Coronavirus Update … (updated on 6th June)

6th June – A Message from the President

Today marks a significant relaxing of restrictions and whilst we still need to be complying with the rules I felt it was an appropriate time to reflect on the last three months and how the club, its members and staff adapted to these challenging and at times frustrating rules.

It seems like it was many months ago but it was only mid to late March that the club was required to close down with only a skeleton staff operating on both the course and clubhouse. Members lost access to their club and many staff were stood down from their employment.

Fortunately golf returned, albeit under strict rules shortly after we closed and members quickly adapted to playing in groups of two and having very limited access to facilities. Committee and management have worked through this period to ensure members were being informed and had maximum access to both the main and north courses and eventually the practice facilities and clubhouse, all with an eye firmly on ensuring we complied with the State Government directives.

Interestingly, both courses have been busy throughout the last three months and round data indicates that as many rounds have been played this year through March to May as were played in the same period last year. Members have been incredibly supportive in many ways since the pandemic hit. We continue to see members supporting the Golf Shop through the various sales that Craig has run and we look forward to more sales to come. The provision of take away meals and wines were also well supported allowing the club to keep a limited team in work in the early stages of the pandemic.

Romana, Jonny and Darry have worked tirelessly to get our food and beverage operations through this difficult period and have done an incredible job in preparing for the reopening of up to 100 patrons in the Bar and 100 patrons in the Grill and Courtyard areas combined from this weekend. We very much look forward to seeing members return and once again reconnect with their friends at their club.

Fraser Brown and his team continued to work throughout the last three months and only recently returned to “one team” after splitting the team in two to ensure our risk of closure due to infection was minimized.  Not only has the course been presented in excellent order through this period, Fraser and his team found time to undertake the annual greens renovations so that members can enjoy uninterrupted golf through the Spring and Summer months.

We had an excellent response to the call out made to members seeking to provide financial support to our staff who were hardest hit by the closure and stand down. In addition to the staff support package provided by the club the additional funds donated by members allowed the club to ensure those that were experiencing hardship or were unable to access JobKeeper received financial support. I know from the staff I have spoken to that they are incredible grateful to the club and its members for the support shown.

I would like to thank members for their support and patience during the period of restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19. Be assured we also treasure what we have at the Club and will continue to work hard to maintain it.

Kind regards,
Graeme Pepper – President.

4th June – Covid-19 Restrictions Update

I am pleased to advise that effective from this Saturday, June 6 the Members Bar and Lounge will reopen with numbers permitted in the area to increase to 100. In addition to this the Grill and Courtyard areas will reopen with a combined 100 capacity.

The Club is required to implement a COVID Safety Plan in accordance with the restrictions and protocols now in place as part of the State Government’s Phase Three restrictions.

We ask that members take the time to familiarize themselves with the information below so that we can operate in a safe and compliant manner. It should also be noted that as part of this phase the club has recalled many staff over the last few days and we ask for members to be patient as we transition towards a broader service offering. Some suppliers such as the breweries are still trying to provide stock so in some instances not all products will be available by this weekend.

In summary, the information below includes:

From Saturday 6th June:

• Member’s Bar re-opens (Wed/Fri/Sat).  Up to 100 patrons permitted in Bar/Lounge area.
• Men’s golf presentations return (Winter Dress Code).
• Full men’s and ladies’ locker room access including showers.
• Up to 100 patrons permitted in the Grill and courtyard area combined (Mon-
  Sun) – (70 Grill/30 Courtyard).
•  All members to be traced/tracked and physical distancing and hygiene to be strictly adhered to.

From Friday 12th June:

• Up to 3 guests per member permitted for social golf.
• Up to 3 guests per member permitted in the Bar/Lounge and Grill/Courtyard areas.

Please ensure to read the full details listed below:

Tracing/tracking members and other patrons

As part of our COVID Safety Plan it is essential that the club is able to track all members (and non-members) on the premises. This will be done through a number of methods including the entry gate fob unit, electronic golf bookings and online Grill bookings. If you intend to come to the club and have not used your fob at the entry gates or do not have an online booking we ask that you advise a member of the staff that you are on the premises and this will be documented. The details of any guests that are with you must also be recorded with the staff.

Physical distancing and hygiene

Members and guests must adhere to physical distancing (2 square metre rule to apply) and good hygiene. The Club has established a number of hand sanitizer stations throughout the clubhouse and encourages members to use these when arriving and exiting. If you are feeling unwell we encourage you not to come to the club.

Patron numbers in the clubhouse

The club is now permitted to have up to 100 patrons in the Members Bar and Lounge area. This is in addition to staff numbers. Seating has been limited in this area to 100 and a member of staff will be on hand to manage those numbers. Members will be permitted to order drinks at the bar but must then move to their table to consume them. Standing around the bar or anywhere for that matter is not permissible if you are consuming a drink. Drinks can be consumed without the need to be having a substantial meal from this Saturday.

The Grill and Courtyard areas have been combined and in total 100 patrons are permitted in these areas (70 in the Grill and 30 in the Courtyard).

Access to the Bar/Lounge and Grill areas

On busier days such as Wednesdays and Saturdays all access to the Bar/Lounge and Grill will be via the Members Bar door facing the Courtyard. Members going through to the Grill will also go through these doors and make their way past the wine room and in to the Grill.

On other days such as Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays the north facing Grill sliding doors will be the main access point.

Members are requested to use to the glass sliding doors in the Grill (adjacent to the first tee) to exit even if you are sitting in the bar/Lounge area. Please press the green button to open the sliding doors.

Competition golf and golf presentations

Presentations will return for Wednesday and Saturday competitions effective from this Saturday. Further decisions around major events for both men and women will be announced shortly.

Dress Code

The Winter Dress Code will commence from this Saturday. This means that for men, smart casual dress including a tailored jacket on competition days after 4pm and after 7pm on Fridays is required in the Members’ Bar.

Trading Hours – from the 8th June

Locker Room and shower access

Full locker room access including use of the showers will be permitted from Saturday. Some share items such as combs and hair brushes will not be available. Only liquid soap will be available in the showers.

Guests in the clubhouse precinct

From Friday 12th June members will be permitted to bring up to three guests that are not immediate family members to the club to use the Bar/Lounge and Grill/Courtyard areas. We ask that you book these guests in online where applicable or advise the bar staff upon arrival so that your details can be entered in to a sign-in register. If you have booked for golf or at the Grill online there is no requirement to sign-in as your details including those of your guests are already recorded.

Guests on the golf course

From Friday 12th June members will be permitted to bring up to three guests to play golf outside of main competition days/times. This means that up to three guests can join you for golf on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, Thursday from 3pm and all day Fridays and Sundays. Bookings must be made online and it is essential that all guests check-in at the golf shop.

Kind regards,
Damon Lonnie – General Manager.

29th May – Today’s State Government Announcement

I am sure many members will already be aware of Premier Mark McGowan’s press conference today at which he announced further relaxations to COVID-19 restrictions in line with Phase 3. These changes will come into effect on Saturday June 6 and have a significant, and positive impact on our club.

The announcement today allows the club to reopen the Members Bar and Lounge, increase numbers in the Grill and reintroduce furniture to the Courtyard. In summary, the changes announced by Mr McGowan that directly impact the club’s operations, are as follows:

1. Physical distancing protocol varied from 4 square metres to 2 square metres per person.
2. “Bigger” venues such as ours that can split spaces in two or more, are able to have up to 100 patrons (taking point 1 in to account) in each space up to 300 in total.
3. Up to 100 people, noting point 1, would be permitted in the Courtyard (included in the 300)
4. Alcohol can be consumed without a meal.
5. All patrons must be seated (i.e. table service).
6. Takes effect from Saturday June 6.

What will change from Saturday June 6?

We are pleased to announce that from Saturday June 6 the Members Bar and Lounge will reopen and numbers in the Grill will be increased consistent with the direction from the State Government. Golf presentations will also recommence in the Members Lounge from Saturday June 6.

Please note that the golf timesheets including the lottery system for Saturday June 6 will open tonight as usual at 6pm however due to the increased allowable numbers, bookings for the Grill will no longer be tied to golf bookings and this system has been removed for bookings for Saturday June 6 and beyond. Grill bookings can be made through the normal system online or by contacting the club on 9422 8222.

Further details will be provided early next week including the club’s position with regard to full locker room access (please note ground floor toilets are open now), shotgun starts, dollar bets and other important items.

Damon Lonnie – General Manager.

22nd May – Driving Range – Booking Rules Relaxed

We are pleased to advise that bookings will no longer be required to use the Driving Range as of Sunday 24th May. 

Having closely monitored the number of members that use this practice facility since reopening on Monday 18th May, we are confident this area can be managed within the current sport and recreation guidelines without the need of having a booking requirement. 

That said, there are few conditions that will remain in place and appreciate members cooperation with these;

• The 10 x 5sqm hitting bays on the main range and 5 x 5sqm bays on the short range will remain in place to ensure numbers can be managed within restrictions. 
• Only small buckets (20 balls) will be permitted on a Wednesday & Saturday between 6:30am – 9:00am & 10:30am – 1:00pm and Tuesday & Thursday between 6:30am – 9:00am.   This provides all members  with the opportunity to warm up and prevent large gatherings waiting for a bay to become available.
• The Driving Range will close at 4:30pm daily (last balls purchased at 4:00pm).
• All rules currently in place for the short game area will remain unchanged for the time being allowing a maximum of 10 members within this space and limited to 5 balls per member.

Golf Shop and Buggy Room staff will continue to monitor the practice facilities regularly to ensure the maximum number of members does not exceeded the current restrictions in place. If you do find yourself waiting for a bay to become free, we please ask you keep a safe distance away from others at all times.

MiScore App – Social Play

Since introducing the MiScore scoring app we have been extremely pleased with the uptake from members and positive feedback received.

Looking at the Men’s & Ladies competitions over the past 2 days, approximately 85% of the Men & 55% of the Ladies are using the app which is fantastic to see. 

The version of the app that has been used by members over the past few weeks was designed for competition play only however, we are delighted to advise that the social play option has now been released and available for members to enjoy.

