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Beaverstown Golf Club > LATEST NEWS > Noticeboard

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Newsletter 28th September 2020

October 7, 2020 By Frank OMoore

Beaverstown Golf Club
Newsletter
COVID Update
Golfers generally are in the happy position of being able to continue to play golf, albeit with important safety restrictions, during the continued COVID restrictions. Members have been hugely supportive in observing the latest government guidelines that allow the club to stay open. There was a hope that Monday 21st September would see the bar open in an unrestricted manner but sadly that was not to be.

The MC has decided to operate a restricted service for members in the open balcony area on a trial basis to see if this is feasible. The area is being refurbished using the proceeds from the 10.28 day ….so again many thanks to the Grealy family for this very practical support.

Hopefully we can return to a greater degree of normality once the current 3-week period comes to an end. In the meantime members are urged not to give COVID a chance …… stay alert, maintain social distancing, wear a face covering and wash hands frequently.

Lets all stay well and playing golf..

Membership Update
Everyone in the Club welcomes the obvious increase in new members who are bringing youth and energy to all our activities. The MC continues to monitor membership levels and we are now quite close to the maximum levels of membership allowed for in the club constitution.

And we continue to receive new applications on a daily basis.

At the moment of writing we have a total of 47 members in the intermediate category i.e.those in the 20 – 30 age bracket and this is a significant increase on previous years. We also have in excess of 100 members in the introductory membership category year 1 and 2 and we appear to be retaining a very significant proportion of those members as we go forward. At the time of writing there is a waiting list for 7-day membership!

The membership numbers change on a daily basis and the MC will provide a full membership profile in the end-of-year reports.

Club finances
Despite all the adverse conditions it has been a positive year financially for the Club. The increase in membership levels is one of the reasons for this healthy position. However it should also be noted that the membership increases are in categories that are, initially, heavily discounted.

The biggest contribution to our good financial position is, ironically, because we were closed for such a long period, our costs have also been reduced. The biggest factor in reducing costs, apart from obvious utilities costs, is that the club contribution to our staff wages was significantly reduced because of the government €350 COVID weekly wage subsidy.

Because our wage bill reduced our financial position improved. It is unlikely that this support will continue indefinitely and, once the supports are removed, the Club finances will again feel the strain.

AGM in a COVID situation
The MC is looking at contingency plans in the event that it proves impossible to hold the traditional in-person AGM in the beginning of December.

There is some essential business that must be conducted at the AGM that includes election to various positions that will become vacant at the end of the year. There is other business that could be arranged, because of the special circumstance this year, in a different format from other years.

The MC is currently looking at how best to manage the current situation. Ideally the Club AGM and the men’s and ladies AGM will adopt similar formats.

Hopefully the general situation will ease and it will prove possible to have all AGM’s in the traditional format. The MC will keep the situation under review and keep everyone informed as soon as the position becomes clear.

And on the course …..
The water supply to the on-course toilets has been resolved but there are additional issues around the wall tiling and plastering that need attention. Anyone who can help should contact Aidan Smith, Facilities Officer

The sanding of the greens has been successfully completed with minimum disturbance and there are plans to repair the pot holes on the entrance drive in the vicinity of the clubhouse.

Members may have noticed some new security cameras that have been installed in the car park area in recent days. These are part of an ongoing project to upgrade the security provision to protect the clubhouse and the car park from any unwelcome attention. The cameras will also protect the compound and the caddy shack.

Our current security system is somewhat outdated ……. the current cameras do not provide number plate recognition in the event of an intrusion. But the new system will offer a greater accuracy and detail. It will also allow direct supervision of the first tee and so help address any unauthorised access to the golf course.

A special word of thanks to Bernard Pender for his professional advice and support in this project.

Changes for 2020
There will be some changes to the membership of the MC at the end of the year. This is part of the process to keep maximum continuity in the MC by having one or two members change each year. This is a good process as it ensures continuity but also bring change and fresh eyes to the work of the MC.

This year Chairperson Evan Buckley steps down after 4 years in situ (where did the time go!). Aidan Smith is also stepping down from the position of Facilities Officer. So there are two vacancies to be filled. Membership of the MC is open to all ordinary or life members of the Club. Vacancies are filled in the usual way by a proposer and seconder who must also be either an ordinary or life member of the Club. The committee may also nominate an eligible nominee for election.

