Course Etiquette

Bunkers and Rakes

When you've raked a bunker after you've played out, where do you leave the rake ? Is it left in the middle of, or outside the bunker ? There is nothing in the Rules of Golf, its being left to the discretion of the Club. What is our policy?

Whether it's to leave rakes inside bunkers or outside (but away from the normal line of play), we should take great care not to leave the rake at the edge or overlapping the edge where it can impede the next player's ball and / or cause it to be trapped under the bunker lip. This is inconsiderate to following members whose play may be unfairly impeded.

The Spirit of the Game

Golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other Players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a

disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf. Mike Aves.

Pace of Play

Players should play at a good pace and keep up. The Committee may establish pace of play guidelines that all players should follow. It is a group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front. If it loses a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group. Where a group has not lost a clear hole, but it is apparent that the group behind can play faster, it should invite the faster moving group to play through. Mike Aves.

Competition Results

September

20th September's horrible weather played host to 36 competitors in the Victory Cup. It didn't stop raining until they had all got thoroughly soaked and everyone should be congratulated for just finishing the course. Most of all though the congratulations go to Lynn and John East, the winners, with an absolutely tremendous net greensome medal score of 64.5. In second place were Sue Dawson and Arch Foster with a score of 68 and third were Liz Day and Roger Brocksopp with 71.5

August

Results not yet provided

July

Lady Captain's Day

Separate pages contain results and photos from the day

Midland Golf Union's Coronation Foursomes

It was a pleasure for Chesterfield to host the MGU’s Coronation Foursomes final sponsored by Peugeot. Over 180 Ladies took part from clubs all over from as far away as Cambridge and Birmingham. The prize was a trip to the National final to be held at St. Andrew’s. Scoring was hard on the hard dry fairways and slick but receptive greens but the Winners Cath Arter and Alison Mason from Rothley Park receiving 21 strokes scored a very creditable 41 points. The runners up were Carolyn Walley and Gemma Parks from Cosby receiving 5 strokes with a score of 37 points. Third were Trudi Humphries and Philippa Daniell from Droitwich with a score of 35 points.

Congratulations

Richard and Sally Trueman who won the Sherwood Forest Golf Club Portland Open 4-Ball Trophy, competing against other mixed but also all-men's and all-women's teams.

Junior Shield

George Parry 1st and James Hewitt 2nd.

Mixed Foursomes Cup

Winners Liz Robinson and George Masson, second Anne Lomas and Steve Taylor.

The Preston’s sweep the Top prize in the Broom.

Bill and Ruth Preston took first prize in the Broom Memorial, an open mixed foursomes competition, held at Chesterfield GC on Sunday 10th July with a net score of 67. It was an excellent day that saw Campbell Shaw and Pat Ridge come second with a net score of 71.5 and John and Lynn East third with a 72. The Best Gross was a 77 achieved by Ian and Sheila Gretton.

Dick Harrison Trophy

The day before saw the Dick Harrison Trophy, a stableford major competition, hotly contested by some 140 competitors. With the greens slick and true and the fairways hard, due to the lack of rain, it took a good standard of golf to be on the winners rostrum. The winner, with a score of 40 points and a better back 9 was Matt Lawrie, pushing John Wall(40pts) into second place and D Nicholls into third place with 39 points.

Mid-week Medal

Division 1 - R Rhodes Nett 66, R J Brocksopp 69 and C Bond 69

Division 2 - B Strelley Nett 66, A Rimmington 67 and A G Drew 70

Division 3 - B Owen Nett 73,  B Delaney 73 and F Virgilio 73

July Medal

Division 1: A McVeigh Nett 68, K Waterfield 69, A Sheppard 70

Division 2: J Taafe Nett 66, D L Thomas 69, C Foster 70

Division 3: B Cressey Nett 64, P J Clarke 67, D Stevenson 69

June

So far this month the weather has been kind, the greens fast and true bringing the best out of all golfers. The Gents June medals have been won with some excellent scores the Saturday medal Div 1 was won by M Barker (gross 79 nett 69), second GE Downend (gross 81nett 71) third G Rosewarne (gross 77 nett 71). Div 2 F Colton (gross 81 nett 67) was the winner with P Gatti (gross 79 nett 68) and M Fielder (gross 85 nett 70) second and third respectively. Div 3 1,2,& 3 were AA Cherry (gross 81 nett 63), JH Loveday (gross 81 nett 64) and D Simpson (gross 85 nett 66).