Moving forward when you choose to play socially on a Monday, Tuesday afternoon, Friday & Sunday, select the MiScore score app as you usually would and the picture shown will prompt you to begin social scoring. From here you will be required to chose a tee to play from ( e.g White or Red) as well as include a playing partner that may be joining you. Just a reminder, it is still important that you check-in to the Golf Shop prior to your round to ensure the team know you have arrived for your tee time.

Back to competition play. As you may be aware over the past two weeks the golf operations team have been preregistering all players into the daily competitions to prevent large gatherings forming in the Golf Shop. This will continue for now however, as we move towards the next phase of restrictions being relaxed, members will be required to register via the touch screens in the Golf Shop as was the case prior to Covid-19. This registration process will provide members with the option to either use the MiScore app or a printed scorecard, as well as stopping by to say hello to the team!

If you require assistance with the app at any stage, please do not hesitate to contact Craig or Claire in Golf Operations.

15th May – Changes to Booking Rules – from Ralph Gibson, Club Captain

We are now experiencing a relaxation of some COVID-19 measures imposed over the last couple of months by our State Government. I am sure we all hope this trend continues and we eventually return to the halcyon days before we had even heard of Corona Virus.

From the perspective of how we play golf at Lake Karrinyup, the intent has always been to try to preserve our ability to play golf and walk around our courses whilst ensuring we remain fully compliant with prevailing government directives. With this in mind, we are now able to rescind several restrictions as part of our migration back to where we were pre COVID-19;

ALL MEMBERS

1. We will revert to booking sheets opening 8 days in advance of the day of play at 6:00pm and the lottery system will remain in place across all timesheets. Given booking sheets for the next week or so have already opened, this measure will commence with the booking sheet opening on Monday 18 May for play on Tuesday 26 May. Similarly, the booking sheet will open on Tuesday 19 May for play on Wednesday 27 May and so on.
2. Once we revert to 8 day in advance bookings, previous priority booking structures will resume. For example, Full Playing male members will have priority for bookings on Wednesday afternoons and all day Saturdays from the time the sheet opens until two days prior to the day of play when Provisional male members may book.
3. Until further notice you still must have a prior booking to play on either the Main or North Courses. We will remove this requirement and, specifically, allow the normal ‘walk-up’ starts on Wednesday mornings to recommence as soon as we are allowed.
4. All members playing on men’s and ladies’ competition days (being Wednesdays and Saturdays for men and Tuesdays and Thursdays for ladies) must enter the competition for that day. This will commence from Tuesday 26 May. After this time, the option to play ‘social’ golf on these competition days will no longer be available.
5. The commencement of social golf on Thursday afternoons will revert to after 3PM.
6. Please refer to point 2 in the Female Members section below.
7. The current limits on how many games you can play in any given week will cease from this Monday 18 May. From this day, the only restrictions on when a member can play golf will be as outlined in the Fixture Book.
8. The all-week competition will recommence from Monday 18 May.
9. Members will be allowed to play with their spouse/ partner or their children on the North Course on Mondays (after 11.00am), Tuesdays (after 12 noon), Thursdays (after 1pm), Fridays (all day) and Sundays (all day) with effect from Monday 25 May. Bookings must be made with the Golf Shop no more than 24 hours prior to play. Normal green fees apply.

FEMALE MEMBERS

In addition to the above, the following changes will be implemented which specifically affect our Female Members;

1. Competitions on Tuesdays and Thursdays will revert to a two tee start booking sheet, opening 8 days in advance of the day of play at 6:00pm (Previously 6:30pm). Given existing booking sheets, this move to two tee starts will commence on Tuesday 26 May.
2. Exclusive access for Female Members to the Main Course will revert to 3PM on Thursday afternoons (as outlined in the Fixture Book). Again, given existing booking sheets, this change will come into effect on Thursday 28 May.

   For the avoidance of doubt, this means the last competition time for ladies on Thursdays will be 1:04pm with ladies 9 hole positions following. Social tee times will commence at 3.00pm (for nine hole play only).

   The last competition time for ladies on Tuesdays will be 11.48am with social tee times commencing at 12.04pm.

3. The ‘normal’ 9 hole ladies’ competition on the Main Course & North Course will resume. The first 9 hole competitions will recommence on Tuesday 26 May.
4. Weekend Ladies will be allocated three flights on the Main Course on Sunday mornings. The tee times will be 8.04am, 8.12am and 8.20am off the first tee. These allocations will commence from Sunday 24 May

JUNIOR MEMBERS

1. Advanced and Intermediate Junior members will be allocated four flights on the Main Course on Sunday mornings. These tee times will be 9.00am, 9.08am, 9.16am and 9.24am off the first tee. These allocations will commence from Sunday 24 May.
2. We are looking to recommence the Sub-Junior program on Sunday afternoons on the North Course. However, under the phase 2 restrictions that are in place from Monday 18, guidelines received from the Department of Sport & Recreation still provide limitations on large ‘training zones”. In our case this would encompass everyone moving within areas such as the driving range, short game area and the first tee of the North Course. This stops us from restarting the Sub Junior program now. Should, as we all hope, phase 3 restrictions be implemented in coming weeks, we could then recommence the Sub Junior program without the possibility of breaching regulations. 

Craig Ridge or Claire Ryan from our Golf Operations team will be able to assist with any questions you may have concerning the above changes to how we play golf at Lake Karrinyup.

As always, thank you for your understanding and patience as we work through these matters.

With kind regards

Ralph Gibson- Captain. 

14th May – Practice Facilities Re-opening – from Craig Ridge, Director of Golf

Following the State Governments announcement that non-essential social gatherings will increase to a maximum of 20 people from this coming Monday 18^th May , we are pleased to advise members the Driving Range & Short Game practice areas will reopen on Monday 18^th May. 

With these practice facilities reopening, it extremely important members still adhere to social distancing protocols displayed in these areas. Failing to comply, will put the club at risk of receiving substantial fines and penalties from authorities.

To ensure we are managing the maximum allowed gatherings as per the latest restrictions, please note the guidelines for each area as set out below;

 Main and Short Iron Driving Range

• 10 x 5sqm bays will be setup on the Main Range -two of these bays will be prioritised for lessons by our teaching professionals. However, if there are no lessons booked these bays will be available for practice.
• 5 x 5sqm bays will be setup on the Short Iron Range
• The Short Iron Range will always be reserved for ‘Warm up Only’ prior to play, with a maximum of 20 balls (1 x Small Bucket) per member. No bookings are required for the Short Iron Range but members are asked to hit their warm-up balls within a reasonable time and then move away to allow access to others.
• Wednesday & Saturday between 6:45am – 9:00am & 10:45am – 1:00pm will be set for ‘Warm up Only’ on the Main Range with a maximum of 20 balls ( 1x Small Bucket) per member
• Tuesday & Thursday between 6:45am – 9:00am will also be set for ‘Warm up Only’ on the Main Range with a maximum of 20 balls ( 1x Small Bucket) per member
• Outside of the above warm up times, 30 minute bookings will be available on the Main Range. Bookings can be made 1 day prior at 3:00pm (Lottery System at 2:45pm) via the DRIVING RANGE TAB on the members home page. This TAB will be visable from Sunday 17^th May the day bookings open for Monday 18th May.
• You must have a booking to use the Main Range outside of the designated ‘Warm-up’ periods.
• Small, Medium & Large Buckets will be available within the 30 minute booking session, with members purchasing large buckets reminded there is a 30 minute time limit.
• Maximum ONE 30 minute booking per member, per day. If space permits after a 30 minute session, members will have the option to continue practicing by checking with the Golf Shop.
• Driving Range open from 6:45am – 4:30pm (Last booking from 4pm)
• A Covid Safety Plan will be displayed upon entry to Short & Main Range. Please take note of this notice on your first visit.

In the weeks to come , if demand for access to the Driving Range is lower than expected and certainly by the time the State Government announce that we have reached phase 3 of the COVID-19 WA Roadmap, we expect these facilities to return to normal operations as they were prior to COVID-19.

Short Game/ Pitching Area

The Short Game area and North Course 1^st Tee can be considered as a single gathering so again, it is important members adhere to the below guidelines when using the Short Game/ Pitching area;

• A maximum of 10 Members will be permitted to use the Short Game/ Pitching Area at any one time.
• A maximum of 5 Balls Per Member to be used and members are asked to use and collect their own golf balls.
• Flag sticks and foam inserts will be included in all holes and are not to be handled or removed.
• Members are asked to be mindful of others and to allow other members access to this area if more than 10 members want to use the Short Game/ Pitching area.
• Please avoid practicing within this area during competition warm up times (Tuesday AM, Wednesday prior to 1:00pm, Thursday prior to 10am & Saturday prior 1:00pm) if not playing within the field. Priority should be given to members using this area prior to commencing their competition round.
• A Covid Safety Plan will be displayed upon entry to short game area. Please take note of this notice on your first visit. 

As mentioned we are very pleased to reopen these practice facilities and we would like to thank members for their patience whilst they have been closed during the pandemic.

Kind regards,

Craig Ridge – Director of Golf

1st May – Introduction of the MiScore App – from Craig Ridge, Director of Golf

To reduce contact between players during the Covid-19 crisis by handling or exchanging scorecards, we have made the decision to introduce the new MiScore App on a trial basis.

Once downloaded on to your phone you will be able to use this app to keep your scores during social or competition rounds, however It is important that you ensure your phone has sufficient battery charge prior to play.

CLICK HERE to view information on how to download and set-up the MiScore App on your phone.

Once installed you will be asked for your login details , this is the same username & password you would use to gain access to the LKCC website. eg. Username: (LKCC Member Number) Password: ****

The MiScore app has other great features such as competition pin placements (going live from Wednesday 6th May) , hole overviews, statistic recording (MiStats) , local rules , rules of golf , leader boards and all of these at the touch of a button. It also allows our golf operations team to monitor pace of play and our course maintenance team to monitor high traffic areas on course.  

