This eNews is the monthly 'Member Update' which keeps members informed of general Club news.
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Above: Echidna on the fifth.
January Fauna
Last month, in the vicinity of BHGC, there were tens of lorikeets spotted, at least one snake sighting, a shark-inspired evacuation of 13th Beach and this more welcome visitor — an echidna spotted on the third and fifth holes. Thank you to Jenny Allen for sharing the beautiful photo above and Amanda Derham who captured a short video and reported "it was totally unperturbed by my approach - it sniffed the air, stopped briefly then kept on ambling towards the bushes."
Thank you also to members Robin Spry and Bill McKellar who continue to supply insightful Bird of the Month and Feature Flora articles for this monthly update.
Warm Weather Forecast
At the time of writing the BOM forecast for Geelong this weekend is a sunny 31C on Saturday and 33C on Sunday.
Health risks exist even when the forecast is below the extreme temperature required to enact the Club's heat policy. Whenever conditions are warm, we implore all members to take every precaution or consider not playing. By doing so you will keep yourself heathy and avoid putting undue pressure and stress on the Club's staff should players need assistance.
Entries are now open for one of the most esteemed and exciting events on the Club's golf calendar and you are encouraged to enter the Championships which will be played for in March.
Once again men and women have the option of playing their two qualifying rounds on a weekend or on selected weekdays. Click the link below to read more and to register. We look forward to receiving your entry.
In case you missed it on the website, congratulations to Life Member, Dawn Macdonald, who received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the General Division for her services to golf and the community in the Australia Day honours listing for 2024. Congratulations also to 60-year member, Bruce Wilson, who was recognised with an OAM for services to the community and agricultural education.
Opening Day lunch 2024
WOMEN'S OPENING DAY
Opening Day enthusiasm saw 120 women on the main course and 12 on the par three course resulting in a 'sell-out' crowd at the lunch on Tuesday 30 January 2024.
First played 30 years ago in 1994, the Lucifer Trophy is a 4BBB mixed Stableford event and will be played this year on Sunday 11 February. The timesheet opens eight days prior on 3 February at 3.00pm.
Above: The Junior Golf Week simply couldn’t run without all the valuable help that is given by volunteers - rain or shine.
JUNIOR GOLF WEEK
As you may have read, last year's record of 297 entries in the events that made up Junior Golf Week was comprehensively beaten this year with 326 registered.
Well done to all the players and a big thank you to the staff and lengthy list of volunteers who helped the Women's Golf Sub-Committee organise and run the event.
Congratulations to the 2024 Junior Club Champions, Claudia Collins and Ed Beehag.
If you missed all the action, click on the images below to see each day's results and photos.
Monday results and photos
Tuesday results and photos
Wednesday results and photos
Thursday results and photos
Friday results and photos
JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP
Members are encouraged to nominate children under 18 years of age for junior membership.
From 12-years old a junior member has most of the benefits of an ordinary member including playing on the main course. Additionally, a junior member can compete in the Junior Club Championships and those who hold a Golf Australia handicap are eligible to play in other Club competitions (except where the Committee determines otherwise). Junior members who have not attained the age of 12 may play on the main course after 3.00pm when in the company of an adult member.
A junior membership at the Club is currently around $300 per year. Juniors are exempt from entrance fees and are charged 10% of the annual subscription with no house levy payable.
To enquire about junior membership please contact the Membership Coordinator, Roseanne Conheady.
With the Peter H. Hay trophy being played last weekend, it is pertinent to discuss the 'casual water' rule which applies to any water on the Par-3 course. The back of the Par-3 scorecard reads:
The area of water between holes 2, 3, & 7 is deemed casual water.
So, what would be the ruling if your ball was lodged in a grassy shrub that was surrounded by casual water? In other words, the ball itself is not in the water, but directly above the water.
Bird of the Month
By Robin Spry
As I began these articles in September 2021 it is becoming a little more challenging to find a new bird for you. I was surprised to find that this lovely bird has not been featured...
Editors note. Member Ashley Seller's 'bird of the month' was an eagle on the first hole on Monday 29 January. Congratulations on your first ever eagle Ashley; the last time this writer was made aware of the same achievement on the first hole was in October 2021.
Feature Flora
By Bill McKellar
Seaberry Saltbush is an appropriate name for this commonly found native with edible red berries.
It has been wonderful to receive so many entries from provisional members for the first ever Provisional Plate to be played later in the month. If you haven't entered there is still time.
Advance notice
Due to a large member function and other bookings, the last Friday of the month drinks will not be held on Friday 23 February. An alternative date, likely to be Friday 1 March, will confirmed in the next Event eNews.
In case you missed it on the website
Wednesday Weekly Updates
A reminder that a Precinct 1 Project Weekly Update is posted on the website every Wednesday.
Congratulations and thank you to ALL children who entered the Junior Art Show; there were over 50 entries. Selecting the winners was always going to be difficult...
COURSE CLOSED (AM) MONDAY 19 FEB.
