The greens renovations were completed earlier than scheduled with the team taking advantage of some favourable conditions. The surfaces were deep spiked to encourage drainage and deeper rooting. This was followed up with a hollow core to remove the heavier native soil which was replaced with pure sand-a process known as soil exchange. Next up was a shallow solid tine followed by more sand which maintains healthy levels of organic matter (thatch) within the surface. The levels of organic matter (OM) are measured through a yearly soil sample taken across the course which measures the volume of OM within the surface as a percentage. The most recent samples were excellent with our greens currently averaging around 2.5% which was down from 6-7% 10 years ago. All 3 aeration practices combined with the sanding will continue to promote firmer surfaces. The final part of the renovation saw the greens over seeded with a pure bent grass mixture which will be repeated throughout the summer.

Renovations will be carried out on the tees, approaches and fairways when the weather allows. General tidying and preparations for the spring are well underway with jobs such as painting, path topping, cleaning and the replacing of signs all included.

(Click on the image to view in full screen)

Stuart Langhorn

Course Director

We have completed a review of our  visitor society  activity. The review identified that the volume of society activity has increased in recent years, which effectively subsidises our annual membership fees to the tune of approximately 10%. We benchmarked what we charge for societies against our usual set of comparable golf clubs and our rates looked low. We have decided therefore to increase our standard society rate by nearly 25%. The desired outcome is that the increase in pricing is broadly matched by a decrease in the number of society visitors. The net financial contribution to the club is therefore maintained, whilst freeing up more time on the golf course to our members. A win-win you might call that. A number of nuances contributed to this decision but it is worth noting that by only allowing societies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, we are already much more restrictive than the vast majority of comparable clubs. Even at our current levels, an average maximum of the available teeing off time of 25% is taken up by societies. Extrapolated across the full week, less than 10% of our golfing capacity is given over to visiting societies and with the changes we are introducing that will reduce further. 

Separately, just a reminder that we will stop taking cash behind the bar from 1 April. 

Pete Muir

Treasurer

We are now moving from winter to spring.

It has been a wet winter but the course has held up remarkably well.

This is no doubt down to the good work by Stuart, Lee and all the Greens staff.

Continued hard work to identify wet areas and seeking solutions such as new drainage and soak-aways has led to firmer footing throughout the course.  

The other major positive impact has been the amount of members that have carried when possible throughout the winter.

Well done to everyone.  A big effort has been made.

It is very noticeable, on any given day throughout the winter, how many people carried their golf bags.

It has meant the course could be kept open as much as possible and trolleys bans were minimised.

The result has been markedly less wheel damage throughout the course which should lead to a much quicker recovery from winter golf conditions.

Mark Conway

Chairman of Green Committee

Bingo night – Friday 2 February 2024 – 66 members thoroughly enjoyed an evening of traditional and musical Bingo along with a selection of bar snacks and a meat & cheese board.

Our 60s, 70s & 80s Dinner Dance on Friday 16 February 2024 was a huge success with members enjoying a delicious 3 course meal followed by an evening of dancing to the tunes of the Barry Owen Band. 

Events currently open for entry are:

The 2024 Quiz Night – Saturday 9 March 2024 – entry is nearly full for the Quiz Night so please sign up asap if you would like to book or join a table.

Future events scheduled for your diary are:

Saturday 13 July 2024 - Summer Sizzler –- We’re planning a hog roast and steel band to follow for all the family to join in the festivities so even if you aren’t planning on playing, please consider joining us afterwards.

25 October 2024 - A gourmet 5-7 course dinner and wine tasting evening.

16 November 2024 - Night Golf

30 November 2024 – Turkey Trot

The Social Committee

A quick reminder to us all about safety on the course.

If you, as a player, feel that someone on the course may be in danger of being hit by your ball, please wait until they have moved away from the danger area.  

Of course there are times when a wayward shot can unexpectedly cause concern, so please shout Fore.

If you lose sight of your ball, either over trees or in the sunlight, again please shout Fore if there is any possibility of an accident.

It is better be safe than sorry.

Mark Conway

Chairman of Green Committee

I hope you are well and managing to play some good golf!  

