Fore Info December 2021
Content
Here are some of the December highlights, particularly from some new faces:
- Key points from the recent AGM
- Clubhouse Development latest update on building work
- Members with non-golfing special achievements: world renowned scientist
- Recap of the highs and lows from 2021 by our Captain ‘present and to be’
- Learn which are the Captains Charities 2022
- Our new Ladies Captain takes over
- Details of Winter plans and Competition/General Play status from new Chair
- New Vets Captain update
- Details of upcoming Rollups
- Pro Tip from Mark Wood on Breaking 90
- Updates on the Course from new Greens Chair
- Lucky Winners in the 100 Club
- Joke and Cartoon of the Month
A warm welcome to our new Captains:
Ladies Captain- Jan Harring
Vets Captain- Bob Archer
Junior Captain- Harriet Riches
and yes, we need to suffer Tip for another year as Captain! Just kidding Tip!
Finally a big thanks to all members of all committees, all staff at AGC and Fore Info contributors for their excellent work in what was a tough 2021.
I hope you enjoy reading the last Fore of 2021.
If you have ideas to further improve Fore Info, please email me at newsletter@alresfordgolf.co.uk or look me up on the club directory for a chat.
David Marshall
Editor
Management Corner
The Club held its Annual General Meeting which I chaired as usual on Friday 26th November 2021.
I was pleased to confirm that the Club has generated a good surplus this year and has increased cash reserves by £117,000. The Management Committee’s strategies in developing the Club and securing our financial well-being have worked well, even during the past two covid-affected years. Specifically, we have driven;
- A focus on attracting new full-members to the Club to offset the loss of revenue from visitors, guests and societies due to the pandemic
- A focus on our status as a ‘Member’s Club’, putting members first.
- Continuous improvement of our course and practice facilities
Again, we anticipate that the Club will need to close to new full-membership applications in early 2022. All current members who pay their 2022 subscription by the end of January 2022 are guaranteed their membership, together with all of our temporary/waiting list members from this year. Anyone not paying their membership fee in time is not guaranteed 2022 membership, unless a prior arrangement is confirmed with David Maskery, General Manager.
Even with a full-membership, the Club is still reliant upon income from visitors, guests and societies which also provides essential income for the Pro-Shop and bar & catering. The Management Committee will debate and implement some restrictions on societies and visitors to balance course capacity with members golf and the Club’s financial health.
The AGM voted in a number of minor rule changes, but did not support the motion to permit members to bring their dogs onto the course whilst playing non-competition golf. Even though the motion was not passed, I am delighted that member’s suggestions and preferences can come directly to the AGM so that we achieve fully democratic outcomes.
I confirmed that Bob Moore had stepped down as Chair of Greens, and that Ray Panter had stepped down as Chair of Finance after five years of service to the Club, two of which required his forensic accountancy skills to remove unnecessary costs throughout the Covid pandemic.
Additionally, George Clelland steps down as our long serving Match and Handicap Secretary. George has overseen the processing of our handicaps, competition results and listening to our gripes about how unfair the handicap system is, since 2015. He has given invaluable assistance to the Office Administration and guided the club calmly and effectively through the many changes to CONGU handicapping regulations, handicapping software, developed a comprehensive competition and fixture diary and perhaps.
The AGM voted in or ratified the following Management Committee members;
Robert White Chairman of the Management Committee
Trevor Pearce Chair of Bar & Catering
Sue Masser Chair of House
Nick Duncan Chair of Planning & Development
Richard Lane Chair of Finance
Derek Myers Chair of Greens
The AGM confirmed the appointment of Gill Freemantle to replace George as Chair of Competitions and Handicap Committee (newly renamed to reflect the competition work and which excludes club matches), and Mike Battisson as Chair of the important Social Committee.
After the close of the AGM, as is traditional, Mark Tiplady was invested as Club Captain.
Clubhouse Development
I am excited that our contractor for the Clubhouse development project, Ascia Construction, is now on site. The Clubhouse is now closed for the period of the build which is scheduled for 6-months. We have been unable to provide temporary bar & catering facilities due the inability to provide a reasonable environment from which our staff could be expected to work throughout the Winter months. We are in consultation with staff affected at this time, and I will update members once we have concluded the consultation having taken all options into account.
Regular updates on the progress of the build will be provided to members, and you are welcome to contact me directly if you have any queries. Sue Masser, is going to be very busy providing an essential link between the Club and our contractors, so do make sure you address any queries to me directly as Sue does not have the bandwidth to deal with members enquiries and the build.
