Bridge of Allan Golf Club

BOFAGC

COVID-19 Update 24th Feb 2021

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***24th Feb 2021** Update – course remains closed to visitors

Latest update from Scottish Golf 24th Feb 2021: 

Following the First Minister’s latest update on COVID-19 restrictions, please note that there is no change to the current position for golf. This means:

  • Golf courses can remain open for play with a maximum of two players from up to two households
  • Outdoor coaching will be restricted to 2 people (including the coach) for those 12 years or over. Under 12s do not count towards the number so a coach can take larger groups of up to 30 U12s
  • Golfers must stay close to home, travel only for essential purposes (which includes golf as part of the permitted exercise activities) and in line with the new legislation

Bridge of Allan Golf Club:  the course and clubhouse will be closed to visitors until further notice – access for visitors will be reviewed end of April 2021.

Scottish Golf has issued guidance to all affiliated clubs with further guidance relating to the Scottish Government’s COVID protection levels by local area. The latest version of their COVID-19 Guidance for Golf Clubs and Golfers is available via Scottish Golf COVID-19 Updates

‘Level’ guidance sheet for golfers Appendix-Guidelines-by-Level-FINAL-v2

The updated guidance is summarised as follows and unless otherwise stated is effective immediately:

The Scottish Government has advised that you should avoid travel to other areas regardless of their level unless essential. For exercise/sport – there is an exemption, however, it is limited:

• In tier 4, not permitted to drive outside your Local Authority area for exercise – you can cross boundaries in the process of exercising i.e if a golf course straddles two Local Authority area boundaries.
• In tier 3, you are permitted to travel around 5 miles for exercise.
• In tier 2 & tier 1, you are permitted to travel freely for exercise within your own Local Authority area.
• U18s – can travel freely for exercise in Tiers 0-3. They should not travel in or out of a Tier 4 area.

All golfers should be aware of travel guidance outlined by the Scottish Government and this should always be followed.

Access to walkers/cyclists/sledgers

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*** Feb 24th 2021 – members please check the BRS App (notifications bell) for course updates/playability on a daily basis during snowy/icy weather period ***

The snowy weather has forced members off the course and even though it is closed, many ‘non-members’ have been visiting and carrying out winter sports activities.

It’s an annual problem for a small club, as our course is a popular venue for thrill seekers whenever it snows. Sadly, in the past few days, there has been significant damage to the course caused by sledges and bikes.

Damage to the course, in particular to the ninth green and the putting green, can take several months to recover, with costs covered by the club’s members themselves, and with only one permanent green keeper, it is a handful of the 250 members who have to provide voluntary labour.

Whilst the course is closed and golf isn’t in play, members of the community, who are not members of the golf club, are respectively reminded of their rights of access, which is, you can only ‘cross over the course’ via appropriate pathways, as per the outdoor access code.

For more detail please click on the links below.

Access on the course for dog walkers/walkers/runners

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/golf-courses

Club Championships

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It was Club Championship Finals Day last Saturday at Bridge of Allan and spectators were treated to some exciting matches. Due to Covid the format was changed with a limited number of qualifiers and semi-finals and finals played over 18 holes. The course was set up spectacularly by the Greenkeeper and the greens in particular were running particularly fast but very true. In the Club Championship the cream did however come to the top and in the morning semi-finals reigning Champion Kyle McClung took on Stuart McLachlan and old campaigner Garry Bowman was up against last year’s finalist Brian Park. The first semi was up and down and despite a valiant effort from Stuart, Kyle managed to win on the last green. In the other semi Brian proved too steady for Garry winning to set up a repeat of last year’s final. In the final itself Kyle got off to a quick start and by the turn was 4 holes up. Things quickly changed on the back nine however, when Brian won 3 holes in a row from the 10th.  A winning par at the 15th hole however, got Kyle back on a steady plain and he eventually won by 3 and 1 to retain the Club Championship for 2020.
The semi-finals of the Oliphant Trophy were also keenly contested with Tony Jackson taking on Kevin Allan, and Louis Dowley playing Jim Black. In the first semi-final it wasn’t Kevin’s day, and Tony ran out an easy winner. The match between Louis and Jim was however a different story going all the way to the 19th hole where Louis proved victorious. In the final Tony again proved too steady for Louis and ran out a winner by 3 holes up with 2 to play, to win the Oliphant Trophy.
The Gents Senior Championship was also contested over the weekend with Steve Ingram and Dougls Gebbie contesting the 9-hole final after semi-final wins over Jim Black and Alasdair Donald respectively. In the final Steve’s excellent 18 points total proved to be the winning score and get his name on the Gents Senior Championship trophy for 2020.
In the normal weekly competitions John Stewart won the Friday Senior Gents 9-hole Stableford with his 16 points total with Hugh Dent second on 15 points and Douglas Gebbie third with 14 points. Hugh also managed to score the first two for a couple of weeks. In the Sunday White tee 9-hole Stableford Simon Lyall won with 18 points just beating Lewis Cowie by a point.
Pictured from left to right are Tony Jackson, club Captain Hugh Dent, Kyle McClung and Steve Ingram.
Thanks
Match Secretary