These are important positions and filling them with good people is important for the future drive and direction of the Club. Both Evan and Aidan, or indeed any member of the MC, would be happy to talk, in confidence, about what each role entails with any interested member.

President Paddy Chambers is also stepping down. The process of identifying the President for 2021 is part of the role of the Golf Council and a nomination from there is likely to be made public in the near future.

Club Captain Declan McCarthy and Vice Captain Tony O’Hare are continuing in their roles for 2021.

Lady Captain Rosemary Buckley is stepping down at the end of the year and the incoming Lady Captain for 2021 is Joan Halpin. The incoming Lady Vice Captain is not yet known but is selected by Joan for confirmation at the ladies AGM.

All the members acknowledge the commitment and dedication of all those, past and present, who take up committee roles in the Club. The Club would not be able to function without their tireless work on all our behalf.

And all committee members enjoy their work on committee and get a great insight and perspective on the complexity of running a golf club.

So maybe it’s your turn in 2021?

Some Golf news …..
it was really nice to see Joan Melvin win Lady Captain Rosemary’s prize recently. Joan was a very popular winner and is, as she says herself, an overnight success after 35 years trying!!

The Play in Pink day was a victim of an unseasonal day but nonetheless raised €1,600 for breast cancer research while the TLC day, with a full time sheet, raised just over €5,000 for St Francis Hospice.

It is wonderful to see the generosity of the members of Beaverstown as it continues to shine through in our great Club.

Well done to all concerned.

New Handicap System
A very significant change is about to be implemented on 2nd November in relation to players golf handicaps.
The idea is to unify a number of systems that are used internationally into a single system called the World Handicap System (WHS).
It is being introduced by Golf Ireland which is the joint body of GUI and ILGU and it will apply to both men and women golfers.
The simplest and most accurate information about the new system can be found on the GolfNow website where there is a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) section on the World Handicap System (WHS).All members are asked to read this document.

Some interesting points on the FAQ’s are as follows:
* the new WHS handicap for a person will be automatically calculated on the basis of the best 8 out of the last 20 scores submitted
* it will come into effect on 2nd November 2020
* each time you add a new score your WHS will automatically be recalculated on the basis of the best 8 of your most recent 20 scores (it appears that the 0.1 back system is gone!!)
* you may be able to submit scores from social and recreational golf in certain circumstances
* it may be possible in the future that matchplay and four-ball scores could be added to the system …. but not initially
* there are no buffer zones in the new WHS calculations
* WHS handicaps will be managed and adjusted automatically and on line.

These are just some of the points referenced in the FAQ’s and members are urged to read the text in full to familiarise themselves with the new arrangements …. the text is really well laid out and simple in its delivery.

Two new terms ….. Course Rating and Slope Rating
There are two new terms that are coming into golf conversations…. Course Rating and Slope Rating.

Here the Newsletter has to admit that these topics bring it well outside its comfort zone, its competence and it pay grade. So what follows comes with a bit of a general golf health warning!!

Course Rating is a number attached to each course in a club (bear in mind some clubs have more than one course). This number reflects the number of shots a scratch golfer can be expected to score on a particular course. It is possible to have two courses each with a par of 72 – one difficult and one benign. On this basis the scratch golfer might score lower on the easy course but higher on the more difficult course so the course rating might be 73(difficult course) and 71 (benign course) even though both courses have a par of 72.

To an extent then the Course Rating does give an indication of the difficulty of a particular course.

Slope Rating is a calculation that indicates how much harder a course is for a handicap player as opposed to a scratch golfer. A Slope Rating is calculated for each course and it is a number that falls within the range of 55 to 155. A Slope Rating of 113 is the rating of an average course.

If a course has a high slope rating (say 120) then that means that it is more difficult for a high handicap golfer to score than it is for a scratch golfer and in competition it is possible for the handicaps (WHS) to be adjusted to reflect that discrepancy. Equally if the Slope Rating of the course is less than 113 then it is easier for the high handicap golfer to compete with the scratch golfer and the handicaps can be adjusted to reflect that situation.

