As I'm sure you are all aware, we are now at COVID alert level 2. In accordance with NZ Golf and Ministry of Health recommendations the following requirements are now in place:

- If you are feeling at all sick, stay home. Get tested.

- Please maintain good hygiene practices, wash your hands regularly, cough / sneeze into your elbow, keep your distance (2 metre physical distancing from people you don't know, 1 metre in most other environments). We will sanitise all high touch surfaces regularly and provide hand sanitising stations around the clubhouse. All players should wash and dry hands prior to and after playing.

- All players are required to book a tee time (online through www.golf.co.nz or phone the pro shop). There will be no roll up start for women's club day tomorrow and no roll up this Saturday. Book yourself in online or phone the pro shop for a time. If playing a club champs match please contact your opponent and book in together. The reason for tee booking is to alleviate pressure in the clubhouse before and after golf, to allow physical distancing, and to keep track of playing partners for contact tracing purposes if necessary.

- Please sign in using the COVID Tracer app when entering the clubhouse or pro shop.

- The clubhouse cafe will be open, golfers should only sit with the group they played with and maintain physical distancing. Food should not be shared.

- All on course drinking fountains, ball washers, compressed air cleaning, and sunscreen stations are now closed.

COURSE RULES

- Flag sticks MUST be left in the hole and not touched.

- Bunker rakes are in bunkers but are optional to use. We have a local rule allowing 1 club length clean and place in the bunker (not nearer the hole, ball must remain in the bunker)

- The cups will have pool noodles in the bottom of the hole, meaning they are much shallower than normal and there is a small chance the ball may bounce out of the hole. We have a local rule in place classifying the ball as holed as soon as it touches the pool noodle (NOTE: This only applies to strokes made on the putting green), even if it then bounces out (the ball must touch the pool noodle, not just 'lip out' around the edge of the hole or bounce off the flag stick)

SCORING

- NZ Golf will accept scores under alert level 2.

- You can use the dotgolf app to create a virtual scorecard and submit the score through the app.

- Scorecards are allowed under level 2. The touchscreen will be off. Shop staff will print cards for you. You MUST NOT swap scorecards. Fill in your own scorecard. Verbally confirm your scores with your marker. Write your markers name on the scorecard. Return scorecards to the pro shop.

Our most recent meeting on 17 February discussed at length the projects we had on our schedule from last year and which have been postponed owing to the pandemic. Our cash position is satisfactory, considering what we have been through, and we are hopeful of making progress on capital projects and debt repayment. For a time, we will need to focus on smaller jobs that enhance the course, replacing machinery and carts that are fundamental to maintenance and doing the jobs that have already been left too long.

Sir Bob Charles was our guest on the 27^th of February. Some of our members may remember him winning the NZ Open in 1954, two shots ahead of Bruce Crampton and four ahead of the five times Open winner, Peter Thomson. He was just 18! His is a remarkable story of how a workaholic kid largely taught himself to play consistently well enough to win tournaments worldwide for nearly 60 years. As Sir Bob observed to Alan Brown, one of his four on Saturday, as he worked his way round Kelvin Heights for 77, “It’s all in the book”.

Sir Bob gave a Q&A after everyone was in the Clubhouse and made some interesting observations on equipment, balls, the mental side of the game and favourite courses.

In his four were Alan Brown, Ian Douglas and Nico Chefeitz (who shot a highly creditable 73 in the company of the great man).

January’s results
January last year marked the start of nearly three months of outstanding results. This year we are seeing the sobering effect of very low visitor numbers on our course. We are still getting domestic tourists and we don’t usually get many in January. With everyone back at work we don’t expect strong numbers for the remainder of the financial year. The upshot is that revenue for January is just a little over 50% of last year’s, although for the year to date we are 87% of last year, owing to the strong domestic tourism after lockdown over winter and spring.

As mentioned, that strong domestic market has left us in a sound cash position. If we can hold that position until 30 June, the end of the financial year, it sets us up for doing some, if not all, of the postponed projects. By spring we hope will see a modest return of vaccinated travellers.

Financial results for January 2021 and the 7 months of the financial year

$’000	January 2021			7 months to 31st January 2021
	Actual	Budget	Last year	Actual	Budget	Last year
Revenue	113	70	213	1026	573	1174
Cash Expense	103	98	139	693	625	889
Surplus before depn	10	(28)	74	333	(52)	285

Good golfing

Athol Stephens
Board Chairperson

Covid 19 has disrupted our golfing recently and these remain uncertain times.

We have just returned to level 2 restrictions for the second time this month.

Our Queenstown ladies arranged last minute changes to the recent 2-day Chard Farm tournament for 120 ladies most successfully. Thank you to everyone involved in that nimble recovery and staging a wonderful event despite the last-minute disruptions.

Please continue to enjoy your golfing here at Queenstown. We do ask that you assist our Covid 19 recording and tracing obligations by following all club instructions when at the golf club.

We will continue a programme of course improvements this year. For the most part this is utilising available staff resource to best advantage involving modest capital expenditure.

As golf tourism eventually returns to Queenstown we will face a more competitive marketplace than previously enjoyed.

I believe our best opportunities are to provide an affordable golfing experience 7 days a week to returning visitors.

The quality of our golf course, golf shop services, clubhouse offering and our welcome must be of the highest standard.

There will be an inevitable reset of the Queenstown economy in 2021 and beyond.

It is vitally important for us to embrace and understand those changes. Visitor revenues are essential to the well being of the Queenstown Golf Club.

