January 2005

The bpTT Charity Tournament


Now surely one of the most popular tournaments in T&T, and again this year it was a hit!! In spite of the weather and the tough going all enjoyed the golf and the lime.

The forty three Golf Professionals who flew in for the game all had a great time. Accommodation at the Hilton was comfortable and though they ran out of Carib beer (much to the pros concern) they switched quickly to other beverages which had the same effect. Many visited Trotters on more than one occasion and even got to the new Club Zen before many of us Trinis have.

Those of us who played with the pros had the opportunity to see some great golf, and although all had trouble on the greens many of them hit the ball so sweetly that we locals know we have room to improve.

I had the pleasure to play in the Members Pro Am with LPGA Professional Janice Moodie, Teddy and Maria, and what an honour it was to have one of the best women professionals in the world at our club.

She also is a very gentle person, down to earth, won lots of friends and handled the continuous media stream quite easily.

She had what proved to be the only par of the Pro Am, in the mud. She is a beautiful golfer with a great swing and a smooth putting stroke. It really was a delight and St. Andrew's Golf Club and bpTT are very proud and happy that Janice came and played our tournament. We look forward to having her back anytime. We now have somebody we know to follow on the LPGA. Good luck Janice!

Bruce Davidson, chief organizer of the entire foreign contingent, hosted our Junior Golf clinic on and around the 18th green. Focusing on the short game Bruce, together with Gary Weir and several of the other Pros, demonstrated the bunker shot, the flop, the pitch and run and highlighted the different uses of the same golf club to hit the ball high, low or even with the hose to make the ball do what you want. The youngsters were impressed as were the gallery looking on from the golf club. This ended with a long drive exhibition off the 10th Tee, which our own Damien Hale won, as usual.


Sheldon Daniel,
bpTT Vice President of
Communications and External
affairs, congratulates the winning professional, Tim Thelen at the prize giving




PGA Professionals Gary Weir and Bruce Davidson are all smiles
with LPGA star Janice Moodie

All the Pros were excited and very impressed with the quality and performance of our Juniors in the Junior tournament, and bpTT should be given credit for offering this opportunity to the youth of TT to be exposed to this caliber of golfer at this age. It will only enhance their chances to improve and to be given the opportunity to take their games to an even higher
level. This Junior element must become a major feature in this important week.

In spite of the weather which was most unkind to the golfers and the golf course, players played well and the scores were as good as we have had in fine conditions, however players readily accepted the Committees decision to cancel the last day or the tournament because the conditions had deteriorated so much.

Sponsor support was un-paralleled as Corporate TT gave generously to the cause. A full field of fifty teams in the Scramble and Pro Am was the nucleus of the revenue and when the dust settles we expect that Wendy Fitzwilliam's Cyril Ross home will benefit to the tune of over $300,000 this year. There are too many persons to thank here, but sufficient it to say, all gave willingly and we were delighted with the support of all. We now look forward to an even bigger and better time in 2006.

 

-2-

BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY

You tee off with the best of intentions to hit the ball into the middle of the fairway, but golf being the game that it is the ball often has a mind of its own....

Therefore each golfer should have his or her own individual public liability insurance. This is STRONGLY recommended even though the club has coverage which extends to accidental injury caused to persons or property. Although an accident is by nature not deliberate, it does not absolve the golfer who hits an errant shot of responsibility. There is a level of risk which we all accept when we head out on to the golf course, and also a level of due care which we should each take. Depending on the circumstances the extent of responsibility can cause a golfer to be placed in a very precarious situation which is not adequately covered by the club's insurance. Please therefore make the necessary inquiries and protect yourself for 2005. You are also advised to also take out insurance for your golf clubs.

For further information on a golfer's insurance policy with includes public liability coverage up to $500,000 please contact Agostini Insurance Brokers at 623-0576 or United Insurance Company Limited at 628-8343.


New logo, new look, new name
Last month we introduced our new logo and this month is the first edition of what we will now call the St. Andrew's Newsletter. We were very happy when one of our members, Jerome Borde, CEO of Classic Motors recently approached us to not only sponsor the newsletter in 2005, but also lay it out in a new format for us. The decision to change the name came from a suggestion that the newsletter's previous name was too informal and not in keeping with a club heritage goes back to 1892, now proudly proclaimed in our new logo.

So, thanks are in order to our new sponsor Classic Motors, to John Sellier for his suggestion that we change the name to St. Andrew's Newsletter, to Communication Insights who worked with us to develop our new logo, and to Pat Hernandez and Andes Industries who sponsored the "Blag" for more years than anyone can remember.

SHOTGUN MADNESS


Waiting to be transported to their tee boxes in the bpTT Charity Golf Tournament. Lorne Kelly is looking out of the middle door while Bob Delaney and Gordon Law are in the back. Lorne and Gordon are both PGA Professionals.

Tim Thelen makes a presentation to Corporal Henry on behalf of all the Pros in appreciation for his usual efforts during the bpTT week of golf. Also in the picture is Bruce Davidson.



Featured in the above photograph is Garnell Harrison, December Caddy of the Month receiving his prize from Mr. Thomas.
On August 1, 2004 we started a Caddy of the Month competition .Support came from Members who donated prizes for the Caddies and it has been a huge success.

