Fore Info July 2025
New Club Champions: Ben Ludlam and Kelly Travers
Contents
To jump to the section you want to read, just click on the Content titles below (Return by clicking on links after each section):
History Corner: a focus on our greens
Club Captain News
Ladies Captain
Vets update
Juniors
Competitions and Handicaps
Mixed Matches
Rules Quiz Question and Answer
Greens News
General Managers update
Social
Winners in the 100 Club
Welcome to those new members who have joined the club during June ; Colin Williams ( 7 day) , Adrian Warren and Ryan Fuller ( 5 day) and Victoria Varmer (Academy).
We hope that you all have a long and enjoyable time at the club.
The golfing highlight is always the Club Championships and this year did not disappoint with a thrilling three hole playoff in the Mens Championships. Well done Ben Ludlam and our Ladies Champion, Kelly Travers. All the scoring details as well as prize winners and Tichborne Trophy match ups are in the Competitions and Handicaps section.
There is also plenty of golfing successes in the ladies, mens, Juniors and Vets sections to admire. We are an all round golfing powerhouse in Hampshire, punching well above our weight. Well done to all.
Congratulations to Stuart Slater who aced the 6th hole in a recent Vets Match. Toby Howells did the same at a Juniors event at the Drift Golf Club. Well done both.
This month we look back to the History of our Greens- a lot has changed since 1890.
There is a lot to cover this month but use the jump to links in the contents list above to go exactly where you want to read. Then jump back.
Finally a congratulations to Will Pakenham-Walsh for winning the leading amateur trophy at the Hampshire Open. Again putting AGC on the map.
With this exceptionally hot weather make sure you all take care and drink lots of water. The safest place is probably the 19th hole with a refreshing glass of your favourite thirst quencher.
Please get in touch if you have any topics you would like covered in future Fore Info editions. Enjoy the read
David Marshall
Editor
History Corner – Celebrating 135 years of AGC
The second new one was the 17th green as we play it now.
They also added then the 7th/16th which today we play as our second hole.
From the Club Captain
It’s been a busy month in June, culminating with our Club Championships!!
The Triumvirate and The Men’s Invitational saw Alresford Golf Club getting great reviews and feedback from all the visitors joining these events!
The compliments for the Course, the organisation and catering just kept flowing.
The Captain’s Charity Day support for the registration as well as the raffle and fun games to raise money for both charities was very well supported, so a big thank you to you all!
The Triumvirate was won by The Army (again!) and 2nd place was Hockley. Thank you to Les Thorne for the crafted Bowls and to all the support team from C+H and Starters, Raffle Team and Catering – It was a great way to present our club!!
The Men’s Invitational was won by Derek Myers and Mike Hey (North Hants) with 61 pts and 2nd place was Mike Bryett and Andy Fewings (Sonning) with 59 pts. They have some good bed-time reading with the Biography’s kindly donated and personalised by our own Jeff Stelling! (Thanks again to Jeff!)
The Captain’s Charity Day was won by Lynne Cowser, Gill England, Lisa Kilmister and Linda Wager with 127 Pts, 2nd place was Stuart Slater, Tony Freeman, Pete Dowse and Keith Turner with 126 Pts, 3rd Place was Dave and Karen Fox and John and Elaine Capp with 125 pts (CB) and 4th place was Jeremy Sturges, Pete Allen, Nigel Slater and Andy Nash with 125 Pts.
Peter Coulson won the Darts Golf with 118 and Liz Hastings won the nearest guess to the Tee’s in the Jar.
A special mention for Stuart Slater’s hole-in-one on the 6th at the Captain’s Charity Day.
2nd Place finishes at Romsey and at Salisbury and South Wilts GC was pleasing for my chosen playing partners, thank you.
Good win’s against Bramshaw GC and Hants Police at home but a tough match at Cowdrey away saw Charlie’s Friendlies squad all getting a good work out!
Well done to everybody involved in the Club Champs event and thank you for all the hard work and time volunteers have been putting in to organising and delivering this great weekend!
Congratulations to our Mens Club Champion 2025: Ben Ludlam and Ladies Club Champion 2025: Kelly Travers.
Full Championship Weekend scoring and prize details in the Competitions and Handicaps section.
Finally congratulations to Will Pakenham-Walsh for his 4 under par (2 x gross 67) in the Hampshire Open at AGC. He won the “Leading Amateur” trophy and also Ryan Moody Alresford PGA member 7 under (65 + 66) winning the Hampshire Open itself – the Alresford double!
The last Alresford member to win the leading amateur spot was Jonathan Fox in 2010, David and Karen’s son.
Jonathan is also a previous winner of the John Holmes Trophy that his Dad Dave won on Championship weekend. Another double of course is that Mum, Karen at the Championship won the ladies Brenda Hedges Trophy.