Loan Notes
To partially fund the Clubhouse development the club launched interest bearing loan notes at 2%, and there has been strong uptake. We already have 60% of the loan notes arranged; when combined with the contribution from the Club’s cash reserves, this takes to having 75% of the funding already in place. There is currently plenty of opportunity to participate in the loan note scheme which pays better interest than most bank accounts and of course supports the Club. Do contact David Maskery immediately to take up this attractive opportunity to support the Club.
Robert White
Chairman of the Management Committee
Members special non-golfing achievements: World Renowned Scientist
AGC: We’ve Got Talent- Who is it?
This is the third of my reports to uncover special ‘non-golfing’ achievements from our membership. If during a game or over a beer you hear a story about another members’ special non-golfing achievement let me know and I will publish it. Maybe we have past Olympians, World Record holders or someone in the Guinness Book of Records?
Often members are shy to report these things but I hope readers will enjoy hearing about these special people in our midst. Just send me an email or give me a ring.
David Marshall
Editor
So far this year we have highlighted sporting achievements off the golf course. This month we recognize someone who has world renown in science, across the broad disciplines of physics and biology.
John’s excellence has been recognized with the Franklin Medal in Physics, the DIRAC Medal, the Oliver Buckley Prize, and the Albert Einstein World Award of Science, to name a few.
He has worked in the US as a Professor at Princeton University for a number of years and specialises in the physics of how the human brain works. His studies have inspired machine learning concepts behind the AI of self-driving vehicles and face detection on phones.
He is a member of AGC, despite living mostly in America. He donated a seat on the Academy Course, so next time you play it, rest a while and reflect on our famous member, John Hopfield.
Watch the Video below to find out more.
[kad_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/c8JZwBRm4ys” ]
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From the Club Captain
This year brought challenges never seen before but the club overcame all. I’m always proud to be a member of Alresford Golf Club, but never more than this year.
Simon & team finished the successful winter projects including the 12th tee and ‘first impressions’. The Starters hut was funded by the 100 club and built by volunteers (mostly Vets) saving the club £1270 (not including treating the wood!)
Incredible weather, wet then frost through April and May held up course recovery generally and greens health in particular. Our course doesn’t just play well but is always well presented. Other clubs always say how tidy the course is. Congratulations and thanks to retiring chair of greens Bob Moore, great job, best chair of greens since Harry Dhand.
There were many cancelled events due to Covid including the Club Dinner, Captains Drive-in, Burns Supper, 50th playing of our prestigious pre-season friendly against the Count Men’s Team, Men’s Invitation, our main event the Triumvirate, Pro-Am, the Gales Hockley plus a number of team friendly fixtures.
The course eventually reopened on March 29th when the first was renamed Scotts. Great to see Malcolm enjoying retirement, playing golf!!! and continuing to be involved in the club as an additional volunteer greenkeeper. His love for the club is clear to see and we really look forward to the long awaited celebration of his 40 years of outstanding service to AGC and Hampshire golf in the reopened clubhouse.
Special congratulations also to Jane Scott who is now President of Hampshire Ladies Golf. Jane is most deserving of this honour and we are incredibly proud.
Thanks to Marion and Alan Bruce, who organised a well-supported mixed friendly fixture list. Jim White who ran the “Scratch” teams with some success in 3 competitions.
We are fortunate to have strong Ladies and Vets sections, both of which have enjoyed a successful, if truncated season. Congratulations to Di Peisley and Gareth Rees, you have served the club and your sections well.
Junior Captain Jenny Myers had another successful year, on and off the course. Now at college, she found work experience with the greenkeepers really useful for her course, media studies. She certainly added some new words to her vocabulary. Fusarium being one.
I am constantly reminded how lucky I am to have Simon Freemantle as my vice-captain. He successfully managed the Mens Friendly fixtures, supported the mixed matches and arranged “new member” golf get togethers/roll-ups. He also carried me when we won the Waterlooville Captain/Vice Captain. Work on all aspects of golf and CapCom. Thank you Simon. I really can’t wait for 2023!!
The Match Committee is incredibly hard working. George Clelland’s outstanding knowledge and diligence led a dedicated team who managed 125 competitions. We lost approximately 20 because of the lockdown in March and April, some of these were board competitions which were re-scheduled to later in the year. George, you have led your team with distinction for many years. Happy retirement, but please keep your phone handy!!
