Preferred Lies Rule Extended by England Golf

England Golf has announced they are allowing clubs to extend the Preferred Lies Rule to the end of May, due the wettest February since records begin. Clubs will be allowed to extend the rule past the end of May.

AVGC Seniors' Presentation of Awards 2023

Change to payments made to Seniors Bank Account

Mike Boden

Senior’s Treasurer

Change to payments made to Seniors Bank Account

'Short Version'

For payments to the Seniors Bank Acc. with  immediate effect, please would you enter into your bank's 'Reference'  location, your AVGC Membership number. (as used for BRS), in between q q for example  q123q I've used lower case q, to save changing to upper case for Q Q. No zero(s) required for single or double digit Membership numbers. No other information is required except if you are paying for another Member Thanks.

Briefing 

The electronic monthly allocation of the incoming payments is not efficient because of the complications caused by the changing identification of many payers. The HSBC Statement reports both the 'Account Name' and the 'Reference' as a single identification often without a space between the fields. Even the smallest change in the combined 'Account Name and Reference', is electronically interpreted as two different members. e.g. M L Boden  is different from M Boden / M BODEN / m l boden / ML Boden / M L  Boden -This last one has a double space included.

The change from Surnames as the identifier of your payment, to using your BRS Membership number, overcomes all the issues. The letters q and q on both sides of your Membership Number are absolutely necessary, 

All Membership Nos. up-to 4 digits are OK - no zero(s) required for shorter numbers.

There is a full list of all Membership Numbers posted on the AVGC Notice Board in the hallway adjacent to the door into the bar.

Thanks for your help.

Any queries by email please

Mike Boden,

Senior's Treasurer. 

mbodenavgc@gmail.com

07956 679244

Date of The 2024 Seniors AGM, AGM Cup & Presentaions of Awards

The date of the 2024 AGM, AGM Cup & Presentation of Awards will be on March 11.  A formal notice and further details will follow in due course.

Rule Changes

1. Ball accidentally hits you

There is now no penalty if your ball accidentally hits you or your equipment – e.g., after a ricochet off a tree or bunker face under Rule 11.1a. This Rule has changed from two shots to one shot under the 2008 revisions and then to no penalty from the 2019 revisions.

 2. Loose impediments

Until 2019 you could only touch and remove stones from bunkers if a suitable Local Rule was in force but not touch any other loose impediments

either in bunkers or hazards as they were (now penalty areas). Now you can remove loose impediments in both bunkers and penalty areas, although if the ball moves in the process, you will still be penalised, so you must still take care.

 3. Default position on DMDs for distance information reversed

Until 2019 you needed a Local Rule to be able to use a Distance Measuring Device (DMD), like a rangefinder or golf watch, for distance information in a competition; now they are generally allowed under Rule 4.3 although Committees may still adopt a Local Rule prohibiting them if they so choose (very few do). And you must still be careful over certain features available on many rangefinders these days – for example, rangefinders with slope that measure elevation change are still prohibited in competition play.

 4. No penalty now for moving your ball when searching for it

Previously we all had to take extra care when searching for a ball - if you as the player stood on it and moved it or swished it with your club you would have been penalised. From 2019, there is no penalty for accidental movement under Rule 7.4, but you must replace the ball on its original spot, estimating it to the best of your ability if you can’t be 100 percent sure… and of course, search time is now three minutes not five.

 5. No penalty for accidental movement on the putting green

This has been available as an option via Local Rule from 2017, but from 2019 it became a Rule of Golf (13.1d) covering accidental movement of either ball or ball marker by any means (practice stroke, dropping something on it etc). You must replace the ball on its original spot before continuing.

6. Extra back-on-line unplayable ball relief available from bunkers

Until 2019 the only unplayable ball option to drop outside the bunker was to go back and play again under stroke and distance, which is usually quite time-consuming. Now an additional option is available by dropping back on line outside the bunker for an additional penalty stroke, so two. It may be rarely used, but worth bearing in mind if you’ve drawn a particularly horrible spot and bunker play is not your forte.

