Bridge of Allan Golf Club

Bridge of Allan, Stirling

BOFAGC

2021 Season starts

We are so fortunate that we have been able to launch the 2021 season and that our members are able to continue to play golf safely within the Covid restrictions. The most recent Fixture List is available here

Thank  you to all our members old and new and also the wonderful #bridgeofallan community for the the support that the club has received during the most challenging of times for everyone, hopefully we can welcome visitors fairly soon.

Club Championships

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

COVID-19 Update 12th Mar 2021

***12th Mar 2021** Update – course remains closed to visitors – access for visitors will be reviewed end of April 2021.

Latest Guidance from Scottish Golf: scottishgolf.org/covid-19-local-protection-levels-guidance/

Clubs should note that from Friday 12 March:

  • Golf courses with a designated COVID Officer can permit organised golf for members who live within the local authority area. Play can take place in four-balls with no restrictions on the number of households.
  • Golf courses without a designated COVID Officer, or where members are crossing a local authority boundary to play, can remain open for play with a maximum of four players from two households.
  • For groups over the age of 12, coaching should not exceed group sizes of 15.
  • For groups under the age of 12, coaching should not exceed group sizes of 30.

Since our last update, we have received several queries relating to the new group numbers and limits. We wish to provide clubs with further clarity on this.

The guidance to permit 4-ball play from 4 different households to members who live within the local authority area is in-line with new sport-specific guidance developed by sportscotland and the Scottish Government for organised sport. Cross-border travel from one local authority area to another for organised sport is not currently permitted.

Within the latest guidance, golf continues to be considered a form of informal exercise, where participants are permitted to travel up to five miles from their local authority boundary to take part. However, where this is the case, household limits of 4 people from 2 households apply.

Scottish Golf does not set the rules or parameters for these distinctions. However, we will continue to provide feedback on their practicalities for our member clubs. In comparison with most other sports across Scotland, we are in a unique and fortunate position to benefit from being identified as both organised sport and informal exercise at this time.

We remind all clubs and golfers in Scotland that we remain in a privileged position, with courses across the country remaining open for play. Being able to benefit from playing golf should not be taken for granted, and we kindly ask that all clubs and golfers adhere to the latest guidance to ensure we can continue to make positive progress out of lockdown.

 

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.