It is important for members to note, that mobile phones should only be used for the purpose of scoring on course or for the express purpose of use during a medical or other emergency. Please also ensure mobile phones are switched to silent at all times. 

If you have any questions in regard to this inclusion please do not hesitate to contact the Golf Operations team.

Finally, I like to remind members of the current booking rules within our time sheets and make you aware of a minor error within the section ‘OTHER BOOKING TIMES‘ as set out in the Captains enews yesterday. This relates to bookings on a Thursday afternoon and should show as ” … after 12:52pm on Thursdays ”’ not ”after 1:32pm” as stated within the prevailing booking rules link.

A revised copy of these booking rules can be viewed by CLICKING HERE 

Kind regards,
Craig Ridge – Director of Golf

30th April – Resumption of Competition Play – from the Captain, Ralph Gibson

I am delighted to advise members that competition golf is returning to Lake Karrinyup. 

The first competition day will be this coming Saturday, 2^nd of May. Thereafter, we will be reverting as much as we can to normal competition times, as set out below.

MAIN COURSE – Men’s Competitions
Saturdays and Wednesdays for the tee times between 0700 – 1332

MAIN COURSE – Ladies’ Competitions
Tuesdays for tee times between 0700 and 1156
Thursdays for tee times between 0700 and 1252

MAIN COURSE – Mixed Competition
Sundays for tee times between 0700 and 1332

NORTH COURSE – Men’s Competitions
Saturdays and Wednesdays for tee times up to 1300

NORTH COURSE – Ladies’ Competitions
Tuesdays and Thursdays for tee times up to 1300

During the times outlined above, members will have the option of entering the competition for that day or playing social golf. All other tee times on both the Main and North Courses will be for social play only.  Booking rules for the various days will remain as previously advised. The prevailing booking rules can be viewed by CLICKING HERE

The environment for playing golf is still impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions. Therefore, competition play for the foreseeable future will take place under the following conditions;

CONDITIONS OF PLAY FOR COMPETITIONS

• One tee start (1^st tee unless otherwise advised).
• All timesheets played in fours.
• All competition play is 18 holes.
• All players on timesheets within the periods of competition play will be pre-registered into the competition by the Golf Operations Staff to facilitate the use of the MiScore app (see below).
• Members can opt out if they do not wish to participate in the competition. This can be done by either advising a member of the Golf Shop, not printing a scorecard via the registration screens or not choosing to use the MiScore# app. Manual blank scorecards will be available for social play.
• Members are encouraged to download and use the MiScore# app for all competition golf. The use of the MiScore# app is preferred to avoid the handling of a printed scorecard.  
• Manual scorecards can be printed from golf shop printers if required – Hand sanitizer supplied must be used prior to using the touchscreen in the Golf Shop.
• Manual scorecards to be submitted through the scorecard scanners in the Golf Shop foyer. Hand sanitizer supplied must be used prior to using the touchscreen/scanner.
• Only competition scores will be handicapped. There will be no handicapping of social scores. 
• The Competition fee will remain at $7.
• Normal prize payouts to occur at the completion of each competition, however there will not be any Nearest to Pin prizes. Any prizes will be credited to the member’s prize account.
• Competition/ prize report will be produced and displayed on the website. No presentations will take place and no results will be published in the Newspapers.
• Competitions will be limited to Stableford only. 
• Members must arrive at the Course no earlier than 15 minutes prior to their respective tee time and leave no later than 15 minutes after the completion of their round. 
• Members who are wishing to play must make a booking into the designated timesheet of the day. No “walk-up’s” are permitted.

MiScore app.

MiScore is an application that can be downloaded onto your Smartphone and used to score as an alternative to printed scorecards.

Detailed information about downloading and using the MiScore app will be provided to members on Friday 1^st of May.

Members with any questions about the MiScore app should contact a member of the Golf Operations team for assistance.

 The following LOCAL RULES will apply for all competition play

• Flagsticks and foam fillers to remain in hole. A ball at rest in the hole will be considered holed even if it is not entirely below the level of the hole.
• Bunker rakes to remain removed from bunkers. Preferred lies are permitted in bunkers – the ball must be placed within one (1) grip length, no nearer the hole. After playing a shot from the bunker, players are required to smooth their footprints/ divot with their club or foot. 
• Players may enter their own hole scores on the scorecard (it is not necessary for a marker to do it). It is not necessary to have a marker physically certify the player’s hole scores, but verbal confirmation of the players total score must take place prior to submitting the score.

This is another step towards a return to normal at Lake Karrinyup and I hope members enjoy the chance to play competition golf once again.

Kind regards,
Ralph Gibson – Club Captain

29th April – Update from the Captain, Ralph Gibson

We recently announced that, as of Wednesday 29^th April, time sheets will be expanded to allow members to play in fours. This change resulted from an announcement by the State Government on Sunday 26^th April detailing some loosening of restrictions relating to COVID-19.

I would like to advise members of some other changes to golf operations at Lake Karrinyup which will also come into effect from Wednesday 29^th April;

1. The current “upturned” cups will be replaced by”normal” golf holes, albeit with foam inserts to allow balls to be removed from the hole more easily.  Whilst this will no doubt have a negative impact on your putting statistics, it will start to feel more as if we are playing golf as we used to play it before COVID-19.  Members are reminded t.hat the flagstick should always remain in place and not be removed whilst putting.
2. The practice putting green on the Main Course will re-open for practice prior to your round. The holes on the practice putting green will be the same as those on the course.  Can you please limit your time on the practice putting green to 10 minutes.
3. The number of bookings a playing member can make each week (Saturday to Friday) will increase from 2 to 3. The limit of 1 game per weekend (or long weekend) will remain in place for the time being. We will continue to monitor members’ access to our courses now that the playing groups have been increased to four and these booking limits will remain subject to review.  Members are still able to book one more game during any week if there is a vacancy on the booking sheet on the day of play. Therefore, it is now possible for a member to play up to four times in any week.
4. The number of games a non-playing member may play on either the Main or North Courses will increase from 1 to 2 per calendar month, still subject to a limit of 6 games in any calendar year.
5. Members will be able to book themselves plus up to another three members when booking on the time sheets.

Please rest assured we will continue to monitor and when possible ease the restrictions that remain in place due to COVID-19.

As always, thank you for your continuing patience and understanding.

Kind regards,

Ralph Gibson – Club Captain.

28th April – Update from the President, Graeme Pepper

Summary of Last Few Weeks

As a result of COVID-19 the Government took action to protect the population by imposing restrictions on what we all could do. These restrictions were constantly changing as the pandemic progressed.

The General Committee (“GC”)  took immediate action, firstly to ensure we complied with Government directives and secondly to provide members with access to our facilities and services as allowed in this environment, whilst minimising risks to the health of our staff and our members. At all times our focus has been on the health and well-being of our members and, where possible, service delivery to the members.

In these times we realise that our Club is its members and this is a time we need to all share in the burden of this dislocation. Several members have asked “what more can they do?” and have sought to make added contributions to our valuable staff’s diminished remuneration. If you want to help, detailed below is the process of providing assistance.

The Club focus has been on the health and wellbeing of our members and staff. We were keen to have members access the outdoors for exercise and limit the self-isolation being imposed by Government. Immediately after each Government directive was issued the GC, with Damon, would review the directive with the aim of providing maximum course access to members within the new rules.

In summary the membership has only been denied the ability to play for 7 days and access to the buggy room was unavailable for a slightly longer period. In just over a month we are back playing in fours with the buggy room and golf shop open.

Voluntary Contribution to Staff

Regrettably some of our team will not be eligible for the JobKeeper subsidy and may experience some financial hardship. The club will continue to maintain contact with these staff however an opportunity still exists for members to make a voluntary contribution to a fund which will be overseen by the General Committee and more specifically, Club Treasurer John Fitzgerald. Any contributions made will be quarantined and made available for any staff experiencing financial hardship on a case by case basis. Members can make a contribution by emailing me directly at graeme.pepper@bigpond.com and can either charge this to their account or make a deposit in to the club’s account. Numerous members contacted us when we first announced this program and we thank them sincerely for offering to assist so quickly.

Moving Forward

The GC and management are working hard within the limits placed on us to get  the Club back to normal. The JobKeeper subsidies for staff are of great benefit and enable us to bring back staff at little cost to prepare for the future. We will have a number of staff including our Head Chef Jonny and Romana starting back for a few days a week preparing and introducing new services.

We have just received approval to reintroduce the drinks cart, we hope to open practice facilities soon and we will introduce more normal cups on the greens. We are working on introducing competitions as I am sure that the fun of competing with your fellow members has been missed.

We must emphasise the need to be careful as this virus is still lurking. Please continue to practice the new norm on virus control including social distancing, not congregating in groups and washing your hands.

Kind regards,

Graeme Pepper – President.

27th April – Update from the Captain, Ralph Gibson

Following the Premier’s advice yesterday in which social gatherings were increased from two to ten effective from today, we have now received confirmation from GolfWA that playing groups can now be increased from 2 to 4 players.

We are pleased to advise that Lake Karrinyup will change from 2 to 4 players in each group with effect from Wednesday 29^th April.

The timesheets for this Sunday, 3^rd May came out at noon today for the Main Course and 1PM for the North Course. These timesheets reflect the move to groups of four and the tee times for 18 and 9 hole play on each course have been adjusted to reflect the increased time it will take to play in groups of four as follows;

• Main Course 18 Hole play: 7:00am – 1:32pm
• Main Course 9 Hole play: 1:40pm – 3:32pm
• North Course 18 Hole play: 7:00am – 8:04am, 9:30am – 10:34am, 12:04pm – 1:04pm
• North Course 9 Hole play: 2:30pm – 3:34pm 

Time sheets have previously opened for play on Wednesday 29 April to Saturday 2 May in groups of two.  We appreciate that many members will take the opportunity to make changes to their current booking as a result of being able to move to groups of four.

