Clubhouse Development

Following the end of the initial consultation period, we have been hard at work analysing the extent and depth of your comment! Almost without exception your feedback has been supportive, positive and constructive, yet with a most valuable critique.

As a result, we have incorporated positive changes to our proposed design in a number of important areas.

In particular, but not exclusively, these include the following:

In a number of instances we found that your suggestions led on to further, perhaps unintended or ‘knock-on’ improvements, which have also been embedded into our design.

In addition to the above we are also working on a comprehensive and fully costed business case to be put to members before any final approval to proceed is achieved.

The case will set out in detail:

• why the initiative is essential,
• what it will deliver financially for the club over the coming ten years and beyond,
• what it will cost, and how it can be financed.

It will also set out the construction milestones, and how we plan to minimise member disruption during the period of build.

As already notified, we have therefore decided to step back from the originally envisaged timing of a Special General Meeting (SGM) to approve the project, in order to absorb your suggestions and to prepare the business case. We believe there will be no loss of momentum, just a little more planning time, before we ask you once more for your participation in this important project for the club.

Thank you again for your support and considered comment. We will be back in touch with you again once we have completed this exercise.

Nick Duncan

Chair, Planning and Development Committee

completing their winter projects without having to maintain a measured course. The knock-on effect of this is that we will not be able to accept Supplementary Scores during this period. Knock-out matches do not require a measured course so are not affected by this decision. However, there will be non-qualifying competitions organised by the Pro’s Shop.

One of the winter projects is to replace the bunker at the front of the 13^th green. This will require that the 13th hole is closed for a period. During this time, a temporary hole on the Academy course will be used. This will be clearly marked and should be played after the 17^th hole has been played and before the 18^th.

Winter Eclectic

The Winter Eclectic for this winter will run from 1^st December 2019 to 22^nd March 2020. The entry fee is £5 and sign-up in the Pro’s Shop. You will be given a score sheet which you should be placed in the folder in the Men’s Changing Room. You must sign your score sheet before your round; on completion of your round enter all scores that are better than any previous round and adjust the total as appropriate and then have the sheet countersigned by one of your playing partners. You may play from either white or yellow tees and all course conditions are acceptable.

Club Championships Survey

The results of the survey to find out which of several suggested formats for running the Men’s and Ladies’ Club Championships have been analysed. There were 128 respondents of which 94 were men and 34 were ladies. The demographics indicated that many respondents normally play in the championships, had been in the Club for more than 10 years and were category 2, 3 or 4 players. The table below shows the 1^st preferences of the respondents for the format.

Indeterminate ranking represents those answers where it wasn’t possible to work out the respondent’s 1^st choice because there was either no 1^st choice given or, indeed, several.

Given that the most popular choice was for the format used for the past three championships, we will continue with both championships on the same weekend with 18 holes on each day.

Match Committee

I’d like to thank all the members of the Match & Handicap Committee for the work they have done over what has been a very busy year.

Peter Harwood and Gary Mugford have decided to stand down, so we’re on the look-out for anyone who would be interested in joining the Committee. Please get in touch.

George Clelland

Question.

A player searches for their ball in a pile of leaves.

The ball is kicked out of the leaves.

The player replaces the ball on the leaves left in the estimated position where the ball had been, but does not replace the leaves around and on top of the ball before playing.

What is the ruling?

Rook will no doubt tell you about her shot in a later edition but, I’m afraid, my “drive” didn’t find the dance floor. The event was followed by a superb 3 course lunch.

On the 6^th November, Drew Fielden and I had the pleasure of playing a round of golf with the late Joe Kitchen’s son and daughter, Phil and Liz, before both presented the now retitled Joe Kitchen Trophy at the Vets AGM to the overall winner, the new Vets Vice-Captain, Gareth Rees. On the 6^th hole both Phil and Liz had their photograph taken alongside the plaque and tree planted to commemorate their late sister, mother and of course Joe. A touching moment.

The AGM also saw the presentation of various other Vets trophies including to the winners of the 2019 Vets Championship.

John Claughton winning the Best Net and Brian Overton the Best Gross. Well done to both. Next up on the 4^th December is the Vets Xmas Scramble and Lunch which is always good fun and well attended. More on this in the next edition.