Mr. Thomas, one of our Caddy Masters, was recently given the additional portfolio of Maintenance Supervisor: In this capacity he is responsible for the ensuring that the clubhouse is maintained to a high standard.

Reminder to
       Social Members

  • Social Membership does not include golf privileges.
.
  • Social Members are however welcome to play as a member's guest 6 times per year at the rate of $ 250 per round.
.
  • The full green fee of $ 400 is applicable to additional rounds.


-3-

SUPERINTENDENT'S CORNER

Rain, Rain And More Rain
Over the past few months we have experienced a great deal of rainfall. The averages given by the Met office for November and December are 206.7mm and 158.9mm respectfully. Actual rainfall was recorded at 262mm and 218mm for those months.
That works out to be an average increase of 31.5% for that period. These figures were based at Piarco, and I am sure you will agree that Moka is a totally different "kettle of fish".

Resulting from this was a lot of damage to the course, which often forced us to close. Some of the damage included:
¥ Covering of the 14th green with silt, as well as the 14th & 16th fairways.
¥ Landslips at the base of the tiger tee which caused the bridge to be lost and the steps on the verge of collapse.
¥ Major river bank erosion along the 16th fairway
¥ Gabion baskets slipping along the quebrada on the 14th and 16th fairway.
¥ High water table causing springs to appear below the tiger tee and the 13th tee.
¥ Immortelle tree falling on the 10th rough.
¥ Sandbox trees falling on the guard booth.
¥ Bamboo patches collapsing along the river bank on the 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th fairway.
¥ Dangerous erosion left of the 11th green.
¥ Landslips below the 10th tee, 9th and 8th fairway.

The greens did not enjoy this weather either, damp and humid conditions are ideal for the spread of diseases especially fungi. There was a terrible outbreak of Curvularia on all the greens identifiable by the black spots on the greens about 5 Ð 10 cm in diameter which coalesce in severe infections. Severe algae/moss cover most greens, collars and fairways, occupying every open space available.

The wet conditions have highlighted the drainage problems on our greens. Our soil profiles indicate that there is a compact "hard pan" layer about 3 Ð 4Ó below the surface that is not allowing anything through. Water stays above this layer creating what is known as a perched water table. On most days in the last few months the greens were saturated, filling the air spaces and thus starving the roots of air. This causes the grass to "back off"; the roots begin to shrink and die while the shoots stop growing and begin to turn yellow. Eventually we end up with a very shallow root system that cannot cope with or recover quickly from stresses.

The damp and soft conditions of our greens have also forced us to close on many occasions and though it may be frustrating at times it has always been in the best interest of the course. We continue to persevere in providing you with the best playing conditions possible. However you can also assist us by repairing your ball marks and lifting your feet while walking on the greens. Your assistance and understanding is greatly appreciated and let's hope for lots of sun and a return to enjoyable conditions on the golf course.


CADDY SERVICE PROCEDURES AND FEE STRUCTURE

Please be reminded that the caddy fees for individual service are as follows:
A - $60 B - $50 C - $40

When a caddy carries two bags there is a specified
Double Bag fee as follows:
A. class caddies - $100 for the two bags/$50 per bag.
B. class caddies - $90 for the two bags/$45 per bag.
C. class caddies are not assigned two bags.

When a caddy is requested from the Caddy Master it must be clearly stated whether this service is required for 9 or 18 holes.

When a caddy is contracted for nine holes the fee is:
All classes - $30

Caddy Fees for all Open and Major Club Tournaments:
(When this fee applies it will be indicated on the Tournament Entry Sheet)
A. class - $80, Double - $150/$75 per bag
B. class - $70, Double - $130/$65 per bag
C. class - $60

At all times tips are at the discretion of the player.
Our rainy day payment policy is as follows:

On Non-Tournament Days
If a member starts off to play 18 holes and is washed out by rain on or before the 9th hole he/she is liable for the following fees:

A - $40
B - $35
C - $30

 

 

.

On Tournament Days

If fewer than 9 holes is completed the player is required to pay:

A - $60
B - $50
C - $40

On both tournament and non-tournament days, once a player has teed up on the 10th hole he/she is liable for the full 18 hole caddy fee.

-4-

 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - THURSDAY MARCH 31ST AT 5PM


RESERVED CAR SPOTS

             Courtesy Please

There is increasing disregard for the reserved spaces of Committee Members, the TTGA, the Medal Winner and the Concessionaire in the car park.
In the past we have relied on our security to keep these spots clear, but with the introduction of the new guard booth. This is no longer practical. We ask members to park appropriately and with respect for those who have assigned car spots. Please be reminded that the spots to the back and side of the roundabout are reserved.


 


Special Thanks to:

¥ Andes Industries and Pat Hernandez for sponsoring the Blag in 2004

¥ Classic Motors for agreeing to sponsor our newsletter in 2005

¥ Communication Insights for working with us to develop our new logo


CAR PARK STICKERS ISSUED IN 2004 ARE VALID THROUGH 2005.

 


J A G U A R
Born to perform

CLASSIC
M O T O R S
Port of Spain: 789-9163 . San Fernando: 788 - 5842 . classicmotors@tstt.net.tt


St. Andrew's
Golf Club
P.O. Box 3403
Moka, Maraval
Trinidad, W.I.

Office:
868-629-0066
868-629-6187-8

Fax:
868-629-0411

Starter/
After Hours
868-629-2314