In order to manage changes to these existing timesheets, the following protocols will apply to timesheets for these four days (Wednesday 29 April to Saturday 2 May) only;

• The Main & North Course timesheets for these four days will now be frozen to allow the changes to be made to groups of four and revised periods for 18 and 9 hole play.
• The Main & North Course timesheets for each of the four days will re-open at noon and 1pm respectively on the day prior to play. For example, the timesheet for Wednesday 29/4 on the Main Course will re-open at noon on Tuesday 28/4. The timesheet for Thursday 30/4 will re-open at noon on Wednesday 28/4 and so on.
• The ‘lottery system’ will still be in place when each timesheet re-opens. So the registration for the Main Course timesheet for Wednesday 29/4 will open at 11.45am on Tuesday 28/4.
• Members currently with tee times from 1.40pm to 4.00pm on the Main Course on these four days are adversely affected by the move to fours. Therefore, members currently with tee times within this period on these four days will be given priority to make changes if they wish. Members affected will be able to telephone the Golf Shop between 8.00am and 11.30am on the day before the date of play to request a change to their booking. For example, members with existing bookings between 1.40pm and 3.56pm on Wednesday 29/4 will have the opportunity to ring the Golf Shop on Tuesday 28/4 between 8.00am and 11.30am and request a change to their booking prior to the sheet re-opening at noon.

All further timesheets will continue to open 6 days prior at 12noon (Main Course) and 1pm (North Course).

Please note that all members are still required to maintain social distancing. We will increase the maximum number of members allowed in our Golf Shop from 4 to 8 but subject to adhering to distancing protocols.

We are extremely pleased that this recent advice from our State Government provides us with another step towards normality and thank members for their continued cooperation.

Kind regards,

Ralph Gibson – Club Captain

23rd April – Update on the Booking System, Buggy Room/Golf Shop Access, Golf Tuition and Over 75’s Cart Use

RECENT CHANGE TO ON-LINE BOOKING SYSTEM

We have received several enquiries since yesterday’s announcement concerning changes to how members gain access to booking sheets at the time the sheets open on-line. We hope that this additional information provides further clarity as to why it has been introduced.

Many members would have experienced the frustration of trying to book a tee time when the booking sheet for a particular day opens and finding the sheet is locked or times out your session because of the high volume of member access.  By implementing the changes (which I will call the ‘Lottery System’) outlined in yesterday’s email from the Captain, the club’s operating system will be able to cope far better with the significant volume of members trying to secure a booking immediately after a booking sheet opens and provides members with access without the frustration of sessions being timed out.

We have extensively investigated the use of this Lottery System software at other clubs, including reciprocal clubs, and the feedback we have received indicates that members will have a much fairer and more orderly experience when booking a round. Several clubs have introduced this system over the past 14 days whilst dealing with the restrictions limiting playing groups and to provide relief for their booking software during the extremely busy period immediately after sheets open.  

Due to the nature of the MiClub booking system software, clubs cannot select certain courses, days or times to limit the use of the Lottery System and so it must be applied across both courses on all days. However, it is important to understand that the Lottery System only applies in the 15 minutes prior and immediately after the sheet opens. Once the backlog of members registering for the Lottery System has been cleared, the booking system reverts to normal. The experience of sister clubs already using this system indicates the backlog is cleared within 10 minutes.

In conclusion, the Lottery System only applies to members attempting to secure a spot at the time of the timesheet opening at 12noon. If members are looking to secure a position within a timesheet with lower demand, you will be able to do so in the usual manner after 12noon, 6 days prior.

BUGGY ROOMS RE-OPENING

In another step towards returning to normality I am pleased to advise that both the Under Pool and Main Buggy Rooms will be open from this Saturday so members are welcome to return their golf equipment to the club. There will be strict protocols in place and these can be found by clicking here. We appreciate that this has been quite an inconvenience to members and thank you for your patience while we went through this important phase.

GOLF TUITION

We are also pleased to inform members that effective from next Tuesday 28^th April our four teaching professionals will be available for “one on one” tuition on the practice fairway with bookings available online through the lessons tab. This will be expanded to include the short game area and putting at a future time. Information on how to book your lesson and other important information about social distancing can be found by clicking here.

It is important to note that outside of lessons, the practice facilities are still unavailable.  By re-opening the practice fairway for lessons only will provide our team with important learnings about managing this service safely prior to fully re-opening the practice range to members.

GOLF SHOP ACCESS

Please be advised that the door on the northern side of the Golf Shop will be opened from tomorrow however no buggy room access is permitted down the stairs.  It should be noted however that social distancing protocols are still in place and no more than 4 members may in the Golf Shop at any one time.

MOTORISED CARTS – APPROVED USERS

I would also like to let those members over the age of 75 know that they no longer require a medical certificate to book a cart and so therefore the conditions outlined on Page 20 of the 2020/21 Fixture Book (G) apply. We would however note the Government’s advice remains that those people over the age of 70 should consider remaining at home for their own well being.

Kind regards,
Damon Lonnie – General Manager

22nd April – From the Captain – Changes to Booking Protocols during COVID-19 Restrictions

It has been wonderful to be able to enjoy our golf courses, even during this period of COVID-19 restrictions. However, the current requirement limiting groups to a maximum of two materially reduces the number of tee times available to members each day. Unsurprisingly, demand for these times remains high and unfortunately there are instances when members are missing out on being able to access the courses.

On behalf of your General Committee and our club’s management team, I would like to thank members for their continuing patience and understanding during this time.

We continue to monitor usage patterns and consider implementing changes that we believe, on balance, will make access to our courses as equitable as possible.

With this is mind, I wish to advise members of two changes to the prevailing booking protocols;

1. INTRODUCTION OF LOTTERY SYSTEM FOR BOOKINGS

One of the obvious issues being faced by members is the high level of activity on the club’s website when bookings open. This has been particularly evident when sheets open for Saturday and Wednesday play with the system at times crashing due to the amount of traffic.

As of noon this Thursday 23 April, when bookings open for the following Wednesday, 29 April, a different process will apply.

In summary, members wanting to play on a particular day can register their interest on the club’s website at 11:45am by clicking ‘Join Draw’ 15 minutes before the timesheet opens. Each member that is successful will be allocated a number in the queue immediately when the timesheet opens at 12noon. The system will then allocate priority for entering a name or group (2) on the booking sheet based on the number a member is allocated. Think of this as a lottery system or similar to the ballot that is implemented in normal times for Saturday afternoons.

*Note* Booking restrictions will remain in place for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday as previously advised and members must not enter the draw if their membership category is blocked until 48 hours prior. The system will not allow you to book when the timesheet opens at 12noon even if a queue number is issued.

Please click here to view a more complete description of how this system will operate.

The benefit of this system will be to provide everyone who pre-registers with an equal chance of priority in the queue and take away the frustration of not being able to gain access or have messages such as ‘booked by another user’ appear when trying to secure a time.

2. CHANGE TO BOOKING ON THURSDAY AFTERNOONS FROM 1PM TO 3PM

As of next Thursday, 30 April, there will be a change to the tee times currently restricted to full playing and provisional female members.

When the booking sheet opens at noon Friday, 24 April for next Thursday, 30 April, full playing and provisional female members will have priority for tee times from 7AM until 12.52PM inclusive. This is a change from the previous protocol on Thursdays where full playing and provisional female members had priority access for tee times from 7AM to 3PM.

Commencing Thursday, 30 April, all members with playing rights will have the ability to book tee times from 1PM to 4PM on Thursday afternoons from the time the sheet opens.

The effect of this change is to open a further 15 tee times on both courses for access to all members with playing rights for booking six days prior to the date of play on a Thursday afternoon.

As is currently the case, remaining tee times between 7AM and 12.52PM on Thursdays will open to all members with playing rights at noon two days prior to the day of play.

This change reflects an analysis of demand across the spectrum of membership categories and the number of members within each category. The goal is to provide equitable access to our courses, to the greatest extent we can, during this unusual period.

I wish to make it clear that this change only applies to the time when we have restrictions in place due to COVID-19. All playing rights will revert to those outlined in the 2020/2021 Fixture Book as soon as we are able to resume normal golf operations at Lake Karrinyup.

Kind regards
Ralph Gibson – Captain.

14th April – from the Captain – changes to timesheets effective 22nd April

We continue to monitor the way the rules and booking protocols relating to COVID-19 restrictions operate in practice.

We currently have a 10 minute gap between playing groups on both courses. This gap was established to keep playing groups well apart and reduce the potential for any larger groups of members forming before or during play. Having observed the flow of playing groups since play recommenced, we now believe this 10 minute gap is too conservative and have resolved to reduce the gap to 8 minutes. This will allow another 12 groups to play on the Main Course each day. We will also be able to create more spots on the North Course without causing issues at the crossover.

The 8 minute gap between playing groups will come into effect on the Main Course from Wednesday April 22 (immediately after the greens renovation work) and on the North Course from Monday April 20.

Subject to members following the rules that have been established and maintaining social distancing, the club will continue to be compliant with government directives and minimise the risk of COVID-19 infection to our members and our staff.

I also remind members to please look after our golf courses by repairing your pitch marks and divots. It is only members using our courses at the moment and so we cannot blame untouched pitch marks and divots on anyone but ourselves.

Best regards,

Ralph Gibson – Captain.

13th April – From the Chairman of Greens – Course closed for maintenance

Please be advised that the Main Course will be closed next Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st April for coring and sanding of the greens. 

The North Course will then be closed on Tuesday 28th April for the coring and sanding of the greens.

This has been brought forward from early September into the current period of “social play” so that hopefully when we are back playing competitive golf there are no further disruptions to course access until the fairways renovations in late November.

The practice putting green and the chipping green will be cored and sanded this week and they will remain out of play.

The ground staff crew has been split into two teams, each working extended hours in alternate weeks, in order to reduce the risk of infection to the staff. This results in a slight reduction in the total hours worked on the course during this period but hopefully ensures that the course is in reasonable condition when we are allowed to reopen for normal play.

Kind regards,

John Wallace – Chairman of Greens

11th April – Update Regarding the Reopening of the Golf Shop

We wish to advise members that the Golf Shop will reopen its doors from this Tuesday 14th April. The Starter who is currently positioned outside the Grill will be relocated to the Golf Shop and, respecting social distancing protocols, ALL MEMBERS ARE STILL REQUIRED TO CHECK IN WITH THE STARTER IN THE GOLF SHOP PRIOR TO COMMENCING PLAY ON EITHER THE MAIN OR NORTH COURSE.