Finally, at the Vets AGM, Wynne Tufnell stood down as the Vets Tournament Secretary after 5 years. Wynne, I know I speak for all the Vets in thanking you for your selfless and dynamic contribution to Vets golf at Alresford over these last 5 years. You will be a very hard act to follow. Which reminds me that … …

‘We still have a vacancy for a replacement for Wynne, so if any Vets fancy stepping up to the plate, please do get in touch‘.

In the meantime, organising and running the various Vets competitions will be shared between myself, Gareth Rees, Keith Turner and one other.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all at the AGC and the Vets Membership.

Ed Tinley

The greens that were given ‘drill and fill’ treatment are recovering slowly, given the recent cold snap, but are looking healthy and putting ok. 

All greens have received applications of ‘iron and bio stimulants’ to aid in colour and root growth.

A soil penetrant has also been applied to help move water more quickly through the profile. 

The rain keeps coming down, but the greens are draining freely and only ‘puddling up’ during very heavy bouts of rain. 

The weather has now turned milder for a time which is encouraging worms to cast on the greens (photo of 9th green). 

Sarrel rolling is being carried out every couple of weeks which lightly aerates the surface. 

The ‘new swale’ constructed to the left of the 13th green has become too wet to turf. 

As soon as the puddle in the base drains we will turf this area before the next rains. 

Due to the wet conditions there are lots of leaves and we are struggling to get the equipment on the course to blow and collect the leaves. So the lads are trying to keep it as playable as

possible and have been clearing some areas on foot with backpack blowers to help the situation.  One big wind and some dry days please!! 

Fairways have not been cut in a while, although, given a dry window, we managed to get out to do a perimeter cut to mark the edges. 

Tees and Aprons are performing well, although some aprons such as 10, 12 and 16 are getting muddy due to worms and surrounding trees. 

There are many traffic restrictions out there as the course has been put into ‘winter mode’.  These are for the benefit of the course and will help ‘course recovery’ in the spring.  

Please replace any hoops after playing your shot and adhere to the traffic restrictions – it is very important, for course protection, to also avoid taking trollies between bunkers and greens and also keeping away from aprons. 

Our sheep are currently grazing between 3 and 17 and tree work continues with 2 diseased Ash on the 14th felled.   

As this is my last Fore Info contribution on Greens, my sincere thanks go to all the members of Greens Committee for their hard work, enthusiasm, dedication and commitment – in Simon, Adam, Ben, Dan, Mick and Dominic we have a team to be proud of.  They just keep on improving!  Onwards and upwards.   

Finally, thanks for all the support you all have given ‘the Greenies’ during the year … … … and may 2020 be a great golfing/greenkeeping year!

Have a great Christmas and New Year

Mark Tiplady

Answer.

The player incurs no penalty.

If a ball is accidentally moved when a player is trying to find or identify it, Rule 7.4 applies, and the ball must be replaced on the estimated spot without penalty.

Loose impediments are not part of the lie and therefore do not need to be replaced unless needed to replace the ball in the correct elevation.

See Interpretation 7.4/1

“to provide funds for capital expenditure to enhance the Golf Course and/or Club House”.  This is still very much the objective and projects supported by the 100 Club would generally be considered ‘extras’ and not necessarily within the Golf Club budget.

Many items have been purchased over the years with the new rattan patio furniture being the most recent.  In recent years the 100 Club has purchased the drinking fountain on the 4^th/15^th holes, the finger post signage, the Information Board and Clock at the first tee and the automated Defibrillator in the Entrance Hall.

So, can I join the 100 Club?  

Yes of course. New members are always welcome and so as a Golf Club member you can actively contribute towards future enhancements to the facilities on the Golf Course or Clubhouse whilst having the opportunity to win a monthly cash prize. Or why not increase your existing shareholding for an even better chance of a prize.  Shares can be purchased for £1 per month paid for by Standing Order and there is no limit on the number which can be held – most members have between 1 and 5 shares.  Each share is allocated a number which is entered into the monthly draw with a top prize of £100, with a second prize of £50 and four other prizes of £32. For more information contact Pat Wallis on 01420 564417 or peterpat51@outlook.com, or call in to the Secretary’s Office.

Pat Wallis