News Archive

Update on the course closure – 2 April 20

All members

Just a short update for you. I have had further discussions with the Ainslie Group (CEO – Simon Patterson and Shane the course Superintendent) today in relation to the best way forward regarding announcements that play can recommence/continue. We have agreed that the course will remain closed in the short term but this will be regularly reviewed in the context of both opening for social and competition play.

I reiterate my earlier comments those being, that we should only re-open the course when we are confident that it will remain open and that the various Government’s and governing bodies won’t change their current advice and require clubs to once again close.

When we do re-open the course, I am very keen for those members in the ‘categories of concern’ to think very hard about whether they should be playing in the current environment and be very sure that it is in their best health interests to take to the course once again.

Make sure you are monitoring the Website and Facebook page for updates. Rest assured, we will get you playing golf again as soon as we sensibly and responsibility can.

Richard Oliver/President

An update on the course closure ….1 April 20

All members

You would likely all be aware of the change in the guidance issued by Golf NSW and the ACT Government that golf is now being viewed as a form of ‘exercise’ rather than a ‘sport’.  This means clubs in the ACT and NSW have been informed that golf can recommence, under very strict guidelines. 

Albeit that golf is now considered to fall outside the restrictions all the advice we have received counsels strong against it being business as usual.

We have also been reminded that participants who are aged over 70, aged over 65 with a pre-existing condition or indigenous people aged over 50 with a pre-existing condition are advised to stay home wherever possible for their own protection.  At Gungahlin Lakes we have a reasonable number of members in a couple of these categories and are very conscious of taking measures to support the health of these folks and of course others.

 The situation is evolving rapidly. These restrictions may change with little or no notice.

In this context the CEO of the Ainslie Group with the support of our Professional and your Golf Club Committee have agreed that, for the time being, the course will remained closed until further notice. We will not be opening, closing and opening the course on the basis of what is rapidly changing advice.  We will open the course only when there is certainty about people being able to play and continuing playing, which will hopefully be in the near future.

I encourage all members to check-in regularly on the Website and on the Facebook page to stay informed on the latest updates.

Richard Oliver/President

Important information for all members – course closed effective midnight Tuesday 31 March 20

All members

What a trying time we are experiencing in relation to our golf, and more than likely, with our lives in general.  In the last couple of days, we have had golf in both NSW and Victoria completely closed down for both competition and social golf.  We have had Golf Australia and Golf NSW strongly recommend that all courses should close for an indefinite period.  

Earlier today we also received additional advice from Golf Australia that although Golf Australia cannot force clubs to close, Governments will now begin to apply penalties under the relevant health legislation.  

 In this context, and following lengthy discussion with the Golf Club Committee and Ainslie Group, a decision has been taken to close the course and practice areas effective from midnight on Tuesday 31 March, until further notice.

This means that players will not be permitted on the course or practice facilities at any time.  For those that are used to being able to get some exercise by playing holes by themselves, this will no longer be permitted.  Please adhere to these changed arrangements.  Failure to do so by members may be dealt with under the Club’s Code of Conduct.  This is in addition to any penalties applied under the law by the relevant authorities.

Pro-shop services will cease for the duration of the close-down. The Pro-shop’s Club storage area will be open 9.00–11.00 am tomorrow if members wish to collect any of their items. Other access times will be advised by Murray.

Pre-eminent in our considerations in taking this drastic action was the health of all players who use the course, both our members and social golfers.  Our action in closing the course is in line with the actions being taken by other courses in the region and more widely around the country.

We will, in the coming weeks, work with the Ainslie Group in thinking through the issues around membership and how we can ensure an equitable outcome for our members who, can now not play golf for a period. When these discussions have been held, and agreement reached, we will let you know what is intended.

I would encourage everyone to check-in at the Club’s website and/or on our page on Facebook to stay informed.  These are our primary channels of communication and the places to go for staying up-to-date.

All the best, look after yourselves and stay healthy.  We hope to be playing again soon.

Richard Oliver/President

Update for Members – COVID-19 (26 March)

All members

Since the announcements on Tuesday night by the Prime Minister where additional restrictions have been declared, our District Golf Association has been in contact with Golf NSW and Golf Australia (GA) to determine if there are to be any additional impacts on Clubs ability to offer both social and competition golf.

I am pleased to advise that advice received from both Golf Australia and Golf NSW (after their consultation with State and Federal Sports Ministers) is that golf can continue to be played while we all strictly adhere to the social distancing measures as announced by the Federal Government, in conjunction with the relevant state/territory authorities.  ACT Sport and Recreation has confirmed that the guidance issued by GA, Golf NSW and the R&A to support the continuation of club level golf is in alignment with the current intentions set out by the Federal/State/Territory Governments.

Golf Pro-shops may also continue to operate so long as there is strict compliance with social-spatial distancing regulations.

As you would be aware from my last post (Monday 24 March) we have set in place a range of measures for both social and competition play by members.  Murray is encouraging to all Green Fee players to apply the same measure when they play on our course.

Plainly put, we will only keep our course open and operating if we strictly adhere to the social distancing (having at least 1.5 mts between you and your playing partner/s at all times while at the course). To remind you the measures we currently have in place (some of which are Local Rules) are:

Scorecards

• Players will enter their own hole scores on the scorecard (it is not necessary for a marker to do it).
• Enter your Marker’s score on your card e.g. your scorecard should have both sets of scores recorded.  
• It is not necessary to have a marker physically certify the player’s hole scores. Some form of verbal certification should take place.
• Write your Marker’s name where your Marker would normally sign.
• Scorecards are to be entered into the kiosk as usual.  Please use a pencil or tee when ‘tapping’ the screen.  Doing this will alleviate the need to touch the screen with any part of one’s person. Once the scores have been entered place your cards into the box, as you would normally do.
• Committee members will continue to check the cards while doing ‘closeout’ but will use appropriate measures when handling/checking cards to minimise the risk of transmission.