Any of these handicap changes will be made automatically through the new systems that are being introduced. Into the future courses will make their course and slope ratings public as a normal course of events and golfers can make informed decisions about whether or not particular courses meet their playing needs.

Beaverstown Golf Club

Filed Under: Latest News, Noticeboard

Newsletter 7th August 2020

August 7, 2020 By Frank OMoore

30/07/2020
Beaverstown Golf Club
Newsletter
The New Normal
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
Beaverstown Golf Club Change Marketing Subscriptions

Filed Under: Noticeboard

Newsletter 27th June 2020

June 28, 2020 By Frank OMoore

27/06/2020
Beaverstown Golf Club
Newsletter
The Main Decision
Following the recent relaxation of restrictions by the government, the Club is now able to permit access to the restaurant and bar as long as it continues to maintain certain social distancing conditions that are outlined below.

Consequently the restaurant and bar will be open for members use from Wednesday 1st July.

The hours of opening will be different, the physical arrangements will be different and the responsibilities of the members will be different ……. but hopefully the food and drink will be as before.

So please read the information outlined below and help us all to extend our opening in a manner that protects the health and well being of our staff, our members and our guests.

Guiding Principles in reopening
Everyone is looking forward to one of John’s tasty burgers or a creamy pint of Guinness from Mick or Noel.

But we cannot forget the key responsibility of the Club and the MC is
* to ensure the health and safety of our staff, members and guests and
* to ensure we comply fully with the government regulations.

Everything we do must be guided by those two requirements

What preparations have been made in advance of re-opening?
A lot of work has gone into ensuring that the Club opens in a safe and compliant manner. In that regard the Club has:
* examined all information and guidelines that have been prepared by Failte Ireland for the hospitality sector
* developed and agreed an action plan to prepare the Club for restaurant / bar reopening
* prepared a new opening roster for the co-incidental reopening of the bar and the restaurant
* sent our barman Noel on an approved COVID Training course
* discussed issues with administration staff, bar staff and the restaurant catering franchisee
* undertaken a risk assessment to identify possible pinch points in our reopening
* placed appropriate screens in the bar area
* installed hand sanitiser dispensers in key areas in the clubhouse
* confirmed appropriate PPE protocols with bar and restaurant franchisee
* rearranged our furniture, and removed bar stools and small stools, to ensure appropriate social distancing with table occupancy indicated on each table
* communicated the new arrangements via this newsletter to all adult members outlining their responsibility in delivering the reopening protocols and requesting their full assistance in this regard
So what are the changes that the new protocols demand?
The restaurant can open on its own but the the bar can only open when the restaurant is open.

A person can place any order in the restaurant from a coffee to a three course meal. A person can order a soft drink from the bar. But a person can order an alcohol drink from the bar only if they also order a full meal (defined as a minimum €9.00 cost).

A maximum of 50 people can be in the restaurant bar area at any one time.

A person can only be in the restaurant / bar for a maximum of 1 hour and 45 minutes.

People within a group must be 1 metre apart and the groups themselves must be 2 metres apart.

A record must be retained by the Club of the names of all members and guests who patronise the clubhouse to facilitate contact tracing should that be necessary.

These regulations have been set down as a precondition to reopening the restaurant and bar. There are many views about the practicality and impact of the regulations. The reasons that regulations are required have been set out in all the media by the government and these objectives are strongly supported by the MC.

So, whether we like them or not, they must be implemented in order to permit reopening. Informal information from the pub trade is that the regulations will be strongly inspected and non compliance will leads to close down and possible licence endorsement.

How will the changes be implemented?
Firstly the bar will close when the restaurant closes. An opening / closing schedule will be published early next week and will show the bar open for a shorter period than before.

Next the seating has been rearranged at 2m. separation, the capacity of each table is indicated on the table to ensure 1m. separation at the table and there is seating for no more than 50 members / guests. Members are asked not to move or re-arrange any seats or tables.

On arrival members will have their names recorded and this record will be stored in the office for 1 month. Members will also be asked to respect the 105 minute requirement.

Can I help?
The main way to help is to commit to fully implementing the changes that are outlined in this Newsletter.

