L to R.    Robert Barber, Chris Burley, Steve Knight (Sec.), Clive Hunter (Capt.)
Kurt Skelton (Match Convener), Mike Edie (Events Manager), Martin Wright (Treasurer)
Empty Chair for potential new committee member.

HKSGS NEWSLETTER December 2022

Introduction.

Things, quarantine-wise have been gently normalizing throughout the year and thus I am pleased to report that we, as a society, have played more golf together, had more events and reported on more holes in one, than 2021. This newsletter, which will also be distributed to new members, covers my usual request for punctually on the tee box, and admonitions regarding slow play along with some sunny aspirations for 2023. Your committee and I welcome our new members and wish everybody the best of the season.

Shotgun Start, AGM and Things Financial.

On 19 September we held our usual Shotgun Start cum AGM on the Eden course at Fanling. This was very well attended, the buffet much appreciated and the prizes, awards and recognitions not too dissimilar to a Royal investiture. (Just flexing my hyperbole muscles a tad there!) Results and those honoured can be found at https://hksgs.com.hk/fixtures/2022-schedule/event-34-texas-scramble-agm Steve Knight, the Secretary Chaired the AGM. The highlight of the AGM was Martin Wright's Annual Financial Report and Forecast. In essence your Society is financially well managed, solvent, healthy with a positive future.

Courses reopened 21 April 2022 – Getting back to normal.

Since courses reopened our fixtures are approaching "normally scheduled programming" with weekly meetings. Please check out the "fixtures" on our site's pull-down tab at https://hksgs.com.hk/fixtures. Please also continue to use the site as your bible to the society as that is where all the rules, past event results and the plethora of player photographs are lodged for your "info-tainment". (Yes, I agree that is a horrible word, I promise not to use it again!)

Fixtures 2023.

Soon we will post the fixture programme for the coming year. This is similar to 2022, actually we have a few extra gatherings, with an estimated 49 events. The only real difference this coming year is that some of our hosting clubs have changed their booking policy and now they do not wish to confirm fixtures till some 3 months from the actual event. As these fixtures become confirmed we will update the fixtures site. To test your alphabet, cryptology and abbreviation skills here is what we have already penciled in... HKGC F X12, HKGC DWB X12, KSC X12, SO X2, CWB A X4, MGCC X7

Committee reshuffle.

Your committee met recently and is pictured above. Not pictured is our longstanding Handicap specialist, Ian Laidlaw, the numbers guy, who has asked to step down from the Committee. Fortunately, he will be staying on in the society. Another change is that Chris Burley will remain on the committee but is handing over his appointment as Match Convener to Kurt Skelton who has just joined the ranks of the committee. I, on your behalf, thank Ian and Chris for their service and welcome Kurt to the committee.

Call to join the committee.

Your society is always on the lookout for people who would like to join the committee. Please do contact me if you would like to join us. The headlined photograph above features an empty chair. Do you think you would like to fill it? 

Re-subscription and recruiting season.

We have just gone through the annual exercise of asking members to re-subscribe for the coming year. A plurality of members have maintained their membership. To maintain the size of the Society as per recent years some thirty new members have been selected from the waiting list and have subsequently joined our ranks. A large majority were proposed by current society members as well as some returning members and have thus been vetted. (They are PLU). The Committee, the Society and I, welcome all new members who include the following:

New Members should note that that we are not a heavy rules based society. Rules and procedures do exist particularly for booking of events. They are largely common sense and are designed to expedite and rationalize the work of Mike Edie, The Events Manager. All information is on the site or embedded within previous newsletters so please do read yourself into the modus operandi of your new society. To keep you up to speed a newsletter, of this ilk, will be sent to you usually every quarter... I wonder is that why we call it a Quarterly Newsletter?

Matches.

In addition to the fixtures mentioned above we will continue arranging the always popular, competitive, yet "friendly-esque" matches with other clubs and societies. These are both an opportunity to play competitively with other societies and to also socialize non-competitively. It is expected and de-rigueur that society representatives stay on after their round, mix and mingle and fully participate in the gatherings after Society matches. Kurt Skelton oversees society matches and is also the team scout and selector. He anticipates that matches will take place every two months or so. All members are welcome, indeed encouraged, to participate in matches. Participation will not affect one's ranking for routine selection in an event.

Overseas tour?