Gary Mugford
Club Captain
Ladies Section
What a fantastic month it’s been at the club – plenty of sunshine and even more great golf!
Firstly a big congratulations to our new Ladies Club Champion Kelly Travers. Also to our net winners Karen Fox and Ann Gunn.
Our Ladies Scratch Team remain undefeated, continuing their superb season with an excellent win against North Hants. Congratulations to all the team!
Linda Wager and Allena Doley are flying the AGC flag proudly in the Knight Cup, securing another brilliant win against Stoneham. They now progress to the quarter-finals, where they’ll take on Freshwater Bay. Best of luck!
Our Daily Mail Foursomes pair are also on a roll, notching up another impressive victory against Burley. They now move into Round 5 and will be travelling to the Isle of Wight to face Ryde. Sarah Staines and Heather Williams, we’re all cheering you on!
The Ladies Mixed Invitation was another highlight of the month, with a great attendance and glowing feedback on the condition of the course, food and the friendly organisation. I am pleased to report that the raffle raised £310 for the Ladies Charity – a wonderful result.
Here’s to more great weather and continued success on the course as we head into July!
Polly Church
Ladies Captain
Hampshire Ladies Golf
It has been another busy month for the county especially for the Hampshire Ladies 1st Team playing in the England Golf South Region County Match Week at Mill Hill Golf Club, It is an annual competition between Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, and Middlesex. Some very good match results particularly Jenny Myers and Kelly Travers from Alresford, but the team came up against strong teams from Middlesex and Surrey, with Surrey eventually winning the event. Surrey now go on to compete at the National County Finals.
Hampshire Mixed Greensomes played at Alresford, congratulations to Lynne Cowser and Jon Capp 41 points and second place.
Hampshire Vets Championship played at Corhampton sadly Alresford didn’t feature this year but we cannot be in the prizes all of the time!!
Hampshire Seniors Championship being played at the Army on 31st July is already fully booked but if you want to play I suggest you try the reserve list.
Linda Wager and Allena Doley won at home against Stoneham in the Knight Cup great result and we have Freshwater at home in the next round.
Don’t forget Ladies to look at the county board and website to ensure you don’t miss out in playing in county events as they are filling up fast.
Sandra Hooker
AGC Delegate Hampshire Ladies Golf.
Vets Section
Andy Gagen
Vets Captain
Juniors Section
Tobias Cobb
Juniors Captain
Competitions and Handicap Committee Report
Club Championship
Let me start by thanking all of my committee for their help in the preparation leading up to Club Championship weekend, and in particular to Richard Calton for helping all weekend on the Committee Desk and to David Maskery, Mary Rook and Charlie McLaughlin for marshalling the course on both days and Brian Overton, our official Competition referee.
Thanks to all our many ball spotting volunteers (James Airey, Chris Chapman, Mike Hooker, Andrew Thorne, Mary Ritchie, Lois Pope, Henry Reilly, Tony Wright, Andy Gagen, Lesley Martin, Joe Callow, John Kenwar, Eddie Martin, Peter Gunn, Richard Cocks, Billy Lovegrove, Doug Threatt, Yuri Jinno, Simon Wills, Tony Hastings, Bob Moore, Mark Tiplady, Andy Sibbald, Ian Sutherland, Sue Pearce, Mike Hooker and Ray Fisher) over the weekend. The ball spotting in particular was appreciated by all players, so a thank you to everyone who gave up their time this weekend. Some may have noticed Charlie’s “Deliveroo” sign on his buggy as he delivered and collected Ball Spotters to their allocated holes as well as delivering well earned hot and cold drinks.
Thank you also to our Past Captains who donned their Captain’s jackets for starting duties: Esme Goodacre, Keith Halls, Tery Glynn, George Clelland, Elizabeth Hesse, Kit Neilson, Brian Wright and Brian Young.
The course did indeed look spectacular from our Committee desk, although the view did become a little obstructed once the patio filled up
Congratulations to all our players who enjoyed the tricky course conditions at the weekend and in particular to all our winners. The spectators on the patio were kept up-to-date with “live scoring” for the latter groups.
Many thanks.
Gill Freemantle
Chair Competitions & Handicap Committee, Handicap Secretary
Rules Q and A
Question
General Manager’s Update
Welcome to those new members who have joined the club during June ; Colin Williams ( 7 day) , Adrian Warren and Ryan Fuller ( 5 day) and Victoria Varmer (Academy).
We hope that you all have a long and enjoyable time at the club.
The Management Committee has currently suspended new applications for Juniors and Student membership.