The House Committee and Sue Masser in particular have worked tirelessly on the clubhouse development preparation and fulfilment. Trevor Pearce and the Bar & Catering Committee have had the most challenging year imaginable, and we wish them well with the challenges ahead!
Nick Duncan and the Planning and Development committee have their finger on the pulse.
Mark & Mandy could not have had a more difficult start! Settling in well and we wish them success. Mark has coached many members and his reputation grows! We look forward to seeing Junior coaching building up next year.
Captain-Pro challenge has been a great success, giving members an opportunity to play with such a good professional golfer. The first winners of the Trophy were Harry Dhand and David Fox, who were also our first challengers. This raised over £600 for Captains Charity.
Captains Charity
Really proud of the members for the support this year. We were able to provide craft bags to the Carroll Centre and Winchester Young Carers during a really difficult time for them through Christmas and Covid lockdown. The final total will exceed £10,500. Well done and grateful thanks to all members for your support.
Welcome to Jan Harring and Bob Archer as Ladies and Vets Captains for the coming year. Welcome also to our new Junior Captain, Harriet Riches.
Jan, Bob, Harriet and I have again decided to support 3 charities next year.
The main charity for 2022 we are proud to support is Alice’s Arc Home :: Alice’s Arc (alicesarc.org). This is for research into cancer in children. Only a tiny proportion of Cancer research funds go towards children’s’ cancers. I became aware of this through Dawson who was the much-loved son of my friends David and Wendy. Many of you will be aware of the link with the Panter family to Sophie. This will continue and support the fundraising in Sophies memory.
Sophie was the god-daughter of Tim, husband of Maddy, who is Mary and Ray Panter’s daughter. Tim died last year just before Christmas. Tim and Sophie’s dad, Gareth, had been friends since childhood and one of Maddy’s best friends is Charlotte, Sophie’s mum.
Sophie was nine years old last September. She was a very bright, funny, happy, loving child who together with her two sisters and her mum and dad enjoyed life. In September, 2020 Sophie was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare form of childhood cancer. Despite numerous treatments and hospital stays and fighting as hard as she could, Sophie died in September of this year when she was just ten years’ old. The treatments available for children are harsh and should they survive can have long term effects on their lives. They deserve better.
Gareth and Charlotte have been closely involved with Alice’s Arc, a charity set up by Alice’s parents when Alice was also diagnosed with rhabdomyosacoma. This charity is working hard to find a better way to treat this childhood cancer. It is almost unique as those who run the charity take no salaries and no expenses. Every penny raised is going into research.
Alice’s Arc works with a network of expert scientists and clinicians who focus on rhabdomyosarcoma. They work in major research institutions and leading paediatric cancer hospitals. They include, the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in collaboration with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH). The ICR, together with its clinical partner, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, forms the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe. GOSH is the largest paediatric cancer centre in Europe. Also, The University of Birmingham, Wellcome Sanger Institute and UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.
The following statistics do not make good reading and every penny we raise will help in the fight to look after our young people and hopefully help provide kinder treatments.
4 new drugs in twenty years
8% survival rate on relapse
550 deaths each year
Parkinsons, Homepage | Parkinson’s UK (parkinsons.org.uk) in recognition and support of the work done by the Chants over the years. Close to home for this club and our members.
Finally one that is personal to me.
My mum had an acoustic neuroma attached to her facial nerves and its removal 25 years ago caused her face to drop, similar to Bells Palsy. (mum IS smiling in all 3 photo’s!)
Bana (British Acoustic Neuroma Association) have given her great support and will receive a small sum. BANA UK | About BANA (bana-uk.com)
Ray Panter has stood down as Chair of Finance after over 12 years on the committee. Ray has been an outstanding Treasurer, using his highly qualified accountancy knowledge to maintain the strong financial position that the club enjoys, through the most difficult of times. Thank you Ray, it has been a pleasure working with you. Now enjoy your golf!!
My grateful thanks to past captains for their wise council and support. Last and by no means least, thank you David Maskery. Such a great range of knowledge and experience of the wider world of golf as well as our club. You make all our jobs so much easier!
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the running of the club through actively working on committees, marshalling the course, acting as starters, building starters huts. The list goes on.
I am honoured to continue as Club Captain. We are all looking forward to a full season of golf with a clubhouse to match our stunning course, worthy of the members of this terrific members’ club.
