Dear Members,
In line with the tightening of Quarantine measures in the Baku region we have the following updates where we MUST consider at this time:-
 
SITUATION IN AZERBAIJAN
From 00:01 Saturday 21st November until 28th December 2020 there will be further quarantine measures implemented in Azerbaijan. 
 
The key points to summarise:
  • ONLY essential services will be OPEN on WEEKENDS until the end of the year, this includes grocery stores and pharmacies.
  • In all CLOSED ROOMS AND OPEN SPACES throughout the country, the use of masks will be mandatory.
  • There will be no working public transport on weekends.
  • SMS is NOT required at this stage – HOWEVER it may be implemented in the coming weeks, please remain patient and SAFE.
DREAMLAND GOLF CLUB – COVID Statement
“Following the self-isolation of a team member with mild symptoms an initial positive test result has been confirmed. We are pleased to say that the individual is in good health and is following full medical advice along with follow up tests. Whilst maintaining our existing measures of cleaning and disinfection on a regular basis, we continue to monitor and Test our Operations team for the safety of all".

Dreamland Management
In line with the announcement the following measures are in place for Saturday 28th November / Sunday 29th November 2020.  We will remain FULLY OPEN TUESDAY – FRIDAY at our previously published timings.
 
WEEKEND DAYS
  • GOLF SHOP – CLOSED
  • GOLF ACADEMY / DRIVING RANGE – CLOSED (Lesson appointment to be made by contacting Alex.Day@dreamlandgolfclub.com or academy@dreamlandgolfclub.com
  • LOCKER ROOM – CLOSED
  • CLUBHOUSE ACCESS – CLOSED (Wash Rooms and Take Away Drinks and Beverage Service available)
  • DREAMLAND GOLF HOTEL - OPEN – (In Room Dining Dinner & Breakfast / Take Away Available - Compulsory) please e mail Gulnara.Asadova@dreamlandgolfhotel.az for details
  • GOLF COURSE - OPEN for Exercise (Golf Play) MEMBERS & MEMBER GUEST ONLY – bookings by contacting reservations@dreamlandgolfclub.com
  • PLAY WILL COMMENCE FROM THE GOLF ACADEMY CAR PARK AREA – 7th TEE.
ARRIVAL
  • Access through the MALL entrance – ONLY WITH TEE SHEET BOOKING
  • Each guest will have their temperature checked and Vehicle Baggage Check at the GATEHOUSE. Any person (Member or Employee) recording a temperature of 38 degree will not be allowed access to the property. If you are feeling unwell with a temperature we ask that you please STAY HOME.
  • Travel through Dreamland Access Barriers to the GOLF ACADEMY CAR PARK.
  • ARRIVE - 10 minutes before your game to the GOLF ACADEMY – Your Golf Equipment will be prepared for READY GOLF
  • Proceed to the GOLF COURSE without delay – 7th Tee (finishing on Hole 6)
  • Upon Completion of your game you can leave Dreamland within the shortest time possible to avoid interaction with fellow guests.
  • Payment of Hire Items / Buggy etc will be on pre-paid account / Cash Basis ONLY.
 
