The Match Committee met yesterday to review current Golf Operations conditions, particularly analysing recent statistics relating to demand, average rounds per member and the booking system, as well as member feedback.
As an indication of the demand at present, there are well over 200 Members logged in each evening to access the draw. It’s clear the 90 morning tee spots are the most highly sought-after, meaning more than 100 players are missing their desired time each day. This is despite the fact that over 30% of the playing Membership can’t access the club currently.
The Committee has agreed to make some adjustments to the Golf Operations conditions, which are as follows:
- Competitions will be reintroduced for golf, starting Thursday, August 12
- Competitions will be run each day, except Wednesdays, from 6:45am until 1pm, social play will follow.
- Wednesdays will be social play only, with the first tee time 9am.
- On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays there will be a Women’s competition and a Men’s competition. There will be no team events. On Saturdays access is only for full 5 Members.
- The MiScore app may now be used by Avondale members as an option to taking a scorecard from the Pro Shop. Please see the Golf Operations section of today’s newsletter for specific instructions for installing and using the MiScore app. Please note that the use of this app is on a temporary trial basis, during this lockdown period.
- Waitlists will be introduced for each day of the week, expanding their use from the current Saturdays and Sundays. Members who are on each waitlist will be allocated a priority booking for that day in the next week. Please ensure that you stipulate your desired time on the waitlist, as this is what will be applied to the following booking.
- The current limits on playing each week will be amended to include waitlist bookings.
- Full 5 Members are entitled to a total of 4 bookings a week and all other playing Members are entitled to 3 bookings a week. Please note these total bookings include any waitlist bookings which allow for a priority booking for that day in the following week. For example, a Full 5 Member may have 4 playing bookings in one week, or 3 playing bookings and 1 waitlisted reservation with automatic entitlement to the next week as well. In other words, if you have enjoyed your full quota for a week, you are not entitled to any automatic priority bookings for the week after.
- For the purpose of the priority booking for that day the week after, the waitlists will close one hour after the start of the draw. This is designed to fairly reward those who have missed out on their desired golf. In the event of a spot being available, the waitlist will still autofill up to 6pm the night before the round. Please ensure that you are specific about the times you wish to play so you are auto filled into a time that does suit you.
All other current Golf Operation conditions will continue as they stand, including Medley tee access all week, and only Full 5 Members on Saturdays. Intervals will remain at 7 minutes. For the purpose of booking limitations, the week will run Monday to Sunday.
The Committee expects that demand will be high for competition tee times. Despite this placing more pressure on our reduced staffing resources, we are responding to the feedback of many Members who have expressed interest in a return to competition golf.
Please note that Members’ bookings must be made only by those players who are securing tee times together. That is, other Members’ log in details are not to be used to enhance the chances of securing tee times. The Match Committee has made the decision that bookings made under other Members’ accounts will be removed and replaced with Members who are on the waitlist. We are aware of bookings of this nature already made and will let them stand for the next 4 days of golf, however from tonight’s draw the new rule will apply. Further action will be considered by the Match Committee if this practice continues to occur.
Members outside the 10km radius of Avondale are enjoying the temporary reciprocal arrangements. I am pleased to announce that we have also been successful in adding The Lakes Golf Club to the list of temporary reciprocal clubs.
Bookings for all the reciprocal club tee times will be available on Wednesday night each week. Please see the Golf Operations section of today’s newsletter for details.
Given the significant demand for reciprocals that is currently exceeding supply, the waitlists from last week will be used as the starting point for bookings in the coming weeks. Please note that Members enjoying these reciprocal club arrangements should only make one booking per week. Any additional requests for golf can be registered by using the waitlists, which will be applied to any subsequently vacant tee times.
We are working with these clubs to increase our tee times, as well as working with other clubs to add to our list of temporary reciprocals. Unfortunately, this is a difficult task given every club’s current battles with demand.
A reminder please that all correspondence about reciprocal bookings should be directed to Golf Operations via golfops@avondalegolfclub.com.au. Please also note that Members are not to contact reciprocal golf clubs directly.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Hayley or me if any of these instructions require clarity. I accept that the system is becoming more detailed, however the Match Committee believes these measures present the fairest access to all Members at this time.
I trust that you are enjoying some golf during this very challenging lockdown period.
Mark Bayliss
captain@avondalegolfclub.com.au
Filed under: App News