Mark Tiplady
Club Captain
Ladies Section
Yet another unusual year, culminating in our second Zoom AGM. I have just taken over from Di Peisley and will be Lady Captain for 2021/2022. It was a great surprise but also an honour to be asked to take on this role and I was delighted to accept. She has had to deal with set-backs this year due to Covid closures, matches being moved or cancelled, the cancellation of Presentation Night and the imminent closure of the club house. However, being Di, she has dealt with it all with good grace and has been a fun person to be around. She has been a great supporter of the Stoneham matches which I looked after this year, turning out to support nearly every match whether it was home or away as well as supporting as many other matches and events as she could. She is generous to a fault – her swan song being the supplier of Bucks Fizz for her last official match of her year – The Captain’s and 
Lady Captain’s match on Sunday, 22 November. Whether she hoped that the opposition would drink sufficient to impair their golf is unknown. If that were the case, it didn’t work…..! However we had a great day and twenty eight of us enjoyed a very informal lunch in a somewhat dishevelled club house on its final day. Thank you Di for all you have done this last year, you will be a hard act to follow.
Congratulations to Marion Bruce and her team who had a very satisfactory win against Sherfield Oaks on their home course in the Maple Leaf competition. The Maple Leaf team have another match at home on Thursday, 9 December against Basingstoke and we wish them well with that. There was another great win by our ladies in the Legg Bowl, ably captained by Linda Wager. We now go on to the third round of that competition which will be against Stoneham on 17th December at home.
The next few months as winter begins will be very different from our usual winter programme at the club. The Ladies will be running their usual Turkey Trot on 4th and 7th December, This competition is always a very popular event and our last qualifier of the year. This will be followed on Tuesday, 14th December by the Ladies nine hole Texas Scramble and Lunch that will be held this year at the Bell Inn, in Alresford.
And whilst I know it’s not quite in December, the ladies will be hosting a nine hole competition on New Year’s Day when we hope, that fortified by mince pies and mulled wine, many of you will turn up and enjoy some golf.
I look forward to the next year and hope that we can have a bit more normality than both Mel and Di have had to cope with.
Jan Harring
Ladies Captain
Match Committee Report
Qualifying Competitions over the Winter
Please note there are now no qualifying competitions (including General Play scores) until the 21st February 2022.
There are several reasons for this. Primarily it will allow the Greenstaff flexibility in completing their winter projects without having to maintain a measured course, allowing them to take greens and tees out of play at any time based on the weather and ground conditions and to allow the work on winter projects to proceed on the best possible schedule.
The added complexities of the competition software means that it is no longer possible to change the status of a competition (due to weather) from qualifying to non-qualifying and vice-versa once play has started.
This approach also clarifies the situation for any golfer who plays when temporary greens are in use and/or the course length is shortened by more than 100 yards. Allowing competitions to be ‘play the course as you find it’.
The one exception will be the Turkey Trots scheduled for 4th, 5th and 7th December. These competitions will be qualifying provided the weather forecast/conditions allow. The weather and forecast will be reviewed by the Committee member running each of these competitions who will decide as to if the competition will be qualifying or non-qualifying.
The good news is that we can still have some competitive golf as Mark Wood will run a series of non- qualifying ‘Pros Stableford’ over the next couple of months as these, together with our own ‘knock-out matches’ do not require a measured course.
The Committee has organised approximately 160 competitions this year so the winter period is an opportunity to relax a bit, while working on the Annual Review of Handicaps and prepare for 2022.
Wrong Green
Now that we are at the time of year when have temporary greens marked on the course, a reminder about ‘wrong greens’. A Wrong Green is any green on the course other than the putting green of the hole being played. This includes all marked temporary greens. You must take free relief if your ball comes to rest on a wrong green or the wrong green physically interferes with your stance – ie you must not stand on the wrong green to play your shot. The relief area is 1 club length from the reference point. It would also be good course etiquette to not walk or take your trolley/buggy across any temporary green.
General Play Scores
We have recently received guidelines from England Golf regarding General Play Scores and penalties for failing to return a score. We will give full details on this directive in time for the resumption of qualifying General Play Scores in February 2022.
Clubhouse Redevelopment
The closure of the clubhouse for redevelopment will obviously have an impact on sign-in, score entry and the returning of scorecards. During this period, a portable PSI terminal has been located in the Pro’s Shop together with the usual boxes for returning scorecards (Ladies should continue to place their competition cards in the Ladies Changing Room). However, at no time will the requirements be relaxed for correctly signing-in into a competition or General Play score, score entry or return your scorecard without undue delay.