The mid-week medal on June 15th the results were Div 1 first K Naisbett jnr (gross 70 nett 64) second B Trueman (gross 76 nett 66) and third D Coop (gross 67 nett 68). Div 2 JS Wall (gross 78 nett 66) took first place with K Thompson-Has(gross 79 nett 66) and S Botchett (gross 80 nett 69) second and third respectively. Div 3 1,2,& 3 were M Eades (gross 82 nett 65), P McMinn (gross 92 nett 67) and J Bailey (gross 88nett 68).

On Tuesday 14th June, 2011 the Ladies at Chesterfield GC held an  Individual Stableford Competition. Pippa Sutherland with 35 points was the winner, second was Lynn East, 34 points,  and third Ann Lomas  32 Points(After Count back) from Sue Dawson  32 points. 25 ladies took part.

Also on Tuesday 14th June, the Ladies held their  Past Captain's Competition,  the winner was Liz Outram  with 34 points second was Pat Ridge with 31 points. Eight Past Lady Captains took place and the presentation took place immediately after play. 

May

Good weather and the course in an excellent condition have meant an excellent start to the season. The Gents May medals were well contested. The Saturday medal winners were in Div 1  S Gunn gross 72 nett 65, Div 2 A Slater gross 75 nett 64 Div 3 D Taylor gross 87 nett 69. The Mid week medal winners were Div 1 E Hallam gross 78 nett 68, Dive 2 A Drew gross 83 nett 70 Div 3 G Sims gross 99 nett 71.

The first major of the season, the Malson Putter, was won by C Davies gross 85 nett 65, runner up was D Power gross 79 nett 68 with a better back 9 than C Sanders gross 77 nett 68 in third Place.

The Ladies held their Spring Meeting on Tuesday 17th May, a Stroke Play and Stableford competition in which over 35 competed. The best net score was Jaci Elliot (net 72 bb9) best gross Sheila Gretton (87) the best Stableford score was Janice Bonsall with 35 pts. Alison Watson hit the longest drive and Jaci Elliot won nearest the pin.

Thursday 26th May the Ladies played an Individual Stableford  competition  and Kath Barnes took the spoils with 38 points, Celia Costello came second with 34 points (after count-back) with  Sue Young third again with 34 points (after count-back).

Jill More with a nett 77 won Medal no 4 Silver and Ann Lomas Nett 72 Bronze.

Results summary 2011

April Medal

Division 1 G.T. Moseby

Division 2 P. McCormack

Division 3 J.A. Bown

April Mid-week

Division 1 R. Galley

Division 2 G. Garrett (Inactive h’cap) then N.J. Roberts

Division 3 F. Virgilio

May Medal

Division 1 S. Gunn

Division 2 A. Slater

Division 3 D. Taylor

May Mid-week Medal

Division 1 E. Hallam

Division 2 A.G. Drew

Division 3 G. Sims

Malson Putter

1. C. Davies

2. D. Power

3. C. Sanders

June Medal

Division 1 M. Barker

Division 2 F. Colton

Division 3 A. Cherry

July Mid-Week Medal

Division 1 R Rhodes 

Division 2 B Strelley

Division 3 B Owen

July Medal

Division 1 A McVeigh

Division 2 J Taafe

Division 3 B Cressey

Email News Bulletin

e-Bulletin

Download the bulletins for

29th October

12th September

29th August

8th August

25th July

18th July

3rd June

16th May

5th May

18th April

28th March

14th March

3rd March

18th February

31st January

17th January

3rd January

Wednesday Medals

Change to method of entry 

In order to minimize slow play and prevent long waits on the first tee, the General Committee has approved the introduction of a Start Sheet for Wednesday medals. Members will be able to book a start time in the same way as for Saturday medals, paying in advance. The Start Sheet will be in the Pro Shop from 1pm on the last Wednesday in the Month.   However, the start sheet for July’s Wednesday Medal(July 6th) will be in the Pro Shop from 1pm on Wednesday 15th June 2011.

