2013 Members’ Information Package

A Message from Your Members' Executive

It is that time of year again to welcome back our returning members and extend a warm welcome to our new members at The Canadian Golf & Country Club.  We can't wait to see you on the course or in the clubhouse. We know you will enjoy this wonderful golf course and the best practice facility in Eastern Ontario.

 Please read on to discover more about the many events and competitions that you can participate in to test your skills, whatever your level, and meet others who share your love for the game. 

 2013 promises to be a terrific year at the Canadian Golf & Country Club so check our Members area of the Website, mark your calendars and watch for events to sign up.  They will also be  posted on the Members'  Board located in the hallway outside the locker rooms.

Contents: Members Association Executive

                Introduction to the Canadian

                Ladies’ Day

                RCGA Rules

                Establishing your Factor - Equitable Stroke Control

                Hole-in-one Insurance

                Events

2013 Member Events Calendar - Click here to view!

Your Member`s  Executive is here to help make your golf at the Canadian Golf & Country Club enjoyable so please feel free to contact us through the member’s area on the website.

 2013  Members'  Executive

Introduction:

A wide variety of golf events (both fun and competitive) have become fixtures at the Canadian Golf and Country Club.  These events are open to all members, including restricted members and Juniors.  They are generally designed to accommodate all skill levels from the beginner to the more accomplished among us. This document provides a brief overview of these events and you are encouraged to consult your Member’s Calendar on our Website for dates and times.  Sign-Up Forms are available well in advance of the events and descriptions of the events follow later in this document.

In addition to our Club events, there are also a wide variety of competitive and fun events (invitational tournaments, mixed events etc...) taking place at other clubs around the city and the region that might be of interest to you. Notices are posted in the locker rooms, on the notice boards outside the locker rooms and on the website, so check these out from time to time and sign up early.

Ladies’ Day:  Thursday is Ladies’ Day at the Canadian.  All Lady Members are welcome to join in.  Eighteen hole golf starts at 9:00 am in May and September and usually at 8:00 am in June, July & August. This year, some of our Ladies Trophy Tournaments are being held on Thursdays.  More later about this.  Nine hole golfers are booked on the East Course at a time which allows them to join everybody for lunch.  We will have lots of new games for both groups.  Our mandate is good golf plus good fun for all. Please sign up in the Locker Room.  We emphasize signing up for every Thursday you can play.  This will help to keep us organized. 

Before you head out to the course, here are a few words on some rules.

RCGA Rules of Golf:

All golf events at the Canadian Golf and Country Club are conducted according to the RCGA Rules of Golf, as modified from time to time by Local Rules (which are located on the Members’ Board and the Handicap Book at the Computer.  General Conditions of Play are there as well. ). Summer Rules are in effect unless extreme conditions occur. For those interested, official rule books can be purchased via the Golf Canada website.  All participants in events have an obligation to themselves and to the field (other participants) to uphold these rules.   We hope to offer rules seminars from time to time.  Keep an eye on bulletin boards and newsletters for dates.

Establishing your Handicap/Factor:    

In order to compete in and qualify for prizes at club events (and also to compete in outside events) it is essential to establish a valid "handicap". It is very easy to do. The Canadian Golf and Country Club maintains a computer-based handicapping system. Simply enter a minimum of 5 rounds to establish your handicap. It is expected that Canadian members will enter their score for every round played (as soon as possible) to ensure your handicap remains accurate. We also have a Handicap Committee to provide guidance on all matters relating to handicapping. There is a Handicap binder beside the computer as well as a brochure from Golf Canada which is available for all Members “All You Need to Know”.  It details the requirements and outlines your responsibilities as a golfer.  The system is only as fair as the golfers who use it and assumes that you will be honest, try to make the best possible score on every hole, and submit every acceptable score for peer review.

Members who choose not to maintain a handicap are of course, still welcome to play in our fun events but cannot be eligible to win any prizes or trophies that may be awarded.  (Handicaps for all events will be frozen as of the date the ‘draw’ is posted.)

Establishing a valid handicap means that players can compete fairly with others at comparable skill levels. We encourage everyone to participate in all our events. Understanding the system and establishing a valid handicap is particularly important for our junior members, many of whom are keenly interested in competitive play. You are encouraged to talk to the Captains or any member of the Handicap Committee if you have any questions.

Equitable Stroke Control (ESC):  ESC sets a maximum number of strokes that a player can post for handicap purposes on any hole depending on the player's course handicap.

What this does is make sure that your handicap does not swing wildly up or down due to an unusually good or bad round (You know! The one when you put seven consecutive balls into the same pond convinced that you could take that shortcut to the green!).  Check with your Captain or Handicap Committee if you are uncertain about how to apply Equitable Stroke Control and please refer to the Handicap Manual for instructions and examples.

NEW EQUITABLE STROKE CONTROL

9 OR LESS Course Handicap                        Maximum of 2 over par

10-19 Course Handicap                                 Maximum score of 7

20-29 Course Handicap                                 Maximum score of 8

30-39 Course Handicap                                 Maximum score of 9

40 and over Course Handicap                       Maximum score of 10

Scoring: Stroke play vs. Match:  When you sign up to play in any event, you will be given all the information you need on format and scoring. The following are commonly used scoring methods.       Stroke (Medal) play: This requires counting the total number of strokes required to complete the round (that means counting them all....no mulligans allowed!) This is your gross score. To calculate your net score, (which is required for some events) simply deduct your handicap from your gross score.