Communication
The Match and Handicap Committee will be known as the Competitions and Handicap Committee going forward. If you wish to email please use new email address below.
Finally ….
Past and present members of the Committee owe a huge thanks to George for his fabulous and unstinting efforts over the last 6 years whilst he has been Chair. I know that all members appreciate his hard work and we as a committee will do our very best to maintain the high standards set.
Gill Freemantle
Chair, Competitions and Handicap Committee, Handicap Secretary
A Look at the Rules
Question.
A player finds a sheet of ice on the putting green on their line of play. Is the player allowed to remove the ice? Can the player take any other free relief?
Vets Section
It has now been two weeks into my term as Vets Captain, taking over from Gareth Rees. I would like to thank Gareth for all his hard work over the past year and to say how honoured I was to be asked to be his Vice-Captain.
This continues my proud boast to have been captain of all sports, football, cricket, stoolball, and darts, that I have played over the past 60 years. I am sure this challenge will be the hardest yet!
The Vets Tankard competition was very well supported with 39 players taking part. The winner, on count back, with 38 points was John Goddard with David Marshall and Stuart Gaunt coming second and third. This was followed by the A.G.M.
The handing over of the jacket by Gareth started my term of office at the Vets AGM.
The first competition will be the Christmas Texas Scramble on Wednesday 8th December. This will be followed by a meal at The Cricketers.
The Winter League is well underway with wins against Corhampton, Hockley and South Winchester. With two more games this side of Christmas, Royal Winchester away and Salisbury and South Wilts at home.
Updated results in the January Fore Info.
Happy Christmas and hope to see you all on the course.
Bob Archer
Vets Captain
General Manager’s Update
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to the following new members who have all joined the club during November and December; Richard Lucas, Steve Brown, Joe Callow, Michael Duncombe, David Foden, James Macleod, Ricky Peters, Jason Stockley, Kate Fay (Temporary) and Kim Roberts (Academy).
We hope that your time at the club will be a long and enjoyable one for all of you.
CLUBHOUSE OPENING / CLOSING TIMES
During the refurbishment period over the winter then general closing time for the clubhouse (and changing rooms) will be 5.00pm. There may be occasions when it is necessary for the Office to be unmanned due to building work / noise etc. On these occasions and at weekends, the opening hours of the clubhouse (and changing rooms) will therefore be dictated by the Pro-Shop. This will mean that all clubhouse facilities will close earlier than normal at 4.00pm. Please be aware of the closing times when going out onto the course and do not leave belongings in the changing rooms.
THE CRICKETERS Public House
We are pleased to inform members that we have secured an incentive for members to use the The Cricketers PH for any post-golf refreshments. On production of your club bar card (ID purposes only) you will receive a 5% discount on any drink or food purchase.
Their opening hours are as follows:
Monday 3.00 – 6.00pm ~ Drinks only
Tuesday – Saturday 12.00pm – 10.00pm (Kitchen 12 – 2.30pm & 5 – 9pm)
Sunday 12 – 6pm (Kitchen 12 – 5pm)
CLUB ‘ROLL UP’
Fancy a game during the week? All members are welcome to come along to the informal ‘club roll-up’ on Wednesday mornings. The usual start time is between 11.00-11.30am all year round but may change subject to any advanced tee reservations. Everyone welcome, meet at the starters hut from approx. 10.45am for allocation of groups. As per the times highlighted for the Ladies and Vets Sections, we politely ask members to show courtesy to those who wish to play in this ‘roll up’ at this time. If you do not wish to play with this group please choose another time if possible.
DECEMBER
Wednesday 1st Dec ~ 11.00am
Wednesday 8th Dec ~ 11.00am
Wednesday 15th Dec ~ 11.00am
Wednesday 22nd Dec ~ 11.00am
Wednesday 29th Dec ~ 11.00am
TEE BOOKINGS
We have deliberately tried not to impose too many restrictions onto the booking system to allow members maximum opportunity to make a booking and play. However, it has become obvious that some members appear more the once on the same day. This may be a simple duplication occurring when more the one person makes a booking on behalf of a group. If you find your receiving notification of multiple bookings please remove yourself immediately from one booking.
Please watch out for the sunrise times when making an earlier booking – you must not delay your start and squeeze out ahead of a booking just to catch the first rays of sun.
