The Teams Adrian Isaac and Christopher Camacho , Maria Nunes and Gillian Perras emerged winners of their respective Christmas Hampers. Excitement for these tournaments starts with the sale of raffle sheets in October and gains momentum with the White Hat Auction. This year the buyers of the winning team in the Men's Christmas Hamper could not contain their joy and were invited up for photographs with their team.

The Men's Hamper prizes were presented in a festive atmosphere with the Paramininos Parang Band providing seasonal music. There were well received solos from Robert Costelloe and Michael Grell. The evening was a great success.

In the Ladies Hamper the winners were perhaps no surprise with Maria and Gillian all smiles both winning their first hampers.

Important reminders for 2006

Due date for fees
Please remember that your membership fees at St. Andrew's are annual and are due on January 1 and are deemed late as of February 1 after which date tee times will not be granted to members whose account is still outstanding. Any one who has not renewed their membership by March 1 will have their name removed from the roll of members.

Reminder for fees paid by company cheque
Occasionally we receive company cheques which simply state "for membership fees". Kindly advise the accounts department of your company to include your FULL name and the invoice number when remitting payment.  

Payment in two equal installments
Anyone wishing to pay their fees in two equal parts is reminded that a 5% surcharge applies as per Rule 3.2.

Notification required for change in status
Any change in membership status must be communicated to the Club in writing and this may be done via email to golf@tstt.net.tt or by more traditional means, whichever is more convenient. We have individual files for each member and relevant correspondence is recorded accordingly for future reference.

We wish to clarify that there is no such thing as a "suspension" of membership. If you will not be able to play at St. Andrew's for an extended period and wish to ensure that your account is in good order simply write the club BEFORE January 31 indicating that you will be resigning and will seek reinstatement in the future. Failure to do so will result in the member being held liable for his/her fees for the next six months as per Rule 2.6.1. Once there are no arrears on the account of a member Rule 2.3.13 provides for the re-election of such a person without having to pay the entrance fee again.

By Vedath Singh Course Superintendent

On January 23rd 2006, we will begin to rebuild the 15th green, similar to the way the southern part of the practice putting green was done. Green construction is an interesting process and I would like to outline the stages involved in construction so that our members can better understand and appreciate the project. The green will be built using USGA guidelines that give specifications for materials, methods of construction and quantities. What is described here is not the only method of greens construction as there are many variations, but is meant to be a general guide.

First, all the existing material in the 15th green will be excavated and dumped away from the work site. This will most likely be done with a backhoe or smaller All Surface Vehicle (ASV) that will load a small light weight truck (4 cubic yard capacity). There should be approximately twelve inches of sand on the green, under which is a 4 inch gravel layer. The final clean up will be done by hand using shovels so as not to disturb the soil below.

The hole in the ground is now the starting point for the new green. The contractor, who knows what he wants from the finished product in terms of shape and contours now has a look. One of the basic principles of greens construction is: whatever you want it to look like on top should be identical to what is below. Therefore, at this point the soil layer is shaped and contoured identical to the desired green surface.

Immediately, we highlight a second fundamental principle: compaction. Whatever material is used to construct the green must be properly compacted to avoid the formation of depressions, usually after construction. Whatever soil is moved around is compacted to pre-determined specifications that also apply to other materials.

Next, some trenches are dug about six inches wide and eight inches deep. These will be used to lay underground drainage pipe in a herring bone pattern with the centre bone being the main drainage line that takes the water out of the green. The drainage pipes will be installed with pea sized gravel surrounding it and layered above to a depth of four inches, again the top is shaped and contoured accordingly; compaction is applied if required.

Selection of gravel and sand that conforms consistently to a certain size and shape is vital to the success of the green. The decision on which gravel to use depends on the sand being used and how they both interact. This affects factors such as percolation rates, water retention, size and distribution of air and water spaces. If a good enough match is not found, then a third intermediate layer may have to be added to act as a buffer. A lot of research has also gone into particle size distribution of sand and recommendations made on percentages of each sand fraction. Finding the right sand and gravel while essentially not part of actual construction are critical decisions that will affect the success of the greens.

On top of the gravel a root zone mix is applied which consists of a mixture of sand and organic and inorganic additives. The mix is applied in layers of about four inches and compacted before adding another layer. In all twelve to fourteen inches of mix will be used. In addition to rollers and compactors, compaction of sand can also be achieved by the application of water that causes it to settle.

At this point the sand will be fumigated, a process that will take about seven days during which time nothing can be done on the green. Therefore, as planned, the contractor will renovate the 10th and 13th greens as outlined in a previous article.

After fumigation, the final touches in terms of contours will be made to the green. The turf will then be established by the spreading of tifdwarf sprigs harvested from verticutting another green. The sprigs are lightly top dressed, fertilized and watered.

The green is now handed over to the superintendent to grow-in the grass and produce the final desired product.

Ladies Christmas Hamper
Sunday, December 11, 2005

Results

The President congratulates the Ladies Hamper Winners
Maria Nunes and Gillian Perras

Men's Christmas Hamper
Saturday December 10, 2005

Results

The Auction Buyers, the Hamper Winners and the President

Longest Drive: 9th Alan Abraham

Nearest the Pin:
5th Vishnu Galbaransingh
#7 Sean Herrera
#11 Ahamad Ali
15th Alan Sheppard

Downstairs
bar gets a
face lift

It was something to see: the smiling faces of members on the morning of the Men's Christmas hamper as they walked into the downstairs bar to realize that it was open after six weeks of renovation. Special thanks to some of our members whose advice and input were invaluable in this project: Derek Johnson, Eddie Ayin and Debbie Costelloe. As a result of the work done we have now centralized and expanded the food preparation facilities. Therefore, the kitchen upstairs will no longer be used. The improvements also include an office for the concessionaire, as well as increased dry storage area and proper changing facilities for the food and beverage staff. We took the opportunity to upgrade all the gas lines and thank another member, Stephen Small, for his advice in this area.

