Welcome back!

The golf course and facilities re-opened today, Monday 9th November, please see updated regulations below:

UPDATED RULES @ BUILTH WELLS GOLF CLUB (FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2020)

COURSE CONDITION

It is important that members understand that only essential maintenance has been carried out on the golf course; it is however in excellent condition thanks to the efforts of Matthew, Gustavo and John.

 Due to vastly reduced income for 2020 the greens budget has been reduced greatly. This will result in some annual maintenance being delayed or cancelled.

 PLAYING ON THE GOLF COURSE

·        Play (tee times) will be managed by the Professional who will remind members of the guidance on social distancing and safe play

·        The guidance on playing the course will be posted on the Pro Shop window, club website and inside the notice board alongside the Pro Shop

·        Tee times have to be booked, either online via the website (member booking – member log in details are available for each member please request your log in from Simon) or via telephone 01982 553296 option 2. Please do not turn up at the golf club without having booked a tee time. The tee booking system also acts as a track & trace system for the Covid 19 virus should it be required

·        Tee times will be at 10 minute intervals

·        Single ball, 2 ball, 3 ball and 4 ball play are permitted providing current government/Wales Golf guidelines are followed (please see below)

·        Changing rooms are now open, social distancing rules must be adhered to; showers remain CLOSED until further notice.

·        Lockers – members are now permitted to use their lockers.

·        The flag must remain in the hole at all times, do not remove it from the hole under any circumstances. A device has been fitted to the flagstick to help players  remove the ball from the hole with a putter, there is no need to touch any part of the flagstick or hole

·        Bunker rakes have been removed from the course; ball washers have been covered and are out of use

·        Putting green – putting green flags have been removed

·        Practice ground – no more than 3 members on the practice ground at any time ensuring social distancing; please use your own practice balls, no practice balls will be available from the pro shop

·        Temporary local rules relating to bunkers are displayed on the black board alongside the Pro Shop

·        Club Competitions – club competitions continue, please see the online booking system for the updated schedule.

·        Face coverings – MUST be worn in any indoor area whether that is the clubhouse, Pro Shop, changing rooms etc.

 Please, please respect the rules in place to ensure members/visitors safe playing of the game of golf.  

From Friday 4th December at 6.00pm:

Clubhouses, restaurants and bars (see below for additional guidelines)

Bars and Restaurants - The Welsh Government have announced that hospitality premises will be required to put the following measures in place:

· premises should be providing table service only – people will be unable to stand at the bar to drink

· all food and drink should be consumed at tables

· physical distancing measures will be applied, such as tables being spaced out

· limit to groups of up to 4 people (not including any children aged under 11 ) unless they are from a single household. You may meet with people outside your household, as long as you maintain physical distancing from them and the size of the group does not exceed 4 people

· face coverings must be worn other than when seated to eat or drink

· you will be asked to give contact details for purposes of tracing people in the event of an outbreak being linked to the venue

· there will be no live music and TV broadcasts will be kept at low volume

· pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will HAVE to close by 6.00pm and will NOT be allowed to serve any alcohol. After 6.00pm they will be able to provide a takeaway service for food and non alcoholic drinks. This will include the Golf Club restaurant and bar facilities.

These measures are due to be reviewed on Thursday 17th December 2020.

'Circuit Breaker' Lockdown

Good afternoon,

I’m sure many of you would have seen yesterday’s Welsh Government announcement (Wales Golf statement below)regarding a so called ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown, sadly this will result in Builth Wells Golf Club having to close at 6pm on Friday 23rd October, re-opening on Monday 9th November. Therefore the golf course will be CLOSED for this period as will the Pro Shop and clubhouse, whilst the changing rooms will remain locked. Diego has the opportunity to offer food on a ‘takeaway’ service, this is entirely Diego’s decision, if he decides to do so a takeaway menu will be sent out.

