional meeting the draw for County Match Week took place. Staffordshire will be playing: Derbyshire, Shropshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutland and Lincolnshire in that order. I know that Corinne and the team would appreciate seeing lots of supporters, wearing yellow, during the week beginning Mon 22nd June at Trentham Golf Club. We may need some extra help with spotting during the week, so if anyone is interested or knows of others, could they please sign the notice indicating availability.
At the Operational Board meeting of 12th December, Distance Measuring Devices were discussed. As you are probably aware, the EGU allow these devices to be used in competitions, but EWGA do not. However, if clubs have a local rule in place allowing the use of DMDs for club competitions, they may be used in those club competitions, but they will still not be permitted when playing EWGA Medals or EWGA Championship events. It should be noted that the R&A do not allow the use of these devices in their competitions.
The ban on buggies in EWGA Medals other than on production of a medical certificate has caused a great deal of discontent. Consequently at the January Operational Board meeting the decision was revised and buggies are now allowed in EWGA Medals by anyone who wishes to use one, as long as it is allowed by the club.
If anyone knows someone who is particularly interested in rules and who would like to qualify as an observer referee please e mail their details to me. EWGA are very keen to increase the numbers of observer referees and I believe the procedure is as follows: firstly a paper is completed at home, then those considered suitable are invited to a rules seminar later in the year and finally a test is completed without the aid of a rules book.
Finally, there are still places available at the EWGA Trust Charity Golf Day at the Cambridge Meridian Golf Club on 17th April 2009. This is a team event for a team of three who will make a team of four with an elite English Amateur or a Ladies European Tour Professional. Breakfast and a gala dinner are included in the basic package of £425 per team. The closing date is 13th March so if you are aware of anyone or a company who may be interested please move quickly. One more entry from each county will be enough to make the event a great success. |
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