FACEBOOK – check out our Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/alresfordgolfclub
Make sure you ‘like’ our Facebook page and you will link to it and get the regular pictures and updates on what’s happening ! Share with your friends to help us boost our online and social media profiles
Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/alresford_golf_club/
CAR PARK
The end bays of the Car Park adjacent to the Par 3 Course are reserved during the week for the Contractors during the Clubhouse Development period. Please do not park in these spaces. They are available for members parking at weekends.
CLUB DIARY – IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Members are still being caught out by only referring to the Club Diary Icon on Club V1 app.
Please remember that the Club Diary icon within the Club V1 app, only shows upcoming competitions. It does not link with our google calendar and so reflect the full club dairy with any tee reservations for matches or golf societies.
If you wish to access this via the Club V1 app, use the Club website icon / Homepage / Menu / Events
Alternatively check the noticeboards outside the Pro-Shop and on the 1st tee – both of these show two weeks of any tee restrictions.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS 2022
ALL Subscription invoices will be emailed (or posted) during the week beginning 13th December. If you do not received yours please contact the Office immediately as payment is due on 1st January – but yes, you do have until 31st January to make your payment and still receive you £50 ‘on time ‘ payment to your bar card.
To help us with this we would appreciate the early settlement of invoices and so ease the burden on the Office. With the restricted access to the office , please consider paying either online via BACS transfer or to the Office via the telephone.
If you intend not to rejoin – a telephone call or email to let us know is greatly appreciated. Simply to ignore your invoice and subsequent reminders just causes us extra work. You may have told your friends – but that doesn’t count !
Looking for a way to ease the burden of subscription renewal each year ?
Why not join the ADVANCE SUBSCRIPTIONS SCHEME in 2022 ? Choose any amount to pay over 10 months towards your subscription bill in 2023. Build up a credit on your account which is offset against your renewal bill due 1st January 2023. Pay as much or as little as you wish. Speak to the Office for more details and to receive an ADVANCE SUBS mandate form.
BOXING DAY ~ CAPTAIN v VICE CAPTAIN ‘ROLL UP’
Come and join Mark and Simon on Boxing Day morning between 9.00-11.00am for a ‘roll-up’ 9 holes. Christmas ‘house guests’ are welcome to join in. You will be allocated a ‘team’ on arrival. Mince pies and Christmas beverages will be available on the 1st tee.
Winter is on it’s way- Be Safe on the Golf Course
Rain/Mud/Frost/Ice = slippery golf course, especially grass banks, wooden sleepers and any untreated areas.
PLEASE TAKE CARE AND KEEP TO THE PATHS WHEREVER POSSIBLE
DO NOT WALK ON SLOPES
DO NOT TAKE YOUR TROLLEYS ACROSS THE SIDES OF SLOPES AND BANKS
PLEASE ADHERE TO ANY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SIGNAGE ON THE COURSE
KEEP BUGGIES AND TROLLIES AWAY FROM THE EDGES OF GREENS AND TEES
If roads are icy in the morning on your way to the club, it is fair to assume that the car park and the paths around the club will be icy too! We do our best to grit and salt these areas but please take care.
David Maskery
General Manager
Pro- Corner
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Break 90
[kad_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlBoCcmZCEc” ]
MORE GOLF TIPS
I am always filming new video tips and popping them over on my YouTube channel which is completely free to subscribe to. You can find my channel here – https://www.youtube.com/user/markwoodgolfacademy
Greens News
So, it’s two days since the AGM and I’m already beginning to immerse myself in all things Chair of Greens starting with the FORE report! Needless to say I’m looking forward to getting to grips with the role. Hopefully members should not notice any particular change simply the continued development of the course we all enjoy.
I’ve not been out on the course since the AGM but I’m sure the weekend storm will only have increased the tree debris. The Greenkeepers will continue to use blowers to “tidy” each morning. You may have noticed that that we are continuing our general husbandry of our woodland areas. We have started some base pruning, lifting canopies to allow the mowers underneath and let most importantly to let in light and air. In addition, the arborist will visit the course this month to prune and fell some Ash suffering from die back.
Overall, the course is in good condition given the time of year and weather conditions. We had some heavy rainfall in the last week of October and since then the month of November has been unseasonably dry with only 5mm recorded. Some fusarium is present on the greens but on the whole we are clean and looking good. Although weather conditions of the past couple of weeks have been perfect for fusarium development we hope that this weekend’s cold snap resulted in a drop in humidity and halted further spread.
