It looks like COVID is not going away anytime soon and that we all have to learn to live with a new normal in the way we interact socially in our club. Members will have noticed a number of changes that include:
* lots of signage about how to push back against COVID in the clubhouse
* tables are well spaced to ensure social distancing
* additional bar staff to enable table service from the bar
* alcohol consumption linked to meal purchase
* limited use of the changing rooms and shower facilities.
The government announcement on 4th August states that there is no change to the current arrangements until the end of the month at the earliest. Indeed there is a new addition ……face coverings must be worn in all retail areas as and from 10th August.
It is also important to put your name on the time-sheet if you play casual golf in the late evening. The time-sheet will be used to facilitate track and trace should the need arise.
There are also lots of constraints on how we play golf in terms of card return, flag sticks and bunkers play. But we are still able to enjoy golf all day every day and that is brilliant.
We all owe it to protect one another and keep COVID at bay. Health and safety for staff and members is paramount.
So stay vigilant and keep up the high standards. And remember if we are unlucky enough to have an incident then all access would be immediately compromised. And nobody wants that!
Welcome to our new Members
It is wonderful to see so many new members in the Club this year and a big warm Beaverstown welcome to you all from the many “lifers” in the club! We have been waiting and wishing for an influx of new enthusiastic golfers and our wishes have been truly granted this year.
One of the really nice things is to see how many new members from the Donabate area have joined us. We have always wanted to see ourselves as the Club of choice for Donabate and this seems to be very true this year.
On Saturday 25th Captain Declan and Lady Captain Rosemary hosted a special new members competition and this proved a great success.
So welcome to all our new friends and happy golfing for the foreseeable future.
Coming events
Quite a lot of changes have occurred to the plans for the rest of the year as a result of COVID 19.
The first main change is that Captain Declan has agreed, in line with the practice in a number of other clubs, to stay on for another year and so his captaincy will continue until the end of 2021. Vice Captain Tony will also stay on.
Lady Captain Rosemary, along with the Ladies committee, has decided to keep to the traditional practice and she will step down at the end of 2020 and Lady Vice Captain Joan will step into the captaincy on 1st January 2021.
In that context there will be a Lady Captains prize this year. There will also be a Presidents Prize, a Members Day (you might fancy your chances against the Pro on the 3rd!) and the traditional Play in Pink day. However there are no plans to have a Captains Prize, a Professionals Prize or a Junior Fundraiser this year.
Obviously this has resulted in a rescheduling of events for the rest of the year and members are advised to keep an eye on the club website for up to date information.
Some Course issues
The course has been in great condition recently and great credit is due to Pat Healy and his team and the course committee for all their work in this regard. A few developments are worth noting:
* work on the bunkers is ongoing. Bunker care is very labour intensive and can be particularly awkward close to the edges as it is difficult to get machines safely into those areas. There is a conversation ongoing about the bunker on the 11th and the potential danger due to the proximity of the new housing developments
* divot bags are back in use and members are retaining the same bag for multiple uses due to COVID
* broken sprinklers are being replaced
* a sample boundary fence was erected close to the 14th tee for comment and discussions with the site developers are ongoing in that regard
* there was a big problem with the water supply to the compound and the on-course toilets. It has proved difficult to trace the underground pipes and as a result the toilets have been closed for the moment. Once the water supply is repaired the toilets will re-open
* Pawl forking the greens is planned for early September. This is essential work for green maintenance and to ensure good quality greens for the winter. The work is done over a number of days and is somewhat weather dependent.
The course is busier than ever and that is great. There is also quite a bit of wear and tear on the course so good etiquette in replacing divots and repairing plug marks is more important than ever.
An Early Christmas present …..
It is never too early to plan for Christmas!!
This year Beaverstown is producing a beautiful calendar for 2021 using a selection of stunning photographs of the course and clubhouse. The project is the brainchild of Mick Morris, Padraic Fallon, David Dolan and Jack Caverly. It is hoped to present The Children’s Hospital, Crumlin with a substantial cheque from the sales of the calendar.