We have the last few days of the sale happening before all the new gear comes in! Grab yourself a bargain, whether it be clubs or clothes!  

We still have spaces on the Taylormade Fitting day on the 19th of March! Get yourself some fresh equipment to start your season off on the front foot! Contact the Pro shop to book yourself in!  

Follow the journey of your next set of Taylormade Clubs.  

I have recently visited the Taylormade HQ in Basingstoke for the launch of the NEW Qi10 Clubs and got a tour around their fantastic facility, see below for the steps they take to make all the TM clubs.

Chris, Adam and Tom

I am pleased to report that Andrew has now finally had his operation and is on the road to recovery. I am sure you all want to join me in sending our very best wishes and we look forward to seeing him back at the club when he is fit and well again.  

Moving on to the review of the Catering operation, it reaches its conclusion in March with the roll-out of the new Spring menu over the Easter week. The design of the menu is now complete and will offer a good range of our traditional classics with some new interesting dishes and innovations which we are confident Members will enjoy.  

Before we finalise the menu, however, the chefs are running four separate Tasting Panels, where over the four days, they will cook and present all the dishes on the menu for small groups of members. These members will help the chefs by providing feedback which will be used to complete the specification for each dish and that will become the ‘standard’ which will be recorded in the new system thus, helping us build more consistency and quality over time.  

This may sound a small detail but when the chefs first took over there were no recipes, list of ingredients etc for any of the dishes so they have had to build everything from scratch, and this will be a major step forward.  

In addition, the observant members will notice that the Hospitality teams will be wearing new modified uniforms from the Spring as well.

Richard Cottrell

Chairman of the House Committee

This month I thought I would remind you about what you can and cannot do on and around the putting green.

Ball on Putting Green

There are a number of special rules that apply when your ball is on the putting green.

• You are allowed to mark, lift, clean and replace the ball.
•   You get relief from abnormal course conditions (ACC) on your Line of Play, for example temporary water on your line, or in the winter the second hole on the green.
• When you take relief for an ACC on the putting green, you PLACE a ball at the nearest point of complete relief, remember that this may NOT be on the putting green.
• If you accidentally move your ball or ball marker on the putting green there is NO penalty, but you must replace the ball.
• In strokeplay, if you play from the putting green and hit another ball at rest on the putting green, then YOU get a 2 shot penalty.  The other ball is replaced, but you carry on from where your ball ended up.  There is NO PENALTY in matchplay.

Wrong Putting Green

If you end up with your ball, stance or area of intended swing on a putting green for another hole or on the main green when a temporary green is in play, then you MUST take relief as follows:

• Find the nearest point of complete relief in the general area and drop within 1 club length, not nearer the hole (the hole you are playing) and with complete relief from the wrong green.

Sand and Soil

You are allowed to move sand and soil that is lying on the putting green, but NOT when it is anywhere else on the course, so if you are on the fringe and there is a patch of sand in your line across the fringe and the green, you can only move the sand that is actually on the green.

There is one exception, if your ball is already at rest on the fringe with no sand around, and one of your playing partners plays out of a bunker and dumps sand around your ball, then you are allowed to move the sand to restore the lie you had when your ball landed.

Pitchmarks

You are allowed repair damage on the putting green, such as pitchmarks, spikemarks and scrapes caused by equipment.  This is irrespective of where your ball lies.

However, please remember that you CANNOT mend a pitchmark that is NOT on the putting green and is on your line of play.  This is deemed to be improving the conditions affecting the stroke and is subject to a 2 shot penalty.  This applies even when it was your ball that made the pitchmark but ended up behind the pitchmark.  If preferred lies are in force than at least you can move the ball sideways so the pitchmark is no longer on line.  Please PLAY first and then mend the pitchmark.

Finally, a plea for everyone to repair pitchmarks.  With the wet weather the course is quite soft so it is very easy to leave a pitchmark.  We have all seen the damage that unrepaired pitchmarks leave, so please get into the habit of checking for pitchmarks when you walk onto the green, especially when the flag is at the back of the green, please check the front of the green for pitchmarks.  Even if you can’t find your own pitchmark I’m sure you can find some that other groups have left.

Janet Beal

Click here to see all the Winners for the Trophy Competitions