Chip Shots from the Captain

Welcome to this first attempt at Chip Shots from my perspective.

Coming up to 4 months in the job and I continue to listen and learn from Peter and Tony, both very capable past Captains. It is a wonderful time at Port at the moment. Unseasonal rain has meant that for this time of the year when we should be struggling with dry fairways, we are fortunate to have arguably one of the best courses in the district, thanks of course Steve and staff. The work on the 8^th bunkers nears completion and they look fantastic and I for one look forward to playing the hole. Also the 14^th tee area is a pleasure to use now.

What I have become of aware of, is that the same issues face every Captain, and I am certainly no different. Slow play, a universal problem that plagues not only Portarlington, but after casual chats with other Captains around the area, every club battles to improve and monitor what frustrates all golfers. We are quick to say so and so is slow or a certain group is holding up the field. Again, if you have a legitimate complaint, tell no-one but myself or a member of the mens golf committee.

It may interest you to know that a four to four and a quarter hour round is considered a luxury at most clubs, so if you are out there around that time, is it so bad. Golf = sport = fun with mates.

We are trialing a suspension of the call up’s on the Par 3’s. I urge all players to be patient. Use and allow this period to adjust and give it a fair chance to succeed. We are the only club to persist with call ups and it seems a forward step to trial and hopefully remove them permanently. Again, I ask for a concerted effort in the next 6 weeks to make this change workable.

Our greens will undergo a bi-annual coring on Tuesday March 8^th, and the mens Tuesday round will be played on Thursday 10^th.

We are well into the annual events and congratulations to the winners so far. Official opening day is March 6^th, an event that all members are invited to participate in. Junior Pennant and Veterans Pennant have begun and we wish all players a great season.

The syllabus is at the printers at the moment and should be available shortly. In the meantime, the months events are in the foyer and pro-shop.

My thanks to my Vice-Captain, Jim Pyke and golf committee members, some are recycled and some are new. Each member gives their time to make your golf better, so give them thanks sometime, they are working for you.

 Good luck to members and visitors for a successful 2011

Brian Hazell