PLAYERS 1st MEMBERS SURVEY
Thank you to all those members who have taken the time to complete and return the Players 1st members survey. At the time of writing 422 members have responded (40%). After completion we will undertake a review of the results with our England Golf Support Officer who will assist in analysing the data. The Management Committee will then issue a review of the results.
CLUB VICE-CAPTAIN NOMINATIONS
The Selection Panel to consider candidates for the position of Club Vice Captain will be meeting shortly. In accordance with Rule 9.2 any seven-day member may be proposed for consideration by the Selection Panel if supported in writing by 15 playing members.
Any proposal should be sent to the General Manager by the closing date of 25th July.
BAG TAGS & GREEN FEES
Our 1st tee Starters are still finding members without the current 2025 bag tag. All members are reminded that if they are not displaying bag tags (with correct year of membership), they may well be challenged on the course by the Course Marshal. To prevent any embarrassment please ensure you have the correct identification. Year stickers can be collected from either the Office or pro-Shop or failing that we can post to it you . No excuses!
If you are bringing a guest please ensure they are displaying their visitors green fee tag. Members who accompany any guest who is found not to have paid their green fee will be subject to a playing suspension. If the Pro-Shop is closed, green fees can be paid for at the bar.
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. There is a tee reservation between 11.00-12.00 – members wishing to take part should 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. If there continues to be a limited use of this time, then the Captains Committee will review the tee allocation.
SUB-COMMITTEE VACANCY
The Planning & Development Committee is currently seeking a replacement member.
The sub-committee is currently responsible for the management systems for major projects in liaison with other club sub-committees, implementing any additional strategies to address the recruitment of new members and golf development, reviewing of the club rules and bye-laws, maintenance of the Club’s website, social media and IT infrastructure.
If you have any skills which you think may be useful or helpful, please contact the General Manager or David Fox (Chair of P&D) to discuss further.
A message from the Greenkeepers
THANK YOU FOR NOT DROPPING YOUR BUTTS ON THE GOLF COURSE – given the current dry spell, discarded and unextinguished cigarette butts present a fire hazard.
Smokers who drop them on the ground may not realise:
- Cigarette butts are the most littered item on the planet.
- They take from 4 to 15 years to break down.
- As well as being a potential fire hazard, they are non-biodegradable, and contain the carcinogens, nicotine and toxins found in all tobacco products.
- They poison wildlife, pollute our waterways and can damage and discolour sensitive golf course grasses.
The less time we spend picking up litter, the more we can concentrate on keeping the course in great condition.
REMINDER – DRESS CODE
The hot sunny weather always highlights any dress code miscreants and the last thing anybody wants when they are hot and bothered is to be told about their attire on the course. However please bear in mind the following;
Baseball hats should be worn the correct way around (and not in the clubhouse).
Shorts should be tailored and not football shorts, cargo shorts with outside pockets or three-quarter length.
Shirts should have a collar (men) and please tuck shirts in wherever possible.
David Maskery
General Manager
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.
INSTAGRAM Follow our brand-new Official Instagram page.
Expect to see media content of our picturesque course, golfing competitions, fun social events, and lots more.
Make sure to follow @alresfordgolf and stay tuned for new post updates on our page.
This month, as I’m writing this article in the clubhouse during the Club Championships talking to the Club Manager, I thought it would be interesting to write about the work that goes into preparing the course for this weekend.
Behind the Greens: Preparing for Club Championship Weekend
As the premier event in our golfing calendar, the Club Championship isn’t just a showcase of skill from our players—it’s also the culmination of weeks of dedication and skilled work from the greenkeeping team. While members polish their swings and steady their nerves, our team is hard at work behind the scenes, fine-tuning every detail to ensure the course is at its absolute best.
The Build-Up Begins
Preparation kicked off during the week of June 9th with some light aeration followed by a carefully applied sand dressing to the greens. This isn’t just for aesthetics—these steps help firm up the surface and enhance both the trueness and smoothness of the greens. Ultimately, it’s all about promoting ball roll and increasing green speeds, setting the stage for a high-calibre competition.
The following week saw an additional four tonnes of sand dressing applied, layering the groundwork, quite literally, for peak playing conditions.
Early Course Grooming
By the week beginning June 16th, attention turned to the wider course environment. Paths were tidied, bin and ball washer bases refreshed, and hedge cutting completed, ensuring the team could focus solely on fine-tuning the playing surfaces in the all-important build-up week.
Championship Week: Day-by-Day
Monday, June 23rd:
Target speeds of 10 feet on the stimpmeter set the bar for the week, with moisture levels managed meticulously at 25%. Hand-watering began in earnest, complemented by overnight irrigation cycles applying 2mm of water to the surfaces. Greens, tees, aprons, fairways, and surrounds were all cut and tended, and bunkers were freshened up with added sand.
