Clubhouse Development

Clubhouse Development. This is a ‘wait and see’ period, as the short-listed local architects – all of whom have golf club experience – are developing their detailed proposals; this in response to a comprehensive background brief provided them by a sub-group of the Management Committee. 

Their proposals, each in turn, will be presented to the Management Committee next month, and will reflect those specific aspirations found to be most appealing by overwhelming numbers of members in the survey. As a reminder – Patio re-configuration (4.03 rating out of 5); Increased (and better laid out) dining capacity (3.94); covered trolley area (3.72); increased (and better laid out) bar seating (3.49); additional lounge seating (3.38); creation of a ‘spikes area’ (3.32); room for Sky TV and other social activities (3.21).

Suffice to say, we look forward to sharing these creative proposals with members, and will do so at the earliest opportunity.

As far as finance is concerned, significant progress has been made in evaluating a mix of sourcing options, and from this, outline budgets. These in turn have been reflected in the brief to Architects.

Once we have our preferred architect on board, and a preferred set of proposals to hand, we will be in a position to share supporting financial proposals.

Curleys Barn. Delighted to note that after a period of considerable reflection and debate, the decision has been taken to undertake the necessary refurbishment work to the barn. Used to house water pumps taking water from underground water tanks, as well as the Greenkeeper’s equipment, the barn not only has a functional purpose, but is very much a feature on our course and in our history. A welcome decision.

Nick Duncan

Chair, Planning and Development Committee

Ferndown which closed due to flooding the day after we had played there!  Well done Graham for your superb organisation both of the golf and the weather!

I was delighted to be asked to Captain the mixed team against Petersfield at home this year in pursuit of winning back their Centenary Trophy for next years Burns Night – a resounding success with a 6-1 win so the Haggis can be sure of a smart plinth next year.

Do volunteer for the mixed matches as well as the ladies matches – sign up sheets can be found on the main noticeboard.

The County Championships took place at Hockley in what proved a difficult week for the Alresford Ladies.  Well done to Tonny Maxwell who came 5^th in Bronze Division 1.  There have been Stoneham matches, scratch matches and friendly matches to play and the weather has been kind for all of these.

June brings the Captains Charity Day on the 9^th – open to all and with a new format which looks like great fun so don’t forget to sign up.  The awayday at Crane Valley will also be a great day out before the seriousness of the Championships at the end of the month.  The sign-up sheet is on the board for the Ladies Invitation and I will also be putting up a sign-up sheet for my Ladies Captains Day – I do hope you will all join me for some fun golf and good food afterwards.

Let’s hope flaming June lives up to its name!

Best wishes and good golfing!

Sue

competition or the Dorothy Coombs Shield which is a Bronze Division handicap competition.

On each day of the competition ladies should register and collect their cards from the front desk. On completion of their round ladies should return their cards to the ‘Scorer’s Table’ where they will be agreed and checked.

Other Upcoming Competitions

As we enter into a very busy period in the calendar, I’d like to highlight some events which involve some forward planning.

· Harry May – Two Generations Trophy.
This foursome’s competition on Sunday 16th June for parent/grandparent playing with child/grandchild is open to both 5- and 7-day members. Stepparents and stepchildren are also eligible. Both players don’t need to be Alresford members, but ideally everyone should have a competition handicap. The sign-up sheet is on the noticeboard in the Entrance Hall and the closing date for entries is 9th June.

· Husbands & Wives
Look out for the notice for this popular foursome’s competition which will held on Sunday 28th July and get practising with your spouse now.

· Men’s Invitation
This year the Men’s Invitation will be on Sunday 18th August. As in previous years the format will be 12 holes of American Greensomes, lunch, 18 holes 4BBB, and then dinner. Now’s the time to book the date with your golfing buddy from another club.

· Mixed Invitation
This year the Mixed Invitation will be on Sunday 8th September. The format will be 18 holes 4BBB followed by dinner.

To take part in these events, look out for the sign-up sheets which will be posted 4 to 6 weeks in advance. For the invitation events, if your friends at other clubs are unavailable, the Office may be able to introduce you to someone from another club who would like to play at Alresford.

George Clelland

Question.

In Stroke play, a player drives off and finds his ball which had hit a tree and bounced back towards the fairway into a lateral penalty hazard.

