Parklands Golf Club

The AGM for the Parklands Vets Section was held in the clubhouse this morning and one of the most significant changes agreed at the meeting was a change of name. Forthwith, the Section will be known as the ‘Seniors Section’. The section continues to be a mixed section. Along with the name change, there was a new constitution agreed, a copy of which will be placed in the clubhouse for members to read at their leisure. Happy golfing.

If you are playing golf tomorrow or later this week, don’t forget that the new Rules of Golf apply from midnight tonight. So if you have done nothing about learning the changes, you will need to spend some time familiarising yourself with the changes before you turn up for your next competition. Good luck

INTRODUCTION

The new Rules of Golf 2019 take effect on 1st January 2019. The key changes include:

• Penalty Area – an area from which relief with a 1 shot penalty is allowed (formerly ‘Water Hazard’). Still defined as either yellow or red.
• Relief Area – the area in which the ball must be dropped (and come to rest) when taking relief under a rule.
• Reference Point – the point from which the size of the Relief Area is measured.
• General Area – anywhere on the course except Teeing areas, Penalty areas, Bunkers and Greens (formerly ‘Through the Green’)
• Temporary Water – formerly ‘Casual Water’
  

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Joe Gray who was a former member of Parklands Golf Club and who will be remembered by many of the regulars who played golf in the Sunday morning Men’s Competitions.  Joe died peacefully on Christmas Eve. Joe’s funeral is Tuesday 8th January at West Road crematorium at 3.00pm. The full notice from the Chronicle – GRAY JOSEPH COLLINGWOOD Joe (Wideopen) Peacefully in hospital on December 24th, aged 68 years. Dearly loved husband of Val, dear stepdad of Tracey, father-in-law of Ian, a much loved ‘grandad Joe’ to Christopher, dear brother of Michael and brother-in-law to Kath. Friends please meet for service at the West Road Crematorium on Tuesday January 8th at 3.00pm. Family flowers only please donations in lieu may be sent for Cancer Research UK C/o Melrose Funeral Services, 39 Market Street, Dudley, NE23 7HS

The Vets players of the year were announced at the Annual Dinner and Presentation night last Wednesday.

The photograph shows Peter Clark receiving his trophy as the men’s winner. The Lady winner was Mary Wright who could not attend to collect her trophy on the night. Well done to you both.

All the photographs of the presentation can be viewed by clicking the following link to launch Flikr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/100735050@N04/albums/72157698307940460

With 70 members and partners sitting down to dine on a 3-course meal last night, Parklands was filled to capacity. The Vets annual dinner and presentation night was well attended and well organised, and Lynn and the staff worked hard all day to prepare and serve a traditional Christmas fare. The trophy presentation was well attended with most of the winners collecting their trophies on the night. A generous amount of donations ensured a wide distribution of raffle prizes. Thanks to all who helped to make the occasion go so well.

Yesterday our Lady Chairman (and Northumberland County Captain), Candy Brown, had the great pleasure of handing over a cheque for £600 to the Maggie’s Centre at the Freeman Hospital. The proceeds from donations from her Chairman’s day at Parklands were combined with the County Event for the Durnell Trophy held in June, which always go to the county captain’s chosen charity.
She picked Maggie’s Newcastle as her charity this year as it is such a warm and happy place that supports so many people. Maggie’s provides free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their family and friends “I have fond memories of my times there with my best friend, also called Maggie, who sadly is no longer with us.”

The Presentation Evening for the Northumbria Junior Golf League was held last Sunday night at Whitley Bay Golf Club. To cap off a great year for our junior team, we were proud to see one of our team players, Ben Jones, receive the Frank Dobson Award Junior for League Player of the Year 2018 – well done Ben – a superb achievement.

We are all aware that the changes to the rules of golf which will come into effect on the 1st January will make many of us have to unlearn the past and embrace some quite fundamental changes. The term Water Hazard disappears and is replaced with Penalty Area; we can remove objects from bunkers without having to distinguish between natural and man-made objects; we can take relief from bunkers if we can’t play out (for the cost of two strokes) and many more. Most of the rules are common sense and are designed to speed up the game. The one which will be the most difficult to manage will be – only 3 minutes to look for the ball (currently 5 mins). We all can relate to instances where the 5-minute rule has been broken, so to impose 3 minutes on yourself will take a lot of self-discipline.

I can thoroughly recommend the R&A app available for iPhone or Android.

If you have played the course in the last week, you will have noticed the fitting tribute made by our green staff on the 11th green …. well done guys, proud to be seen at Parklands.