As we
proceed to confirm competitions on our Fixture List, we are assuming that Aberdeen
City and Aberdeenshire will both move to Covid-19 Local Protection Level 3 from
26 April when restrictions will be eased and travel across our local authority
boundaries will be permitted for organised sport.
We will be liaising with Golf Clubs that are hosting our events to ensure that ALCGA can comply with the Covid safety measures that Clubs have put in place to accord with detailed guidance from Scottish Golf. For example, we will check if a Club has a Covid Officer because this has a bearing on whether playing groups have to be restricted to two households: the absence of a Covid Officer might lead to abandonment of a fixture because of the competition format or due to lack of tee times to accommodate the expected number of players.
Having said all that, and following on from the announcement last weekend that the County Championship at Meldrum House is going ahead (subject now to the snow having melted!), I have more good news ...
County Opens
- The Ballater County Open that was scheduled originally to take place before the proposed date for the lifting of travel restrictions will now take place on Friday 24 September. The open meeting that usually starts our season will be this season’s grand finale.
- The Aboyne County Open will go ahead as scheduled.
Team Competitions
- The Watt Duffus Competition at Newburgh-on-Ythan will go ahead as scheduled.
- The venue for the Lyon Inter-Club Double Foursomes Trophy is confirmed as the Hazlehead MacKenzie Championship course. The competition will go ahead on the scheduled date.
Junior Competitions
The
Junior Leadership Team (Sammy Fanthorpe, Louise Anderson, and Donna Pocock) has
identified a small group of girls who are interested in participating in County
golf this year. Five 18 hole junior fixtures are planned in the first instance,
four of which are confirmed at:
- Murcar Strabathie
- Westhill
- Peterculter (Junior Championship)
- Portlethen
Through
an initiative that should have been launched in 2020, ALCGA is aiming to
promote golf for local girls from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Golf Clubs by
inviting them to take part in County Junior competitions thus providing
opportunities to meet and compete against more young golfers. Sammy, Louise,
and Donna have made a great start. More details will follow.
Entry Forms
In due
course, as required, entry forms for all competitions will be available to
download by clicking on the competition name on the list of Fixtures on this
website.
Competition Draws
Draws will
be published on this website in advance of competition dates. Information from
Clubs about their Covid safety measures may be included with draws.
Sheena Wood Rosebowl
The
Sheena Wood Rosebowl knockout competition which involves 8 players in individual
matchplay will go ahead. Pairs of players make their own arrangements for
matches. The 8 qualifiers from 2019 will be contacted soon with draw,
conditions and deadline details.
I have one piece of bad news ...
Golf View League
Normally
all Golf View League fixtures have to be scheduled and notified to the Captain
before the end of April, with all matches taking place before the end of August
(after which daylight becomes insufficient for evening matches). Travel
distances can be lengthy depending on which clubs are in which of the three divisions.
It is common for team players to car-share. A post-match meal concludes each
fixture.
Given the
number of factors that present potential problems in planning and organising
matches on a reduced time scale, plus the challenges of making suitable travel
and eating arrangements, the Management Committee and Officials are
disappointed to announce the decision that the Golf View League will be
cancelled this season.
Finally ...
Future Communications about Fixtures
Regular
fixtures updates will be posted on this website and on the ALCGA Facebook
page.
Lorna
Lorna M Johnson
Captain, ALCGA