As the club continues to operate with a skeleton staff structure, the reduced trading hours will be as follows.

• Monday : 11:30am – 4:00pm (except Public Holidays)
• Tuesday – Sunday : 6:45am – 4:00pm

Please note: The Driving Range , Practice Facilities & Buggy Room WILL REMAIN CLOSED.

With the Golf Shop reopening, strict social distancing protocols will be in place and it is important that members adhere to these. 

These will include:

• A MAXIMUM of four (4) members will be allowed in the Golf Shop at any one time. If this number is exceeded, Golf Shop staff will politely ask a member or members to remain outside until entry is permitted.
• ENTRY will only be available through the South entrance to the Golf Shop near the Main Course 1st Tee and the stairs on this side leading from the Buggy Room will be closed under social distancing measures. We recommend members to walk through the Grill void to access the Golf Shop if coming from the North Course to register or, across the Championship 1st Tee if playing from the Main Course. The North side entrance to the Golf Shop foyer  will be locked and not accessible.
• Acknowledging that members are still requested to arrive shortly before teeing off, purchases will be allowed through the Golf Shop however Apparel, Shoes, Headwear and/or Footwear must not be tried on. If you would like to look at a specific item please ask a staff member for assistance. 
• If you would like to look at any piece of golf equipment or obtain any demo equipment to try please ask a staff member for assistance before doing so. Drinks & Confectionery will be available for purchase from the Golf Shop.
• Social distancing protocols will be easily noticed when entering the Golf Shop. A line clearly marked around the front counter, including entry to the golf operations office & workshop will signify ENTRY IS NOT PERMITTED into these areas. 
• If required, noting that only social play is occurring, scorecards can be collected inside the entry door to the Golf Shop.

As previously advised we please ask that members also adhere to the following protocols already in place..

• Members MUST arrive shortly before teeing off (10 minutes) and depart as soon as possible after completing their round.
• Social distancing of at least 1.5m – 2.0m from other people must be displayed at all times.
• Alcohol is strictly prohibited.
• The following groups should consider staying at home and not playing:

       o   Anyone over the age of 70yo

       o   Anyone over the age of 60 with underlying medical issues

       o   Anyone over the age of 50 who is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

• Golf equipment must be taken home with you after golf and not returned to the Buggy Room.
• Motorized carts are sanitised between uses and are for members with medical certificates only and strictly one person per cart. The over 75’s rule does not apply at the present time
• The gates will be open from 6.30am and closed at 6.30pm every day. Members MUST leave immediately after their 9 or 18 hole round and not play further holes thinking it is ok to stay until 6:30pm.
• The toilets adjacent to the swimming pool and on course are available and will be sanitised daily.

On Course Social distancing protocols.

• Golfers must not touch the flagpole and should avoid touching any other course hardware.
• A shot that touches the cup is deemed to be in
• Members must play in no more than two (2) people per group and all bookings must be made in advance via the time sheets online.

We sincerely thank members for their ongoing cooperation and support during this challenging time and on behalf the LKCC General Committee & Staff, we wish you all the very best for a happy and safe Easter.

Kind regards,

Damon Lonnie – General Manager

9th April – Update

Further to Captain Ralph Gibson’s ENews to members yesterday, please be reminded of the new Rules and Booking Restrictions that were attached to that ENews, coming into effect from Saturday 11th April, 2020.  

Please read these Rules & Booking Restrictions BY CLICKING HERE.

Ralph’s ENews is repeated below and should be read in conjunction with the Rules and Booking Restrictions document.

All previous rules and protocols that have been outlined in earlier communications to members are still in place – click here to view these protocols. 

Finally, please don’t forget that all facilities are closed tomorrow, Good Friday, and the gates will be locked for the day.  Happy Easter to you all!

8th April – Update from the Captain

We recommenced play on the Main and North Courses on Saturday April 4^th. This was done at relatively short notice based on advice from relevant government agencies. We implemented a set of rules at the time the courses re-opened that were designed to ensure we were compliant with government directives whilst also trying to provide access to the courses for our members to exercise.

Unsurprisingly, many members have been keen to get back onto our courses and walk around- so demand for the limited spaces available has been strong. Indeed, our website went into meltdown when sheets opened last Friday. As a result, we appreciate a number of members have been unable to book a game during the initial window up to Thursday April 9^th, notwithstanding the 2 game maximum that has been imposed.

We had stated from the outset that a review of demand and usage patterns would take place during this first week of operation and consideration given to changes that may improve the way access is offered.

This review has now taken place and we set out below the general rules and modified booking restrictions that will come into effect from Saturday April 11, 2020.

These rules have been developed within the following overarching framework:

1. Comply with all government directives.
2. Minimise the risk of COVID-19 infection to our members and our staff.
3. Provide equitable access to our courses to all members for the purpose of exercise whilst being mindful of differing playing rights attaching to our categories of membership.
4. Keep the rules as simple as possible.

It is very important that members follow these rules, firstly out of respect for your fellow members but also to ensure you do not put the club at risk of breaching government directives. We trust our members and do not want to appear draconian. However, we all need to play our part and spot checks will be undertaken to monitor compliance.

The booking protocols are based on booking sheets coming out at noon, 6 days prior to the day of play. However, as we can only open the timesheets for the week beginning Saturday April 11th on Thursday April 9^th, the following booking times will apply for this coming week only:

• Saturday 11/4. Bookings open noon Thursday 9/4. Restrictions lift noon Friday 10/4.
• Sunday 12/4. Bookings open noon Thursday 9/4.
• Monday 13/4. Bookings open noon Friday 10/4.
• Tuesday 14/4. Bookings open noon Saturday 11/4. Restrictions lift noon Sunday 12/4.
• Wednesday 15/4. Bookings open noon Sunday 12/4. Restrictions lift noon Monday 13/4.
• Thursday 16/4. Bookings open noon Monday 13/4. Restrictions lift noon Tuesday 14/4.
• Friday 17/4. Bookings open noon Tuesday 14/4.

A rolling 6 day advance booking sheet will commence at noon on Sunday 12/4 when bookings will open for Saturday 18/4 for Full Playing and Provisional Males (and Senior Special Males on the North Course). Restrictions for this day will lift at noon on Thursday 16/4.

You need to have your name on the booking sheet to play. We anticipate demand for spots will remain high and so if you are unable to play for any reason, please take your name off the sheet to allow another member to take your place.

As advised previously, we do not want members to be at the club for any longer than is needed to play your game. Therefore, can you please schedule your arrival for no more than 10 minutes before your tee time, walk directly to the tee and then commence your game. After you have completed your game, please walk directly back to your car and leave the club.

The current restriction on the use of carts to only those members with a medical certificate will remain in effect.

The absolute ban on any alcohol on the club’s premises must also be observed.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank members for your wonderful support during this difficult period. We are very fortunate to be able to access our golf courses whilst the COVID-19 restrictions are in effect so enjoy the fresh air.

Please click here to download and view the Rules and Booking Restrictions that will take effect from Saturday 11th April 2020

With kind regards,

Ralph Gibson – Club Captain.

6th April – Update from the Captain

I am aware that since re-opening the courses last Saturday, several members are asking about the current limit of booking two rounds per week which is in place as part of the broader rules surrounding access.

Please note that the number of games any member can pre-book on the Main or North Course from Saturday April 4th to Thursday April 9^th is limited to TWO. 

As advised previously, we are currently reviewing the rules for access to the golf courses during this difficult period of restricted play. This review will include the basis upon which members can play more than two times in any week. We anticipate being able to advise members of any changes by Thursday April 9^th prior to booking sheets opening for the week beginning Saturday April 11^th.

We again ask members for their understanding and patience as we work through the myriad of issues arising from this pandemic.

Kind regards,
Ralph Gibson – Club Captain.

4th April – Update from the President

Breach of rules

We have opened the courses for play to enable members to obtain healthy exercise. Due to government regulations we are required to control use of the course under what may appear strict rules. These rules are designed to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection to our members and our staff. If our club is deemed to be acting in contravention of government regulations, there is a very real risk we could be fined and/or access to the course denied. Therefore, it is a fundamental requirement that all members comply with the rules that have been put in place.

Unfortunately, even prior to opening the course this morning we have had 2 members make their way on to the course and hit off without an agreed tee time. This is clearly in breach of our rules and such breach puts our ability to operate at risk.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT BREACHES OF OUR RULES MAY LEAD TO SUSPENSION OF MEMBERSHIP

Requests to vary rules

We have been inundated by requests from members to vary the rules to suit their particular circumstances. Requests vary from can I have family members walk with me while I play, can we use the course like a park and go for a walk, can’t I get on the course for a few holes late in the evening or before the 7am starting tee time etc.

The answer to these requests is NO.

You must abide by the rules laid down by the club for access to the course in these difficult times. Please do not contact the club with further requests for exemption from the rules. They will not be granted. We are operating under rules carefully structured to comply with government regulation. We have a skeleton administration staff and management team who have been instructed not to respond to requests for exemption. If you have an issue take it up with a General Committee member.

Ongoing operations

We have sought to open the course as soon as we could after receiving government permission. We understand teething problems may have occurred and we are reviewing how we operate going forward. Please be patient as we are all trying to do our best.

In summary we have opened the course for those members who wish to gain a level of exercise. Please enjoy your time at the course but understand these are difficult times and we must protect the health of anyone who enters club grounds.

Kind regards,

Graeme Pepper – President.

3rd April Update from the General Manager

This note is provided as a reminder that timesheets have been opened for the next 6 days to allow members of Lake Karrinyup Country Club to play, within the guidelines previously advised, for exercise on the golf course. 

A booking rule was advised to members on Wednesday restricting bookings to TWO per member per week with a further restriction that a member can only play once over the weekend. This was done because the requirement to play in twos means the number of members able to play each day is materially reduced. The limit of two games per week was imposed to give as many members as possible the opportunity to exercise on the golf course.