But the MC also need support in supervising the new arrangements on a day to day basis especially where visitors or society guests might visit the bar.

If you feel you have some time to give to this role please contact either Captain or a member of the MC.

Ongoing Issues in the Club
This newsletter is essentially a one topic newsletter on COVID reopening but some general pieces of information are of interest:
* There was a significant water problem in the compound which has just been addressed.
* However there is still an unresolved issue in relation to the water supply to the on-course toilets which continue to be not in use
* Work is ongoing on the repair and replacement of broken sprinkler heads that facilitate watering of tee boxes and greens
* interest and take up in new memberships continues and this is very encouraging
* the pressure on time sheet access has been obvious for some time. This should reduce a little when timesheet intervals are reduced to 10 minutes. The pressure is also due to a number of other issues including the fact that virtually nobody is taking summer holidays.
* membership subscription reviews are ongoing and it looks like a number of members, as a first step, will have their BRS access withdrawn next week.

Filed Under: Noticeboard

Getting ready to open safely.

June 13, 2020 By Frank OMoore

All carpets and upholstery in bar , restaurant and office deep cleaned and disinfected thanks to A.K.P Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Services. #challenginggreens

18/06/20

The preparation for reopening continues . Upholstery and carpets spotless and now dry . Screens going up in bar , thanks to Mark Buckley and Karl Kidd.

 

#challenginggreens .

Filed Under: Noticeboard

Newsletter June 2020

June 3, 2020 By Frank OMoore

Beaverstown Golf Club
05/06/2020
Return to golf … what is happening?

The first 3 weeks of the phased return is almost over. A special thanks for all the members within 5k who have warmed up the course for all the 20k members who are chomping at the bit in anticipation of a return to golf on Monday 8th June.

The course staff are all in situ, the pro shop is open with social distancing procedures in place and the office will be open 3 days a week during the next 3 weeks.

The restaurant cannot open until the end of June but a limited take-away service is on offer on the 10th tee.
The time sheet is set up to deliver maximum social distancing and the club will begin to welcome back society guests from 8th June.

There is ongoing advice on competitions from GUI / ILGU. In the initial phase all golf was casual but internal competitions have been approved from 8th June. Work is ongoing on how to enter competitions, manage the return of cards and arrange for the provision of competition results. Work is also being done on a revised schedule of events for the remainder of the year. And it looks like there will be no inter-club matches for the foreseeable future.

Whats happening on the course?

Pitchmarks
Hard to believe it but pitch marks not repaired continues to be an issue on the course. In these few weeks it is not possible to blame either societies or visitors!!
So please, please give more attention to repairing divots and pitch marks and lets keep the course in the condition that we would like to find it.
Growth.
With the spell of dry warm weather the growth has reduced a little but cutting is still in full swing. Course staff cut everything twice a week, once for Wednesday and again for the weekend.
Weeds.
Course staff have sprayed around all trees, paths, ponds etc which is great as it normally takes till June to finish this job. Weeds on fairways, tees and aprons haven’t been sprayed yet because of the dry weather. Bellis perennis, commonly knowing as the daisy, is the main weed in these areas and it needs a strong herbicide to control so there must be strong grass growth to spray. Once the rain comes, this will be done.
Greens.
Greens have come on well since the verti-draining and looking good. They are seeding strongly now and are verti-cut twice a week and ironed twice a week to keep them fast and true.
Irrigation.
With the dry spell there is plenty of watering to be done. Greens are fine with all the sprinklers working and hand watering the hills. Tees are not so good as over 60 sprinklers need to be replaced so there is a lot of hand watering to be done there which takes up a lot of time. Some aprons are drying up badly e.g. 4th, 5th and 6th and the drains on 5th fairway and 9th fairway.
Bunkers.
Bunkers in general have enough sand in them. The problem is that, over the winter, the sand has formed a crust and has gone hard. Bunker sand is ordered for this month.
In general
In generally the course is looking well and things are going good. Special thanks to all the volunteers who are doing great work.
Pat Healy.

Who is minding the course?