7. No additional penalty stroke for an accidental double or multiple hit

If you accidentally hit the ball more than once in a single stroke, there is no longer a penalty from 2019, the theory being that the result is usually not favourable, which is penalty enough. T C Chen famously suffered a double-hit penalty when contending for the 1985 US Open. We have had one letter from a reader saying someone accidentally double-hit a putt in his group and it went in, but 99 times out of a 100, a double-hit will not bring such good fortune. And it’s only for accidental rather than deliberate double or multiple hits, which still attract the general penalty under Rule 11.3 for deflecting a ball in motion.

Source: Golf Monthly November 2023

Changes to World Handicap System - January 2024

The R&A and the USGA have announced the first update to the World Handicap System™ (WHS™) as part of an ongoing review of the Rules of Handicapping™ and Course Rating System™ with a continued emphasis on accuracy, consistency and equity. The latest revisions will go into effect from 1 January 2024.

Many countries have seen significant increases in the number of scores being submitted for handicapping purposes since the WHS was introduced, reflecting golf’s broadening appeal. More than 100 million scores have been posted each year, unifying millions of golfers through a standard measure of playing ability. The 2024 update leverages the performance data gathered from around the world, in addition to feedback received from many of the 125 countries now using the system.Significant updates to the WHS include: 

• Inclusion of Shorter-Length Golf Courses Within the Course Rating System: The overall length requirements for Course Rating in the WHS will be significantly reduced. A set of tees on an 18-hole course may be as short as 1,500 yards [1,370 metres] to be eligible for a Course Rating and Slope Rating®, and a set of tees on a 9-hole course may be as short as 750 yards [685 metres]. This change is intended to expand the WHS to thousands of shorter length courses, including par-3 courses, and enable more golfers to obtain and use a Handicap Index.

• Use of an Expected Score for a Hole Not Played: Improvements have been made to the method used to handle holes not played, which will now be based on a player’s expected score rather than a score of net par. This new method will produce a 9-hole or 18-hole Score Differential that more accurately reflects a player’s ability. As golfers across the world are playing more 9-hole rounds, an expected score can also be used to convert a 9-hole round into an 18-hole Score Differential. For some countries, this means that 9-hole scores will be considered in the calculation of a player’s Handicap Index immediately after the day of play, rather than waiting to combine with another 9-hole score.

• Playing Conditions Calculation Adjustments Made More Frequent: The Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) has been modified to increase the likelihood of an adjustment for abnormal playing conditions. National associations were given discretion, beginning in July 2022, to introduce this revision within their computation platforms, which will be complete by 1 April 2024.

• Enhanced Guidance on Conducting a Handicap Review: The role of the Handicap Committee is vital to the success of the WHS and the Rules recommend that a Handicap Review is conducted regularly, or at least once a year to ensure a Handicap Index® remains reflective of a player’s ability. New reporting tools have been developed that national associations can incorporate into their handicapping software to assist Committees in conducting the review process effectively and consistently.

Source: R&A

Update from Seniors November Committee Meeting 

A few updates to share following this week's AVGC Seniors Committee meeting:

1. No Seniors Competition on Monday 4th December

Following the recent, very sad passing of Hugh Frood, the Committee has decided that, as a mark of respect, there will be no Seniors Competition on Monday 4th December. This is the day of Hugh's Funeral, details of which are on the noticeboard in the bar area for anyone wishing to attend.

Anyone wishing to play that day will need to be their own teetime.

2. Christmas Lunch & 9 Hole Competition on Monday 18th December

There has been a great take-up for this event so far - so good that it will now be held in the upstairs function room @ AVGC!

If anyone else would still like to attend, please book on IG for golf + lunch (booking open until 9th December) or for lunch only please contact Adrian Redford.

3. Competition Charging

Unfortunately, with the weather being so bad recently, most of our recent competitions have been 'carry only'.

The Committee has decided to make a change in the charging mechanism for competitions held on 'carry only' days - players will now only be charged when they check-in for competitions impacted by 'carry only' rather than the current mechanism of charging based on BRS entries the previous day.

4. AVGC Seniors Winter Pairs Knockout

Hopefully most people are now getting their matches arranged and enjoying fun, competitive golf.

The Committee restated the intention that this competition is to be played midweek unless agreed otherwise by all players in a match - any issues should be raised to me in the first instance.

It was acknowledged that the current Rules should be made clearer in the next iteration.

Any comments or questions please let me know.

Adrian King.

Starters Rota

The Starters Rota is now available under the heading Golf and sub heading Starters Rota.