Club Updates

Standard Cup Foursomes Matchplay

Arrol Johnstone / Henderson Trophy Draws

Powfoot Golf Club

“Good luck to Amy McKie and Carla Morris two of our younger members, who are competing, in the Scottish Girls’ Open Championship being held at Powfoot Golf Club, starting 10-12^th April, the 1^st Tee is ready girls – Have a great time, enjoy & GOOD LUCK , you have already made Dumfriesshire proud by being in the Competition.

The Scottish Girls’ Open Championship is open to female amateur golfers of all nationalities who are under the age of 18 at the beginning of the year the Championship takes place. 54 holes of stroke play are contested over three days, with the official practice day being held on the day prior to the start of the Championship.

A maximum of 144 players will play 18 holes on each of the first two days. After 36 holes, the leading 60 competitors and ties returning the lowest gross scores, will play a further 18 holes on the third day.

There will be a great display of golf on show, be worth a visit over the 3 days – Fingers crossed for dry weather.”

SVLGA Team Scotland

Our congratulations go to Diane MacDonald on being selected to play for the SVLGA team to play Ireland at Portmarnock Golf Club from 6th – 8th April.

Team Selected;

We wish Diane and the team selected success on their trip to Portmarnock.

New Website

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With the 2024 season upon us we wanted to take a look at some changes which will affect us all this season

1. WHS changes
2. Club competitions
3. Open Competition Booking
4. Local Rule Change

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2024 WHS Update

Links To Scottish Golf

WHS – Scottish golf

WHS Explained – Video

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Club Competition Days

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Club Knockout Competitions

Enter all knockout competitions on the notice boards in either the gents or ladies locker room, entry fees will be collected from your competition purse when the draws are published. Draws will be placed on the noticeboard along with the rules for each knockout. 

Open Competitions

All our open singles competitions can be booked online through your BRS App, if you have sufficient funds in your competition purse a slot can be booked in any competition you are eligible to play in.  The entry fee will show as pending and will be collected from your purse once the competition is closed.

If booking a team event and you are playing with members this can be booked through the app and each individual will pay from their competition purse, if playing with non members please book through webite and pay the entry fee using a credit/debit card.

The remaining open competitions will be available to book online from Friday 1st March at 6.15pm.

The diagram below is from the booking page on the website and shows slots available.

select number of players > enter their details > pay for booking.

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Open Competition Dates

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RULES

Local Rule Change

As you may be aware at the AGM on 23rd November 2023 a motion to change local rule 4a was passed at the meeting. The motion was ‘A ball that lies on a path/service road should be given nearest point of relief, plus one club length.’With a number of paths around the course very much in play that have been integral parts of the course the change in this rule now means you have the option to take free relief under Rule 16 -abnormal ground conditions.  Please follow the link below to the R & A page on taking relief under rule 16.

Helpful Rules

Taking Free Relief under the Rules

Alternatively there are a series of short videos on taking complete relief from paths and immovable obstructions.

Helpful Video

Videos on taking relief

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Extraordinary General Meeting

A reminder that there will be an extraordinary general meeting in the clubhouse on Sunday 11th February at 3 pm to discuss the proposed development of the practice facilities.The kitchen will close at 1pm to allow lounge to be set up for the meeting.

Bar And Catering

Thank you for your patience during the short closure of our bar and catering operations. A full service will resume on Friday 9th February and we are looking forward to seeing everyone as we build towards the new season.

Member Cards

Your membership cards will no longer be in use at the bar for the purchase of food or drink. Any balance you may have held with Oscars will be transferred into your competition account today and will be visible in the app, if you would prefer to be refunded please contact the office by email to make arrangements. admin@thecounty.co.uk 

Whats App Community

We want to inform you of an important change in our communication process.As we aim to give you as much information as quick as we can it’s important that we also hear from our members.Therefore if you have any suggestions, require information or would like to provide positive or constructive feedback. This could be for greens, match or house as well as any suggestions to take the club forward please use the following address :- liaisonofficer@thecounty.co.ukThis adjustment aims to enhance direct contact with our convenors and committee members, ensuring a more efficient and prompt handling of your queries. Your cooperation in using the new contact information is greatly appreciated.Please note that the admin@thecounty.co.uk address is only to be used for queries such as your membership, health & safety and formal complaints._We now have around 150 members on our what’s app information channel.  If you know a member that would benefit from joining this group please send them the following link_:-/chat.whatsapp.com/Fl1TLZitBds86ePKcuhN6k

Open Competitions

We are looking for volunteers to act as starters on our open competition days. The role of the starter is crucial in ensuring the smooth running of competitions throughout the season. If you can spare any time to help on these dates please contact the match secretary gents.matchsec@thecounty.co.uk or call 01387253585 (option 4)

21-Apr-23 Dumfries News 

4-May-23 Russell Cup 

18-May-23 County & Nithsdale Cups

3-Jun-23 Loreburn Cup

7-Jul-23 Texas Scramble Open 13-Jul-23 Gents Senior Open Pairs 4BBB 

21-Jul-23 Bobby Brotherston Trophy 

1-Sep-23 Johnstone Cup 

From The Greenkeeper

Course Maintenance on the Course 2023/24.

With a large number of deciduos trees shedding their leaves in the Autumn  pre-Christmas was mainly about leaf collection, this takes three members of staff months to collect and other jobs like Aeration / cutting are slotted into the schedule. At the start of the New Year we started to Clear the Shrubs / undergrowth and some trees at the 1^st Green / 2^nd tee area and all around the 2^nd green, the goal was to increase daylight in these areas, we have repeated this at the 3^rd Ladies and Gents Tees and on the hill between 2^nd green and 3^rd ladies tee.

Some trees have been identified as a risk on the Edinburgh Road at the 2^nd hole these will be removed by a contractor.

The next larger job to be undertaken will be the bunkers, this has already been started and will gather pace when the Green staff will increase to 5 staff as two new apprentices have been employed by the Club. The bunkers will be edged, stones removed, additional sand added, banking’s turfed so please bear with us when this is happening.

New Machinery was delivered to the Club at the end of last year and has already been used to slit the summer greens. The Tm system cassettes mount into a chassis and fit on our existing green machines, now we can Starspike greens to a depth of 30mm in a few hours keeping the surface open and providing a drier surface. Sarelroller cassette will be use in summer months in conjunction with topdressing operations to impregnate sand into the surface.

Steven Knaggs