Match Play: In match play, each individual hole is either won, lost or tied. The match is over when one player has won so many holes that even if their opponent won all the remaining holes, it would not be enough for them to catch up. For example, let's say that in a given match, Player A is up by 5 after 14 holes. Even if player B were to hit a hot streak and win the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th holes, that would only reduce Player A's lead to 1 and A would win the match.

Hole-in-one Insurance:

When the day comes that you score a hole-in-one at the Canadian, you will want to celebrate by buying a drink for all of the members who are in the Clubhouse when you return from your round of golf. To offset this cost, Hole-in-one Insurance is available for $2 from Bruce Malloy (Club Secretary Treasurer).  Once you have bought the drinks, retain your receipt and submit it to the Secretary/Treasurer along with your signed, dated and attested scorecard, for reimbursement.

LIST OF CGCC MEMBER EVENTS- 2013 SEASON:

Juniors are welcome to participate in all members’ events except Seniors of course.

Fun Events (Listed in the order in which they are usually played)   they all require that you sign up in advance (usually a week) and require a valid handicap to win....or just come out and join in for the fun of it. 

Members Opening Tournament:  This is our official kick-off event and a great opportunity to golf and enjoy an exceptionally good dinner, at a reasonable price, with other members. The format changes from year to year but we always try to find a way to make your golf day fun. Our opening this year is on May 4th so check the Web Site or notice board for further details.  (There is a green fee charge applicable to play the West Course, in this event, if your membership is ‘restricted’.)

Memorial Tournament:  Usually played on the Monday of the long weekend in May, this event celebrates the memories of members who have passed on. Here again, the format changes from year to year but the camaraderie and fun is always the highlight of the day. Proceeds from the tournament are donated to charity.

Member-Guest Events:   This is a great opportunity to invite friends to enjoy our club and participate in what has proven to be, many times in the past, a highlight of the season.    More details will follow.

Gladys Stiff Skins Game:  Continuing the fun game established by the much loved, late Gladys Stiff, this ladies' event is a popular invitational game which is played in September.

Canadian Ryder Cup: The format is similar to a Ryder Cup, with teams of twosomes are competing against other twosomes.  Sept 14 is the date to keep open for this fun event.

Tombstone Tournament:  We like to end the season on the same pleasant note that we start it - hopefully a great day of golf followed by a delicious meal and the presentation of trophies and awards. The golf event is an alternate stroke, mixed, 18-hole tournament. It is scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 29th.  Note: “no shows” will be charged for dinner unless appropriate cancellation time was given in advance.( There is a green fee charge applicable to play the West Course, in this event, if your membership is ‘restricted’.)  There is a trophy for the couple who are  ` last to die`.

Many of us will be watching the weather channel to see if the weather will be conspiring with the course to hasten our demise!

TROPHY EVENTS FOR THOSE WHO SEEK THE THRILL OF VICTORY

EARLE STIMPSON COMPETITION:  

This event is a mixed pair (1 male  and 1 female), alternate stroke, match play tournament. You may select your own partner. All teams start play on the same day (this year it will be June 15th). The winners of a match will advance to the next round. After the first round, teams are on their own to book their next rounds but dates by which the successive matches must be completed will be posted. All players require a valid handicap to compete in this event which runs over the course of the season.  Consult your Captain(s) for any questions you may have.

LADIES' & MEN'S MATCH PLAY:

The Club Ladies' & Men's Match Play is a multiple round event requiring a valid handicap. Trophies are awarded to each of the Men's and Ladies' Club Match Play Champions. The Ladies will have flexible dates.  The winner of the match advances and the loser moves to the consolation round. Any defeat after that eliminates you from the tournament. Check the  Members' Board for details and sign-up sheets.

LADIES’ & MEN’S LOW NET TOURNAMENT:

The Club Low Net Tournament is an 18 hole event requiring a valid handicap. You play your own game and your handicap is deducted from your total score at the end of the round to determine your net score. This is an event that anyone can win so why not you!  The Men's tournament is slated for June 23rd and the Ladies will be held on the 18th of July. 

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS (Men’s Ladies', Juniors', Seniors' and Super Seniors')

For the men, ladies and juniors this is a two-day, 36 hole event while Seniors’ (age 50 and older) play an 18 hole event ( Super Seniors' (age 65 and older) play two nine-hole rounds on the East Course). Valid handicaps are required and there are winners in the various flights. This year we are holding a Club Championship Weekend....August 31 and Sept l. We're looking forward to an exciting weekend of golf and lots of stories in the clubhouse afterwards.

In addition to the above, at our end of the year banquet, we also recognize members who score a hole in one at the Canadian Golf & Country Club and the most improved golfers (the man and woman and junior with the greatest drop in their handicaps over a defined period).  In order to qualify,  the member must:  have had an established handicap as of September 30th of the previous year,  played a minimum of 10 games during the active season, and have entered all eligible games played into the handicap computer.

OVGA Intersectionals: This year, The Canadian is hosting the OVGA Men's Intersectionals this year in July.   Ladies compete in July at perth.  Senior Ladies compete in Septemeber at Glen Mar.  As well, the men senior intersectionals tournament is in September. Qualifying rounds are run to assure we have the best of our membership competing in each category.  Watch for the sign-up sheets and get involved.

There are very active leagues at the Canadian G&CC - a Tuesday evening ladies' group, a Ladies' day on Thursdays, a Seniors' league on Wednesdays, a

Men’s Night on Wednesdays and a Members' Night every Friday starting at 5pm. For further details see your calendar or speak to a member of your Executive.

As you can see, there are many ways to enjoy your golf season at the Canadian. We encourage you to check out the various events and come and play with us this season!