Hopeman Golf Club
Return to Social Golf – Phase 1 Rules

Latest COVID Rules

From 26th April 2021

Firstly the club has a duty of care to ALL staff, ALL members and the wider community along with any visitor’s guests in the coming weeks and months ahead. It should be worth noting that it is a “Safety First Golf Second Policy”. This will hopefully minimise and manage as best we can any risk and allow our golfers to enjoy their golf as secure as possible.

It is your responsibility to ensure your own safety while at the Club. 

COURSE ACCESS

Access to the courses will be limited to employees, HGC Golf members, member’s guests and visitors. 
Groups of up to four golfers with no restrictions on the number of households represented provided they adhere to the Government’s physical distancing rules
Priority will be given to the greens staff at all times.
Juniors will require to be accompanied by an adult at all times to ensure that they are able to leave immediately after play.
The course will open at 08.00. This is to allow the greens staff time to complete tasks before play commences.
If you play after the online booking system times, please form and orderly queue at the first tee, it is your personal responsibility to adhere to all social distancing requirements.
Members must:

• Not be displaying any Covid 19 symptoms
• Not be categorised as vulnerable
• Adhere to all temporary rules and regulations at all times
• Adhere to Scottish Government guidelines on travel for outdoor leisure and exercise

 BOOKING  

Online booking will be required between 08.00 and 2 hours before sunset. Booking a tee time in advance will be via the Hopeman GC website. If you have not got your username, contact Trevor. 
There will be NO “turn up and play” tee times.
Apart from Club Competitions tee times will be at 10 minute intervals.
Individuals may play on their own.

BEFORE ARRIVAL AT THE CLUB  

• If you are in the highest risk (shielding) group outlined by the Government, then you can now play with up to one other household.
• If you are ill or have any symptoms of COVID-19 then stay at home
• Schedule your tee-time in the manner prescribed by your golf club. Under no circumstances should you arrive at the club without booking in advance
• Tee group sizes will be determined by the Golf Club
•  Ensure you have enough golf balls, tees etc. as the facilities at the Golf Club may be closed and you should not exchange equipment with other members
• Aim to arrive at the Club no more than 15 minutes prior to play
• Change your shoes in the car park
  
  

ARRIVAL AT THE CLUB

The locker room is now open however the Gents lockers can only permit 4 players at a time with the ladies locker room 2.
No social gatherings in the car park, either before or after play.
Personal Buggies / Single ride on buggies are permitted however they will they must be booked in advance. Buggy users must clean the buggy with the wipes supplied before and after use.
Please adhere to all signage. 

CLUBHOUSE FACILITIES

*Limited Catering

You can collect a score card from the shop during these hours, with a maximum of 3 people in at any time.

ON THE COURSE

Golfers to keep 2 metres apart at teeing areas due the normal close proximity of golfers to one another when tee shots are being played. There will be no distance and tee markers on the tee.
BROKEN TEES Pick up and put in your pocket to be disposed of at home. Don’t leave lying around.
DO NOT retrieve a playing partner’s ball at any time.
Only handle your own golf ball. Any ‘lost’ balls on the course should be left where they are unless it is your own.
If you are caught up by following players STAND aside as soon as practical. DO NOT hold up the course.
If NOT playing 18 holes UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CUT OVER AT ANY POINT. Only play holes in rotation and walk in from wherever you finish.
Ball Washers, are out of use.
PLAYERS MUST TAKE ALL LITTER HOME.
Once a hole is completed, the group in front must have exited the tee box before players can progress to the next hole.
Do not double back to play again if a ball is lost, unplayable, or in a penalty area
Players must not pick up another player’s equipment or golf ball.

Scoring in Stroke Play (Rule 3.3b)

In view of concerns around handling and exchanging scorecards (which may be in paper or electronic form as already provided in the Rules), on a temporary basis,:

Players may enter their own scores on the scorecard (it is not necessary for a marker to do it).
It is not necessary to have a marker physically certify the player’s hole scores, but some form of verbal certification should take place.
It is not necessary to physically return a scorecard to the Committee provided the Committee can accept the scores in another way.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SCORE ON THE COMPUTER BEFORE LEAVING IF CLUBHOUSE IS CLOSED I.E TUESDAY MEDAL THEN POST SCORECARD THROUGH THE MAIN CLUBHOUSE DOOR

As provided in the Rules of Golf, scorecards can be electronic, which could include emailing or texting scores to the Committee if acceptable to the committee.

FOURSOMES & GREENSOMES FORMAT

 Each partner should use their own golf ball, which is only handled by that player. For example, the player teeing off from hole 1 is the only player that touches the ball from teeing off through to completion of the hole. The partner teeing off from hole 2 does likewise with their ball.
When marking and replacing the ball on the putting green this should be conducted by the partner the ball belongs to. Under this situation (or any other where the ball must be replaced) the original ball must be used and must not be substituted by another ball.
Under the Rules of Golf, a partner is permitted to drop the side’s ball in taking relief. It is also permissible to drop another ball when taking relief.

BUNKERS & PUTTING GREENS & FLAGSTICKS

With no rakes allowed on the course, a reminder to make your very best efforts to smooth the sand using your club and/or your feet.
Preferred lies are in operation in the bunkers within a club length.
Golfers to keep 2 metres apart on the greens and not to touch the flagstick. 
Players to centre the flagstick in a safe manner which does not involve using the hand, even when wearing a glove or using a towel (for example, by using a club). The centring of the flagstick may be allowed while another player putts (this may be desirable in windy conditions when the flagstick is required to be left in the hole and is leaning towards the player making the stroke).
DO NOT touch the flag poles except in the rule mentioned above.

DEFINITION OF HOLED

With a hole liner now fitted for easy retrieval however it is NOT in the accordance of the rules of golf should any of the following happen –

Treating a ball as holed or holed with the next stroke if it is within a certain distance of the hole.
Having the hole liner sitting above the surface of the putting green and treating a ball as holed if it strikes the liner.
Treating a ball as holed when it has bounced out of the hole for any reason (for example, when it has bounced off the flagstick, a tray attached to the flagstick or the hole liner).

LEAVING THE COURSE

The Shoe Cleaning machine is unavailable for use.
Post-round, players must return straight to their cars.
Players must call or email the golf club with any post-round health issues or COVID-19 related queries, at the earliest possible opportunity.

PRACTICE FACILITIES

The Short Game area is available, with a maximum of 2 people in that area at any one time. One practice net will be available due to social distancing rules.

The putting green will be open with a maximum of TWO members practising at a time. The green should only be used immediately prior to teeing off.