He decides to play the ball as it lies and moves loose impediments lying behind the ball. In doing so the ball moves.

He then changes his mind and takes a penalty drop out of the hazard towards the fairway.

How many penalty shots has the player incurred?

Thanks to Ed Tinley our vice captain for managing these Wednesday sessions and particularly for introducing some recent innovations: a bogey competition and Texas Scramble.

Wynne Tufnell will shortly be publishing the sign-up sheet for the Vets Invitation on 8 August; your chance to invite a golfing chum (60+!) to partner you and enjoy a really good day at Alresford. Hopefully we can match or better last year’s great turn-out.

Late Vets News!

Vets Team wins the Club Cross Country Scramble!!

Team: George Skayman, Mel Elford, Dudley George and John Little

George Skayman with the cup

Good golfing!

Drew Fielden

Greens have been aerated and received liquid fertilisers and wetting agents this month.  Greens cutting height is now 3,5mm.  We are in a regime of cutting one day and rolling the next and achieving stimp readings between 9 and 10 feet.

All other areas are hanging on in there!  Some of the tee tops are browning off despite being watered every other night. Tees, Fairways and Surrounds have all been treated for weeds and these are going over now. Cutting regimes on these areas are twice a week with tees and aprons producing the most grass as these areas are watered, already some areas on fairways are drying out.  The lack of rain has affected the hard work of the divot party, with very little growth.  The rough is also growing slowly, much to my relief!

Some of the bin and ball washer areas have been made bigger and all have been weeded and presented.

We have been trialling other makes of machinery for fairway and rough cutting and, as a team, we will be choosing the one which we are all happy with.

Bunkers have had sand moved around and have been fly-mowed and weeded.

Blue paint arrows around the greens are there to mark a direction of cut for the green’s mowers.

We have used some of the leaf mulch on bare areas on the surrounds and bunker edges thinking we were going to get rain but a lot of this is drying out and disappearing which again is due to lack of rainfall.

You will have noticed hoops on the par 3 holes.  These are to let the rough grow up and add character to the hole. Simon will monitor the length of the grass in these areas and cut down if it becomes too long.

Please refrain from taking trolleys close to the greens, aprons and especially between bunkers and greens to avoid wear.   

Delighted to see the hanging baskets have arrived and are being watered daily.

Finally, many congratulations to Adam and Kim who were married on Saturday 25^th May.

Very best wishes for the future!

Mark Tiplady

Answer.

Three

One – for accidentally moving his ball in the penalty area and,

Two – for playing from a wrong place, when he should have dropped his ball the far side of the ditch where the ball entered.

If playing from the wrong place gave the player a significant advantage, he is disqualified.

It proved so popular that members who had joined chose to continue the scheme indefinitely.  The ongoing objective of the 100 Club was then agreed as being “to provide funds for capital expenditure to enhance the Golf Course and/or Club House”.  This is still very much the objective and many of those members who joined back in 1987 are still supporting these valuable fund-raising objectives.

As the share membership grew the draws became monthly, as they are now, so providing more chances of winning. The first draw in 1987 was made from 223 shares applied for by 70 members – today it is from 567 shares belonging to 123 members with the monthly random selection being carried out on the Secretary’s computer in the Office.  The prize pot has increased to six each month and the values are greater though the top prize remains at £100.

The Club is managed by two trustees, currently George Clelland and Ian Swann, who decide how the funds are to be spent with an Administrator, Pat Wallis, who deals with all day to day administration and finance.

Many items have been purchased over the years with the new rattan patio furniture being the most recent.  An annual Stableford Competition was started several years ago and although not well supported at the time has gone from strength to strength in recent years and is now a popular choice in diaries for 100 Club members.  Details of this year’s event are mentioned above.

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 are still only £1 per month paid for by Direct Debit and there is no limit on the number which can be held. For more information contact Pat Wallis on 01420 564417 or peterpat51@outlook.com, or call in to the Secretary’s Office.

Pat Wallis

TEAM GOLF 2019  – STARTS 2ND MAY

Running alonside Team Golf will Social Golf with Chris our caterer offering supper between 7 – 9:30, please sign up in the foyer for food before you go out and play.