SAFETY MEASURES
We have the following safety measures in place at Dreamland, for Golf Members and Employees.
  • The wearing of a MASK IS COMPULSARY AT ALL TIMES including your during Your Game!
  • Social distancing is a MUST – maintaining a 2 metre distance is crucial AT ALL TIMES.
  • Hand washing and sanitizing is VITAL– we have stations in place for this to happen.
  • Always follow the hygiene instructions and disinfect or wash your hands before and after the game, avoid touching your face, mouth, eyes.
  • No contact with playing partners (replace 18th-green handshake with shoe bumps, elbow bumps, or Namaste bow….)
IMG Golf Management – Members Survey
We have so far had over 60 great responses to our Survey – Thanks to All. For those who haven’t completed the survey yet we would ask you to support the below:
As we work on developing our 2021 plans (we are hoping for a better year than 2020!!!) IMG Golf Management invite you to complete a members survey which will cover all aspects of our club. This survey will be conducted by using the Players 1st software. Players 1st specialise in the customer experience within golf clubs and their software allows the club’s survey results to be collated and analysed thoroughly and professionally.
The survey will be launched through an e-mail which you will receive directly from Players 1st that contains a link to the survey as well as instructions on how to complete it - please keep a look out for this in your inbox (and junk email folder). Completing the survey will be straightforward and should take you around 15-20 minutes with survey access closing on the 1st December 2020.
We want to encourage frankness and honesty in your responses as your answers and comments in the survey will be anonymous, unless you choose to include your contact details.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete it and we look forward to hearing your views.
Dream Team 
WINTER OPERATIONS – MONDAYS CLOSED Starting MONDAY 16th November
Working with a smaller “Winter” team we will look to close the Golf Course and Academy each MONDAY starting from MONDAY 16th of NOVEMBER. With the team covering 6 days instead of 7 we believe we can still offer the same support to members at the times you require us. Closing for a day a week was not an easy decision however with the boarders expected to remain closed into Spring 2021 we are unable to welcome the number of weekday players we had in previous years.  We ask that everyone keep’s in mind its only for November, December, January, February when the weather will be at its coolest. Should any Public Holiday dates be on a Monday we will be fully open and operational for all to enjoy.
Hours of Operation – CURRENT (Martial Law Conditions)
Please be aware that given the conflict on the boarder we will continue to operate within the regulations of Martial Law which currently prohibits the movement of people on the streets from 21.00pm – 06.00am each day.  Once we are through these restrictions we will review the Golf Academy timings see below. 
Golf Academy Updates
PAR 3 NIGHT - With our ACADEMY CLOSED on Mondays Our Par 3 night has been moved to a WEDNESDAY 
Golf Academy – Daily Operations – Last Balls issued at 18.00pm – Academy Closes 18.30pm – Staff Depart Dreamland 19.00pm - THIS WILL BE REVIEW once Martial Law Restrictions are lifted.
Golf Lessons – Alex.day@Dreamlandgolfclub.com Last lesson 18.00pm daily – contact Alex for availability.
Café T @ Golf Academy
Café T will close for the winter season as we start to refurbish the restaurant. Upgrades include carpet, lighting and the addition of a Pool Table which will add another leisure activity for 2021. Below: See the planned design render for this section of the upstairs restaurant. 
NEW! Golf Clubhouse Lounge Menu
As our terrace season draws to a close at the clubhouse we have revised the menu for the winter months ahead. Chef Olcay and his team have prepared our most popular pizza offerings, salads and sandwiches which will be served in the lounge area.  We will move our full restaurant menu to The Dreamland Golf Hotel for dining guests, small gatherings, Dreamland residents and Academy players who may want a snack after their practice.
World Handicap System
As you may have seen Golf Clubs worldwide are currently making the shift to the World Handicap System. We are currently in the process of finalizing our transition with the help of the EGA (European Golf Association) however the GOOD NEWS is that as Dreamland is one of the newer Golf Clubs we have been operating along many of the guidelines since our start. Each week we will expand on the bullet points below with our plan is to fully convert on the 1st of December 2020.

  • The WHS (World Hcp System) operates on the Slope Rating of the Golf Course. In Europe many courses have only just been measured and assessed for Slope Rating. We had this in place from our Opening in 2015.
  • Players will operate from an HCP Index – ALL Dreamland Handicaps are awarded on this basis as per EGA. As you know your Hcp is adjusted to the Tee Box that you play
  • It is suggested by WHS that scores are administered through Golf Genius and Hcps’ updated with a known software. Dreamland has had both Golf Genius and Hcp Server in place for the last 3 years. For our events team the process will be smooth.
  • Players are asked to submit completed round scores (signed by a marker, no gimmes kicks or throws, with the tee box of the day shown). These scores are to be posted in the Scorecard box by the events notice board in the locker room lobby.
  • THE FINAL point is that your handicap moving forward will be based on your last 20 scores submitted. Therefore as we transition we encourage you to submit scores so that the software will have sufficient playing history to work with. We will UDPATE on this point as clearly as possible next week so its fully understood and any questions can be answered by events@dreamlandgolfclub.com ahead of 1st December.

The new WHS handicap measures will NOT stop or improve:-
  • Course Etiquette – please support our new Superintendent Andrew Ikstrums and his team who have a busy winter season ahead in developing the course further. Repair Pitchmarks, rake bunkers and don’t park golf carts too close to the Greens and Tees.
  • Handing in completed CORRECTLY filled in Scorecards.  Please take the time to review the players name, scores entered in the correct boxes and signatures confirmed for the Marker. Too often we see roll up cards that don’t correlate to the correct player.
  • The new system will help us catch the bandits!!!  Here at Dreamland we see 25 Hcp players winning longest drive competitions! :) :) :)
Saturday Roll Up – Suspended
Due to our current operating situation (lower numbers of players each Saturday) we have temporarily suspended the Saturday Roll Up. Signed cards are still accepted at the Academy which will be submitted ahead of the World Handicap Launch next month.
For any members of the A.I.G.S (Azerbaijan International Golf Society) Eclectic players – cards can be picked up from the Golf Shop (Tues-Fri) Golf Academy (Sat – Sun).
Azerbaijan International Golf Society Winter Eclectic
We are pleased see the AIGS members supporting the Winter Eclectic series which runs from 1st November until 28th of February. FREE to enter for AIGS members, each player will have the chance to complete ONE Eclectic of 8 rounds in a bid to record their best score at each hole. Follow the links below for updates and the chance to win the below prize vouchers. Good Luck to All!!!
CARDS MUST BE COLLECTED BEFORE YOUR GAME and Submitted to the SCORECARD BOX at either the ACADEMY or GOLF INFORMATION DESK after SIGNING.
 