Course – Resumption of play

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10 September 2020

All visitors are required to provide name and contact details for each individual visitor and to adhere to the latest COVID-19 guidelines, which can be viewed here  scottishgolf.org/clarity-on-phase-3-guidance-for-golf   When using the clubhouse you will be required to wear a mask.

21st July 2020

Bridge of Allan Golf Course has been open for golf since Friday 29th May. Scottish Government/Scottish Golf guidelines are that “tee times should be managed and booked in advance” so all players must book before they play using the Club’s BRS system. The club is also required to have a monitoring system in place to ensure that this happens, see Scottish Golf Guidelines FAQs

Members and golfing visitors can now book tee times via the BRS System for up to one week in advance via the ‘book now’ link. New members are welcome to apply – take a look at our memberships pages

Non-members are respectfully reminded to not exercise on the course but to abide by the outdoor access code when crossing over the course and to keep to pathways for their own safety.

 

New season, new bag tags for our 125th Anniversary

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Not long to go now until the new season, so why not spend the #stormciara day doing the paperwork for your new membership! We are a very welcoming Clubhouse and would love to see you at Bridge of Allan Golf Club as either new members or visitors. Check out our memberships here

Coronavirus latest news

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**UPDATE** 24th March 2020

Following the measures announced by both the UK and Scottish Governments last night, the Management Committee has agreed that we have no option other than to temporarily close the Golf Club, including course, clubhouse and locker rooms, with immediate effect. Although we are still allowed to exercise outside on a very limited basis, we have been advised by the governing body for golf in Scotland that this does not include playing golf.

As you will understand, these measures are designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 and thereby reduce the pressure on our health service and ultimately save lives. We must therefore as a club follow these restrictions.

As a sporting venue Bridge of Allan Golf Club take health issues extremely seriously and as such the Management Committee wish to let you know that we are keeping a very close eye on the developments of Coronavirus.

We will continue to closely monitor the information and advice released by the Government and Public Health Scotland with regards to the spread and containment of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you feel unwell or have any of the symptoms regardless of visiting any of the countries being monitored please refer to NHS guidance and please do not attend the Golf Club.

For more information you can familiarise yourselves with the most up to date information by checking the website of Health Protection Scotland.

 

1895 to 2020 – 125 Years of golf at Bridge of Allan Golf Club

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The start of the golf season is approaching, despite the rather wet weather we’ve been having recently. As you will all know the 2020 season will be the 125th anniversary of the club and the Club has three events to mark this special year.
**Postponed** First we will be hosting a special film screening, we cannot publicise the name of the film due to licensing laws, but you won’t  want to miss it! The screening will take place in the clubhouse on the evening of Friday 20th March with a buffet supper. Buffet will be served from 6.30 pm and the film will start at 7.30; tickets are available from the bar. Further details are on the poster in the clubhouse. ** Postponed**
On Saturday 25th July we will hold a mixed team event and our final event will be a gala dinner, again in the clubhouse, on the evening of Saturday 3rd October. Further details of these events will be publicised later.
The committee very much hopes that all members will support these events and enjoy celebrating our anniversary year.