RGC NEWS - Spring is almost here! - Rathfarnham Golf Club

RGC NEWS
  Monthly News Update from Rathfarnham Golf Club

IN THIS ISSUE (10)

  Club News

Spring Events
 & Activities

                                 Spring is almost here!
Changes to 18
 Hole Course         So spring is just around the corner, despite prevailing weather
                     conditions, and planning for the 2019 golf season is well advanced.
                     The Captains' drive in, John & Sandra pictured above, was a fantastic
                     afternoon enjoyed in pleasant weather with great food and
Course Update        entertaining company. Minister Ross may have something to say
                     about our Captain John's driving habits though.
                     The winter leagues are in full swing. Members new year resolutions
 RGC Weather         on reducing their handicaps are being tested to the full while team
    App              managers pace the fairways considering their panels.
                     Over the next few weeks competitions will move from 9 to 12, 14 and
                     on to 18 hole formats by mid March with a significant change to the
                     paying route of the back nine being introduced in the coming weeks.
                     Even if the weather conspires against golf there is also plenty of
                     activities planned within the clubhouse, more anon.
                     The Golf Diary will be available for collection in the clubhouse next
                     week and this can also be downloaded from the website.
                     The development work on the course over the winter months is
                     almost complete and, as the afternoons lengthen, we hope that if you
                     haven't already dusted down the clubs for the new year, you will be
                     inspired to do so soon.
                     Please take the time to read on for more information.

CLUB NEWS
GOLF RULES NIGHT
Please note the date Monday 4 February, Anne O'Sullivan, R&A
and ILGU Rules Official will present a Golf Rules night at the
club commencing at 7.30pm. This is hugely relevant in light of
the 20 new rules of golf that came into effect on 1st January 2019.
LADIES TEA PARTY
Don your glad rags for the Ladies Afternoon Tea Party on Friday 15 February at
3pm followed by SINGING BINGO... Bingo, but not as you know it! Online book
opens at 10am on Thursday 31 January. Price 15.00 per person.
MARTY'S RGC QUIZ NIGHT
Fancy going 10 rounds with Marty? Then save the date for
Marty's annual quiz night, Friday 22 February at 7.30pm.
Tables of 4 for this fun evening testing your knowledge
of general knowledge, golf and Brexit.
CHARITY BRIDGE LUNCH
The Charity Bridge Lunch is on Monday 25 February. Details to follow.
GOLF CALENDAR 2019
The Golf Calender is currently being printed and will be available for collection
in the clubhouse by next weekend. A pdf copy of the calendar is available to view
on the website and if you would like a copy to download to your mobile devise
please email michael@rathfarnhamgolfclub.ie
NEW MEMBERS 2019
Do you have a family member, friend or work colleague interested in joining or
moving to a club closer to home?. The Club invites applications for Ordinary,
Five Day, Intermediate, Junior and Juvenile membership for the current year. To
find out more details please email michael@rathfarnhamgolfclub.ie
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
For regular updates on matters relevant to members and activities/events at the
Club, please check the Members Latest News page on the website.
WEATHER DELAYS
Where there are weather delays in opening the course, please note, that the
timesheet commences from the time that the course opens for play. If your tee
time was prior to the course opening you must re-book for an available time.

NEW COURSE LAYOUT

Dear members,

Finally we are ready to implement the proposed new course layout. We know
this seems daunting but it is actually quite simple once you get your head
around it.
All that’s really changing is that we are switching around the playing order of
the two 4 hole loops i.e. we will now play the new holes 14,15,16 and 17 as holes
number 10,11,12 and 13 and holes 10,11,12 and 13 will become holes 14,15,16 and 17.
The main thing to remember is that after playing hole 9 you then turn left and
head up the new holes.
The reason for doing this is that it allows for a much smoother flow through the
course and that during the season we have the opportunity to play 12,14 and 18
hole competitions on the same day without having to close off the 1st tee for
extended periods. This will both increase the playing time available to
members and potentially increase revenue for the club.
The new course will come into effect with the 12 hole competition on

                             2 FEBRUARY 2019.

Please view the attachment circulated by email on Thursday 24 which is a
guideline as to how the new layout for the 18 hole, 14 hole and 12 hole courses
will work.
We are in the process of arranging new tee markers which will be coming
shortly.
We hope these changes will quickly become 2nd nature to you all and help to
enhance your playing experience in Rathfarnham Golf Club.

Many thanks and enjoy your golf,

CAPTAIN JOHN & LADY CAPTAIN SANDRA

     13th Hole changes to 17th Hole            17th Hole changes to 13th Hole

COURSE UPDATE
 The General Committee has approved a significant investment in the course for 2018/19 and
this is an essential part of maintaining and enhancing playing standards in RGC. Members will
undoubtedly have noticed the volume of work that is being carried out around the course by
Eddie and his team. Hopefully, it will be open for all to enjoy in the coming months.
Tee Boxes - new tee boxes have been completed on the 4th and 14th (new layout) with the
existing sod removed and relocated productively on the course.
Bunkers - The installation of a permeable rubber membrane has continued with 2nd, 14th,
16th (x3) and 17th (x3) being completed recently and opening for play in the next 6 weeks.
Fairways - the recent purchase of a 'Shockwave' machine has already been used to good effect
to improve drainage across the course, particularly on the 8th, 9th and 11th fairways.
Irrigation- The benefits of the investment in irrigation thus far in the approaches to the greens
is evident with the quality of turf improving significantly on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th and 18th
holes. This provides excellent definition of the course playing surfaces and will be expanded
over the coming months to include holes 3, 8, 9, 10, 14 & 17.
STRI Visit - At the December visit the STRI acknowledged the progress being achieved across
various areas of the course. The transition of our greens from traditional grasses such as Bent
to finer grasses such as Rye and Fescue continues. this will be accelerated in 2019 with the
purchase of a new 'Overseeding' machine. This investment will ensure that members will
continue to enjoy excellent playing surfaces without invasive work on the greens.
              The Course Proud initiative continues. Please remember the 3 R's -
                           Replace Divots - Rake Bunkers - Repair Pitch Marks
Member feedback is always appreciated and if you have observations to make on any aspect
of your Course please don;t hesitate to contact a member of the Course Committee.

 DAVIS WeatherLink 2.0
 Do you want precise information on the
 prevailing weather at the Club?
 Did you know we have our own weather station
 on the course?
 Find out how to check the weather prior to your
 round by downloading DAVIS WeatherLink 2.0 to
 your mobile device.
 Iphone download on AppStore

 Android download on Playstore