While we were able to re-open for service on December 10, there were still finishing touches to be done which were completed by year's end. Most of all we are pleased to report that the project was accomplished within the budget allocation of $360,000 and are happy that the feedback from members has been very favourable.

OBSTRUCTIONS - RULE 24

Obstructions are dealt with in Rule 24, which allows a player to take relief without penalty from movable obstructions and, except in a hazard , from immovable obstructions.

Obstructions are defined as artificial objects or construction, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths, except :

a.  objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings (whereas stakes and other objects defining hazards are defined as movable obstructions);

b.  any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of bounds; and

c. any construction declared by the Committee (Club) to be an integral part of the course. (Check the Local Rules of the course you are playing)

A movable obstruction is one that may be moved

•  without unreasonable effort,
•  without delaying play,
•  without causing damage.

Rocks do not qualify except where the Committee/Club defines, as a Local Rule, stones in bunkers as movable obstructions. In the case of movable obstructions, the Rule is fairly simple and straightforward. Interference does not need to be proven. A player may move any movable obstruction (not the ball) without penalty . If the ball moves, there is no penalty if it is a direct result of moving the obstruction. The ball must be replaced.

If a player's ball lies in or on the obstruction , the ball may be lifted, the obstruction removed and the ball dropped as near as possible on the spot directly under where the ball lay, through the green or in a hazard, and not nearer the hole. For a ball lost in the movable obstruction (and there must be reasonable evidence of this occurrence), the obstruction may be removed and a ball dropped on the spot directly under the place where the ball last crossed the margin of the obstruction and not nearer the hole.

Important points to note in respect of the application of this Rule in the case of movable obstructions:

•  if a ball is in motion, an obstruction that may influence the movement of the ball (except an attended flagstick or players' equipment) may not be moved. For example, if a player is chipping from off the green and the flagstick is not attended, and the player feels that the ball may go into the hole, he may not then have the flagstick lifted. Penalty is 2 strokes under Rule 1-2. However, there is no penalty if the ball does hit the unattended flagstick from off the green.

•  Similarly, if the flagstick is lifted and placed on the green (as is often done at Moka) and a player's putt is headed toward the flag, the flagstick may not then be moved (penalty as above).

Immovable obstructions

A player whose ball lies in a hazard (lateral or water) may not take relief from an immovable obstruction. He may however take relief (with appropriate penalty) in accordance with Rule 26- Water Hazards. With that exception, interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when the ball lies in or on the obstruction, or, when the obstruction

• interferes with the player's stance or
• the area of his intended swing .

The fact that the obstruction lies on the line of play does NOT constitute interference under the Rule. So, if you are playing the 12th hole and your ball is behind the shed to the right of the 12th green and the shed neither interferes with your stance or your swing, you may not take relief without penalty. You may of course proceed under Rule 28 - Unplayable Ball, which allows relief in accordance with that Rule under penalty of one stroke. On the other hand, if your ball lies in the shed, you may take relief without penalty.

Relief from immovable obstructions:

•  If the ball lies through the green , identify the nearest point of relief from the obstruction, (that is, a point that does not re-create interference with your stance or your swing), lift and drop a ball without penalty within one club-length of that point and not nearer the hole than that point, that is also not in a hazard or a bunker.

•  If the ball lies in a bunker, lift and drop without penalty within one club-length in the bunker. If the player wishes, he may invoke Rule 28 - Unplayable Ball, and drop the ball outside the bunker under penalty of one stroke in accordance with the procedure under that Rule. Hopefully, you will not encounter immovable obstructions in or near a bunker.

A ball lost in an immovable obstruction is treated similarly to the above:

•  if the ball last crossed the immovable obstruction through the green - drop a ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, etc;

•  if the ball last crossed the margin of the immovable obstruction in a bunker, the drop is taken within one club-length of the nearest point of relief in the bunker.

A ball lifted under this Rule may be cleaned. As usual, there are many other situations that a player might encounter in respect of this Rule. The "Decisions on the Rules of Golf" issued by the USGA and the R&A provides decisions on many instances that might be similar to your specific experience. www.usga.org/playing/rules is the USGA website. Check it out.

1 st Flight - 0-8
Gross : C. Woodhams 73
Nett : J. Hale 72

2 nd Flight - 9-16
Gross : S. Boyce 84
Nett : J. Rahael 74

3 rd Flight 17+
Gross : G. Ayin 87
Nett: P. Garido 70

Seniors
Gross : R. Grell 78
Nett : F. Hamer 68

Famous Grouse December Medal
Saturday, December 3, 2005

Overall Medal Winner: Ross Merry - 68
Frontenac : Ross Merry - 72

1 st Flight - 0-9
Gross : Allan Clayton 77
Nett : Tyrone Leong 71

2 nd Flight - 10-16
Gross : Barry Rostant 82
Nett : Denis de Gannes 70

3 rd Flight - 17+
Gross : Wilson Asiu 88
Nett : Brad Bonterre 70

Seniors
Gross : Ralph Chan 78
Nett : Mike Triggs 68

Closest to the Pin 5th Hole: Desmond Allum
Closest to the Pin 11th Hole: Brad Bonterre

Upcoming Events

January

      7 Men's Monthly Medal
16-20 bpTT Week of Golf
28-29 AMBL / TATIL

February

      11 Men's Monthly Medal
      16 Derek Phang Tournament
17-19 Carnation Caribbean Ladies Open
      26 Carnival Fete

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