Golf Shop News, November 1st

Aeration Begins
Monday, November 5th

On Monday, November 5th Aldo and his team will begin the process of Deep Tine Aerification on our greens. This procedure is important and essential to the health of our greens. Deep tine aeration creates deep holes which allow air to penetrate the soil providing the plant roots the required oxygen needed to thrive and grow. Deep tine aeration also helps to break up and loosen the surrounding layers of soil. As new roots develop, the young roots enter the deep tine channels and are able to extend deep into the surrounding soil. A deep root system creates healthy plants, enabling them to withstand drought periods and extended periods of high temperatures over the summer. Deep tine aeration is far superior to traditional core aeration for golf course maintenance.

Following the deep tine procedure we will be top-dressing greens which will fill in the holes with a sand mixture that will still allow air and water to penetrate to the root zones while smoothing out the playing surface.

What does this mean for me and my tee time this week?

During the aeration process the golf course will remain open however there will be a number of greens that will be temporarily out of play. If a worker or equipment is on the green site of any hole you are playing you will need to pick up and proceed to the next tee. There will be up to 3 separate tractors working on greens at any given time. There is not a set rotation and they will not be following our front/back 9 routing. This plan will allow us to complete the process in the most efficient amount of time possible, leaving us the time necessary to top-dress and maintain the greens prior to blowing out the irrigation lines on Friday, November 9th.

In spite of our best efforts there can be a number of factors that are beyond our control that may have an effect on our timeline and the process itself including things such as weather or issue with equipment. We ask all members to plan their golf accordingly and contact the Golf Shop with any questions or concerns.

Guest rates during the Aeration Process and continuing until the end of the season have been reduced to Off-Season Rates:
$60 - 18 Holes Walking
$75 - 18 Holes with Cart
$40 - 9 Holes Walking
$45 - 9 Holes with Cart

Golf Lessons Flyer.jpg

Club Storage Reminder

We encourage all members to ensure their clubs are removed from storage and lockers cleaned out by Sunday, November 4th.

Golf Shop Hours

With daylight savings time ending this weekend the Golf Shop hours will be adjusted accordingly as well. The Golf Shop will be open from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm daily.

Cross Country Tournament

We are pleased to announce our 3rd Annual Cross Country Golf Tournament. The date for the Cross Country event will be Saturday, November 10th at 10:00 am. This is a mixed scramble shotgun where each team will be made up with the following guidelines: Each team must be comprised of 3 Men/Junior Boy(s) and 1 Women/Junior Girl.

Carts will be available if weather and course conditions permit.

Cost is $25 pp and is CASH ONLY and must be collected prior to registration closing on Wednesday, November 7th.

We will be accepting a maximum of 52 players.

For more information including the link to register and a sneak peak at the course layout please click HERE or visit the registration page through the Member Central portal.

New Golf Rules for 2019

Our friends over at Golf Vlogs UK have shared a great video on the Top 10 Most Important New Golf Rules for 2019, have a look. For the complete list of changes, scroll below the video.