Every evening a group of local members is keeping an eye on the course and checking compliance with social distancing protocols.
During the day the men’s committee has agreed to provide course marshals to ensure that a good pace of golf is maintained and that groups continue to stay apart and comply with social distancing norms.
So please don”t be offended if you are asked to produce membership tags ….. its all part of keeping the course and club in good shape.
There does appear to be a small number of teenage groups congregating in the areas immediately outside our boundaries who may not be practicing social distancing norms but they are not interfering with with the Club or the course and they probably just want to be left alone!

Club finances

A key priority for the MC during the current crisis is to minimise the impact on the Club income. Members will know that the Club income is made up of three main parts: subscriptions (68%), societies and green fees (13%), and competitions (13%).
That is why the MC recently circulated a number of members with their subscription profile details, restarted society patronage from 08 June and is working with both golf committees to get competitions up and running as soon as possible.
Members co-operation with these efforts is much appreciated by the MC …… many thanks.

Boundary Fencing

Contact has been made with Hora Construction Developments and they have stated that they will be erecting a boundary fence as agreed in the near future. They have also agreed to water the construction roads on their site to minimise mini dust storms that blow across the course in these very dry days.

Communications and Social Media

The club recognises the importance of being open and transparent and providing members with the maximum amount of information possible.

The main source of information is the Club web site. The most recent additions include the interview between Captain Declan and Shane O’Donopghue and the latest drone overhead video of the course and its environs.

The Club Facebook page is also a great source of communications where David Dolan’s 18 holes of video and Mark Buckley’s countdown to opening videos proved very popular. The Facebook page also has many many photos of the course and events in the Club. You don’t need an account or be a Facebook user ….. just google Beaverstown Facebook and you can easily see what it is all about.

For more mundane information the club uses email messages (free) in preference to text messages (small cost) and 33 group emails were sent to members already earlier in the year.

And, of course, there is the newsletter which is issued every 4 to 6 weeks.

So a big thank you to all the members who have contributed in so many ways to keep everyone up to date with happenings in the Club.

Fingal Coastal Way

Work is continuing on the Fingal Coastal Way, a 32km recreational walking and cycling route connecting Donabate, Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan. The greenway will link with the proposed Broadmeadow Way which connects Malahide to Donabate. Fingal CC has recently issued tender documents for the design of the construction stage of the project.

The greenway will be a flagship tourist amenity for Fingal and will form part of the developing network that will also link with the S2S Project which links Sutton to Sandycove.

Just recently planning approval was given for the Malahide Estuary Bridge element of the overall project. Members who have ever travelled by train from Malahide to Donabate will have crossed this bridge and it is proposed to add a cycleway and walkway to the bridge to join both villages.

All this is important for our Club because our course boundary lies on the Rogerstown Estuary which forms a natural element of the proposed greenway.

The MC has met with Fingal CC earlier this year for a general chat and an overview of their plans and the MC is keeping the latest developments under review.

Breaking news …

During the week the ILGU / GUI have added a number of clarifications to their protocols for golf with effect from 8th June …..
* A temporary new local rule until further notice. BUNKERS – preferred lie….. 6 inches placing, not nearer the hole.
* The use of scorecards is permitted. The player gets a verbal verification from their marker when entering a score. Markers do not sign the card, the player prints the marker’s name on their own card.
* Players are encouraged to use provisional balls if necessary, rather than returning to the tee and losing their position on the course.
* Playing in lines of 4 is now approved

All details can be found on Golfnet under Guide for Committees. See also notices in the clubhouse or just check with the club Pro, Gavin.

Odds and Ends
  • No new developments on Club mortgage refinancing since last Newsletter
  • New stone and bedding plants on the first tee box are really nice
  • A new Calendar 2021 is being produced. Sponsored by Mick Morris it is an ideal new year gift and will be available towards the end of the year. Funds raised will go to Children’s Hospital Crumlin
  • Mark Buckley, David Dolan, Bernard Pander and Sean Browne have joined Padraic Fallon on the marketing sub-committee
  • Like to paint some sleepers? …. let Padraic Fallon know you are interested ….. bring your own paintbrush … he might even supply the paint …..
  • Still some car stickers available …. contact PF
  • New photos on web site

Filed Under: Noticeboard

Captain interviews Shane O’Donoghue

May 18, 2020 By Frank OMoore

Click here to view

Filed Under: Noticeboard

Covid-19 – Ball retrieval device

May 15, 2020 By Frank OMoore

Video by Gavin to demonstrate the way to retrieve your ball from the hole without touching the flag, with thanks to Paddy Chambers for the equipment supply.

