Introduction
A working group of members including a number of members from the Match Committee have recently completed a large project which:
- Considered whether our current tee locations were the most appropriate for the best playing conditions.
- Considered recommendations from women representatives about some specific changes for women on holes 1, 16 and 18.
- Considered whether it was possible to have all tees be truly gender neutral.
- Reviewed whether it was possible to create some new course options, for example allowing some players to tee off from the other side of the dam on the 8th hole with a properly rated course and within the rules of golf.
- Conducted an accurate measurement of all current and proposed courses.
- Worked with Golf NSW to have new pars, scratch ratings and slope ratings allocated for all courses.
Outcomes
Firstly, there are no dramatic changes to the course or to any of the ratings. Players should notice only minimal changes to their daily handicaps, depending on which tee they play from.
The main changes are:
- The introduction of a new “Black” tee
Most courses have a black or “tiger” tee and it was thought desirable that Killara have one as well. We also wanted to ensure that we had one course well in excess of 6000 metres. The black tee will only be used on rare occasions, such as Men’s Major Pennants. It will not be available on multi-tee days. Other than positioning the black tee markers near the back of the back tee boxes, the main change will be for the 3rd hole with the black tee marker positioned on the very top tier.
- Gender neutral tees
All tees are gender neutral. That is, all tees have now been rated for play by both women and men. Whether it is a woman or a man playing from say the red tee, the course has been appropriately and differently rated for each gender.
- 1st Hole – red and green tees
These tees have been moved forward to slightly decrease the distance of this long par 5 and thereby improve the playability of the hole especially for women golfers.
- 8th Hole – option from playing from the other side of the dam
For some time now, we have had requests from both women and men for some players to be allowed to tee off from the other side of the dam. Some players do not “have the distance” to be confident of clearing the dam.
I am pleased to say that we have been able to accommodate those requests.
Accordingly, we will now have courses designated as “Short” White for men and “Short” Green for men and women.
- 16th Hole
The working group considered various options to address the bias in the women’s ratings to harder holes in the first nine and easier holes in the second nine. In the end, the working group, in conjunction with women representatives, recommended that for women the 16th hole be changed from a par 5 to a par 4.
This change to a par 4 for women was part of the original course renovation design but was not implemented at the conclusion of the renovation. We are now addressing that omission.
The new red tee will be moved to the current green tee (hole distance of around 330 metres), and the new green tee to the current yellow tee. A new yellow tee will be positioned further down the hill on the left.
The tee box at the new green tee will be improved from the current yellow, and it is hoped that in the future a new tee box will be constructed.
The index for the hole will change, reflecting its increased difficulty as a par 4. It will be index 3 until we get sufficient player stroke information to rate the hole.
This change will have the added benefit that the 16th hole will now be par 4 for both genders and the par for the whole course will now be 72 for both genders.
It will also avoid the current confusing situation of a woman playing the hole from say the red tee as a par 5 and a man playing it from the same tee as a par 4.
- 18th Hole – red and green tees
The red and green tees will be moved forward to decrease the distance of this long par 4 and thereby improve the playability of the hole especially for women golfers.
A new tee box will be constructed for the green tees, slightly further along the hole from the current tee and to the left side. Until this is constructed the current tee box will be used, and the difference in distance of approximately 40 metres will be made up for on other holes.
- No Change to 9th hole
There has been some discussion by members about whether the 9th hole is to be converted from a par 5 to a par 4. Although it is true that the Match Committee and Grounds Committee have considered this possibility, there is currently no intention to do this.
Implementation
The new courses will be physically set up and available in MiScore from Friday May 17.
For players wishing to play one of the new “short” course options for the 8th hole, they will need to remember to select that option at the start of play.
Next Steps
Course Furniture
Another working group has been involved in planning to obtain new “course furniture” – items such as signage on each tee indicating the hole number and distance, and “directional” signage (signage to help people not familiar with the course to better navigate the course).
Now that all the new tee locations and measurements have been determined, that working group can progress their plans to deliver us great looking new course furniture.
Stay tuned, but we may have some different tee colours as well, to better reflect the introduction of gender neutral tees. We want to break the idea of, for example, the white tee being a “men’s tee” and the red tee being a “women’s tee”.
When we have multi tee days players should feel completely free to play off the tee that is appropriate for their ability and which will allow them to have the most fun – after all, golf is a game and is supposed to be fun!
Some Thank You’s
This project has involved a lot of work from a lot of people. Special thanks to Match Committee Member Martin Hickling who has been the engine room of this project.
Thanks also to current Lady President Karen Wood, Lady Captain Trish Simper, Match Committee Member Jan Crichton, and to previous Club Captains and Lady Captains who had involvement.
Finally, thank you to Josh Whitehouse and Ryan Fury for bringing it all to a conclusion.
Tony Percival
Club Captain
9 May 2024
