Welcome Back, Golfers

The news we’ve all been waiting to hear, as of Saturday, 13 June, 2020, the Simbithi Golf Course is open for play. Here is what you need to know:

The course is open for Members’ social golf, only. No mask, no play.

Booking and Arrival

• Fourball booking for social golf on ClubMaster App is the preferred booking method. All players’ names must be entered.
• If you have any technical difficulty with the App, please call the Pro Shop on 032-946 5407/11.
• The Pro Shop will check you in automatically; there is no need to visit the Pro Shop on arrival.
• Please use your HNA App to calculate your handicap, and enter scores.
• One player per cart. If you need a cart, please book and we will prepare it for you.
• Cart hire is R100, from 13.06.2020 to 30.06.2020.
• Golfers living in the same home may share a cart.
• All Pro Shop purchases must be made by account, Zapper or card. Cash is strongly discouraged. Golf apparel is available for purchase in the Pro Shop.
• Tee Sheet Booking is compulsory: sneaking onto the course or “queue jumping” is strictly prohibited. If you are found on the course without a booking, you will be reported to the Golf Committee and may face disciplinary action.
  Screening
  
  
• On arrival, you may be asked to have your temperature read.
• If your temperature is higher than 37,5 degrees you will not be permitted to play. Management will be notified in this case.
  Club Facilities
  
  
• Halfway House will be open for a limited grab and go. Please exercise social distancing and sanitise thoroughly.
• The ablution facilities are open for use. The showers, however, are out of bounds.
  Course Access
  
  
• Golf members only
• One tee start
  On Course Procedure
  
  
• Only one four-ball allowed on a tee, at a time.
• Please remain in your golf cart, until you are called to the first tee box.
• Water for towels, and sand, will be available on the 1st and 10th tee.
• While playing;
• Do not touch, or remove the flagstick
• Use the device on the flagstick to retrieve ball from the hole
• No rakes on the course. Please rake the bunkers with your feet, or club.
• Keep a minimum of two metres between you and your playing partners.
• Adhere to the Marshall’s directions.
  
  

After Golf

• The Drop Zone Bar is closed.
• The Halfway House is not to be used after golf.
• Sit-downs, and gatherings, are not permitted. Once you have finished your game, please depart immediately.
  
  

CONGRATULATIONS to Bryce Varner for winning our Raffle: he and his four ball (Curt Stefano, Jonathan Booysens and Graham Wood) tee’d off FIRST on Saturday morning. Also, a huge round of applause for Sue Clarke, who hit a hole-in-one on Hole One on Saturday…not bad for a first day back!

Here’s how Sue struck the perfect shot, in her own words:

“Did you know some facts about women golfers and a hole in one? According to the National Hole in One Registry, 16% of holes in one are made by women. The average age of women who shoot an ace is 55 and they play for 15 years on average before shooting a hole in one. For women, the average hole length is 101 m. Another fact is that the most used clubs for a hole in one are the 7, 8 or 9 irons.

So in my case, I am a 55-year-old woman 😊 and I used a 9 iron and the 1st Tee measured 89m but, I have only played golf for just over a year. I have had the advantage of having Jean Freeman as my Bambi Coach and I have been to a few lessons with Warren Abery, our Sports Manager and Pro.

During lockdown I have run around the course past every hole dreaming of being able to get back on the course after nearly three months. When I heard on Friday the 12th June that the course may open on Saturday, I jumped at the chance of playing on the pristine course. On Saturday morning, armed with my mask and hand sanitiser, I was welcomed at a safe distance by Warren and my golfing partners Diana and Rene Du Toit. I found a pretty pink ball and headed to practice on the putting green. After sinking two fairly long distance putts with my first two shots, Warren told me to pick that ball up and save it for my round, rather. We headed to the 1st Tee, and I must admit I was a little terrified hitting my first ball after a few months of lockdown. Would I remember how? Would I make a complete fool of myself and miss with a crowd watching? I just put the ball down and remembered everything I had been taught and kept my head down…. all I heard was Rene shouting,” it’s the perfect shot, its going in the hole…it’s in the hole!” Needless to say there was a lot of screaming and shouting from myself and Di (I believe Kurt heard me from the 9th).

It did feel a bit strange not celebrating in the pub after the round, and hearing the bell ring, but no doubt I will be caught for a round when lockdown is over!

The funny thing is…I could not find that pink ball and was obsessing about it the whole game, but eventually found it in my cooler bag at the end of the game. Maybe I would have had a better round, but I shot an 84 which for me was not to bad so all in all it was a great start to Golf after lockdown…”

Our golfers were also met by the Garvey girls, who decided to welcome them back with treats.