Please note this restriction applies to all time sheets, encompassing both the Main Course and the North Course.

We are aware that some members have booked more than two times for the week and we advise that an audit will be conducted tomorrow morning to ensure that all members have complied with this booking rule.

Given that some members may not have read the booking restriction in the previous email, we respectfully request that if your name appears more than twice between Saturday April 4^th and Thursday April 9^th, you remedy the position before close of business Sunday. Otherwise, if a member is down to play more than twice, their name will be removed from the timesheet for all but their first two games.

The club has worked hard to re-open the golf courses quickly and to give as many members as possible the opportunity to play golf and obtain some much needed exercise.  We ask that members respect the rules and guidelines laid down to provide reasonable access to all and to ensure we remain compliant with prevailing directives from government.

3rd April Update from the General Manager

Main and North Courses Open from Saturday 4th April

As you will now be aware, a decision has been taken to re-open both the Main and North Courses commencing from tomorrow. The following information is provided to assist you in arranging golf in an efficient and safe manner:

Social Distancing Measures

Members must adhere to strict social distancing rules and abide by any directions from staff. Please ensure you remain at least 1.5M from other people at all times. Please do not touch the flagpole or any other course hardware. Cups have been raised so that golf balls bounce out to avoid reaching in to the hole. A ball that touches the cup is deemed to be holed. This is only social play, no scores will be handicapped and there are no competitions until further notice.

Members are discouraged from being around the clubhouse and should arrive shortly before your tee time and leave immediately after golf. If groups “back-up” on certain holes, please avoid two or more groups “gathering”. This applies to the first tee as well.

Facilities and Alcohol

As stated yesterday, the main clubhouse including locker rooms, golf shop, bar/grill and office are closed. Members who still have golf equipment stored on site will be permitted to collect it to play but must take it home after golf. Members are permitted to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks as nothing will be available for purchase. Alcohol is strictly prohibited and spot checks by the Police are likely. The toilets adjacent to the swimming pool are available and will be sanitized daily. The toilets on course are open and will be sanitized daily.

Booking Golf

Groups of two members practicing social distancing are permitted to play. Members with playing rights for the North Course only will not have access to Main Course timesheets. Non-Playing members are not permitted to play until further notice, priority must go to playing members. Timesheets for Saturday through to Thursday (next Friday is Good Friday and the course will be closed) will open at midday today. Tee times will commence at 7am through until 4pm with ten minute intervals.  Members must book their own tee times, staff will not be able to assist.  Members must register on arrival with the Starter who will be located near the Grill.

A review will be conducted by mid next week to assess course usage patterns before any further days are opened up on the timesheets. Based on this review there may be some changes to future booking protocols.

Please note the gates will be closed at 7pm each night so you need to be off the course well before this time.

Carts

Carts can be booked via email only golfoperations@lkcc.com.au or info@lkcc.com.au and are for members with medical certificates on file with the club only. The over 75’s rule does not apply as members in this age category are encouraged to stay at home for their well-being. One person can ride in the cart only. Please appreciate that the club has taken a cautious approach and so there will no exceptions to this arrangement.

2nd April Update from the President 

Main and North Courses to re-open from Saturday 4th April

Late last week the decision was taken to close both courses, other facilities and the clubhouse after a number of State Government Directives were issued. One directive under the Public Health Act prohibited a gathering of two or more people playing golf unless the two resided in the same premises. At the time, it was agreed that the restrictions being imposed made it prudent to close.

Since the weekend there have been updates including the revocation and replacement of one directive (Restrictions on Activities) and a new directive relating to Prohibited Gatherings which permits private golf clubs to reopen for golf only in groups of no more than two under strict social distancing guidelines. Accordingly, golf can now be played in groups of two rather than individually as per the directive issued last week.

The well-being of our members and staff is the absolute priority of your General Committee. Our collective well-being is, of course, both physical and mental and the Club can be a haven for permissible exercise for our members, provided it is used responsibly and in accordance with the law. On balance, and consistent with Government advice, a decision has been made to re-open our golf courses, both Main and North Course from Saturday 4th April, until further notice.

Re-opening of the courses is conditional on no further restrictions being announced before Saturday and our ability to remain open is totally dependent on directives from the Federal and State Government, noting that in Victoria the State Government has insisted that all Victorian golf courses remain closed.

Intent

The intention to re-open is purely to provide members with the ability to exercise providing strict social distancing protocols are followed. Members are to arrive at the club shortly before your tee time, play golf then depart as quickly as possible.

Under no circumstances is alcohol to be brought on to the premises, including the golf courses. This is being strictly scrutinized by the WA Police Force and a number of spot inspections have already been undertaken at other golf clubs.

Courses

Because we have been transitioning to a “care and maintenance” position over the past week, several changes will need to be implemented prior to re-opening.

Green cutting heights have been raised to 3.25mm and will remain at this height so will be slower than normal. Growth retardant chemicals have been applied to greens and fairways to slow growth. Course furniture will not be put back on the course to reduce surfaces that could be contaminated however tee markers (only white and red) will be reinstated. The golfing experience may not be the same as members have learnt to expect in recent times however our course crew will continue to work, in two separate teams to provide the best conditions possible within their constraints.

It should also be noted that the current environment provides the club with the opportunity to core greens in the coming weeks while playing restrictions are in force rather than in September as currently scheduled when hopefully we have returned to normal club activities.

Golf

• Both courses will be open commencing Saturday 4th April however no practice facilities will be available including the practice putting green. Tee times (in groups of 2 for members only) will commence from 7amthrough to 3.00pm for 18 holes however will extend until 4pm for 9 hole play.

• Electronic timesheets will be set up tomorrow and the sheets for the next week will go live tomorrow. All bookings must be made online. 

• The Golf Shop will be closed however a starter will be placed on the first tee and all members must check-in before teeing off.  A marshal will be used on both courses to ensure groups are social distancing and no alcohol is on the course.

• Bookings are limited to 2 games per member, per week (one game this weekend on either Saturday OR Sunday). This rule is being implemented to assist more members gaining access to the course and will be reviewed on a regular basis. Should a vacancy exist on a timesheet on the morning of play and a member has already played twice in the week, permission can be sought from the Director of Golf to take the vacant position. 

• There is to be no congregating around the first tee or anywhere throughout the course. If groups are banked up (on the 8^th or 17^th for example stay a safe distance from the group in front or behind you).

• All play is social golf, one ball per player only. In this environment scorecards do not seem necessary but will be available from the starter however no cards will be handicapped. Putting out is not required. This is social play only. The emphasis is on exercise in the fresh air.

• Cups will be raised for hygiene reasons so a ball striking the cup or flagpole is deemed to be in.

• Carts (one person per cart) will be available but limited so only members with an approved medical certificate can access a cart. All carts must be returned by 5.30pm.

Clubhouse

• The main clubhouse will remain closed.

• Locker rooms remain closed.

• Access to the toilets located near the Swimming Pool will be available as well as on the course.

• Whilst the phones will be manned from 9am to 4pm on weekdays, the office will be closed. Member enquiries by phone or email will be dealt as soon as possible.

• Members are encouraged to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages as the Golf Shop will be closed.

• The entry and exit gates will be open at 6.30am and automatically locked at 7pm each night.

Advice to Members

The club emphasizes the Chief Medical Officer’s advice that those members in the following groups should consider staying at home and limiting social contact:

• Those over the age of 70
• Those over the age of 60 with existing health concerns
• Those over the age of 50 if Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Members are reminded of the Australian Government’s advice to stay home unless absolutely necessary. A decision to attend the golf club should be made taking in to account your personal circumstances and the Government advice on self-isolation and the risk to your health of not staying home.

The conditions outlined above for use of the course will be reviewed on an ongoing basis but are necessarily restrictive and firm. These rules have been implemented to protect the health of members. We understand compliance may be checked by the authorities and noncompliance will risk course closure.

We cannot over-state the membership’s collective responsibility to practice “social distancing” while at the Club and to not bring alcohol onto the premises.  Penalties including suspension or expulsion will be considered for members breaching these rules.

Kind regards,

Graeme Pepper
President (on behalf of the General Committee).

30th March – Update from the General Manager

I would like to thank members for their cooperation and support over the last few days as we moved the club towards a full shut down. Both of our golf courses, practice areas, surrounding grounds and now clubhouse have now been closed. The decision to close has only been reinforced by today’s advice from Golf Australia that all golf courses should now close in the interests of public safety.

In light of the clubhouse closure, it has been agreed that the April to June quarterly spend will be waived.

Effective from Tuesday at 5pm, the gates (both entry and exit) will be locked with fob/card access no longer available for the time being. Only those staff and their families residing on site and the skeleton staff will be allowed on premises.

The courses and grounds will continue to be maintained this week and moving forward by a reduced course team. A number of administration team members will continue to work part-time to assist with member accounts and other member enquiries with some working from home and only limited hours on site.  If you require assistance, please email info@lkcc.com.au.

As our full hospitality team has now been stood down we are unable to accept any wine take away orders.

Whilst the club has temporarily closed, it is still important that members bring their subscription and house accounts up to date. Like all clubs we require these funds to meet our ongoing obligations to staff and creditors and respectfully request that you attend to this should it apply to you.

We thank members for their incredible support over the last several weeks and look forward to resuming normal operations as soon as it is safe to do so.

Kind regards,
Damon Lonnie – General Manager.

27th March – Course Closure Update from the General Manager

As advised earlier today and by text more recently, the club has elected to close completely due to the added restrictions imposed by the Government which impact on  the ability to play. President Graeme Pepper outlined the reasoning in more detail however this email is being sent to clarify a few operational matters.

Courses and Practice Areas

Both courses will close tonight and will not re-open until further notice. This means the timesheets for tomorrow and any future days are now null and void. Members have enquired as to whether they can access the course on their own. This is not permitted and your cooperation is appreciated.

This Weekend

Please be advised that the office will be open tomorrow from 9am through to 1pm to allow any members to collect final wine orders, collect other belongings and take home golf clubs if they are still at the club.

