Protocol for safe use of the Driving Range and practice facilities Revision 1 - August 2020.
The Club has a duty of care for its staff and members and must ensure all can work, practice, and play in a safe environment. The following Protocol sets out the rules and general procedures under which Members and the Golf Professional/Assistants may use the Driving Range and Grass Practice Area in front of the bays.
1. DRIVING RANGE
1.1 Official Opening Period (OOP)
The Driving Range will be available for Member use during the OOP hours of 17.00 to 22.00 Daylight Savings period October to March, i.e. period starts when clocks go back in October and ends when clocks go forward in March.
Golf Professional/Assistants may use the Driving Range outside of Official Opening Period for golf lessons.
1.2 Driving bays
➢ These will be numbered 1-5 where Bay 1 is the Teaching Bay, as used by the Golf Professional, and Bay 5 is nearest the Courtyard.
➢ Mats in the bays will be positioned so that balls are driven to the centre and left of centre of 3rd fairway. It is vital for safety reasons that the mats are not moved from their official positions and so will be held in position by fixed battens on the floor.
➢ Interference with the positioning of the mats will result in the offender being subject to reprimand and possible banning from use of the range if offending continues.
➢ Colour targets (red, white, blue), at appropriate distances, will be set up on the trees on the left side of the 3rd fairway (looking from the driving bays) to further reinforce the direction of play. Distance marked targets will be available to be pulled onto the 3rd fairway at appropriate times.
➢ Bay 5 is being removed from practise use for safety reasons but will continue as an access point to/from the carpark.
1.3 Range security
➢ Bays 1-4 will be secured closed by locked chain until required.
➢ Chains can only be unlocked by: - Caddymasters to open bays for Member use during OOP hours - Golf Professional/Assistants to use bays for official coaching sessions
➢ Chains must be reinstated by Caddymasters during OOP and by Golf Professional/Assistants when golf lessons have finished.
➢ The white gate must be pushed out during lessons in Bay 1 to prevent pedestrians and vehicles coming round in front of the driving bays.
1.4 Range balls security
When not is official use, yellow range balls must be secured away so as not to be available for casual use either in the driving bays or on the chipping green.
➢ The ball washing machine must be fully emptied each time after use.
➢ The ball dispensing machine must always be locked closed
➢ Keys to the ball dispensing machine will be held by the Caddymaster to refill the hopper with balls and by the Golf Professional/Assistants to refill the hopper or retrieve balls for teaching use.
1.5 Members use of Driving Range
➢ Members must register attendance in Driving Range Logbook before going into the bays.
➢ Driving Range Logbook will be held at Caddymasters desk.
➢ Range (yellow) balls will be available from the ball dispensing machine using cards purchased via the Caddymaster.
➢ It is recommended that users of the Driving Range would mainly use wedges to mid-irons from the bays.
➢ Practice must not interfere with, or delay, golfers playing the 18th (3rd) hole.
1.6 Golf Professional/Assistants use of Driving Range
➢ Golf Professional/Assistants may use the Driving Range outside of Official Opening Period for golf lessons.
➢ Striking of balls by clients to be attended by Golf Professional/Assistants at all times.
➢ It is recommended that clients under instruction would mainly use wedges to mid-irons from the bays.
➢ Practice must not interfere with, or delay, golfers playing the 18th (3rd) hole.
2. GRASS PRACTICE AREA in front of bays
2.1 Members use
➢ This area is open to Members in summertime after 5.00pm.
➢ Members must register attendance in Driving Range Logbook before going out on the grass. Driving Range Logbook will be held at Caddymasters desk.
➢ Members must use their own golf balls, i.e. no range balls.
➢ Members must collect their own golf balls after practice
➢ Practice from this area is restricted to irons only – Ws, 9, 8, 7.
➢ Practice must not interfere with or delay golfers playing the 18th (3rd) hole.
2.2 Golf Professional/Assistants use
➢ Golf Professional/Assistants may use this area for golf lessons outside of OOP.
➢ Striking of balls by clients to be under supervision at all times.
➢ Practice is restricted to irons only – Ws, 9, 8, 7.
➢ Practice must not interfere with, or delay, golfers playing the 18th (3rd) hole.
3. OPERATIONAL
3.1 Safety & Reporting
➢ Members and those under instruction must call ‘Fore’ for any wayward ball going towards the Machinery Yard or Tennis Courts.
➢ The player must report the incident by completing an Incident Report.
➢ Incident Report forms can be obtained from the Caddymaster on duty or from the club website.
➢ It is the responsibility of the player to make the Incident Report and leave with the Caddymaster who will deliver the Report to the General Manager at the earliest opportunity.
➢ It is strictly forbidden to play practice balls from 3rd fairway towards the Driving Range.
3.2 Range balls collection
➢ Responsibility for the collection of range balls from the 3rd fairway/surrounds falls to: (a) Course Superintendent/staff during Official Opening Period (Oct-Mar) when Members have access to the Driving Range (b) Golf Professional/Assistants after all golf lessons
➢ Range balls must also be collected from chipping green and putting green after lessons
These conditions of use may be subject to review and alteration from time to time. Adherence to the Protocol will be monitored and defaulters will be reported and sanctioned.
By Order:
Management Board 31st August, 2020