Dog Walking

The subject of dog walking on the course is causing some concern within the General Committee. All members are asked to please respect the Club Bye-Law, notice reprinted below, which does not allow this activity.
DOG WALKING ON THE COURSE
Members are respectfully reminded of the following Bye-Law of Chesterfield Golf Club:
2.12 DOGS
Dogs are not allowed on the Course except with the permission of the Committee.'
Any member seen in breach of this Bye-Law will be asked to leave the course and repeated breaches may result in disciplinary action being taken. 
Trevor Glover, Secretary/Manager

Sandwich in the Rain

Maureen and I went to the Open with a few southern pals, staying at a friend’s seaside cottage.

First impression was that the organisation was poor.  Access to the course was over a level crossing, blocked by the railway's special (and unscheduled) trains, which were too long for the platform, so the train and the traffic just sat there.  Security then made matters worse, creating long, slow, foot-queues.

Saturday was our first day, and the rain came in sideways, propelled by 40 mph gusts of wind.

Horrible!  The players were heroes, three of them still shooting a sub-par round, including Tom Watson at 61 years young.

Royal St Georges relies on four factors to keep scores down: the wind, undulating fairways, deep and evil bunkers and firm greens.  The tee shot, often hit 40 yards off-centre to allow for the wind, usually hit the fairway, but it then kicked off an undulation into short rough or, worse, a bunker.  The approach had to be run in, unless your name was Mickelson, onto undulating greens, maybe 10 or so on the stint-meter.  The pin positions were OK in theory, but just as your putt reached the hole, it veered left or right.  Very few putts over 6 feet went down, and very few approach putts reached the hole, especially the uphillers.  Never Up – Never In!  All this meant birdies were ultra rare and bogies were the norm for the world’s best players..  

We sat on No 9 for most of Sunday and saw three birdies, the longest a 20 footer from Jaquelin.  If your putt from the front allowed for the borrow, or was a bit too hard, you risked sliding off down the right bank, leaving a 30 foot wedge back up again, with the green sloping away from you.  Great fun for the spectators, not so funny for players in a 30 mph gale and rain showers.

The 17th green was our other viewing point.  It had two levels, like our 18th.  That’s where the similarity ended, the St Georges version was five times the rise of ours, but even so, most of the pars came from a ‘short’ approach and a super-skilful up the bank first putt.

The chips back by those who slid down the side bank were fantastic,  I reckon our Juniors can chip, but these guys just slam it into the bank with backspin, so the ball stops dead right next to the pin.  Wow!  It was no surprise that the “oldies” all did well.  Experience brings canniness, youth brings boldness, and this course can really punish a brave shot.  Ask Mr Johnson, who hit his approach on the par 5  14th out of bounds to finish second!

Crowd favourites were Darren, Rory, Phil Mickelson and Tom Watson - to my mind the ultimate gentleman of golf.  He chatted away to the young amateur Tom Lewis, trying to keep Tom’s head up when it all went wrong.  “Golf averages out”, he told him “A great round is balanced out by a poor one over time”.  On the Sunday young Tom Lewis partnered Phil, who showed him the sort of short game anyone who wants to be a Champion needs to learn.  If only Phil didn’t miss those "gimmes"!

Darren’s experience of the course was a deciding factor, plus a bit of help from Heather, looking down on his final round.  Twice Darren thinned it from a tricky lie, twice it skidded along the ground, and twice it jumped over a bunker and ran up to the pin.  Darren just grinned, we all yelled our heads off!   The wind was lethal.  Dead umbrellas littered the course and the unbroken ones had to be held sideways to keep the rain off.  Balls wavered as the putter head went back.  Twice on 9 did we see top names run up to the green to mark a ball hovering above the drop off to the right, earning a cheer from the crowd and a wave from the player.  

A great weekend, not a tree in sight, and rough not overlong, but that wind was something else.  You had to be there - - - . Bob Adams