Useful Information

Post them in the box just outside the men’s changing rooms and send a photo of the completed card to the Men’s Handicap Secretary. If you need someone to play with, please contact any member of the men’s committee or the new members point of contact who ‘may’ be able to help facilitate a suitable partner.

Post them in the Ladies Section Folder behind the Reception Desk or in the handicap box in the ladies changing room and send a photo of the completed card to the Ladies Handicap Secretary

Post them in the box just outside the men’s changing rooms and send a photo of the completed cards to the Seniors’ handicap Secretary

The Professional Coaches give regular feedback to the Junior Organiser, advising when a junior is of sufficient ability to progress to the High Course, and the Organiser then arranges Handicapping sessions. The Junior Handicap Secretary will process the cards once they are submitted.

Food and drink are discounted when using your membership card in the bar, where you can also charge up your card in £10 multiples. You can also charge your card up remotely from the BGL tee booking system or ‘Elite Live’ App online. The bar area is now operating a cashless system, so use of a credit/debit card or indeed the membership card will be the only forms of payment they will accept. Members also enjoy 10% discount on most items in the shop.

Buggies and trollies are available for hire when the weather permits, simply enquire at the pro- shop. Buggies are not allowed in competitions unless you have a qualifying medical condition that has been verified. Please speak to a member of the committee or competition organiser if you are unsure.

The aim is always to be ‘just behind’ the game in front, not ‘just ahead’ of the game behind!  If, for whatever reason, a large gap develops between you and the group ahead and the group behind you have caught up with you then you should consider standing to one side and calling them through.

Bags & Trollies should always be left at the side of the green between the flag and the direction of the next tee.

Rules can be checked via the R&A website. It is almost impossible to summarise the rules so best to assume that you will learn as you go along – more experienced players will usually tell you, hopefully gently, if you contravene a rule and it is often the best way to learn.  Carry your rule book in your bag and if in doubt, ask a more experienced player or one of the Professionals.  The rulebook is very useful bedtime reading – a certain cure for insomnia!

Each player should recognise that their pace of play is likely to affect how long it will take others to play their rounds, including both those in the player’s own group and those in following groups. The following are target times for a 4 ball to complete 9 holes (2 hours and 5 minutes) and 18 holes (4 hours and 10 minutes).

If a group keeps up with the group in front, they will rarely be accused of slow play.

If ground has been lost on the group in front, then all the players in the group should take responsibility for making up ground to get back into position as quickly as possible.

Speeding up means playing faster; less practice swings, less time assessing putts, walking quicker and accepting that your score may suffer – as the score of the golfers held up behind may have suffered from your slow play,

Walk, assess and select your club efficiently, whilst others are playing

Have an efficient pre-shot routine so that, when it is your turn, you make the stroke in a target time of 40 seconds. A player should usually be able to play more quickly than this and is encouraged to do so.

If a group cannot keep its position on the course for whatever reason, and is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through so that group can play at the pace it is capable of. This guidance applies to both individual groups, organised swindles and club competitions.