Allow me to dream a little. The option to tour abroad is potentially on the horizon again with the limiting of HK's quarantine restrictions. No definite plans can or have been made but I'm sure you will agree a short trip abroad with our rusty clubs to Vietnam, or into China or even over to Thailand would be a nice "get-away". One committee member was raving recently of a trip he made last month to empty courses in Phuket at Aquilla and Blue Canyon. Millionaire golf? The stuff of dreams. https://www.golfsavers.com/thailand/phuket-golf-courses If there is anybody who would like to act as "tour guide" and take the lead on an overseas tour please do let us know.

Bookings to continue as normal.

Your committee along with the advice of Mike Edie have reviewed the booking system. However, after much consideration it has been collectively deemed that we should maintain the current system for the moment but continue to monitor it with an eye to opening up the booking in the future. That time is not here yet and thus, we have concluded that there will be no changes to the published "Rules and Guidelines". These can be found at https://hksgs.com.hk/rules-guidelines

Leavehomesafe app.

I know I am repeating myself here, and that many already know the form, but it's important to remind all players that on arrival at any venue in Hong Kong one needs to register oneself on the Leave Home Safe App. which can be found https://www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk/en/ Failure to comply with the requirement at any venue will lead to the almost certain likelihood of being turned away. This of course would also result in a "no show" penalty by the society. Please remember to take your smartphone to the course and ensure you are fully up to speed with the requirements at each event. It is not currently a requirement to take a RAT test but we would encourage it at least within 24 hours of any event.

Membership card.

As per previous years each member can access and download their digital membership card sporting their name and a QR code similar to the following exemplar from the homepage of our website: https://hksgs.com.hk/

PGA.

As an annex to this Newsletter I have attached PGA Waterfall's special promotion rates for the Seniors. I have not yet explored this myself but the site, the favourable rates and its accompanying video are an enticement to explore this golfing option. One can also identify oneself as a Seniors member by flashing your digital Membership card. Please do let me have your feedback if you explore this option.

Quota limit at KSC.

The KSC quota of 4 games per person per calendar month is being reduced by KSC to only 3 games per month as of 1 December 2022. KSC are sticklers on this rule, and they certainly do cross-check this regularly with their records and they do phone us up if any of the society members have transgressed. We have already had members who have been barred from KSC for several months. Please note, as detailed in the homepage news on the site that if one breaks this rule one may be subject to double jeopardy. Any member that exceeds the standing KSC quota will also be excluded from playing with the Society. The onus is squarely on members to ensure they do not exceed the KSC quota. KSC post their latest protocol on their site. It makes for interesting reading. I would recommend you occasionally check it at https://www.kscgolf.org.hk/highlights/temporary-suspension-on-making-changes-to-weekday-tee-time-bookings/

More punctual, perfect punctuality at the starting point.

Punctuality has improved since our last Newsletter. Please, for the sake of all players on the course and the good name of the society, report at the starting tee no less than 10 mins prior to the published tee time.

Looking ahead to 2023 - GHIN membership.

For the obvious purposes of handicapping and conformity the committee agreed that in coming years membership of the society will require a HKGA GHIN membership.

Event's this year.

A summary of our activity this year follows but details are at... https://hksgs.com.hk/fixtures/2022-schedule/

Events Played: 22
Events Cancelled: 29
Participants: 156

"A message from our Sponsors".

Late withdrawal penalty system.

This rarely used, late penalty, system is clearly defined within our rules. The whole purpose of membership is to make our golf enjoyable and fun and thus we do not wish to include a penalty system for late withdrawals but if this was not in place, we know from experience that withdrawals would increase, and they would very likely confound the system imposing more work on the Event Manager. Please refresh yourselves with the withdrawal system. Please do not book an event unless you know for certain that you will be able to attend. If you must withdraw, please ensure you withdraw prior to the publication of the tee time sheet.

Conclusion.

May I conclude by reminding you all that Mike Edie has diligently kept a photographic record of all flights on Instagram which is the envy of the R&A and civilization in general! It’s so popular that Elon Musk is thinking of purchasing it! Your unique place in the annals of posterity can be found at https://www.instagram.com/hkseniorsgolf/ The committee and I wish you well and look forward to seeing you and welcoming our new members soon on the fairway.

Sincerely
Clive Hunter
HKSGS Captain