1st Place – 400 AZN Gift Card
2nd Place – 300 AZN Gift Card
3rd Place – 200 AZN Gift Card
4th Place – 100 AZN Gift Card
5th Place – 50 AZN Gift Card
Course Update!
Well it was certainly a frosty start to our Tuesday morning and just a quick reminder moving towards our winter months. Please be mindful of cart traffic on frosted grass if you are on the course in the early doors over the weekend. Please obey carts on paths to avoid any turf injury from our golf carts. 
This week we have raised the height of cut on the greens to 3mm. We increase our height of cut (HOC) of the turf (greens) before it begins to harden off for the winter months. This increases the length of leaf tissue and allows more sand topdressing material to be worked into the turf canopy.
In addition to the height of cut increase we have applied a light dusting of sand across the putting green surfaces. Helping protect the individual plant crowns and will help decrease injury potential during the winter months. Along with firming up, level out our putting surfaces and helping repair pitch mark scars.
I look forward to seeing you all out on the course over the weekend!
CHRISTMAS TREATS!
Christmas has come early to Dreamland as we launch our 2020 Winter Draw at the Golf Academy (weekends) Golf Shop (weekdays). With a host of Taylormade Prizes on offer, be the first to buy one of 250 tickets available for 15AZN each or 6 tickets for 75AZN. Currently In-store we are pleased to offer 25% discount on a range of Greg Norman shirts which when purchased with a Baseball Cap are stylishly presented in our gift box! See the team for further details or enquire at retail@dreamlandgolfclub.com
IMG – THE VIEW
Clink the Link to see the results of the World Golf Awards 2020 where Dreamland Golf Club featured highly! Alongside many more IMG Prestige venues.
Online Tee Sheet EZLinks
For those members who wish to register, please refer to the advice notes in the below link as always our team are on hand to help  reservations@dreamlandgolfclub.com
ACADEMY NEWS
US Masters 2020 Sweepstake Prizes
The cream rose to the top at Augusta as 5 top 10 world ranked players finished in the US Masters top 10. However it was world number one Dustin Johnson that cruised to victory with a record tournament score of -20 leaving him 5 shots clear of second place. Thanks to everyone who got involved in this year’s sweepstake. Based on the entire field (95 players) being purchased, the winning amounts for the various winning places are in the link below.
Par 3 Order of Merit
Looking to improve your short game skills and increase your chances of making an ace? This winter, take advantage of the super Academy Par 3 course and an Order of Merit to plot your progress. Suitable for every level of golfer, competition rounds are available to play every Wednesday. Please see Alex Day or Academy noticeboard for further details.
Alex Day PGA Professional
As the cooler months fast approach, we wish to notify all our Academy users that our tuition offerings will be reduced somewhat for the winter months December - March. Sadly for us it means that Alex Day our Head PGA Professional will depart Baku at the end of November with a view to securing some winter work through our IMG network. Like all hospitality and leisure venues the club continues to be impacted by global issues as well as the uncertainty of when boarders will open so we can welcome golfers back.  Any members who have outstanding lessons with Alex are encouraged to book them directly Alex.Day@dreamlandgolfclub.com whilst the autumn weather is still with us! 
THE DREAMLAND GOLF HOTEL – Wake Up To Golf On Your Doorstep!
We had the pleasure of hosting several golfers last weekend in the hotel, with great weather planned for this weekend why take advantage of joining us for a staycation!
 
Members Voucher
In further recognizing the inconvenience caused, we have awarded each member (1st January – 30th June) with a COMPLIMENTARY overnight stay voucher at the Dreamland Golf Hotel.
*To make your reservation please contact our Hotel Sales Executive Gulnara Asadova Gulnara.Asadova@dreamlandgolfhotel.az - Please quote MEMBERSHIP BOOKING
1 x room stay voucher per registered member (2 room stay vouchers for a couples membership) is valid for a single night stay for 1 person including Bed & Breakfast.

*Note 35AZN is payable for additional guests room stay and breakfast, Child’s accommodation will be charge at our published rates. The voucher is valid from 21st of August – 30th December 2020 for the named membership nominee only and is subject to availability of a Superior Category room. The voucher is NOT awarded for Academy and Junior Membership Categories.
Gratuities
Members and guests are asked to deposit any Tips / Gratuities in the boxes directly which are located at the Golf Service desk (Locker rooms) or the main club reception. Members of staff are NOT allowed to handle cash directly due to the COVID 19 measures in place, therefore we ask that ALL payments are deposited by the guests at their discretion.
Dreamland Golf Club | +994 (0) 12 404 7 404 | reservations@dreamlandgolfclub.com |