 Flagstick 

• Players MUST leave the flagstick in the hole at all times when putting.

The Hole

• A device has been placed in each hole to ensure that players can lift their ball easily out of the hole without touching the sides of the cup.  A ball at rest in the hole will be considered to be holed even if it is not entirely below the level of the hole.
• Do not pick-up another person’s golf ball.

Bunkers 

• Rakes have been removed from all Bunkers.  Players are requested to smooth bunkers using their feet or a club after their shot.
• Should your ball come to rest in an area that has not been ‘smoothed’ adequately, players my place their ball within a card length of the affected lie.  Good practice would be to consult your playing partner if you deem it necessary ‘place’ your ball.    

Sand Buckets

• Sand buckets should continue to be used to fill divots. Our suggestion to players is that they handle the bucked with their ‘gloved’ hand or using a piece of cloth for added protection.

Carts 

• Due to the risk of transmission, only single-player use of golf carts will be permitted.   

An additional measure which would strengthen our current measures that you could consider applying when you are playing is:

Putting

• Players should putt one at a time. By one player putting until she or he has completed putting, physical distancing can be better maintained.  We accept that this may slow play a little but, this measure would keep players from standing in close proximity with others, thereby further reducing the possibility of transmission. 

Please note, that this is the situation and position at as today.  As we know we are in an incredibly dynamic and fluid environment with changes happening regularly.  This guidance may well change in the future and we will continue to be led by the directions at Federal/State and Territory levels.

Please do the right thing and encourage others to do the same.  Our ability to keep playing will depend on this.

Richard Oliver / President 

Important information for all Members – changes resulting from COVID-19

All Members

The R&A supported by Golf Australia and the various State bodies have announced a series of temporary measures that will enable clubs to reduce any hygiene implications related to the Corona Virus (COVID–19) and complying with the Rules of Golf.  

The temporary measures outlined below will take effect from the commencement of the competition on Wednesday (25 March) and remain in place until further notice.  Some changes to the operation of the Pro-shop have already been implemented by Murray Blair, our Golf Professional.  Key among these is payment by card only.  Please be prepared for this.  Murray will advise when arrangements within the Pro-shop are further adjusted. 

As you would be aware, the Ainslie Group has ceased the trading of the Social Clubs until further notice.  In this context, there will be no access to the Spike Bar and/or the seating within this bar area, until the Social Club trading recommences.

If you play with club members who English language skills are not strong, please take some time to talk with them about these new arrangements.  

The new arrangements, as notified below, will apply as Local Rules for the playing of Competition Golf on the Gungahlin Lakes Golf Course. These Local Rules will also be notified on the Local Rules Board outside the door of the Pro-shop and on our Facebook page.

Scorecards

• Players may enter their own hole scores on the scorecard (it is not necessary for a marker to do it).
• Enter your Marker’s score on your card e.g. your scorecard should have both sets of scores recorded.  
• It is not necessary to have a marker physically certify the player’s hole scores, but some form of verbal certification should take place.
• Write your Marker’s name where your Marker would normally sign.
• Scorecards are to be entered into the kiosk as usual.  Please use a pencil or tee when ‘tapping’ the screen.  Doing this will alleviate the need to touch the screen with any part of one’s person. Once the scores have been entered place your cards into the box, as you would normally do.
• Committee members will continue to check the cards while doing ‘closeout’ but will use protective gloves when handling the scorecards to minimise the risk of transmission.

 Flagstick 

• Players MUST leave the flagstick in the hole at all times.
• If over coming days/weeks this rule is not adhered to, the Committee has decided a further Local Rule will be applied where players will incur a Standard Penalty (2 Shots) for breach of the Local Rule.

The Hole

• A device will be placed in each hole to ensure that players can lift their ball easily out of the hole without touching the sides of the cup.  A ball at rest in the hole will be considered to be holed even if it is not entirely below the level of the hole.
• Please do not pick-up another person’s golf ball.

Bunkers 

• Rakes will be removed from all Bunkers.  it is recognised that bunkers may not be smoothed as effectively, as when rakes are on the course but we consider this to be acceptable in mitigating the risk of transmission. Players are requested to smooth bunkers using their feet or a club after their shot.
• Should your ball come to rest in an area that has not been ‘smoothed’ adequately, players my place their ball within a card length of the affected lie.  Good practice would be to consult your playing partner if you deemed it necessary ‘place’ your ball.    
• Bunkers will be machine screed by the Greens’ staff as is done now in the normal course of bunker maintenance.   

Sand Buckets

• Sand buckets should continue to be used to fill divots. Our suggestion to players is that they handle the bucked with their ‘gloved’ hand or using a piece of cloth for added protection.

Carts 

• Due to the risk of transmission, only single-player use of golf carts will be permitted   We cannot afford for there to be a perception that we are not taking the social distancing seriously.
• With single player cart use, it would be sensible to make a cart booking with the Pro-shop.

These measures have been put in place for your safety and the safety of others. We ask you strictly adhere to these changes until further notice.

Richard Oliver/President