Golf Society Update – Attendance & Cancellations

Firstly, thank you to everyone who attended our latest golf society day at Gaudet Luce. It's always great to see such a fantastic turnout and enjoy another brilliant day of golf, friendly competition and a few laughs along the way.

I'd like to raise one important matter following our most recent event.

Unfortunately, we had a number of members who either didn't attend or cancelled too late for the venue to adjust the catering arrangements. As a result, the golf society was still charged for the meals that had been prepared, meaning the society had to absorb the cost on behalf of those who were absent.

Whilst we were able to cover the expense on this occasion, this isn't something we can continue to do. It isn't fair on the rest of the membership for society funds to be used to pay for meals and bookings that go unused.

Going forward, any member who fails to attend without notice or cancels after the venue's deadline will be responsible for covering the costs incurred on their behalf, including meals, golf or any other non-refundable elements of the booking.

We completely understand that genuine emergencies can arise, and these will always be considered on a case-by-case basis. However, last-minute cancellations for reasons that could reasonably have been avoided, or simply not turning up on the day, will result in the member being asked to reimburse the society.

This policy will help ensure that our society remains financially healthy and that no member is left subsidising the costs of others.

Handicap Review Update

As many of you will know, handicaps have been one of the main talking points around the society this week. Healthy debate is part of any competitive golf society, and it's encouraging to see so many members passionate about keeping our competitions enjoyable and fair for everyone.

The committee would like to reassure everyone that there are no grievances with any individual member. This isn't about targeting anyone or questioning anyone's integrity. It's simply good practice to review our handicap system periodically to ensure it continues to work fairly as the society grows and standards change.

With that in mind, every member's handicap will be reviewed at the end of the season. We'll look at scoring trends across the year and consider whether any adjustments to our current handicap policy are needed for next season.

One area that will form part of the review is the current practice of reducing handicaps by 0.5 shots for every score below 36 points. While this system has served us well, we'll assess whether it remains the most effective way of maintaining fair competition for golfers of all abilities.

Until then, nothing changes. Keep enjoying your golf, keep competing in the right spirit and, most importantly, keep supporting one another. The aim of any review is simply to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to compete and enjoy their day, regardless of handicap.

We appreciate everyone's understanding and patience while the committee carries out this review. Any changes, if required, will be communicated well before the start of next season.

In the meantime, keep playing well, enjoy the banter, and let's finish the season on a high.