The club competitions arranged for this coming weekend have been cancelled, Winter League will NOT start on Sunday 8th November as was the intention, it is hoped to start winter league on Sunday 15th November however this will depend on what restrictions are in place when reopening on Monday 9th November. The Ainsleigh Jones Trophy (seniors) scheduled for Monday 9th November has been moved to Monday 16th November.

The online booking system has been amended whereby no tee times are available from 6.00pm on Friday 23rd October – Sunday 8th November; tee times can be booked from Monday 9th November onwards (dependant on whatever restrictions are put in place).

Course maintenance – we are awaiting confirmation that the scheduled greens maintenance (verti draining) can take place on Monday 26th October as planned, the greens should hopefully have recovered by the time the golf course reopens on 9th November.

This is a very disappointing announcement given that golf is played outside in the fresh air, however we look forward to reopening on Monday 9th November, in the meantime stay safe and look after yourselves.

Wales Golf released the statement below:

The First Minister has announced a circuit-breaker lockdown to take place between Friday 23rd October at 6 pm until Monday 9th November. It will apply to everyone living in Wales and will supersede all local restrictions currently in place.

The Welsh Government has stated ‘Golf and tennis clubs will be required to close during the period of the lockdown.’

The clear stay at home message means that all non-essential retail and leisure are to close during this lockdown period. ‘Your exercise should start and finish from your home and you should exercise alone or with a member of your household’

Wales Golf will provide a further update when information becomes available.

Memorial Open Team of Three Competition

The final Open event of a very strange 2020 was the Memorial Team of Three Competition; 2 best scores to count on all holes apart from 6, 13 & 18 where all 3 scores to count, 90% handicap, stableford.

33 teams entered the competition, special thanks to Ludlow Golf Club members who had 6 teams and Shrewsbury Golf Club members who had 2 teams, thank you for your support.

The 2020 Memorial Trophy winners were local members, Tom Offa, Aaron Evans and Cairan Price playing off 14, 5 & 11 respectively; they scored 85 points (7 under the par of 78 points), runners up with a score of 83 points were Darryl Wood, Andrew Claridge and Jack Hammond also home club members.

MEMORIAL COMPETITION RESULTS

Winning the ladies section were Lady Captain, Hayley Price, Sherrie Edwards and Lisa Hughes with 77 points, congratulations to all the winners and a huge thank you to everyone that supported the Open event.

Stay safe and we hope to see you in 2021!

72 Club Draw September 2020

THE SEPTEMBER 72 CLUB DRAW HAS TAKEN PLACE, THE LUCKY WINNERS ARE SHOWN BELOW:

   1st               JOHN PARKER                                    £100

   2nd             GRAHAM PARKER                                     £80

   3rd              MO INGLIS                                                   £60

   4th              JOHN & SHEILA SAER                 £40

   5th              MIKE & CELIA SPEAKE                                                              £20

ANYONE WISHING TO JOIN THE 72 CLUB PLEASE ASK IN THE PRO SHOP OR SECRETARY'S OFFICE. THE COST IS £24.00 PER YEAR WITH 4 DRAWS PAYING OUT A TOTAL OF £1,000 PLUS IN PRIZE MONEY.

Spring Open - John Jones Trophy

The re scheduled Spring Open 4 Ball Better Ball stableford took place on Saturday 12th September 2020 following its postponement in May.

52 pairs entered the competition with the men playing for the fabulous John N. Jones Trophy; numerous visiting golfers commented on the condition of the golf course with one group stating “the course is the best we have seen it in 30 years and the greens are the best we have played on this year”.

Scoring was very tight at the top in the men’s competition - the 2020 winners were Peris Hughes and Stephen Payne with a score of 43 points, they pipped playing partners Thomas Edwards and Matthew Bufton on the back nine also with 43 points, in 3rd place also with 43 points was John Parker and Andrew Evans.