TOPICS

BALL AT REST Description of change
Player accidentally moves his or her ball during search New rule: No penalty. Current rule: 1-stroke penalty.
Player accidentally moves his or her ball or ball-marker on the putting green New rule: No penalty. Current rule: 1-stroke penalty (with exceptions).
Standard for deciding whether the player caused his or her ball to move New rule: The player will be found to be the cause only when it is known or virtually certain (meaning at least 95%) to be the case Current rule: Weight of the evidence/more likely than not.
How to replace a ball lying off the putting green when it moves and its exact original spot isn’t known New rule: Replace the ball on its estimated spot; if that spot was on, under or against attached natural objects, replace the ball on that spot on, under or against those objects. Current rule: Drop the ball as near as possible to the estimated spot.
BALL IN MOTION Description of change
Player’s ball in motion accidentally hits the player, his or her caddie, the person attending the flagstick, or the attended or removed flagstick New rule: No penalty. Current rule: 1-stroke penalty (expect it is a 2-stroke penalty when the accidental deflection relates to the flagstick or the attendant).
TAKING RELIEF Description of change
Where a ball must be dropped New rule: Drop in a defined relief area. Current rule: Sometimes the drop is in a specified area, sometimes it is on or as near as possible to a spot or a line.
Where a dropped ball must come to rest New rule: The ball must come to rest in the relief area where it was dropped, or else the ball must be re-dropped. Current rule: The ball must be re-dropped if it rolls to any of the nine specified areas (Rule 20-2c), such as rolling more than 2 club-lengths from where the dropped ball struck the ground.
Measuring the size of the relief area where a ball must be dropped and played New rule: The relief area is measured by a fixed distance of 20 inches or 80 inches from the reference point or the reference line; this can readily be measured by using markings on the shaft of a club. Current rule: Measured by using 1 or 2 club-lengths (with any length club the player chooses).
How to drop a ball New rule: The only requirement will be that the ball be let go from knee height so that it falls through the air and does not touch any part of the player’s body or equipment before it hits the ground Current rule: Stand erect; hold the ball at shoulder height and arm’s length.
Time allowed for a ball search New rule: A ball is lost if not found in three minutes. Current rule: A ball is lost if not found in five minutes.
Substituting ball New rule: A player may always substitute a ball when taking relief. Current rule: The player must use the original ball when taking free relief (with exceptions); a substituted ball is allowed only when taking penalty relief.
Embedded ball New rule: A player may take relief without penalty for an embedded ball anywhere (except in sand) in the “general area” (new term for “through the green”), unless a Local Rule has been adopted restricting relief only to areas cut to fairway height or less. Current rule: Relief is allowed only in areas cut to fairway height or less, unless a Local Rule has been adopted allowing relief anywhere (except in sand) through the green.
AREAS OF THE COURSE Description of change
Replacing a ball on the putting green when it moves from its spot after it already had been lifted and replaced New rule: The ball must always be replaced on its original spot, even if it was blown by the wind or moved for no clear reason. Current rule: The ball is replaced only if a player or outside agency caused it to move; otherwise, the ball is played from its new location.
Repairing damage on the putting green New rule: A player may repair almost any damage (including spike marks and animal damage but not including natural imperfections) on the putting green. Current rule: A player may only repair ball-marks or old hole plugs on the putting green.
Player touches the line of putt or touches the putting green in pointing out a target New rule: No penalty, so long as doing so does not improve the conditions for the player’s stroke. Current rule: Loss of hole/2-stroke penalty (with exceptions).
Putting with an unattended flagstick left in the hole New rule: No penalty if a ball played from the putting green (or anywhere else) hits the unattended flagstick in hole. Current rule: Loss of hole/2-stroke penalty if the ball is played from the putting green and hits the unattended flagstick in hole.
Areas the Committee may mark as a penalty area (where relief with 1-stroke penalty is allowed) New rule: Red- and yellow-marked “penalty areas” may now cover areas of desert, jungle, lava rock, etc., in addition to areas of water. Current rule: Relief is allowed only from “water hazards.”
Player moves loose impediments, touches the ground with hand or club or grounds the club in a penalty area when the ball is in the penalty area New rule: No penalty. Current rule: Loss of hole/2-stroke penalty (with exceptions).
Expanded use of red-marked penalty areas New rule: Committees are given the discretion to mark all penalty areas as red so that lateral relief is always allowed (but they may still mark penalty areas as yellow where they consider it appropriate). Current rule: All water hazards should be marked yellow, except where their location on the course makes it impossible or unreasonable to drop behind the hazard; only when this is the case may these water hazards be marked red as lateral water hazards.
