MESSAGE FROM THE CAPTAIN   TOP

Best wishes to you all for 2002 and I hope you are all out practicing for the start of the Golfing Season as I am. Of course I need the practice!

With the resignation of Tom Dunn as Secretary/Treasurer from the 31^st December 2001 I am pleased to report that the transition to the new arrangements have occurred relatively smoothly. The Islay Links Newsletter has not been a priority due to the upheaval but I hope this brings you all up-to-date.  John MacIntyre Jnr has accepted the roll of Interim Secretary/Treasurer.  Past Captain Alan Hyslop has agreed to be Assistant Secretary with his home address becoming the mailing address for Islay Golf Club.  The Club telephone has also been installed in Alan’s house.   David Brodie has agreed to be Assistant Treasurer and will support John with all matters financial including all the Bank business. John MacIntyre has managed to establish an office in his place of work for the Club’s computer and database etc.The new address for Islay Golf Club is 25 Charlotte Street, Port Ellen PA42 7DF and the telephone number is 01496 300094. You will note that John MacIntyre wants to be considered as Interim Secretary as he does not feel he has the spare time available to do the job justice. However I have every confidence in John filling the roll until a more permanent appointment can be made. I would therefore welcome names, from the membership, of suitable candidates for the post of Secretary. The roll of Treasurer will now be separated from the Secretaries duties and responsibilities as the workload, with an increasing membership, is too great for one person.

You can contact me at home address at: Springfield, Duchal Road, Kilmacolm PA13 4AY or Telephone Number 01505 872706 or my email address gordon@hikyl.freeserve.co.uk.

We have received notification from the SGU that the Centralised Handicapping System roll-out will be deferred until the end of the 2001 playing season and will now be officially launched in April 2002. This primarily for two reasons:

(1) Data Protection Act

Islay Golf Club has only submitted Names and Addresses to the SGU not dates of birth or any other information that was requested. Members will receive a letter direct from the SGU issuing their Scottish Golf smart card and unique Scottish Golf identification number. It will be with this letter that members will be given the option to opt in or out of receiving further information on member’s benefits that are on offer

(2) Players Score Input/Away Score Returns to Home Clubs

The SGU have been experiencing technical difficulties with the formatting of software to accommodate all the

existing software systems that some golf clubs have installed at great expense.

It would appear that they are close to resolving this problem and it would seem that the solution found should be of benefit to us all.

With the introduction of the centralised handicapping system an integral part will be the recording of members who do not summit a minimum of 3 cards in qualifying competitions either home or away during the full playing season in the case of Islay G.C home members the review period will start in the April 2002 season

Players who do not meet this minimum requirement will have their handicap Starred

This means that player will be unable to enter competitions in which a CONGU handicap is required. This includes official club stroke-play and match-play competitions and any qualifying competitions at other golf clubs.

The players Starred handicap may, however be used for social and the like and it will still be valid where a handicap certificate is required to gain access to play at another course.

Where Junior members who hold a CONGU handicap of 28 or below they are subjected to the same SSS and handicapping scheme as ordinary gentlemen members.

To regain a CONGU compliant handicap it is necessary to return a minimum of three cards in accordance with Clause 15.3 of the Standard Scratch Score and Handicapping Scheme.

Further updates will be made in our Web page.

LADIES STANDARD SCRATCH   TOP

The standard scratch for the course played from the ladies tees is in the process of being reassessed, the results of this assessment should be known before the start of the 2002 playing season. The Ladies Golf Union have recommended as an interim measure that a Standard Scratch Score of 70 be used until such time we receive their full assessment.

COURSE DEVELOPMENTS   TOP

Simon Freeman and his team have been extremely busy over the last few months and a number of course developments are ongoing.

These include a new hole layout at the 12^th with a new tee and green.   (New 12th green to left of existing green)

The new tee and green should be in operation during 2003 season. The new green is positioned to the left of the existing green, which can just be seen in the picture below.

(View from New 12^th tee position)

Other course developments are ongoing and include the relaying of bunkers at the 5^th (by popular demand) and the introduction of new brass hole plates at each tee. Machrie continues to develop and we thank Malcolm King for his continued investment in the course and Simon and his team for the ongoing hard work throughout the year.

(Approach to New 12^th Green)

2002 SEASON    TOP

Here are a few early warning dates for your new 2002 diaries: -

Club Matches:

Gents Monthly Medals will be played on the 1^st Sunday of the month except August.

The Club’s web site can be found at www.islay.golf.btinternet.co.uk.

To distinguish between members with email facility only and those with internet access would members who are able please visit the web site and record the visit with comments in the ‘guest book’. This way we can save postage once a proper email address book is completed. 

TOM DUNN    TOP

Tom Dunn would like to thank personally all Club Members for their kind wishes and messages of thanks following his resignation as Club Secretary/Treasurer.

2001 CLUB COMPETITION WINNERS   TOP