Peris Hughes & Stephen Payne 2020 winners - John Jones Trophy

The ladies competition saw an outstanding score of 47 points posted by Lady Captain, Hayley Price and Club Champion, Sherrie Edwards; playing off 90% of 11 and 5 respectively. Unfortunately the trophy was for the men’s section only. Runners up with an excellent 39 points were Lisa Hughes and Lindsay Jones.

SPRING OPEN 4 B/B/B RESULTS

Covid 19 update Monday 14th September 2020

Following Friday 11th September’s announcement on the tightening of Covid 19 restrictions the following statement has been released by Wales Golf:

CLARIFICATION

The Welsh Government have introduced a tightening of the COVID-19 restrictions from Monday 14th of September:  

• A maximum of six people from the extended household bubble will be able to meet indoors at any one time. This rule applies in clubhouses including restaurants and bar facilities. Please note: Children under 11 will not be counted in the six people.

• It will be compulsory for people over the age of 11 to wear a face-covering in public indoor space such as professional shops & clubhouses.

• Face coverings will not be required by customers in pubs or restaurants (E.G Clubhouse bar and restaurants areas)

• Up to 30 people can still meet up outside

Local authorities are being given more power, so it is extremely important you keep up to date with the latest guidance for your local area and implement such changes in your club/facility risk assessment. 

Therefore as of Monday 14th September face coverings WILL be required in the Pro Shop, Clubhouse, Changing rooms and indoor areas at Builth Wells Golf Club; face coverings are NOT required when eating or drinking!

As per the statement above – Local Authorities have been given more power to deal with premises, they are also carrying out regular visits, please adhere to the rules, they are not our rules they are set by the Welsh government, whatever you think of them they are there for the protection of staff, members, customers and the wider public.

Please remember, if you are showing any symptoms of Covid 19 i.e. high temperature, dry cough, loss of smell/taste you should self isolate and certainly shouldn’t be playing golf or mixing with people.

Heart of Wales Trophy

The final day of the 2020 Builth Wells Golf Club Open Weekend saw the playing of the Heart of Wales Trophy, individual stableford, full handicap. The winner of this lovely trophy could be either lady or man as the best score against standard scratch wins the trophy.

A field of 108 players took part with scoring very tightly packed; overall winner on the day was home club player Jon Samuel with 40 points playing off 6 handicap, in doing so reducing his handicap to 5! Runner up with 39 points was Chris Offa playing off a handicap of 9, 3rd place overall was Sherrie Edwards, the leading female, with a score of 38 points playing off a handicap of 5.

Sherrie Edwards and Jon Samuel - Heart of Wales ladies winner & overall winner 2020

HEART OF WALES TROPHY RESULTS

Nearest the Pin 5th hole - Patrick Clinton (Stonebridge)

Nearest the Pin 15th hole - Ceri Jones (Llandrindod Wells)

2’s winners - 26 players scored a two - £6.50 per two

Hugh Vaughan Mixed Greensomes

The third day of the 2020 Open Weekend saw the playing of the Hugh Vaughan Mixed Greensomes; format, greensomes, medal, 1/2 combined handicap - a minimum of 6 drives per player must be used.

40 pairs entered the competition with some excellent scoring taking place on a golf course in excellent condition.

The Hugh Vaughan Cup winners were Lady Captain, Hayley Price and her brother Wynford Mills with a fine score of 78 - 15.5 = 62.5, runners up once again (runners up in 2019) were Lisa Hughes and Lee Bullock with another good score of 75 - 9.5 = 65.5, third place went to regular visiting pair Tina & Ian Kinsey (Hurlston Hall) with 84 - 18 = 66.

Wynford Mills & Hayley Price, Hugh Vaughan Cup winners 2020

HUGH VAUGHAN CUP RESULTS

The gross competition was won by regular visitors, Elsbeth & Malcolm Morton (Formby & Formby Ladies) with a score of 75, runners up were Sherrie Edwards and 13 year old son Thomas Edwards with 79.