News Archive

Pace of Play

Yes, here we go again!

Pace of play remains a major issue and is only getting worse.  Slow play not only impacts on other members, but it also has an impact on the green fee players (Social groups), without whom our membership fees would need to significantly increase.  There are several members starting to walk off the course mid round as the play is so slow, and this is also starting to occur with green fee players.

Some members think it is the green fee players that slow down play, whilst this may be the case sometimes, but it is not true during the early part of the day when the pace for the day is often set.  Green fee players, on Saturdays for example, are not even on the course until around 1pm on the 1^st and 9am from the 10^th.

Course Marshal

To help to address this issue we will be employing Course Marshals.  The Course Marshals are there to assist you with pace of play, please treat them with respect and be mindful that if you are asked to “pick up the pace” it is for the benefit of all players.   The Course Marshal will have a copy of the days start sheet as well as a rough pace of play time sheet – see the attached for an example.

Click  Round Timer

Things you can do  

• PLAY READY GOLF – move to your ball and play your shot when it is safe to do so – then help others look for their ball if needed.
• Keep up with the group in front – in most cases you should be waiting for the group in front to move out of range before you play your next shot – one or two minutes behind the group in front is not okay – all these one or two minutes add up.
• Allow shorter hitters to tee off 1^st
• Record scores on the next tee, not on the green you have just finished
• Monitoring the MiScore App will tell you how long you have left to play the hole negative figures are not good!

If we cannot improve the pace of play, other initiatives will be considered, including reducing the number of players we allow on the course – lets work hard for this not to occur.  Small changes in the way we manage our play should make significant improvements in the overall pace of play.

Lets all aim for 4hour 20min or less rounds of golf.

Regards

MIK

Golf Services

Winter Rules/Preferred Lies Update

Winter Rules

Now that we are well into the colder months, there are several Rules, Temporary Local rules and/or Model Local Rules (MLR) that will come into play.  In particular, “Preferred Lies”.

Following feedback from members, it was agreed that the recently introduced temporary local rule allowing preferred lies needed to be more clearly defined.  As such, MLR E-3: Preferred Lies will be adopted from 14 July 2025.  Members can anticipate that this rule will be in place until the course improves during the growing season in spring.

You are reminded to check with the Pro Shop and/or use the MiScore app to review any temporary local rules that may be in place, for example, Bunkers in or out of play.

MLR E-3: Preferred Lies

When any part of the player’s ball is within two club lengths of the general area* cut to fairway height or less (ie within two club lengths of the fairway), the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:

• Reference Point: Spot of the original ball.
• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club length from the reference point, but with these limits:
• Limits on Location of Relief Area:

    o Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and

    o Must be in the general area (ie. not on the putting green).

The ball may be cleaned when lifted; marking its original spot is good practice, but is not compulsory.

*The general area is all areas of the course except for greens, bunkers, tee boxes and penalty areas

Penalty for Playing from the Wrong Place in breach of this local rule – General Penalty.

If you have any questions relating to these rules, please contact a Match Committee member or Mick in Golf Services.

Golf Services Update 3 July 25

Dear Members,

Just a couple of things from the Office of Golf Services:

Monthly Medal

Even though several members braved the bad weather on Wed 2 July, we did not have enough numbers to hold the July Mid-Week Monthly Medal.  Wed 9 July has been set up as the replacement day for the Medal Event.

NTP

As per the previous Members News, we are now back to recording NTP via the MiScore app.  On Wednesday, the use of MiScore to record NTP worked well, albeit with only a small number of stalwart golfers participating in the poor weather.

Unfortunately, some members struggle with the difference between metres and centimetres.  To reduce the number of incorrect entries that often have a significant impact on other players, distances recorded must also be checked by another member of the group before proceeding past the next tee.

Please take the time to make correct entries.  Moreover, please review the previous Members News on NTP via MiScore post – it includes information on how to use the MiScore App.

Good Golfing

MIK

NTP via MiScore

From Wednesday 2 July 2025, we are returning to recording NTP via the MiScore application.

After recent testing, two issues have been identified and with care, we can return to this preferred method of recording our NTPs.

There are a few of things we all need to be aware of:

1. WiFi – testing has identified that if, during a round, Wi-Fi “drops out” or changes (at our club, we have free members’ Wi-Fi, and when playing out the 14th hole, phones will sometimes switch to the club’s free Wi-Fi), the NTP icon no longer appears.   Restarting the app and continuing with unsubmitted scores restores the NTP icon, and everything should work again. As an alternative, you can switch of Wi-Fi during your round and use mobile data.    
2. If issues arise or if in doubt, make a note and let the pro shop or Golf Services know.

See the attachment for more details.

MiScore – NTP

Winter Golf

Let’s try to look after the course

 In Winter, especially in Canberra, grass is either barely growing or fully dormant.  This means that recovering from traffic, divots, ball marks, or any other wear takes longer in some cases, and in others, not at all. 

Worn areas from cart traffic and accumulating divots are both good examples of damage from winter play that tends to hang around.  Many courses overseas, as well as one in Canberra, have a frost policy that delays the start of play when there is frost.  Most other courses in the area have policies in place that restrict the use of carts, or at least where they can be driven.

Managing the golf course in winter is challenging, and we must strike a balance between the demand for golf and the limited turf recovery, as well as the risk of poor playing conditions.  At Lakes, we believe it is worth allowing a few die-hard winter golfers to play and accepting the potential damage this may cause. 

BUT ………. to allow play all year round, we all need to look after the course, especially in Winter – here are some things that will help:

• Keep carts away from fairways, greens and tees and use the cart paths wherever they are available.   If there is no cart path, drive carts in the rough.
• If possible, keep foot traffic to a minimum, especially in high-traffic areas.  If playing Stableford, for example, and you have picked up before reaching the green, don’t walk on the green – there is no need.
• Before walking on the greens, at around 5m, “knock off” the ice build-up from your shoes.
• Be extra careful when repairing pitch marks on greens and divots in the general area – yes, please repair divots in the rough, not just on the fairway.

 A couple of rules to be aware of:

Preferred Lies.

Currently at Lakes, we have preferred lies, one club length, in the general area cut to fairway height.  (translation, preferred lies on the fairway). I think it is safe to say that this rule will be in place for some time.

Embedded Ball

You are allowed free relief from an embedded ball anywhere in the general area. This includes the rough.

It is essential to know that there is no free relief if your ball is embedded in an area where playing a shot is unreasonable; you do not get free relief.  For example, if your ball is plugged deep inside a bush, you would have to take the normal unplayable lie relief and the penalty shot that comes with that rule.

 Loose impediments

Dew, frost, and water are not considered loose impediments; however, water can be treated as temporary water at the player’s option.  Players can remove loose impediments in any area of the course, including bunkers and penalty areas, but must be careful not to move their ball. 

Key rules regarding ice and water as loose impediments:

• Not loose impediments:

Dew, frost, and water are explicitly not loose impediments and cannot be removed from the ball or your line of play or putt (except for frost from the teeing ground). 

• Snow and Natural Ice:

These can be treated as either a loose impediment (which you can remove without penalty, provided your ball doesn’t move) or as temporary water, allowing for relief under casual water rules. 

• Removing Loose Impediments:

You can remove loose impediments (like sticks, leaves, or stones) from anywhere on the course, including bunkers and penalty areas, without penalty. 

Clearing a path in the frost, from the hole to your ball is not allowed – we are not playing on sand scrapes.