Elimination of the opposite side relief option for red penalty areas New rule: A player is no longer allowed to take relief from a red penalty area on the opposite side from where the ball last entered that penalty area, unless the Committee adopts a Local Rule allowing it. Current rule: A player is always allowed to take relief from the opposite side of a red-marked lateral water hazard.
Player moves or touches a loose impediment in a bunker when the ball is in the bunker New rule: No penalty. Current rule: Loss of hole/2-stroke penalty (with exceptions).
Player touches sand in a bunker with his or her hand or a club when the ball is in the bunker New rule: No penalty except when a player touches sand (1) with his or her hand or club to test the conditions of the bunker or (2) with the club in the area right behind or in front of the ball, in making a practice swing or in making the backswing for the stroke. Current rule: Any touching of sand with hand or club results in loss of hole/2-stroke penalty (with exceptions).
Unplayable ball relief options New rule: A player may take relief outside the bunker back on a line from the hole through where ball was at rest for 2 penalty strokes. Current rule: No relief outside the bunker (other than in playing from where the player’s last stroke was made).
EQUIPMENT Description of change
Use of clubs damaged during round New rule: A player may keep using any damaged club, even if the player damaged it in anger. Current rule: A player may use the damaged club only if it was damaged in the “normal course of play.”
Adding clubs to replace a club damaged during round New rule: A player may not replace a damaged club, unless the player was not responsible for the damage. Current rule: A player may replace a damaged club if it is “unfit for play” and was damaged in the “normal course of play.”
Use of distance-measuring devices (DMDs) New rule: The use of DMDs is allowed, unless a Local Rule has been adopted prohibiting their use. Current rule: DMD use is prohibited, unless a Local Rule has been adopted allowing their use.
PLAYING A BALL Description of change
Caddie standing behind a player to help with that player’s alignment New rule: A caddie is not allowed to stand on a line behind a player while the player is taking his or her stance and until stroke is made. Current rule: A caddie is allowed to stand on a line behind a player while the player is taking a stance and preparing to play, but must not stand there while the player makes the stroke.
Caddie lifts and replaces the player’s ball on the putting green New rule: A caddie may lift and replace the player’s ball on the putting green without the player’s specific authorization to do so. Current rule: 1-stroke penalty if done without the player’s specific authorization.
WHEN TO PLAY DURING ROUND Description of change
Recommendations on how to play promptly New rule: Recommends that players make each stroke in no more than 40 seconds, and usually in less time. Current rule: No recommendations are given.
Playing out of turn in stroke play New rule: No penalty (as today), and “ready golf” is encouraged when it can be done in a safe and responsible way. Current rule: No penalty, but the current Rule is written in a way that may imply that playing out of turn is wrong or is not allowed
Other changes to help pace of play Other new rules: Simplified dropping rules, allowing more areas to be marked as penalty areas, expanded use of red penalty areas and allowing a player to putt with the flagstick in the hole.
New alternative form of stroke play New rule: A new “Maximum Score” form of stroke play is recognized, where a player’s score for a hole is capped at a maximum score (such as double par or triple bogey) that is set by the Committee. Current rule: In standard individual stroke play, players must hole out at every hole; the only recognized alternative forms of stroke play where holing out is not required are Stableford, Par and Bogey.
PLAYER BEHAVIOUR Description of change
Playing in the spirit of the game New rule:Explains and reinforces the high standards of conduct expected from players and gives a Committee discretion to disqualify players for serious misconduct. Current rule: The Rules set out no standards of conduct, except indirectly in giving Committees discretion to disqualify players for a serious breach of etiquette.
Code of player conduct New rule: Committees are given authority to adopt their own code of player conduct and to set penalties for the breach of the standards in that code. Current rule: Committees may disqualify players for a serious breach of etiquette, but are not allowed to impose lesser penalties such as a 1-stroke penalty or a loss of hole/2-stroke penalty.
Eliminating announcement requirements before lifting a ball under certain Rules New rule: When a player has good reason to mark and lift a ball to identify it, check for damage or see if it lies in a condition where relief is allowed (such as to see whether it is embedded), the player is no longer required first to announce to another player or his or her marker the intent to do so or to give that person an opportunity to observe the process. Current rule: Before lifting in these cases, the player must announce to another player or the marker that he or she is doing so and allow that person to observe the process.
Player’s reasonable judgment in estimating and measuring under a Rule New rule: When estimating or measuring a spot, point, line, area or distance under a Rule, a player’s reasonable judgment will not be second-guessed based on later evidence (such as video review) if the player did all that could be reasonably expected under the circumstances to make an accurate estimation or measurement. Current rule: A player’s judgment is given no particular weight or deference; the Committee decides any issue about the accuracy of the estimation or measurement based on a review of all facts.

