While the Winter Course is in operation, the following rule is in effect at Westray Golf Club:
A ball lying on any closely mown area in The General Area may, without penalty, be lifted, cleaned and placed within 6 inches (150mm) of where it originally lay, but not nearer the hole and not in a penalty area or on a putting green.
Closely mown area: putting green and fairway
General Area: within the boundary of the course
6 inches: Approximately the length of a scorecard.
With our weather, it’s often quite late that you decide you might want to play in a competition. For the moment, Entry to some competitions will still be open on the day of the competition. We hope we can continue with this policy as long as it is not abused.
You must commit to entering and paying before you start your round on the day. You cannot go out, play and then decide that your score is good enough and then enter. Nor can you commit to entering and then decide to pull out after a bad round. Ideally, register via the app and pay in the box before you play, or at least register on the app or pay. Make sure you are clear to your marker that you are playing a competition round before you hit your tee shot on the first hole.
All cards must be submitted for handicapping and all entry fees must be paid.
Also note: you cannot play or practice on the course before your competition round. You can hit onto the course from the practice ground and chip and putt around the practice green.
If this honesty system is abused the trail for this will end and all entries will be required the day before the competition date. It would be a pity, because it is convenient for us to spot a gap in the weather and decide to play.
Ladies Gross: June Harcus
Ladies Nett: Suzanne Stout
Gents Gross: Craig Drever
Gents nett: Stephen Hagan
Winner: Simon Parry
A new penalty area has been marked on the course with red stakes around the willows on the 7th hole. If your ball lies in this area you may drop outside the penalty area under penalty of one stroke.
In general, a drop is taken within two club lengths of the point where the ball last crossed the line of the penalty area (the reference point). Remember that the burn on the 7th is also an unmarked lateral penalty area, the edge of which is the bank of the burn. The other option is to drop (under penalty) the ball as far back as you like, keeping the reference point and the pin in line.
You do not have to find the ball to take relief under penalty, but you should be certain that your ball came to rest inside the red stakes.
Scottish Golf have sent out an email asking all members to register for the new Scottish Golf App. For this you need your CDH or membership number. They ask you to contact your club. Unfortunately, we are still locked out of the system at the moment, so I cannot provide you with these details. The new system is supposed to be up by the 14th January.