Tuesday, June 24th:
Hand watering continued with ball roll readings checked. Fairways were marked at 100 and 150 yards, pin placements changed, and sand levels in bunkers reassessed. A general tidy-up ensued, including strimming rough areas and sprucing up key walking paths.
Wednesday, June 25th:
Greens were cut and rolled, with liquid applications applied to greens and aprons to enhance their colour. Weekend pin positions were carefully measured and marked. Tees and aprons were cut, bunkers raked, and attention given to tee divoting.
Thursday, June 26th:
The focus shifted to hand-cutting greens and maintaining moisture levels. Range areas were checked, nets tidied, and Ground Under Repair zones reviewed. Fairways, aprons, and surrounds were all given a final cut.
Friday, June 27th:
The finishing touches. Greens were once again hand-cut and rolled; bunkers raked and bins emptied. Tees and aprons received their last trim, and the clubhouse entrance was given a tidy to welcome players and spectators alike.
Championship Weekend: Showtime
Each morning of the competition began with hand-cutting and rolling the greens, adjusting hole positions, and setting tee markers. The team also ensured bunkers met internal standards and moisture levels just right. On Saturday afternoon, the team returned to cut and roll greens, touch up tees, repair divots, and check moisture levels—maintaining standards through every round.
A week as intense as it is rewarding, Championship preparation is a true team effort. From the first sand dressing to the final roll of the greens, every task is a testament to the care and pride the greenkeeping team take in presenting a course worthy of the occasion.
Congratulations to our Club Champions, Kelly and Ben.
Derek Myers
Chair of Greens
Social
Alicia Hardy
Chair Social
Well, it’s going down to the wire as now a two horse race for the Team Golf League Championship for 2025.
Maintaining a narrow 3 point lead are the Rookie Rebels, led by Jill Wilson, having won four of the nine weeks to date, closely followed by John Coulson’s team, Fore Jackie.
Week 10 could see it all wrapped up OR it could go the distance, so watch this space.
The Team Golf Junior OOM is also very close with last year’s winner Ben Barnard only 1 point behind Will Leyland.
The Championship Round 2 and Finals Night are on the 17th July and again a two tee start at 5pm – currently the top two in the Championship tied on 66 points (best 4 scores from 6 to count) are John Allen’s Cheeky Chippers and Jabba the Putt, led by Alicia Hardy.
A superb 25th season so far, so we hope the weather holds and we can finish in style!
All weekly results are also on the club website.
Jan, John and Jim White
A Look at the Rules
ANSWER
Just email newsletter@alresfordgolf.co.uk
Our winners for July 2025
£100 Ron Beal
£50 Nick Male
£35 Prize winners
Keith Turner
Rob Gates
John Goddard
Liz Petheram
Ray Grainger
Congratulations to our July prize winners. The ladies haven’t had much success this month so well done Liz for keeping us represented.
You may have a project or idea which you think might be assisted by funds from the 100 Club – then please give me a call or email.
Summer Stableford and Evening Meal on Friday 25 July
The annual summer competition is a social mixed individual stableford competition
open only to 100 Club members followed by a meal in the evening.
No entry fee but sign in via the terminal in the foyer on the day.
Arrange your own playing groups and tee times which can be for any time during the day.
As a 100 Club member you don’t have to play in the competition to come along to the meal in the evening. All 100 Club members and partners are welcome.
See the poster on the Social Board in the clubhouse and sign up for the meal.
The cost is £22 per person for a two course meal and coffee and you should pay at the bar any time before the day.
Please note the meal will be served at 7.30pm so if you are playing in the afternoon please aim to be finished and scores entered before then.
Come along and join in – a chance to enjoy a social get together with fellow 100 Club members.
New to the golf club or have simply never thought about joining the 100 Club! Why not do so now – and join us in the Summer Stableford competition
Anyone who is a member of the golf club as either a playing or non-playing member can be in the 100 Club. Join now and you will then be eligible to play in the Summer Stableford and to come along for a sociable meal in the evening. As a 100 Club shareholder you will be actively contributing towards future enhancements to our golf club facilities and have the chance of winning a cash prize each month.
Without financial assistance the golf club would not necessarily be able to do or replace items such as patio furniture and the new honours boards so with help from the 100 Club we all benefit. By paying as little as £1 per month to the 100 Club, or more if you wish, you can help fund club ‘extras’ and at the same time maybe win a small cash prize as well.
For further information about the 100 Club or for an application form you can look on the golf club website Members Section. Alternatively please give me a call or send me an email. The Office can give you details or you can pick up a form from them.
Pat Wallis
Editor: David Marshall
DISCLAIMER
The Editorial Team take no responsibility for incorrect information received from Contributors.
Greens