Bedfordshire Golf Club - Advisory Information for Members
Have you ever thought how useful it would be to know the rules of golf better than you do now, whether it be for your own benefit or to help others?
Would you like to gain this enhanced knowledge of the rules of golf, alongside others, who have a similar level of interest to you?
If the answer to both of these questions is yes, then scroll down as we may have just the event for you...
Parking of Vehicles at Bedfordshire Golf Club - June 2019
Members will be aware of how busy the car park is becoming at peak times and we recognise that grassed areas either side of the road at the top of the hill need to be used to provide additional spaces at busy times.
We would though, request two things:
Please make best use of the space in the car park (and on these verges when the car park is full), ensuring that you do not leave unnecessarily large gaps between your vehicle and the one next to you. This will help everyone find spaces, even in busy periods.
Please do not leave your vehicle in the Disabled Parking bays unless you yourself have a 'Blue' Disabled Parking badge. We only have a small number of these bays and they are reserved for genuine 'blue badge' users.
Thank you for your support.
Car Park Security & Protection of Your Vehicles - May 2019
Recently, there have been a number of incidents of theft from the BGC Car Park, committed by criminals who are targeting public and private vehicle parks where they can break into vehicles, primarily to steal property, but sometimes the vehicles themselves. Although all car park users will know that property left in the car park is the responsibility of the owner, we wish to do all we can to ensure that your vehicles are safe when at Bedfordshire Golf Club.
With this in mind the club has recently installed a new CCTV system which has already provided valuable footage to Bedfordshire Police of offences taking place. In addition, our new system is capable of Automatic Number Plate Recognition and will shortly go live with this function to provide us with more information about which vehicles are coming and going.
We do not see a new barrier as a solution to this problem, as a thief can acquire an exit code just as easily as an honest visitor! In addition, barrier systems create many problems of their own.
Finally, we are, for a limited period of time, engaging security guards during peak daytime hours (when the crimes have taken place) to physically monitor the car park and the activities taking place within it. These security guards will patrol the car park, wearing high visibility jackets, to deter any illegal activity taking place. They also offer us the bonus, for a period of time at least, that they can check that visitors going from the car park to the Par 3 Course have paid their green fees. We believe that this will offset at least some of the cost of the security guards themselves. We would therefore ask members to always carry their membership badges.
In return, we would ask all Members to be vigilant with their property and to protect it as they would at home. Please, do not leave vehicle windows open, doors unlocked, or expensive equipment visible inside your vehicles. If you do see any suspicious activity, please report it to the Security Guard or the Club Office.
Together we can deter these criminals, but we all need to do our bit. Thank you for your support.
Key Changes to Rules of Golf - 2109. One Month On How Familiar With Them Are You?
There are a number of key changes to the rules of golf with effect from January 2019, we strongly recommend that all golfers familiarise themselves with the changes as soon as possible. Please take copy of the 2019 players rule book available at the club, also please download the R&A 2019 rules of golf to your mobile phone or tablet for easy reference and help on understanding the new rules. The app is very useful and has an interactive rules quiz for beginners, intermediates and advanced levels which is excellent. In addition, the new BGC Local Rules can be downloaded via the links below.
Some of the key changes are listed below to get you off the mark and be your starter for ten (or 20)!
20 Must Know Rules of Golf Changes
1. Search Time – Reduced from 5 minutes to 3 minutes
2. Ball moving during search – replace (no penalty)
3. Embedded Ball – Free relief anywhere within the General Area
4. Measuring a drop – use longest club
5. Dropping – knee height rather than shoulder
6. Taking Stance on wrong green not permitted
7. Ball hits player or equipment – no penalty
8. Double hit – counts as one stroke
9. Touching sand in bunker incidentally is permitted
10. Loose impediments can be removed anywhere
11. Drop a ball out of a bunker – 2 Penalty strokes
12. Water hazards are now Penalty areas (You’ll see some changes on the course)
13. Touching ground in water / penalty areas acceptable
14. Ball moves on green after being marked – put back without penalty
15. Ball accidentally moved on putting green – replace (no penalty)
16. Can repair all damage on green
17. Positioning a club for alignment not permitted
18. Caddie assisting with alignment not permitted
19. Ball hitting flag stick on putting green allowed
20. Ball wedged against side of hole and flag stick deemed as holed
Changes to Rules Terminology:
Old New
Through the green General Area
Teeing ground Teeing Area
Water/lateral hazard Yellow and red penalty area
Wrong putting green Wrong Green
Outside agency Outside Influence
Abnormal ground conditions Abnormal Course Conditions
Casual Water Temporary Water
Play prohibited No Play Zone
Nearest point of relief Nearest point of complete relief
A helpful video guide on the key changes is available via YouTube at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPOtfLUHC0
Further reminders will be posted over the coming weeks in advance of the launch as we realise that there is a lot of information to take on board. We encourage Members to watch the video and get a copy of the rule changes from the Clubhouse, so that you can all familiarise yourselves with the rule changes to avoid confusion during play once they have been implemented.