Take Away Wine Orders

As above, there is still an opportunity to collect orders tomorrow from 9am. The office will be open again on Monday & Tuesday for any further late collections. No more wine orders are being taken but we sincerely thank members for the orders we have received this week.

Staff Arrangements

We intend to move towards a “skeleton staff” however we still have a number of days of work with our course team to complete prior to winding down. 

Over the next few days our administration and golf operations teams will move towards full shut down. Our hospitality team have finished up for the time being and have all been stood down including our senior personnel. The “skeleton staff” comprises of a number of course, administration/finance staff and myself. We will advise further next week about how the club will operate moving forward.  

27th March – Clubhouse Closure 

As was alluded to in the previous email to members, we have been receiving advice on a regular basis from the Federal and State Governments and the Club has at all stages complied with this advice. This advice has continued to tighten the restrictions around social gatherings with the clear view to reduce the likelihood of infection of COVID 19 spreading. Committee and management have implemented all recommended practices as well as additional strategies to protect members and staff.

In recent hours it has become apparent, based on a directive in relation to the Public Health Act, 2016 (WA) that the playing of organized sport has been further restricted with significant penalties for breaches imposed. These new restrictions take golf clubs a step closer to the full closure as they prohibit  “a gathering of two or more people, who do not ordinarily reside at the same premises, for the purpose of participating in sporting activity together”.

Committee and management believe this latest directive makes maintaining the course open for ‘groups’ of one, or couples, unviable. Hence, the Club has made the difficult decision to close the golf courses (Main and North) and all associated practice facilities effective as of 6pm tonight. Furthermore, the clubhouse and all other facilities will close at the same time to allow staff to prepare to wind down our operations as we move towards care and maintenance mode.

Care and maintenance mode will see a skeleton staff in place covering course management and some administration and finance functions. In the case of the latter these staff will work from home in most instances. Fraser and a small team will maintain the courses in the best possible condition to minimize the cost and timeframe to “re-boot” when the time comes.

I want to thank all of our loyal members who have supported the club through this challenging time. We need that support more than ever now. I would also like to thank our staff who have, under incredible duress prepared for the inevitable.

I am confident Lake Karrinyup will get through this because we have planned and prepared for it and I know our members will fully support the club now and in to our future.

I was reminded the other day by a member and good friend who recalled my first presentation to members on becoming President. I stated that the next couple of years should be smooth sailing with the course in great condition and the clubhouse completed. You just can’t predict the future, but I am certain that when we get back to this great  club it will have been preserved and protected.

Stay safe and I look forward to seeing you at the club when this COVID-19 virus is under control.

Kind regards,

Graeme Pepper
President.

27th March – Update

Staff Support 

We continue to appreciate the support we have had from members whether that be through purchasing take away meals (now concluded) or wines or the supportive messages we are receiving in person, by phone or email. We have received many calls and emails specifically asking us what the club is doing to support staff in this trying time.

As the President alluded to in his recent communication, we have been forced by government decree to make the painful and difficult decision to wind back our operations and as a result have stood down staff in a number of departments. At the time of writing I am still in the process of communicating with staff however I am delighted to advise that after a General Committee meeting held yesterday, those who have been stood down will be receiving support through a package which will give our staff a secure income for the next several weeks or more without having to draw down on any of their accrued leave. Our staff are incredibly important to us and I know that our staff are very much looking forward to returning to their roles as soon as we are able to resume normal operations.

We have been asked by several members if there is any way they can assist staff financially. We are incredibly grateful for these offers of financial support during these uncertain times. Whilst it is not something we will be overtly promoting, for those members wanting to provide support you can do so by contacting me directly. In the first instance, we will establish a dedicated fund for any money received which would be administered by the Club Treasurer. All money received will be used solely to assist our staff.

We are working hard to reduce our financial footprint with many maintenance and non-essential costs being reduced or eliminated. Sections of the clubhouse have also been powered down to minimise our electricity costs. For the time being we will be running with a reduced administration team and our senior hospitality staff continue to work putting together wine orders. Once this task is completed these staff will also be stood down for the time being.

Our Golf Shop will be open for the foreseeable future however will only operate with one staff member. Our full course staff are still working however it is highly likely that this will reduce as well as we work through this period of materially reduced operations.

Please rest assured we have a plan in place to run the club and maintain the clubhouse and courses even if we are forced to close down completely for a period of time. Whilst we are not aware of any intention by government to impose further restrictions, we cannot discount the possibility and must therefore plan for this contingency.

Membership

We are receiving some queries from members in relation to subscriptions and what options are available to transfer category. The General Committee met yesterday and the position is that no transfers will be considered for the foreseeable future. These times are unprecedented and we understand that with limited facilities and the fear of closure that some members are looking for financial relief. The club needs the support of members now more than ever and for that reason no transfers will be considered. This position will be reviewed on a regular basis.

Government Advice

Access to the course and the way we play golf is changing every day and even every few hours. The Western Australian golf industry continues to receive updates from the Federal and State Governments through GolfWA and we will update members as this information comes to hand.

26th March – Update from the President

COVID-19 and Club Operations

Access to the course

Yesterday we advised members that for the physical and mental well-being of members we were taking action to keep the course open.

Our decision on how to operate was based on advice we received from the relevant government authorities and the golf industry.

All golf clubs in Australia are confronted with this issue. A number of clubs have closed their course including The Australian and Kooyonga.

We have sought further advice, both on the government’s view on social distancing and the relevant golfing bodies.

Based on this advice we have decided to allow groups of 3 to play rather than in groups of 2. All groups should adhere to the government published social distancing recommendations.

Ongoing operations

The General Committee has taken advice from our General Manager and Finance Committee and over the last few days has implemented a staged shutdown of operations. We have reviewed and implemented strategies based on revised Profit and Loss and Cash Flow forecasts.

The majority of staff other than Course staff have been stood down and a skeleton staff retained.

The club house has been closed with the exception of the Golf Shop and Administration and we are in the process of closing the buggy room. Expenses have been reduced to their minimum.

Over time the Course staff will be reduced to care and maintenance, the level of reduction dependent on whether we are allowed to keep the course open. We need to protect our course and reticulation and disease control is essential.

Damon Lonnie will provide greater detail on the plans we have implemented once he has dealt with the immediate operational issues. I must commend Damon and his team for the professional and diligent way they have approached these difficult times.

Kind regards,

Graeme Pepper
President.

25TH MARCH – LATEST UPDATE

The last few weeks have been very difficult as a result of the COVID-19 virus. Your management and general committee have been attempting to keep your life as “normal” as possible within the constraints of the corona virus and the need to stop its spread throughout the community. We will continue to support the government with the requirement for social distancing together with the need for keeping healthy and the desire for exercise.

In light of the most recent announcement by Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, I am writing to advise members that through Golf Australia, advice has been sought from the Federal Department of Sport to clarify whether our golf course can continue to remain open.

The information we have received confirms that golf courses can remain open for the time being providing proper social distancing measures are implemented. Based on this direction we advise as follows:

• Competition play will cease with only social tee times available
• Golf must be played with no more than two players per group
• All practice facilities including the practice putting green will be closed
• The Golf Shop will close with a course marshal in place
• The Buggy Room will close effective from 5pm on Thursday night (please ensure your equipment is removed and taken home if you intend to continue to play golf). If you need additional time please contact the General Manager.

Although these restrictions don’t take effect until midnight tonight, we believe all members need to carefully consider whether attending the golf club today and moving forward is in the best interests of their own health and that of the wider community.

Whilst it is devastating to our staff and you, our members, that we have reached this position, we need to maintain perspective. Our golf course, one of the best member courses in the world, is not going anywhere. We will maintain it using a skeleton staff so that, when we are able to re-open, it will be in as good a shape as we have become accustomed to over the last 12 months.

Your decision whether to play golf or not is a personal one but we will continue to make the course available to members subject to complying with government directives. In summary, if you choose to play you need to keep your clubs off site and golf will consist of booking a tee time on our website for a maximum of two players, turning up and going directly to the first tee for you allotted tee time. At the completion of the round you should exit the golf course.

We will continue to keep you updated as frequently as possible in the coming days as we work through all the ramifications of closure. For now, our focus is on our staff. It is likely that at some time in the future we will need to close the course.

Kind regards,

Graeme Pepper
President
Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

24TH MARCH – LATEST UPDATE

Course Update

We are pleased to advise that we have received approval to continue to keep both the Main and North Courses open for the time being. We note that this is subject to change should the Government provide new advice.

With the assistance of Clubs WA, we have been in consultation with the State Government and have been advised of the facilities and services we can offer. Below is a summary:

Main Course and North Course access and time sheets

Both are open for play however all players must check-in at the Golf Shop prior to starting your round. 

From Sunday 29th March all Main Course time sheets moving forward will be played from the 1st Tee with 10 minute intervals with all times on all days being available for both Men & Women.  The time sheets will run from 6:30am through to 4:00pm daily, with members able to play socially or to enter a Mixed All-Day Competition.  The North Course time sheets will operate daily with 10 minute intervals and will be open to both men and women every day.

Please be assured this is an interim and temporary measure arising from Covid-19 and we will rescind as soon as we are able. 

Please take note that the following booking restrictions will apply:

• On a Wednesday and Saturday, these time sheets will open to Men (all playing categories) 8 days prior at 6:00pm and Ladies 6 days prior at 6:00pm.
• On a Tuesday (Up to 12noon) & Thursday, these time sheets will open to Ladies 8 days prior at 6:00pm and Men 6 Days prior at 6:00pm.
• Monday (After 11am), Tuesday (After 12:00pm), Friday ( All Day) & Sunday ( All Day) will open 8 days prior at 6:00pm to all members.

*Note: Non-Playing Members will still be required to contact the Golf Operations team to obtain a position within these time sheets. 

Golf Shop

The Golf Shop will be open as usual for registration prior to your round. We have also positioned one of our registration screens in the foyer outside the Golf Shop to responsibly enforce social distancing.