Click here to view

Filed Under: Noticeboard

Newsletter March 2020

March 31, 2020 By Frank OMoore

Corona Virus

The MC had planned a nice general update for members on Club issues in a Newsletter. Then corona virus happened and everything changed.  So the first thing today is to keep things in perspective and approach everything from a health, and not a golf, viewpoint. There will be plenty of time for golf later on in the year.

Our first thoughts go to any members who may be feeling unwell or have anybody close to them in that situation. We are also thinking of our many members who are on the front line response to this pandemic. We have members who are nurses, health care assistants, ambulance drivers and firemen and others who will find themselves facing dangerous situations and who are looking after the whole population. Please take care of yourselves and thank you on all our behalf.

Temporary closure of the clubhouse and golf course

At a recent meeting the MC took the decision to close the course and the clubhouse. In coming to that decision the MC relied on the recommendation of the GUI and ILGU:

*** the GUI and ILGU recommend that all golf clubs, practice facilities and courses across the island close with immediate effect until April 19th 2020. The message is clear. People must stay at home to help to contain the spread of COVID-19***

The MC is continuing to meet on a weekly basis to manage the effects of this temporary closure. (MC members have been introduced to the delights of ZOOM and meetings occur without the necessity of physical attendance in one place). The situation continues to change on a daily basis and the MC will continue to manage this new situation and keep the members informed by email as appropriate.

The impact of the club closure

Clearly the new situation will impact on the Club finances. As a general rule income during the months of November and December is relatively low, then members will remember that January and February were very wet with a number of days when the course was closed for play. And then in March corona virus arrived.

So at this stage of the year the club is well behind its financial targets. As a result of this the MC has taken a number of decisions as follows:

  • all proposed capital spending has been put on hold
  • a number of staff have been temporarily laid off and are being supported by government schemes
  • one course staff member has taken voluntary leave
  • the remaining course staff members are working strictly to approved health related distancing procedures
  • the clubhouse has been placed in temporary “lock down” mode with utilities turned off and perishable goods removed

The MC is examining whether or not it is eligible for further government support schemes and will apply for such support if and when appropriate.

Important updates

There are two big issues that remain in the background for the Club.

It is clearly not possible to reconvene the 2019 AGM and conclude its business in the current circumstances but the MC is ready to do this as soon as large group meetings are permitted.

On the club main loan situation (see more below) the discussions with LINK have progressed as has discussions with financial institutions (not AIB) with a view to obtaining support for the Club. However these two strands have yet to be joined up into a comprehensive package for agreement. Work in this regard is continuing and the MC remains positive about a satisfactory outcome in the not too distant future.

What can I do to help?

Everybody is anxious to help but clearly, for the moment, care of oneself and ones family is of paramount importance as is complying with social distancing and staying at home except for necessary trips outside.

Stay in touch …..watch the website for updates …… open Facebook …..

The office in the Club is now closed until further notice. If a members needs to contact the Club for any reason they should use the email of secretary.beaverstowngc@gmail.com If necessary, our Club Pro Gavin can still be contacted through his usual contact numbers.

From the perspective of the Club, notwithstanding the financial pressures on everyone, maintaining income is really important. Society, green fee and competition income has ground to a halt. This income will not be recoverable even when the situation improves. Competitions cannot be rerun, societies will have other scheduled dates in other clubs later in the year and lost green fees are just lost.

This means that subscription income is critical to maintaining a cash flow necessary for the club to function even in shut down mode. Members who have been put into difficult financial positions that impact on their ability to pay their subs are asked to make contact with the club to discuss the situation. The subscription from other members therefore assumes even greater importance.

Once the situation eases members are asked to support our Club Pro Gavin Byrne and our Club caterer John Wynne as much as possible.

