Membership: We are pleased that new memberships have steadily increased over the past few months following concerted TV advertising, mail drops and newspaper advertising. The offer of $100 off your membership fees still applies if you introduce a new 5, 6 or 7 day member. Also, we have an Open Day on 1 April when guests will pay no green.

Tee Sponsors: You will notice shortly that all Tees will have Tee signs. There are vacancies for sponsors and in with your membership renewals, there are details of a membership/tee sponsor offer. For any further information please contact John Gilleade.

Motel Units: Bookings are still coming in from the Travel Auction and these will enable us to upgrade the remaining three units. The work will begin in April. A night's stay for two people is only $75 and remember members receive a 10% discount.

House and Social: A welcome to the new golfing season. On Saturday 31st March and Sunday 1st April a weekend of events is being held to welcome the new golfing season. On Saturday there will be a Stableford competition open to all members. On Saturday evening we shall be holding the President's Dinner and on Sunday there will be an Open Day where members can bring guests (no green fees). Should your guest join the club you will receive a $100 discount from your next membership fees.

New Logo: There has been an overwhelming response in favour of having the Blue Wren motif as the Club's new official logo. The Committee has, therefore, decided to adopt this.

The summer events, including the Christmas Ambrose, Twilights, and New Years Day's have been very well attended. Thanks for all your support and to Matthew Dent and his team for their hard work.

Margaret Wood

That's History

Members and visitors no doubt appreciate the sight and sound of the fountain near the Club office. Here are some details that are not in the Club history.

When the old cottage was demolished after 1975, to make way for what was to become Associate House, (now Lily Waite House) the keystone from the building, bearing the date 1855, was saved.

A long-time Club employee, Georg Martin, de-signed and built the fountain using the keystone in the base.

Georg was given the honour of switching on the fountain on the evening of February 13th, 1981. The ceremony was followed by a dinner in the clubhouse.

Most of the details in this article come from Lloyd Willsmore, MLGC member of very long standing. Lloyd has contributed more to the Club than most I know. His work on the course is legendary and spans a long period, not merely his Committee years.

Frank Coulter 
Club Historian.

Roney on the Rules

No questions in this issue, just a few facts given as a result of recent occurrences.

1. The expression "Line of sight" is not mentioned in the Rules of Golf! There are special rules for Pro's, as is seen on television but there is no such relief for us unless an obstruction interferes with our stance, lie of the ball or the area of the intended swing. The line means nothing!
2. This may help if you are confused about dropping a ball within two club lengths or one:

   If there is a penalty involved it is two club lengths
   EXAMPLES Unplayable lie, Lateral Water Hazard.

   If no penalty, find the nearest point of relief and drop within one club length of that point.
   EXAMPLES G.U.R.; Casual Water; Obstructions.
   NOTE - The ball can roll another two club lengths!
       

3. This will help if you don't know whether to replace a ball after it's moved, or play it as it lies :

If there is a penalty involved i.e. If you are deemed to have caused it to move - replace it.
EXAMPLES moved after address; moved after a near stone has been moved.

If no penalty, play it as it lies.
EXAMPLE - Wind moved it.
EXCEPTION - If a dog (or other outside agency) moves a stationary ball - replace it, no penalty.

I hope Roney won't mind my recalling this occurrence.

A ball, struck from the 17th tee, almost reached the green before a magpie pecked it, causing it to roll 20 metres back down the hill.

It appeared the ball had been pecked as it was about to stop. Did the bird stop it? Could it roll back anyway without first becoming stationary? There was no way to tell exactly what happened. So! Was the ball to be re-placed or played as it lay?

Since it was impossible to tell whether the ball was moving or had been stationary when pecked, I (Yes! It was my **** ball), played it from where it lay, that is, 20 metres, not 20 centimetres from the green.

F.C. Ed.