Golf Shop News, October 23rd

Golf Shop Hours

Starting Wednesday, October 24th the Golf Shop will be open from 7 AM - 5 PM until October 31st.

Driving Range

If you’ve been by the course the last few days you will have noticed work is well under way on our new cart path and cart parking at the driving range. We will be conducting our last pick of the season on Sunday, October 28th. As a result, the Driving Range will be closed for the season starting 1:00 pm on that day.

Golf Shop End of Year Clearence

All Men’s and Ladies Apparel (Footwear excluded) is now 50% off until the end of the season.

TEE TIMES

Please note, that we will continue to take online tee time reservations until Wednesday, October 31st.

There will be no starter as of Monday, October 22nd

Guest Fees for the remainder of the season will be at our OFF-PRIME rates.

Additionally, there will be no lottery conducted for Weekend Morning play for the remainder of the season. You may book weekend morning tee times 7 days in advance. Regular category restrictions apply.

Where are you playing this winter???

44330735_300048400589220_3065848248313839616_n.jpg

Are you around Niagara this winter? Drop in this week to see our friends at All Sports Simulated in Welland Ontario for their Open House. Learn about their programs offerings and winter leagues! Our very own PGA Professional Adam Steinschifter will be running some lessons and lesson packages at All Sports through the winter months. Make sure you take an opportunity to contact him directly at adam@lopcc.com and keep your skills tuned up for the 2019 season.

Cross Country Golf Tournament

We are pleased to announce our 3rd Annual Cross Country Golf Tournament. The date for the Cross Country event will be Saturday, November 10th at 10:00 am. This is a mixed scramble shotgun where each team will be made up with the following guidelines: Each team must be comprised of 3 Men/Junior Boy(s) and 1 Women/Junior Girl.

Carts will be available if weather and course conditions permit.

Cost is $25 pp and is CASH ONLY and must be collected prior to registration closing on Wednesday, November 7th.

We will be accepting a maximum of 52 players.

For more information including the link to register and a sneak peak at the course layout please click HERE or visit the registration page through the Member Central portal.

Golf Shop News, October 16th

Closing Field Day

Thank you to everyone who braved the cooler temps and came out to celebrate the 2018 season in our Closing Field Day event. Congratulations to this years winners:

Men’s First Place: Joe Naar, Brian Kocsis & Gary Snider

Men’s First Place: Joe Naar, Brian Kocsis & Gary Snider

Ladies First Place: Laurie Robert, Mary Basciano, Maria Williamson & Julie Kozub

Ladies First Place: Laurie Robert, Mary Basciano, Maria Williamson & Julie Kozub

Season Long Match Play Winners

Throughout the year both the Men’s and Ladies sections have been competing in various Match Play competitions. On the Men’s side there are a couple divisions still to be decided but here are your Match Play winners so far this year:

Mens Gross Singles

1st Place - Shawn Beatty vs. Luke Delgobbo

Men’s Net Singles

1st Place - Reno Tofano
2nd Place - Eugene Malik
3rd Place - Paul Dickson vs. Rico Leone

Men’s Sr. Singles Net

1st Place - Nick Markovich
2nd Place - Ron Levinski
3rd Place - Des Brady

Men’s Doubles Net

1st Place - Gino Paolone & Rico Leone
2nd Place - Bruce Herbeson & David Grant
3rd Place - Tomlinson & Patchett vs. Levinski & Kershaw

Ladies Match Play Champion

Joy Flegg

Ladies Consolation Champion

Janice May

Back Shop Closing

The storage for golf clubs, power caddies and batteries will close on Sunday, November 4th. We ask all members to ensure they have removed their clubs and equipment prior to this date.