The Competitions Committee
Bedfordshire Golf Club has also issued new LOCAL and TEMPORARY LOCAL rules which come into effect on the 1st January 2019.
Copies of these can be downloaded via the following links:
Tee Off Arrangements & Golf Course Etiquette - March '19
TEE ARRANGEMENTS (Weekdays Only)
Members are reminded that during weekdays, the following arrangements apply:
07.30 - 09.15
First tee - 3 & 4 ball games/matches only.
Tenth tee - Singles and 2 ball games/matches only.
09.15 - 11.30 the opposite arrangements to those above will apply.
From 11.30 onwards - no tee priorities apply.
COURSE ETIQUETTE
Please ensure that your group keeps up with the pace of play of the group in front. Normal golf etiquette is to call faster groups to play through at the first opportunity (regardless of the number of players in the group), particularly those playing formal Club competitions.
This applies to all members - please adhere to this course etiquette.
Temporary Local Rule - rule 25.2 - September 2018
Due to abnormal ground conditions caused by the recent drought, relief is available for balls lying in or near cracks in the ground in closely mown areas. Relief can be taken for lie of ball, stance and area of intended swing, through the green.
Bedfordshire Golf Club Rules, updated January 2018.
The Club rules were updated to reflect the change approved at the Annual General Meeting related to Number of Adult Members (now set at 600) before the Club is considered Full. Please click here for updated Club Rules
Brown Patches Appearing on Fairways - Treat As G.U.R. - Sept 17
You may have noticed a number of brown patches appearing on fairways recently. This is a result of treatment to kill off coarse grasses and encourage finer grasses.
The spot treated areas are sprayed with a product called Rescue, which kills off the thicker broadleaf grass but allows the finer Fescue glass to grow back.
Given the time of year the brown burnt looking areas are likely to remain through most of the winter, but they will recover as soon as new grass grows in the spring.
Unfortunately though, it’s a little like pushing water up hill, as the coarser grasses are natural to the area and will continue to self set and reappear. Our fairways are however some of the best in the region so we shouldn't worry too much!
The brown treated areas should be considered Ground Under Repair (GUR) and usual rules apply.
BGC Clubhouse - Winter Opening Hours
Members should be aware that throughout the winter months, the clubhouse is usually closed earlier than it is during the summer.
Although the actual closing time on a particular day will depend upon any scheduled events taking place within the clubhouse, it may be closed by 6pm.
Please ensure belongings, including car keys, are not left in the clubhouse after this time.
Thanks for your support
The Management Team
Reminder to all Members - If it's Still Dark - Please Don't Start!
As the days grow shorter, members are reminded that they should not tee-off in the mornings until it is light enough to see well beyond the distance of a drive. On the first hole of the Stagsden Course, this means that unless you can see beyond the first bunker for whatever reason, you should not tee off!
The courses are officially closed until first light as they are when foggy.
The Greens Team have reported incidents recently of 'near-misses' whilst they are preparing the course for play before sunrise. At this time of year, the greens team start work in the dark to prepare the course for members to enjoy their golf from first light.
Also, members must respect the club rule, that the greens team have priority on the course when they are working on it - at any time. Balls should not be played when a shot might reach them. We look forward to your full support on this issue.
Photo for illustration purposes only
For update Local Rules - see 'Local (competition golf) Rules' link below.
Woods to the right of 14th Fairway - Out-of-Bounds to All Golfers
Members are reminded that the woods on the right of the 14th fairway are private land and entry for any reason is strictly prohibited. We have good relations with the landowner and it is therefore permitted to retrieve balls from the ditch immediately beyond the Out-of-Bounds' posts (where accessible). Beyond the ditch however, you should consider your ball 'lost' and irretrievable.
Aside from this land being privately owned, it is part of a Pheasant Shoot and guns are therefore used in the area. Clearly this poses a danger to life and entry onto this land is also strictly prohibited for this reason.
Please click on the links below to find details on a wide variety of golf advisory information from the Club Rules to Course Etiquette and Staying Safe on the Course, for all users of the golf courses.
9 HOLE ACADEMY COURSE