My best wishes to you all. Stay safe and healthy together,

Rob Taylor
Club President

We started February with a Stableford competition won by Sharron Payne with 40pts. Great golf Sharron and you are the winner of our Hikari voucher for the month. Medal and Putting was to follow, but the weather meant most of us were more inclined to be enjoying something indoors. (Don’t worry!! We will be getting our fill of Medal & Putting in March!!)

The highlight for February has been our Chard Farm Ladies Classic. Although Covid Level 2 came as a last minute surprise, we were able to proceed with the tournament thanks to Matt sorting out a new draw for us, ensuring we were meeting all the requirements of gathering sizes. Our Queenstown ladies, along with other golfers from around New Zealand, had two days of golfing competition, fun and success. Congratulations to Beth Chisholm and Task Falk who were the winners of the 2021 Ladies Classic (pictured). Following them in 2nd place were Karen Troon and Robyn Bitcheno. Fantastic golf Ladies.

My sincere thanks to our Ladies’ Committee, for all their great ideas, preparation and help in running the tournament. To Matt and all his staff, a big thank you for ensuring that everything went smoothly, providing delicious food and having the course in fantastic condition. Many thanks also to all you ladies!! Your wonderful contributions for the raffle and the support of our sponsors allowed us to raise $2000!! A fantastic effort!

The Ivy Box: We are now very fortunate that Lynda Hensman and The Ivy Box have chosen to sponsor our Tuesday Longest Successful Putt for 2021. Many thanks Lynda!! Good incentive to work on the Putting, Ladies.

Club Champs: If you haven’t yet entered the Club Champs, please do. It will be a great competition made even better with as many entries as possible. You can add your name to the noticeboard sheet, or email Janet lathamaus@gmail.com Entries in by 5^th March please.

Arrowtown Tournament: The Arrowtown ladies are holding their two day tournament on 17/18^th March. They are great supporters of our tournament and in return we would like to show them our support. If you can, make up a pair and come and join in the tournament fun in Arrowtown. Also if you wish to play in Arrowtown’s usual Thursday Ladies golf, they ask that you please ring the Proshop to let them know you are coming.

Nancy McCormack Foursomes: These foursomes will be played over 36 holes on Tuesday 30^th March. Find a partner – maybe book a cart – and come and have a WHOLE day of golfing fun.

Rules Sheet: Many thanks to Jeri Elliot for putting together an A-Z of Golf Rules sheet as a quick reference. These are available from the Pro Shop.

March Programme:

Mar
2	Tues	GNZ Medal & Putting
		Team chosen for Alexandra Teams event
6	Sat	Medal - 1st Rd CLUB CHAMPS
9	Tues	Medal - 1st Rd CLUB CHAMPS
11	Thurs	Medal - 2nd Rd CLUB CHAMPS (All participants)
13	Sat	Stableford
16	Tues	Stableford
17/18	Wed/Thurs	ARROWTOWN Tournament
20	Sat	Choice
23	Tues	Medal - FINAL CLUB CHAMPS
27	Sat	No ladies golf
29	Mon	C.O. Championships - Wanaka
30	Tues	Nancy McCormack Foursomes (36 holes)

Upcoming Tournaments:

Harvest Tournament – Cromwell – 4 March. $50 p.pair

Arrowtown Tournament – 17/18 March. $70 per player

C.O.Ladies Championships – Wanaka – 29 March
Silver – 36 holes- $40, Bronze – 18 holes - $25.

There are a number of other tournaments outside our Central area that are up on the noticeboard. Please make your own entries if you would like to play in any tournaments.

Happy & successful golfing for March

Janet Latham
Women's Club Captain

The 2021 Club Championship rounds are progressing well and, all things being equal, will conclude at our finals day on 20 March.

Probably an opportune time to note the finals results from the 2020 Club Champs as they’ve all been completed following Covid delays:

We were privileged to have Sir Bob Charles join the Club field on Saturday as part of his book promotion. Thanks go to his foursome members Ian Douglas, Nico Cheifetz and Alan Brown for making his round so enjoyable. A Q&A session after prize giving yielded some candid & interesting responses from Bob.

We are hosting the Central Otago Championships on 27 March which replaces our normal Club Day. This tournament comes our way every 5 years and this year is also an Otago order of merit and Junior order of merit event. The grades are:

We’ve kept the entry fee at a reasonable level so it would be great to see a good turnout from our members – check out the details in the Events section of our website.

John Leith
Men’s Club Captain

ADMINISTRATION POSITION – Permanent Part-time 10-15 hours per week - This position has become available beginning mid March. Experience in the use of an accounting package is preferred, applicant must have a good attention to detail and be competent using computers. Tasks include daily banking, debtors, creditors, payroll, and data base management. Hours and days of work are flexible, ideally the successful candidate will be able to work Mondays and Fridays.

If you would like to join our Queenstown Golf Club team please apply by email to The General Manager, Matthew Judd, gm@queenstowngolf.co.nz - attach an application letter and CV.

We are hosting the Central Otago Autumn Golf Classic on the 12th - 16th of April. There are still spaces if you wish to enter. Click on the image above for more information. We have Thursday the 15th of April as our day off and we will have a normal Thursday mixed club field on that day. 

We have now opened our tee sheets to allow members (and visitors) to book online through dotgolf. You will be able to book any time / day of the week through www.golf.co.nz. Some competition times and days are restricted to members only or male or female only. If you have any problems please phone the pro shop for assistance. 

We are pleased to announce that Queenstown Golf Club Member, Fraser MacLachlan, and his team at Highlander Firewood are now sponsors of the golf club. In addition Highlander Firewood are also strong supporters of the Wakatipu Junior Golf Club. Click on the above image for more information on their Native Beech firewood. Native Beech is a sustainably clean burning hardwood, with minimal fuss to get started. Seasoned and ready to burn for winter