As we being to take inventory of our Back Shop we would ask any members who happen to come across extra Cart Keys in their possession to please drop them off to the Golf Shop or Back Shop staff.

Tee Times

Please note, that we will continue to take online tee time reservations until Wednesday, October 31st. As recent as earlier today, we have begun experience frost delay’s in the mornings. More of these an be expected when we have nights with clear skies and cooler temps. If you have a morning tee time please ensure you are checking with the Golf Shop for potential delays due to weather. We will continue to send eblasts and post to our social media accounts @LookoutPointCC on Instagram and Twitter to keep you informed of daily course conditions

There will be no starter as of Monday, October 22nd

Guest Fees for the remainder of the season will be at our OFF-PRIME rates.

Additionally, there will be no lottery conducted for Weekend Morning play for the remainder of the season. You may book weekend morning tee times 7 days in advance. Regular category restrictions apply.

Driving Range Closing Date

We have a number of improvements planned for the Driving Range and Practice facility over the next few weeks heading into the off-season. The range will be closed for the season on Monday, October 29th.

Aeration

Deep Tyne Aeration is planned for the first week of November (5th - 9th). We will update you as to course hours and availability over the next few weeks

Cross Country Golf Tournament

We are pleased to announce our 3rd Annual Cross Country Golf Tournament. The date for the Cross Country event will be Saturday, November 10th at 10:00 am. This is a mixed scramble shotgun where you can submit your own foursome with the following guidelines: Each team must be comprised of 3 Men/Junior Boy(s) and 1 Women/Junior Girl.

Carts will be available if weather and course conditions permit.

Cost is $25 pp and is CASH ONLY and must be collected prior to registration closing on Wednesday, November 7th.

We will be accepting a maximum of 52 players.

For more information including the link to register and a sneak peak at the course layout please click HERE or visit the registration page through the Member Central portal.

Golf Canada Handicap Season

Please note that the active season for posting scores to Golf Canada’s Handicap System in Ontario ends on Wednesday, October 31st.

Scores made at any golf course observing an inactive season are not acceptable for handicap purposes. The rationale behind this is that posting scores during inactive seasons (periods of poor course conditions) could artificially increase a player’s Handicap Factor.

Scores made at a golf course in an area observing an active season must be posted for handicap purposes, even if the golf club from which the player receives a Handicap Factor is observing an inactive season.

For example, if a player belonging to a golf club in Ontario plays golf in Florida during January, any scores made in Florida are acceptable and must be returned to the player’s Ontario golf club. If the player is also a member of a golf club in Florida, scores must be posted to the player’s Florida club. More information can be found by clicking HERE

Golf Shop News, October 4th, 2018

Golf Shop Hours

Starting Monday, October 8th the Golf Shop hours of operation will be from 7:00 am - 6:30 pm. The Back Shop will remain open until the last members are off the Golf Course. Our driving range and practice facilities will be opened in the mornings a half hour prior to the first tee time and will close approximately an hour before sunset.

From the Grounds Department

As you may have already noticed Aldo and his grounds crew have started to prepare the golf course for the off-season by Mini Tine venting our greens. This provides oxygen to the root system which will help to strengthen the grass before the cold weather returns. Preparation for the winter will continue over the next month and we will keep you informed of the process through our weekly e-blasts.

It’s also very important over the next month that we are all doing our part to assist our grounds crew in maintaining the health of our golf course. We ask all members to ensure you are replacing your divots (in particular on the par 3 tee decks) and repairing all your ball marks. If a divot cannot be replaced then we encourage you to use the dirt mixture provided on the golf carts and on the par 3 tees.

Monday, October 8th

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend! With the holiday this Monday we will not be doing our regular scheduled range maintenance. As a result, the driving range will be open all day Monday, October 8th.

Shop Credits

A reminder that all shop credits earned prior to the Member/Member tournament need to be redeemed before the end of the season. There’s some great deals and promotions ongoing in the shop that you can take advantage of. Stop by today!!!

