After last weeks announcement from First Minister it has now become clearer where we are with golf for this season and Midlothian County are now in a position to cancel all events in 2020. We will contact the 2020 host venues to find out if they can accommodate us for 2021. This decision is for Midlothian Juniors as well, however we would like to encourage the Junior coaching still goes ahead later in the year with the correct guidance at the time based on social distancing.
Isla has made contact to Reps to advise any remaining 5s fixtures can be played as a friendly match when we return to golf. However we encourage Clubs to be inclusive of their Midlothian members and play the match off handicap for this year only. Even if Clubs opened later in the year catering would not be offered. Greensome fixtures as a friendly are at the moment more unlikely to be played due to four balls and sharing of equipment (ball). Both teams and their Clubs would need to agree to the match being played as a friendly fixture.
We will reopen the entry for the Summer hole and hole knock out draw again at the appropriate time and remove the current one. The Champion of Champions draw will require further discussion and a decision cannot be made until we are aware if any Club Championships take place in 2020.
As a result of the above, Midlothian County will roll over Members subs from 2020 to 2021. Should a Member wish to have 2020 subs refunded please contact treasurer@mclga.com and secretary@mclga.com direct. Anybody who had entered and paid for the Spring Meeting/Championship Qualifying will be refunded and we will be in touch with you.
The East Division Captains have cancelled the 2020 Inter County Matches. All East Captains are Zoom Meeting this week to clarify the Captain rotation and the competition rotation between all four Counties.
The Babe Zaharias kindly run by East Lothian will postpone opening up the entry until they are clearer what will be happening with golf. This was due to open on Monday 1st June for competition on Monday 17th August.
Midlothian Captain, Vice Captain and President have all agreed to do another year subject to the approval of the Midlothian Membership at the AGM. Secretary, Treasurer and Junior Secretary have also agreed to do another year if required to assist with maintaining the correct cycles as per the Constitution, again requiring approval by the Membership at the AGM. Depending on where Scotland is with social gatherings and social distancing in November, we may need to look at other options for hosting our 2020 AGM.
Midlothian are in support of First Minister continuing the lock down by staying home, staying safe, protecting the NHS and saving lives. The health and welfare of everybody is more important and whilst golf will likely be on the horizon soon, we will all have beautiful unplayed courses to return to.
On behalf of all the officials we wish you well during the lock down period and look forward to seeing you on the course soon. Next season will no doubt be just as enjoyable and as competitive between our friends in Midlothian. See you there.
Louise Fraser
Midlothian Captain