News

If you are playing in either of the Men's or the Women's medals this month, you will see the first use of the new computer system the Club is introducing. The VMS (Venue Management System) from Scottish Golf, which links into the Scottish Golf App, is used at over 200 courses in Scotland. The change is required as we move away from the EnjoyLeisure booking system, and will be more cost-effective than the current version as the new Club takes shape.

Members will use VMS on the screen in the lobby, pretty much as we have done with the old system, but it does look a little different. For the February medals there will be help in the Clubhouse from first thing on Sunday morning to show early starters how to sign in, and how to enter their scores afterwards.

In time the Committee hopes that we will all see the benefits of using this, but as with any new system it will take a little time to get used to. This is why it is being introduced now, so that we can use it several times before the start of the full season and get to see how it works for us. By the end of the year we hope that it should be running well for everyone. There will inevitably be issues and concerns along the way, but please be patient as we work through these together.

Over 100 members were at an Extraordinary General Meeting in the Clubhouse on 30 October, to discuss the potential acquisition by the Club of a 40-year lease over the course and building from East Lothian Council. This Community Asset Transfer is aimed at securing the long-term future of the Club, and improvements to our course and facilities, against the backdrop of increasingly depleted Local Authority resources. This is intended to take effect from the beginning of the 2025 season.

Committee members explained the work they had undertaken on the Club's behalf over the past 2 years in discussions with ELC, and in preparing financial forecasts etc in preparation for the CAT. There was then a lively Q&A session looking at various aspects of the proposal. Several members took this opportunity to thank the Committee members for all their hard - and of course voluntary - work on this.

Following the meeting, all members were sent copies of the full minutes, including all of the Q&As. There followed an online poll of the membership, which closed at midnight on Monday 4th November. In this poll there was a 66,2% return of eligible votes. Yes votes were 321 and No votes 8, a vote of 97.6% in favour of proceeding with the CAT. The votes were verified independently of the Committee.

Further updates will follow regarding how we move forward in the procedures involved in the Community Asset Transfer process.

You may have seen the lovely new white fence which has been erected around the practice putting green. Previously a 'Wrong Green', this area has become Out of Bounds by the erection of this new fence, and the normal Rules of Golf apply accordingly.

Winter ticket update September 2024.

We will not be offering any Winter tickets this year, as membership/season ticket is now at capacity.

The next intake will be 1st April 2025, and we have already started a waiting list for this. Please contact the Club Shop for details.

On Monday 19th August we were proud to host the annual Babe Zaharias competition organised by East Lothian Ladies County Golf Association.
For more information about the event follow this link: https://www.ellgolf.co.uk/news/
For more information about Babe Zaharias follow this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BabeDidriksonZaharias

Following on from a recent Assessment by ELC Health and Safety Officers the Club received a communication advising that NO shots should be played from the steep bankings along the first hole and around the green.

Consequently, the Committee has designated all of the banking as Ground Under Repair, and encircled by a continuous blue line and/or blue stakes. Along with our long-standing Local Rule, all GUR at Winterfield is automatically designated a No Play Zone, and relief must be taken if your ball is in there. This is a FREE DROP within one club length of the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole. If you cannot see your ball, but you know it is on the banking, then your point of relief is taken from where the ball crossed the blue line into the NPZ.

Anyone playing from within the GUR is playing from a Wrong Place, and the general penalty will apply - 2 shots in Strokeplay, loss of hole in Matchplay. If they obtain a significant advantage by doing this, and do not then correct the position, they may be disqualified from a competition.

Especially after wet weather the bankings can be dangerous, and we have had some serious injuries there in recent years. We advise that you do not climb the banking to find or retrieve a ball. Any golfer opting to access the banking to retrieve their ball does so at their own risk.