Closing Field Day

We have over 50 players signed up for the Closing Field Day on October 13th. Registration will be closing on Wednesday, October 10th. Entry is $45 per person and includes Breakfast, Lunch and a prize table valued at over $2000. This event will wrap up our Member Events for the year! Don’t miss it!

Golf Shop News, September 19th, 2018

GOLF SHOP PROMOTIONS

Shop your shop! Fall promotions start NOW

ALL LADIES APPAREL - Buy One get One for $10!!!
MEN’S Polo’s - Buy One get One for $10!!!
MEN’S Adidas, Chase 54, Under Armour & Travis Mathew Pants & Shorts 40% Off
(Footjoy bottoms excluded)
ALL HATS $20 (+ tax)
20% off all GOLF BAGS

All sales are on IN STOCK items only
Men’s outerwear excluded from promotion

GOLF SHOP HOURS

With shorter days now upon us, the Golf Shop will be closing at 7:30 pm nightly.

MEMBER / MEMBER

Click Here to view the blog with the results of this past weekend’s Member Member tournament

2018 Senior Invitational

On Wednesday, September 12th the 19th Annual Lookout Point Senior Invitational was contested. Click HERE to read all about it! For more info on senior golf in Ontario be sure to visit www.seniorgolfcentral.ca regularly!

GROUND UNDER REPAIR (TREE ON 6)

As you may have seen, there is an area roped off between holes 4 & 6 around the site of a tree that the grounds crew will be removing shortly. Please treat this area as ground under repair and take free relief outside the roped/marked area

TWILIGHT HOURS

Please note that twilight hours for guest fees are now starting at 3:00 pm.

Member / Member Results

2018 Men’s Champions:Joe Spiler & Gino Paolone

2018 Men’s Champions:

Joe Spiler & Gino Paolone

2018 Ladies Champions:Trish Farrow & Daleen Venter

2018 Ladies Champions:

Trish Farrow & Daleen Venter

This past weekend we contested our Annual Member Member tournament. This is one of the more unique member events in our calendar year that uses 4 different 9 hole formats over the course of 2 days of competition. These formats include Alternate Shot, Best Ball, Scramble and Total Score. The key to winning this event can be summed up in one word: CONSISTENCY. It is more about where you finish in relation to the field each day rather than your actual scores.

In the Men’s Division, Gino Paolone and Joe Spiler were the most consistent in the field placing 13th in Total Score (33 Points), 10th in Alternate Shot (35.5 Points), Tied for 4th in Team Scramble (40.5 Points) and 15th in Best Ball (30.5 Points) for a 2 day total of 139.5 Points.

In the Ladies Division, the top 3 teams all finished within 1.50 points of each other but in the end it was the consistent play of Trish Farrow and Daleen Venter who became 2018 Member Member Champions with a point total of 34!!!

Below are the main results of the day. The details results are all available under the Events & Registration tab after logging into the member central section of the Lookout Point website.

Men’s Division

Men’s Overall

1st Place
Joe Spiler & Gino Paolone (139.5 Points)

Men’s Total Score

Bill Heelis & Paul Parent (Net score of 66)

Men’s Alternate Shot

Frank Mortensen & Pran Kundi (Net score of 29.5)

Men’s Best Ball

Mike Krowchuck & Wouter Oelofse (Net score of 29)

Men’s Scramble

Daniel Klimowicz & Shawn Petlichkov (Adjusted team score of 30)

Ladies Division

Ladies Overall

1st Place
Trish Farrow & Daleen Venter (34 Points)

Ladies Saturday Points

1st Place
Daleen Venter & Trish Farrow (19.5 Points)

2nd Place
Joanne Catena & Kathy Levinski (18.5 Points)

3rd Place
Heather Boyle & Joy Flegg (12.5 Points)

Ladies Sunday Points

1st Place
Sharon Montgomery-Greenwood & Shelly Kurgan (19.5 Points)

2nd Place
Trish Farrow & Daleen Venter (14.5 Points)

3rd Place
Joanne Catena & Kathy Levinski (14 Points)