We have replaced the damaged turf on the 7th green with an almost perfect match Poa/Bent blend turf. The contaminated soil was removed and replaced with a fresh sand soil mix, the new turf was cut to size and laid in to the correct depth. We will continue to use a temporary green on the 7th hole until the new turf has rooted and stabilised.
Grass kept growing throughout almost all of November! Consequently, the Greenkeepers spent a great deal of time mowing the fairways. Now we have seen a drop in temperatures this should free up the team for other work such as treatments on tees, green aprons plus the 9th, 11th and 12th fairways to combat worm casting. We now have 15 sheep out in the field helping out in managing our rough. Those areas the sheep can’t manage, the Greenkeepers will cut, collect and remove when other tasks allow.
The Greenkeepers are also undertaking general maintenance of our bunkers; repairing the worn out edges with new turf being laid (all new turf areas are ground under repair and marked with a white line), applying herbicide around some bunkers to eradicate weeds. We have also done some work on the practice areas including two new distance signs that have been put up marking 100 and 150 yards on the range. Please note that the grass tee on the range will close from 1st December. In addition to general maintenance “Winter Project” is now underway, beginning with the work on the 13th and 17th bunkers and then the ladies’ tees on the 3rd and 11th. The bunkers will be built as eco bunkers with a base liner and astro turf revets to form the edges.
That is all for now, please enjoy our course.
Derek Myers
Chair, Greens Committee
A Look at the Rules
Answer.
Yes, the ice can be treated as a loose impediment or casual water at the players option. The player can therefore remove the ice or move their ball, not nearer the hole to avoid the ice. See Definitions – Loose Impediment
If you would like to find out more about the rules, there is a wonderful rules section on the R&A website www.randa.org where you can also find these exceptions. Just download the R&A app (Rules of Golf) from the app store.
Thanks to Brian Overton for all these Rules Q and A’s.
100 Club
The winners of the 100 Club prize draw for December 2021 were:
£100 Carol Roe
£50 Sally Willis
£32 David Marshall
£32 Chris Chapman
£32 Andrew Thorne
£32 Jess Miles
Congratulations to all those who have been lucky this month. This is Carol’s first appearance in the winners list so a nice surprise ready for some Christmas shopping! If you have never won anything then don’t give up – you may be the lucky person in the draw next time. Next month’s draw will take place early in time for Christmas but as the clubhouse will be out of action you will have to wait for the next edition of FORE Info to find out the winners.
For those who may not have seen the 100 Club Financial Report in the recent AGM papers you may be interested to know that we paid out £3,176 in prizes during 2021 and after allowing for uncleared prize cheques will carry forward £10,969 to the new year. The figures show that the 100 Club provided funds of £6,240 for club projects. This was just the one item – the new Starters Hut. There are currently no other projects under consideration. Our membership has remained steady with new members offsetting those who have left the golf club.
If you would like to be part of the 100 Club and actively contribute towards future enhancements to our facilities, and have the chance of winning a cash prize each month, then why not join us. If you are already a member then please encourage your friends or new members to join us too.
The monthly draw is for six cash prizes: £100, £50 and four at £32.
Each share cost £1 per month paid for by monthly standing order and there is no limit to the number you can purchase. Members generally have between 1 and 10 shares with 5 being the most common holding.
For further information about the 100 Club and its history please refer to this section in previous editions of FORE Info. Application forms can be obtained from the Secretary’s office or from me – Pat Wallis phone 01420 564417 or email peterpat51@outlook.com
As this is the last FORE Info this year then I would like to thank you for supporting the 100 Club and wish you all a Merry Christmas with lots of good golfing in 2022.
Pat Wallis
Funny Endings: Joke of the Month
A golfer decided to go out and play eighteen holes of golf on Christmas Day. He hit a bird. It was a partridge on a par three.
Thanks to Jan Harring for contributing this months festive joke and Chris Thompson for the cartoon.
We are looking for golf related, clean, seriously funny humour suitable for all members. Send your contributions to the Editor (David Marshall) at newsletter@alresfordgolf.co.uk
If we use your joke or cartoon, I will buy you a drink in the bar.
Quote of the Month
“I have spent most of my life golfing, the rest I just wasted” Anon
Editor: David Marshall
DISCLAIMER
The Editorial Team take no responsibility for incorrect information received from Contributors.