Our picture shows Lady Captain Rosemary and Captain Declan with the first copies from the printer. So please try to support this worthy cause as soon as the calendars go on sale.
Solar Panels
The MC is in discussion with a company that would provide solar panels to the Club. There are two roof spaces, on the clubhouse and on the compound, that are ideally suited as sites for solar panels ….. particularly south facing roofs that gather most sun.
The MC is looking at a proposal that would minimise initial capital outlay but would provide an immediate 20% reduction in our electricity bills.
As part of the same package the MC is also looking at upgrading our security installation following a small number of recent incidents in the car-park and areas surrounding the clubhouse.
Lady Captain Rosemary’s Prize Presentation
One of the new challenges presented by COVID is how to have any type of appropriate presentation to mark major events in the Club. The first such event on the calendar is the presentation of the Lady Captain Rosemary and Lady Vice Captain Joan’s prizes which will take place on Saturday 15th August.
The presentation evening will be a little more structured than usual in order to comply with COVID requirements and the following is the plan:
* the presentation of the Lady Vice Captain Joan’s prize will take place at 8.00 sharp
* the presentation of the Lady Captain Rosemary’s prize will take place at 8.45 sharp
* it is a wonderful opportunity to book a table with John, have a meal and a drink and enjoy a pleasant social evening with friends
* the seating arrangements must be kept in place to comply with social distancing so the event will probably spread out to all tables in the bar and restaurant
* there won’t be the usual music, song and dance
In order to do this right we need to get a good picture of the numbers that are likely to attend. To this end, ladies should please sign the sheet in the locker room if they intend to attend as numbers will be restricted in line with COVID requirements.
It is our first opportunity to have a social event that is pleasant and enjoyable and still fully compliant with all the health and safety protocols of the new COVID arrangements.
Play in Pink Day
For the last number of years the club has hosted a Play in Pink day as a fund-raiser for breast cancer research and this year is no exception with some small adjustments to comply with COVID arrangements.
The Play in Pink day has been arranged for Tuesday 25th August and it will be a social 4-person team event. So put that date in your diary and remember that it is, of course, open to both men and women …… just wear your most outrageous pink golf gear on the day !!
It is not possible to have a shotgun start ….. too many people together at one time ……… so the normal time sheet will operate on the day.
Nor is it possible to have a fund raising celebration evening afterwards …. the numbers would be just too big to comply with social distancing. So there will be no fund-raising draw with sponsored prizes. Instead there will be a special donation box available at the sign in and members and guests can show their support in this way.
All proceeds of the day will go the Breast Cancer Research and hopefully we can revert to a more normal format next year.
Odds and Ends
Just a few updates to finish ………..
* The 10.28 day was another very successful day judging by the very full time-sheet. The day is organised by the Grealy family and it has become a fixture in the annual calendar. And the day was duly honoured by Peter “Seve” Kelly with an ace on the 7th hole! Well done Peter and thanks again to John, Dermot, Emma and Niamh for all their great work on the day
* Best wishes to Zach Argue and Owen Brady representing Beaverstown in Ulster and Connacht under 14 competition over next few weeks
* Like most golf clubs slow play can be an issue from time to time. It is amazing how certain golf balls have the uncanny ability to just disappear! So just remember the 3 minute rule and try at all time to keep directly behind the group in front …. not just ahead of the group behind. And help make the round of golf more enjoyable for everyone
* Discussions are ongoing with Link about the Club loan. There are two elements to the discussions a) agreeing a buy-out price and b) sourcing the funding for that buy-out. As soon as there is any definite information the members will be fully informed
* There was some unfinished business at the 2019 AGM. But due to COVID restrictions it has not been possible to reconvene that meeting. However the audited accounts have been circulated to all members and there was no further enquiries from the members in that regard
* please remember to put your score card details into the computer …. it makes the job of doing the cards so much quicker and easier for the card volunteers
