Health & Safety
Greens Staff
The greens staff have priority at all times. Players should always alert greens staff nearby when they are about to make a stroke that might endanger them and wait for staff to move out of the way.
The Course, Its Steps and Surfaces
May be slippery when damp or wet and in frosty conditions. Golfers must ensure to wear appropriate footwear to meet the prevailing conditions [soft spikes]. Take care on steep slopes and around bunkers and ditches.
Buggies
To ensure the safety of all golf course users, buggy drivers are required to comply with the Club’s Buggy Safety Policy and follow this at all times. Take particular care around bunkers and ditches and on slopes. DO NOT attempt to approach the 12th green or cross to the 18th tee.
Railway Line
Take extreme care when crossing the rail line DO NOT attempt to cross in front of an oncoming train. Please ensure the crossing gates are closed behind you. If you should hit a ball over a boundary fence bordering the rail line DO NOT attempt to retrieve it.
Blind Shots
Some holes on the course have blind shots. It is the players responsibility to ensure the way ahead is clear before playing.
Do not tee off from the:
- 2nd hole if players are approaching down the 17th fairway.
- 3rd hole until the green is clear
- 17th hole until the 2nd green is clear.
Public Access
At certain points on the course the public has right of way to cross; please ensure the way is clear before playing your shot. Non-golfers may not understand that they need to wait.
Dogs
Are permitted on the golf course as long as they are kept on a lead. Dogs, other than guide dogs, are not permitted in the clubhouse.
First Aid
Assistance is available in the Shop or in the Clubhouse.
Defibrillator
Automatic External Defibrillators are situated in the Clubhouse Lobby and on the course in the toilets on the 5th tee and 11th tee.
Bad Weather Policies
Situated on the Mid Wales coastline, nestled in the sand dunes, the weather at Aberdovey can go from bad to worse in the space of a few minutes. We’ve created policies to ensure you get the most out of your game when the weather hits.
Lightning
| In the event of lightning golfers out on the course are advised to cease playing. Once the lightning has moved away golfers may return to their places on the course and complete their round. If green fee-paying golfers decide to abandon their golf rather than wait for the lightning to cease, refunds will not apply. If lightning is evident close to the course, it will be the golfer’s decision whether or not to play. If they miss their tee time as a result, reasonable endeavours will be made to reschedule either later that day or for another suitable day depending on availability. If visiting golfers’ tee times cannot be rescheduled as a result a refund will be offered. In an organised event, the decision to suspend or stop play lies with the tournament organiser. |
Fog
| In the event of fog or sea mist while on the golf courses, the decision to stop or continue play lies with the golfers, as it is recognised that conditions can change from minute to minute. However, you should not continue to play in fog / poor visibility, when you cannot see the clear distance of your intended shot. Golfers on the first tee will be advised of the conditions by the Pro’s Shop. If golfers decide not to start, reasonable endeavours will be made to reschedule either later that day or for another suitable day depending on availability. If visitors cannot reschedule, a refund will be offered. If golfers decide to play but do not complete 18 holes, refunds will not apply. In an organised event, the decision to suspend or stop play lies with the tournament organiser. |
Frost
| Playing golf in frosty conditions can cause irreparable damage to the playing surfaces at Aberdovey. Therefore, when frost is evident, the Head Greenkeeper (or his deputy) will delay play until the temperature has risen to a level that will allow a satisfactory thaw to take place, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to the grasses. What happens if it is frosty? In frosty conditions, tee-times may be delayed to allow the temperature to rise sufficiently. If the re-opening of the 1st tee takes place within one hour, then play will re-start in the same order and the Pro’s Shop will make every effort to reduce the delay to later start-times. If play is delayed for more than one hour then golfers whose start-time was more than one hour ahead of the resumption will lose their start-time and every effort will be made to re-schedule, depending on availability. For example: If play is suspended until 10am, then the first game will be those golfers from the 9am start-time. If play is suspended until 11am, then the first game will be those golfers from the 10am start-time. Golfers with a start-time up to and including 9.50am will lose their tee-time and will be re-scheduled, depending on availability. If golfers miss their tee-time as a result of the course being closed due to frost, reasonable endeavours will be made to re-schedule either later that day or for another suitable day depending on availability. If visiting golfers’ tee-times cannot be re-scheduled a refund will be offered.
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Heavy Rain
Should heavy rain force the temporary suspension of play, start-times may be delayed by up to one hour to allow for the movement of hole locations and removing water from greens. If the re-opening of the 1st tee takes place within one hour of the temporary suspension, then play will re-start in the same order and the Pro’s Shop will make every effort to reduce the delay to later start-times.
When heavy rain is expected, the holes are moved to high ground, where possible. If it is still impossible to putt out then the course may be temporarily closed and play suspended. When it is possible for play to restart, golfers should resume their game at their places on the course. If golfers decide to abandon their round, rather than wait for the rain to cease, refunds will not apply.
If the re-opening of the 1st tee takes place more than one hour after the suspension, the first group to play will be the start-time one hour ahead of the resumption time and again the Starter will make every effort to reduce the delay to later start-times. Golfers whose start-time was more than one hour ahead of the resumption will lose their start-time and every effort will be made to re-schedule, depending on availability. If visiting golfers’ times cannot be re-scheduled they will be offered a refund. In an organised event, the decision to suspend or stop play lies with the tournament organiser. Take a look at some example scenarios: – If play is suspended at 10am and re-opens at 11am, then the first game will be those players from the 10am start-time. – If play is suspended at 10am and re-opens at midday then the first game will be those players from the 11am start-time. Those players with a start-time from 10am to 10.50am will be re-scheduled, depending on availability.
In prolonged periods of wet weather, the Head Green Keeper (or his deputy) may decide that the course is too wet to safely allow the usage of trollies or buggies. |
Winter Golf Policies
The fast draining, firm turf of Aberdovey links makes our course ideal for golf during the winter months. Green Fees are reduced substantially in comparison to summer, however, there are certain restrictions in place over winter to consider before booking your round here at Aberdovey.
Fairway Mats
Fairway mats are in use on the course from 1st November 2023 to 29th February 2024. The Pro’s Shop will supply the mat free of charge, and this should be returned after each round. Why use fairway mats? With temperatures providing little growth during the winter months these small bits of Astroturf help protect the turf from divot damage which would otherwise take until the summer to repair. How to use They are carried by the golfer and if the ball lies on the fairway, the mat is positioned as near as possible to where it lies. The ball is then placed on and played from the mat. On all other areas of the course the ball is played as it lies. |
Winter Maintenance
| Please be aware that annual winter maintenance can lead to certain areas of the course being repaired and therefore out of play. This plan of scheduled maintenance is subject to change – please ask the office for updates. |
Please read the full Safety Instructions