We are permitted to sell non-alcoholic drinks from the Golf Shop and will have limited take away foods such as packet sandwiches and chocolate bars. Please note we will have limited supplies of each. Drink fountains on course are sanitized each morning and we encourage members to take their own water out on the course.

Alcohol

Just a reminder that the main clubhouse is closed and as such, the Grill and Bar cannot serve any food or beverages.  Alcoholic drinks are strictly prohibited and we request that members do not bring alcohol on to the property. Should alcohol be found present by the authorities the fines to the individual (up to $50,000) and to the club (up to $250,000) are significant.

Locker Rooms

Locker Rooms will remain open for access to toilets however members are asked to use these facilities and depart. It is clear that the intent of the advice that we are receiving and therefore implementing is that members are being discouraged from staying at the club after golf. 

Social Distancing

The importance of social distancing has been reinforced with the club by the authorities on multiple occasions and we request that you respect that and keep a distance of 1.5M or more from your fellow members and staff. Hand sanitizer is provided in the Golf Shop for your use before and after registering for the competition.

Non-members

A further reminder that the club has gone to a “members only” stage and whilst immediate family are welcome there are no real facilities open for them to enjoy.

Staff

Please appreciate that this is a very stressful time for staff and the uncertainty of the future is affecting us all. At this time our staff need your assistance and support. The General Committee recognises the valuable contribution that our staff make to the club and are currently considering options to minimise the impact of the Coronavirus on their livelihood. 

End of Quarter House Appropriation

With the end of the current quarter approaching, members are still able to order take-away wine/beer from the club and collect by reporting to the admin office.  Darry has prepared some Take-Away Specials to assist members with ordering – click here to view.  Alternatively, the Take-Away Wine List can be viewed via this link and if there happens to be any wines unavailable, Darry will select a similar suitable wine to fill your order.

A decision regarding the April-June quarter is pending.

23RD MARCH – LATEST UPDATE

As you will most likely be aware the Federal Government took the step yesterday of instructing all Club licensed premises (amongst others) to close as of noon today for the purpose of minimizing the risk of transfer of the Coronavirus through human contact.

Our club has complied with this instruction and so I regret to advise that the main clubhouse will not be open for the foreseeable future. If you have ordered take away food or wines, for the time being, this can still be collected from administration however it is recommended that you collect this tomorrow.

We have received advice from Golf Australia today that clubs are still permitted to allow golf to be played providing that social distancing is being applied and monitored. We are awaiting further advice from the State Government in relation to the details of how the Federal Government’s advice is to be applied and hope to have this tomorrow. This advice will influence the next steps taken by the club.

For those members playing golf tomorrow, please register in the Golf Shop prior to play. Locker Rooms will be open however we encourage you to use the locker rooms strictly to use the amenities then depart.

Please note that there will be no catering available tomorrow and all courtyard furniture has been removed as remaining in the proximity of the clubhouse is discouraged.

We have placed sanitizer units in the Golf Shop and request that you use these. Please also ensure that you stay away from the club if you are unwell and check emails in case advice changes overnight.

We anticipate more decisions and clarification tomorrow which will impact the club so we encourage you to continue to check your emails.

This is an unprecedented time at the club and we are doing everything we can to keep members informed and safe.

23RD MARCH 2020 – FURTHER UPDATE

The Club is aware of the advice overnight from the Federal Government regarding the closure of Licensed Clubs amongst others from midday today.

Whilst we are seeking clarification on what facilities can and can’t be open, we have not had anything confirmed as yet.  Both Golf Australia and Clubs Australia are seeking this advice now.

We will endeavor to keep members and staff informed however at a minimum, the main clubhouse will be closed from noon today with further advice to follow.

22ND MARCH 2020 – UPDATE – NO GUESTS FROM MONDAY 23RD MARCH

As previously advised, the Club has implemented Stage 1 of our action plan. This means that effective from Monday 23rd March, all non-member activity (golf and social) will cease and only members and their immediate families will be permitted on the premises. Immediate family is defined as spouse/partner, children and parents. Please ensure you comply with this decision as any non-members arriving at the club will be asked to leave.  The only other people permitted are staff and contractors however all non-essential contractors/suppliers have been advised not to attend the club.

This decision will have a significant effect on the financial position of the club but is being implemented to provide protection to our valued members and staff while on the property of the club.

21ST MARCH 2020 – GOLF UPDATE

Recently the R&A announced a series of temporary measures that will enable clubs to minimize any hygiene implications related to complying with the rules of golf. 

These temporary measures have been considered by the LKCC Match Committee as well as other precautions put in place by Management to mitigate the risk of Corona virus entering our facilities and as stated below.

20TH MARCH 2020 – UPDATE

Firstly, can I thank those of you who have emailed, called or stopped me to congratulate the club on the decisions being taken to provide a safe environment for members and staff alike. At the core of what we are doing is to provide a secure, safe and trusted place for members to attend and play golf.

18TH MARCH 2020 – Further Update for Members

Advice on Indoor Gatherings

In addition to the further strengthening of the Government’s advice on banning overseas travel, the banning of non-essential gatherings now includes those over 100 people in an indoor space.

Until the advice is further clarified, the club is taking the approach that no more than 100 people can gather in the main clubhouse, that is, the Bar/Lounge, Grill and Dining Room combined.

This will undoubtedly have an impact over busy periods however it is prudent that all members comply with this direction.

We have removed a substantial amount of furniture to increase safe distances between table settings.  Furthermore we ask for your cooperation in ensuring that no more than 100 people congregate in the bar area and encourage members to sit on the terrace or in the Courtyard. Staff will be managing indoor numbers and if you are asked to sit outside please cooperate with this instruction.

Our staff will be doing their utmost to service all areas but your cooperation and understanding is appreciated at this time.

Dress Code Relaxed

To allow members to enjoy a round of drinks with their playing partners after golf and depart earlier as there will be no golf presentations, it has been agreed to relax the dress code temporarily to allow members to remain in golf attire post-golf inside the clubhouse. This is only a temporary measure.

17TH MARCH 2020 – Important Update for Members

Australian Government – Department of Health

In recent days, the Australian Government’s advice has changed with regard to Coronavirus and I write to confirm that Lake Karrinyup will be strictly adhering to this advice. This means that any person who has returned from travelled overseas must self-isolate for a period of 14 days. It is further recommended that if you have been in contact with someone who has returned from overseas that you self-isolate for a period of 14 days.

Furthermore we strongly encourage members to take heed of the additional advice from the Government not to shake hands and importantly, maintain a 1.5M personal space distance from other people, wherever possible.

Member and Staff well-being

Please be assured that our number one priority remains the health and well-being of members and staff and numerous initiatives have been introduced to minimize the risk of exposure to and the spread of Coronavirus. These include the:

• Supply of antibacterial soap and alcohol based liquid sanitizer where possible
• Removal of all communal items such as sunscreen in locker rooms
• Introduction of alcohol based sanitizer cloths at golf registration terminals
• Regular wiping down of surfaces such as bathroom vanities, chairs/tables and golf cart seats and steering wheels
• Removal of shared menu items, complimentary cheese/biscuits and buffet/carvery
• Permanent opening of most doors throughout the clubhouse to reduce human contact points
• Temporary ceasing of “dollar bets” coin exchanges
• Removal of the need to supply member fobs or cards and instead quoting numbers to staff

Stage One to be implemented effective from Monday February 23

As outlined in our previous correspondence the club has agreed to a staged approach to managing the potential spread of Coronavirus and in addition to the many initiatives already introduced a decision has been taken to implement Stage 1 of our action plan. This means that effective from next Monday all non-member activity (golf and social) will cease and only members and their immediate families will be permitted on the premises. Immediate family is defined as spouse/partner, children and parents. Please ensure you comply with this decision as any non-members arriving at the club will be asked to leave. This decision will have a significant effect on the financial position of the club but is being implemented to provide protection to our valued members and staff while on the property of the club.

The Sub-junior and women’s golf programs will continue on the basis that many participants are family of current members. All future non-member golf, corporate and social bookings have now been cancelled until further notice.

Important Temporary Changes

Effective immediately, golf presentations will not proceed for both men’s and women’s competitions including AM presentations. In addition to this, and  to provide sufficient personal space in the clubhouse, a significant amount of furniture has been removed. Both of these initiatives have been introduced to reduce the likelihood of large gatherings in the clubhouse. If all furniture is in use we encourage you to utilize the Courtyard before and after golf.

To further reduce the likelihood of large gatherings, all timesheets will be set up as “two tee starts” to stagger golfers. Tomorrow’s shotgun start will be the final one for the time being and this Saturday’s ballot will be done in-house on Friday afternoon with the timesheet updated accordingly.

From next week, both Wednesday PM and Saturday timesheets will be two tee starts with no ballot and no reserved “late times”.

In addition to the above, for the foreseeable future all golf balls won by men in any competition will be credited to your prize account in the Golf Shop (similar to the current arrangement for female members). It is expected that this will only be temporary.

In a further attempt to minimize human contact, it will now be compulsory for the flagstick to remain in during play. Platers must not remove the flag and should only touch the base on the flag when collecting your golf ball.

Clubhouse Operations

With the reduction in patronage that occur with the decision not to accept non-member patronage the club’s operations will be modified. On Mondays and Tuesdays the Main Bar will remain closed with all food and beverage service from the Grill.

At this stage the Grill will continue to operate normally.

With the removal of all “share” foods from the menu members will be either to choose from the Grill menu or the regular sandwich/grab and go menu. Please note that when ordering sandwiches/pies etc that our staff will plate these up from the service side of the counter rather than members accessing the hot and cold displays from the front.

Our Priorities

The conditions with which we are all living are changing rapidly and our priority will always be the well-being of our members and staff, the protection of our assets such as courses, clubhouse and ground and our finances, in that order.

The potential infection of our staff would have enormous ramifications on our ability to operate and to provide members a service so it is essential that the above be implemented and adhered to. Rest assured we have contingency plans in place and are constantly reviewing our decisions based on the most up to date advice.

Kind regards,

Damon Lonnie
General Manager
Lake Karrinyup Country Club.