2018 has got off to a flying start with many events keeping all of us very busy including our pool of referees. In late December GV conducted a seminar at Keysborough Golf Club to discuss, amongst other things, the Oates Vic Open. Fifty referees attended that meeting. GV also held a workshop in January at both Kew Golf Club and the GV offices to update referees on the upcoming Pennant season.
GV Pennant starts in Melbourne on Sunday, 4th March. Those of you who would like to referee can still register via the Team App.
Oates Victorian Open
On behalf of Golf Victoria, I would like to thank the Level 2 referees who volunteered to assist at the recently concluded Oates Victorian Open, held for the sixth year at 13th Beach Golf Links.
With prize money of $1.3 million on offer, the event attracted a fantastic field, including the previous five Women’s and Men’s champions.
Live streaming of the tournament proved a hit again and the full live stream final round replay can be viewed with this link http://vicopengolf.com/live .
If you want to be part of the pinnacle of refereeing in Victoria, make yourself available next year for the same venue.
Level 1 Seminars
Due to the changes to the Rules of Golf due to come in to effect from January 1, 2019 Golf Victoria has not scheduled any Level 1 rules workshops for the first half of 2018. Around the end of May we plan to update our website with dates for the presentation of the new Rules. It is anticipated that regional and metropolitan venues will host these presentations.
If your club would like to host a day or night session later this year please ask your club to contact David Blake at david.blake@golfvic.org.au .
Venues, dates and times will be uploaded to the GV website as they are confirmed.
Level 2 Seminars
In the latter half of 2018 GV, in conjunction with GA and the R&A, will be conducting one or two Level 2 accreditation workshops in Melbourne. These courses will be conducted over two days and will be held on a Sunday and Monday. Dates and venues will be uploaded to the GV website in May/June of 2018.
This new Level 2 program aligns far more closely with our updated objectives of better providing upskilling opportunities for key club officials in order to enable them to perform their club duties – for example, golf shop staff, club captains, match committee members.
These are people who do not necessarily wish to referee, but we feel it is important for us to make available to them opportunities to improve their knowledge of the Rules of Golf and competition management capacity. We are seeking to provide an offering that will have the impact of adding greater value to the general operation of one of our key constituents – the golf clubs.
The Level 2 course is also intended to serve as a component of the elite referee development pathway. Ideally attendees would have successfully completed a Level 1 School (either an actual Level 1 School or the online Rules Academy equivalent) and, in any case, attendees would be expected to know the basics of the Rules as covered in the Quick Guide.
I look forward to catching up with many of you during the year.
Brian Hill
Business & Technical Services Manager