Welcome to Captain and Lady Captain

The members are delighted to welcome Captain Declan McCarthy and Lady Captain Rosemary Buckley and to wish them both a happy and successful golfing year for 2020. Both Declan and Rosemary have been members for many years and they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to their new roles. They are supported by very strong committees and the Club can look forward to a well organised and interesting golfing year ahead.

You really had to be there ….

Unfortunately the Captain and Lady Captain were unable to attend the traditional drive-in on 1st January and their place was taken by a couple of well known imposters who had mysteriously found their way to Beaverstown. In keeping with its great tradition the members gave the imposters, who appeared to have lost their way and didn’t say very much, a warm and enthusiastic welcome.

A number of the older Club members recognised the visitors as back from the future and they were immediately offered a new Introductory Members package.

Welcome aboard Laurel and Hardy ……..hope to see you again during the year!

Beaverstown installs a new Swing Room

The Club recently added a new swing room to help members improve their golf skills. Members can book a tee time through the Pro shop and rates have been kept deliberately low to encourage all members to have a go.

The facility is managed by Club Pro Gavin. Lessons can be booked and the facility facilitates members who wish to have driving lessons from our Club Pro Gavin.

Let’s watch handicaps tumbling in the coming months!

Committee Members in 2020

The Club welcomes Jim Hender as the new Club secretary and he joins Evan Buckley (Chair), Padraic Fallon (Business Development), Aidan Smith (Facilities) and Liam Kelly (Financial Officer) on the management committee.

In the mens section the captain is Declan McCarthy and Tony O’Hare is the incoming Vice-Captain. Dave Kavanagh is the new hon secretary , Ken Breen is in charge of handicaps and John Quinn has responsibility for competitions. Aidan O’Kennedy, Kieran Argue and Sean Browne are committee members and last year’s Captain Pat Ward completes the team in the role as ex-officio.

In the Ladies section Rosemary Buckley is the Ladies Captain with Joan Halpin as incoming Ladies Vice-Captain. Siobhan Prout Dunleavy is the ladies secretary, Sheila Dowling is handicap secretary with Niamh Duggan in charge of competitions. Adrienne Gallagher is a committee member and last year’s Lady Captain, Alice O’Connor, completes the team in the role of ex-officio.

The Club Trustees going into 2020 are John Walshe, Paul Martin, Padraic Melvin and Tom Kirrane.

Some information from the Club AGM

A large and healthy attendance was present for the Club AGM in early December. Some of the key points from the chairpersons presentation included:

A presentation of the financial picture of the Club indicated that the progress of 2018 was continued into 2019 with a reported surplus of €18k in the accounts.

The membership profile showed a net increase of 30 in 2019 made up of 57 new members while, for a variety of different reasons, 27 had given up their membership

A full update on the status of the club mortgage loan transfer.

The plans, priorities and challenges for 2020.

Update on the Club mortgage Loan Transfer

Members will be aware that there are ongoing significant changes happening in relation to the Club loan. The loan was sold by AIB to a company called Everyday Finance and Beaverstown is in negotiation with Everyday Finance with a view to buying back that loan.

The discussions are at a critical and sensitive stage and all parties are anxious for a satisfactory conclusion. Additional discussions are underway with two major national banks who may provide assistance to the Club in this regard.

Members will know that at the AGM a number of decisions were postponed in order to facilitate those ongoing discussions. Once the outcome of the discussions has become clear the AGM will be reconvened and full information will be given to the members. It is difficult to predict an actual date but at this time it looks like it will be April at the earliest

Motions and Elections from the Club AGM

Three motions were presented for consideration by the AGM

  1. The motion to change the number of Trustees from 5 to 4 was passed unanimously 2. the motion to revise the fee structure for Intermediate members was passed unanimously
  2. The motion to apply a 2% increase to membership subscriptions across the board was also passed.

There was only one candidate for each vacancy that was available at the AGM. Consequently Jim Hender was elected as Club Secretary, Aidan Smith was elected as Facilities Officer and Tom Kirrane was elected as a new Trustee.

The chairperson thanked outgoing Trustees Jim Caulfield and Pat McCallion and he also thanked outgoing club Secretary Jim Flanagan for their enormous contribution to the Club over many years.

Filed Under: Noticeboard

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