Dear Members,
As you are possibly aware this weekend is a longer public holiday weekend as we recognize Azerbaijan’s flag day. Tee times are available each day, Saturday – Monday as we make the most of the autumn weather. PLEASE follow and respect our COVID 19 measures in place, the daily numbers are increasing and we ask that you remain patience for temperature and vehicle baggage checks on arrival to Dreamland.
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.
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! :) :) :)
ACCESS to Dreamland Golf Club has moved to our NEW side entrance next to the Dreamland Shopping Mall. With immediate effect access to the Golf Academy or Golf Hotel from the Clubhouse Car park will mean crossing the first Traffic Barrier control point. To do this smoothly we would ask that you display your Dreamland Golf Club Membership Sticker on your vehicle so that our security team can identify you as a member. Upon approaching the barrier we would ask that you confirm your wish to go to the GOLF ACADEMY / DRIVING RANGE or GOLF HOTEL and access will be granted. See above for directions.

Safety Measures
We have the following safety measures in place at Dreamland, for Golf Members and Employees.
  • Dreamland Access via the MALL New Entrance ONLY – Details above
  • Each guest will have their temperature checked 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.
  • We ask that Members and Employees wear a MASK for SAFETY reasons.
  • 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.
McFadden’s On The Move
It was great to see 20 players gather to wish Dale and Elaine McFadden the very best as they head back to the Canada later this month.  The ever popular Scramble was the format of play with each team consisting of low handicap player or even one of our Golf Professionals! Congratulations to the winners - Wade Droney, Andrew Hulston, Alisdair Still and Michael Paterson with score of Net 59.6, Gross 66. Runners up were Dale McFadden, Iain Grant, Gary Duncan, Leona Paterson with Net 61.5, Gross 68. A special prize was awarded for “the most golf played” with Net 64, Gross 70 for Andrew Ikstrums, Alastair Dougall, Brian Gordon and Elaine McFadden. The side contest honours went to Nearest Dale’s Drive on Hole 1 – Andrew Hulston, Ladies Longest Drive on Hole 4 – Elaine McFadden, Gents Longest Drive on Hole 12 – Andrew Ikstrums, Nearest the Pin on Hole 5 – Dale McFadden and Nearest the Pin on Hole 13 – Bryan Thomas. With many players staying the night at the Dreamland Golf Hotel it proved a great way to end the McFadden’s time in Baku… Safe travels – you will be missed!
Saturday 31st of October 2020 – Saturday Roll Up Results
Weather conditions were good on last Saturday despite being las weekend of October and 33 members took this opportunity to participate in weekly Roll Up. Eldar Kerimov took first place with incredible 7 under par 43 points. Runner up for the weekend was Tony Triggs with 3 under par 39 points. There was a tie for third place with 3 players – Ian Boyd, Alistair Macduff and Bonsang Koo all scoring 2 under par 38 points. In order to determine third place winner, it required us to look at their back 9 scores. After countback Ian took 3rd place with 21 back nine pts., whereas Alistair’s 20pts and Bonsang’s 19pts where not enough for them to be on the leaderboard.

Last Saturday two players had 2s on their card. John Wright birdied the 10th and John Quin birdied the 13th and 17th holes to put 2 on their scorecards.
Azerbaijan International Golf Society Winter Eclectic
We are pleased to invite ALL AIGS members the chance to participate in AIGS Winter Eclectic 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.

An eclectic tournament is a 8 round golf tournament that produces one final 18-hole score per player. For each of the 8 rounds the system will amend your best score on a particular hole to show improvement towards your final Eclectic card. Example if on your 1st round you take 6 shots at the 1st hole – your eclectic card with show Hole 1 – 6, if in a future round you score a Par 4 on the 1st hole – your eclectic card will be amended to show 4 (your best score so far in the 8 round competition).   Below are some additional bullet point rules:
·        Golfers will need to submit 8 scorecards during this period.
·        Free to Enter for AIGS members
·        Each AIGS member has only one chance to complete a 8 round Eclectic Score.
·        Gents will play from WHITE TEES and Ladies from GREEN TEES.

75% of your CURRENT playing handicap  (at the date of the round) is used to calculate your Nett Eclectic score for that day.

Eclectic Score Cards must be picked up before play and returned after play to the competition box. If a score card is not turned in, player will lose that one round from their series – it will be shown as No Card (NC). AIGS members playing the Saturday Roll Up still can use that score for their Eclectic tournament, all they need is to mention it while taking the scorecard and use same scorecard for both Roll Up and the Eclectic.

Prizes will be awarded as below:
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!
Yet another week has flown by and the sun is still shinning! This week the Agronomy team have fertilised all rejuvenated areas of course with a slow release granular fertiliser. This will bring our playing surfaces back to their brilliant best that little bit faster. It will also prolong winter dormancy and colour loss, keeping the course greener and healthy going into winter for a quicker wake up and bounce back in March 2021 and start of the new golfing season!
We have also been busy working on our 138 bunkers this week with a new leaf rake attachment added to our Toro SandPro machine. It has drastically improved, leveled and presented our bunkers to a more consistent standard.
RULING – Preferred lies will be removed from next Saturday 14th of November as all our surfaces return to a playable standard.
LAKE LEVELS – DANGER
Players will have seen recently that our lake levels have fallen well below our rock work edging. With the lake liner exposed players are more inclined to retrieve lost balls from the shallow ledge. Please keep in mind your own personal SAFETY do not stand on the lake liner under ANY circumstances, the liner by its nature is slippy with golf shoes often adding to the problem. Picture below Mr. Dunn yesterday, who in trying to retrieve a stray ball ended up with his playing partners retrieving him! and our Green Keepers retrieving his rather expensive Scotty Cameron putter! Stay safe folks…. 
Membership Offer
Please spread the word for this November for anyone wanting to take advantage of a 4 week monthly membership.  We have so far had over 20 new players to join us on this flexible offer. It make sense if you know people that wish to get out from Home Office and make the most of their weekends. 
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.   
IMG – THE VIEW
Click the link for a round-up of Golfing news from within our IMG Network. Start planning your 2021 golf trips with IMG Prestige to get the very best rates on the world’s best courses!
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
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.
ACADEMY NEWS
US Masters Sweepstake
Can Tiger again tame Augusta National? Will DeChambeau blast his way to victory? Or will world number 1 DJ win his first green jacket?

To enter this year’s sweepstake please visit the Golf Academy reception. Only 10azn per pick. Based on the entire field (87 players) being purchased, prizes and credit amounts will be awarded to the following winning places:
 
·        Masters Champion
·        Runners up
·        Best placed European player
·        Best placed Amateur player
·        Best placed Asian player
·        Players making a Hole in One
·        Wooden Spoon
·        Oldest Player to make the Cut
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! 
Junior Roll Up Program
In the safe environment of the Academy, it’s been great to see juniors returning to Dreamland and getting back into the swing of things. Fun structured classes are now available from our Level 1 coaches to assist in juniors learning and enjoyment of the game.
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.
Dreamland Golf Club | +994 (0) 12 404 7 404 | reservations@dreamlandgolfclub.com |