First Up wrote: » If it's a competition (qualifying or not), a player has to submit a signed card. During Covid we have been filling in our own cards and another in the group tracks and confirms the score. But whoever is overseeing the competition still has to handle the cards afterwards.
Scoring in Stroke Play (Rule 3.3b) In view of concerns around handling and exchanging scorecards (which may be in paper or electronic form as already provided in the Rules), on a temporary basis, Committees may choose to allow methods of scoring in stroke play that do not strictly comply with Rule 3.3b or do not comply with the normal methods used under Rule 3.3b. For example: Players may enter their own hole scores on the scorecard (it is not necessary for a marker to do it). It is not necessary to have a marker physically certify the player’s hole scores, but some form of verbal certification should take place if at all possible. It is not necessary to physically return a scorecard to the Committee provided the Committee can accept the scores in another way.
RoadRunner wrote: » I don't like to see 2ball or extra large gaps between groups as part of the discussion surrounding return to golf. But lets not start the return to golf as being only 2 people allowed per 2 holes or something daft like that.
gypsy79 wrote: » Incorrect....maybe 1% of people with a positive test ends up in hospital (and that is clearly incorrect by the way). Even if I give you that....many young people have it and never get tested because they have no symptoms. The numbers and what the media report are wildly different. I have analysed the numbers that are supplied and nearly everything I have read in media is purposefully misinterpretting the numbers to scaremonger I will probably get banned for saying what you are saying is wrong!
ShivasIrons wrote: » Why not two balls and sufficient gaps? The answer is normally we won't get enough out on the course. This however is not true. What's more important is getting golfers around the course, i.e pace of play rather then getting them on the golf course. So, which is better 2 balls at 8 minutes or 4 balls at 10 minutes? One has about 15 golfers per hour and the other has 24 golfers. At the moment there is about 12.5 hours of usable daylight to play. How many golfers can play in that situation? The main reason behind slow play is the number of golfers on the course, the more golfers on the course the slower it is. How you control the number of golfers on the course is through starting times. When there is space on the golf course, golfers can move, when there isn't they can't and there is slow play. By having a one hole gap between groups, slow play is generally non existent. The starting gap should be the time it takes to play a hole. A 2 ball will play a par 4 in 8 minutes, 2 balls will play most courses, with minimal walks from green to tee, in 2 1/2 hours. A 4 ball won't play a hole in 10 minutes, a course will get clogged pretty quickly and long rounds are the result. 10 minute 4 balls on most courses lead to rounds over 4 hours and pushing 5 when a tee sheet is full. With 12.5 hours daylight, for 2 balls there is up to 10 hours available, which is 150 golfers or so. 150 golfers moving around the course with minimal delays too. For 4 balls this is 8 hours available, yes this is 192 golfers but a clogged golf course, much longer rounds and constant waits and delays. Which do you prefer, a round with no waiting or waiting all the time? The evidence for this is very clear from the reopening after the first lockdown, tee times a couple of minutes further apart and golfers reporting that it was only taking 3 hours to play a three ball, as soon as clubs could go back to normal spacing they did and straight away back to clogged courses. So 2 balls is not daft, further spacing between groups is also not daft. What is daft is not being able to see that decreasing gaps and increasing the size of groups clogs up golf courses and slows down play . From a virus standpoint, there will be much less interaction between 2 golfers over 2.5 hours, than 4 golfers over 4.5 hours and even with it much less likely to spread outdoors, 2 people is safer than 4 people. The safest way to play golf would be single players only, which shouldn't be dismissed out of hand if it was the only way golf could come back a little earlier.
First Up wrote: » Of course we must adapt but what you describe only works for prizes - not handicaps. To calculate Standard Scratch you need all scores and getting everyone's cooperation for that to work with emails is a big ask. We will see what can be done over time but in the short term, we would be better off with casual golf. Getting people safely around the course and clubhouse is enough to be going on with.
RGS wrote: Maybe I wasn't clear--all scores are recorded by the player on the digital scorecard and linked to our club software(Master Scoreboard) and then pushed onto the WHS platform, which is where the handicaps are managed.
opinionated3 wrote: » If your club has a problem with slow play that's their problem to sort out, not everyone else's. Our club was perfectly fine after an initial settling in period after the first lockdown last year. No "clogged course". We want normal golf to return, not some token two ball gesture. Most lads have a regular four ball and from a mental health point of view, they would like to get back to that. If we keep coming up with silly conciliatory suggestions for nphet to take advantage of, we'll never get back to normal.
ShivasIrons wrote: » So, what you're saying is that you want to use golf as a vehicle to meet up with your friends?
opinionated3 wrote: » Most lads have a regular four ball and from a mental health point of view, they would like to get back to that.
ShivasIrons wrote: » Why not two balls and sufficient gaps?
Raisins wrote: » Who knows what would happen to these lads mentally if they couldn’t play with their mates or they had to play in a two ball. This thread is like a parody. Two balls?...the cure is worse than the disease!
opinionated3 wrote: » Not totally but yeah, for me it is a huge part of the golfing experience. I haven't seen my three golfing buddies since last October. If we're gone to the realms of begrudging fourballs between friends, well,I really don't know what to say anymore��.
ShivasIrons wrote: » I never said there's anything wrong with that, in fact it's one of the great things about golf, the social aspect of it. I'm not begrudging fourballs between friends. But, if it was the only way that golf was allowed to open up was single play or two balls only, it shouldn't be dismissed as daft or mickey mouse, especially as both are a very common form of play anyway.
opinionated3 wrote: » I see your point from a "desperation" view..... As in we're so desperate to get back playing, we would probably accept any terms and conditions at this stage. Personally I would be quite dismissive of it actually. There's no need for it. There is no need for nphet to interfere with the normal functioning of our game. Golf is safe. We know that. So let it open as normal with no silly caveats.
bustercherry wrote: » Is that what NPHET is doing? Or is the case that golf Ireland advise what is possible based on government policy and guidelines. I don’t that the lads over at NPHET give much thought on how they can ruin golf for everyone.
RGS wrote: » The big problem is that sports Ireland take the NPHET recommendations and adapt them for sports. If NPHET state no more than 2 households can meet outdoors sports Ireland takes that and imposes it on the sports involved. The re opening in NI on 12 April is subject to the 2 household rule which confirms golf Ireland have not been able to amend the rules. It allows 2 balls every 8 minutes. Given the NI return date and rules I now believe we will reopen golf on the 12th with the same rule.
11521323 wrote: » Come April 2nd will Ireland be the only country on the planet with golf courses closed?
the greatest game wrote: » lads on here arguing over 2 balls 3 balls 4 balls.. god, its hard to read some of the rubbish. I was just want to play any sort of golf, which I am now pessimistic that it will happen in April.
AnBeagalltach wrote: » It’s easy to say that but the reality is that in a club with anything over 600 members , 2 balls is the exact same as no golf for many constrained to weekend only play. Especially with the pent up demand
