Clubhouse Development

By the time you receive this, a small group from the Management Committee will have met to conclude the pitch we wish to make to interested local architects, to kick-start the phase of producing ‘creative visuals’ of what the clubhouse could look like in the future.  Once we have these they will be shared with our membership, both online and physically in the lobby of the clubhouse.

In parallel, necessary work continues exploring the various financial options needed to support this important club development.

We are acutely conscious of the sensitivity of raising finance for investment in the club at this time, or indeed anytime, and you should be assured that we have every confidence in being able to agree a design that is both realistic and affordable; one that, as far as possible, will meet the great majority of the improvements you voted for.

In broad terms of timing, our aspiration is to gain final membership approval and sign-off for the changes before the end of this year, with completion of works well in time for next year’s end-of-year seasonal activities.

On other matters, all current subscription categories are at or above both planned levels, both against budget and versus last year; 7 day, 5 day, Winter, HPLS, Green Fees, Societies – even the Bar! 

We are in good shape, but must continue to build for the future.

Nick Duncan

Chair, Planning and Development Committee

This month’s “found ball” I think belongs to Phil! Do you recognise it? The owner can collect it from the Secretary’s Office, if they wish to donate a few pennies to the Captain’s Charity bottle on the bar that would be appreciated but entirely voluntary. If you recognise the ball as belonging to one of your playing partners and they don’t fess up please email me captain@alresfordgolf.co.uk and I may embarrass them!

The Captains’ Charity Day this year is on Sunday 9^th June, this year there will be 2 competitions for you to enter, a foursomes knockout played over 6 holes – 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, 16^th, 17^th and 18^th, if it’s all square after the 18^th the tie will be decided by all 4 playing a shot into the 18^th green, nearest the pin wins. The other competition is played over the front 9 as an individual stableford, and you can enter as many times as you wish with the best card winning. The 1^st and 2^nd round losers in the foursomes are guaranteed an entry into the 9 hole stableford competition if they wish. Malcolm will be running a putting competition throughout the day and food will be available all day. If we get some fine weather it should be a good day.

As reported last month my wife, Sarah, and I will be undertaking a 100 mile cycle ride on 2^nd June in Cambridgeshire. The ride is part of the Tour of Cambridgeshire a UCI sanctioned event, we will be raising money for the club charity –the UK Sepsis Trust – and Breast Cancer Care, both charities are very close to our hearts for differing reasons. If you would like to sponsor us you can do so online at Virgin Moneygiving or by signing the sponsor sheet that is on display in the foyer of the golf club.

Finally, my thanks to Ann Younger who kindly donated the Easter Hamper, thanks also to all the members who purchased tickets too, £182.50 was raised and added to the club charity the UK Sepsis Trust. The winning ticket was drawn by Kelly and Clare Monkhouse is enjoying the chocolate and other goodies!

Graham Marshallsay

Our next match is away at Bramshott Hill in early May so good luck and let’s hope for a good away win there.

We played a 9 hole roll up with five of the Academy Ladies just before Easter which was very rewarding.  The ladies all played very well and we look forward to welcoming them as full members of Alresford Golf Club very soon.

Socially I attended the Allo Allo night at the club which was very entertaining with great food on a french theme and some interesting role playing by some of the audience!  Well done Carol Roe and team for putting this fun evening together.

The Easter Bank Holiday Monday Flag competition was also a great success with 48 people playing and a further two sitting down for the meal afterwards.  If you haven’t played I recommend this to you next year – you are drawn with a partner and given a number of shots to play the course in greensomes format – when you run out of shots you plant your team flag where the golf ball lies.  We made it to the 17^th green before running out but there were five flags on the 18^th – an excellent achievement and well done to the winners Merv Fullbrook and Jackie Coulson.  Many thanks to Marion Bruce and Claire Gould for organising this event so well.

Coming up we have the Spring Meeting with 66 ladies playing which is always a good day.  Please do look at the “What’s On” sheet for May which has details of all competitions in which you can take part and highlights the Sign Up Sheets that are currently available.  In particular please do consider coming on the Ladies Awayday to Crane Valley on the 13^th June.  This is always a good day out and I hope as many as possible of you will take part.

Best wishes and good golfing!

Sue

• Jack Moody Cross-country Scramble A really enjoyable scramble across the golf course on the afternoon of Friday 24^th May. While some us take every opportunity of playing to the 3^rd green from the 7^th fairway for many it will be a new experience … remember, no distance measuring devices allowed, so you have to guess!
• Harry May – Two Generations This Foursomes Stableford competition is for parents/grandparents playing with child/grandchild etc … given the golfing dynasties we have in the club, some of the child entries are not that young! The Entry Sheet will be on the notice board in the Entrance Hall.

Supplementary Scores

Could I remind everyone who submits Supplementary Scores that having signed-in to submit a Supplementary Score, you must enter a score. Up to now we have ignored any instances of scores not being entered. However, from 1^st June, if a score is not recorded and/or a card is not returned, unless we have good reason not to, we will treat this as a No Return which will mean the handicap of the player concerned will be increased by 0.1.

George Clelland

Question.

In a four ball better ball match, a player’s partner touches the green near the pin with his hand to show the player the line of putt. The player then takes his stance and putts.

Is the player subject to a penalty?

shortened to just 9 holes with separate prizes for front and back nines. Not all entrants completed the 9 holes and some decided not to start. Longest drive and nearest the pin prizes for both men and ladies were also on offer for the hardy souls who played and a warming lunch was enjoyed afterwards. Excellent organisation and flexibility was displayed by Wynne Tufnell our competitions secretary. The front nine competition was won by the pairing of the Ladies and Vets captains and the back nine by Jan Harring and Keith Turner; nearest the pin prizes went to David Nightingale and Mal Hope-Mason and the longest drives by Jenny Dillon and Robin Bashford. It was an opportunity to size up the ‘opposition’ ahead of our autumn needle match against each other.

Drew Fielden

Greens were fertilised, tined and dressed early in the month.

Tees, Aprons and Fairways have all been fed with controlled release fertiliser this should keep them going through the summer releasing nutrient when the temperature is right.

Tees are being divotted twice weekly. Cutting routines on these areas are now twice a week.

It has been unseasonably dry through April so some areas around trees/woodlands have little grass cover. 

The rough doesn’t need a full cut as yet but we are patch cutting these areas.

Colin completed the tree works towards the end of March and stumpbusters have been in this week to grind out the remaining stumps. These areas will be levelled with soil and seed.

Other jobs being done are replacing path edgings and topping up path material where needed and general bunker maintenance and topping up sand.

The sheep have been moved off site after the arrival of 5 lambs and have done a grand job with the rough management. The team

maintain the pen and keep the supplement feed and water topped up for them while they are here.  It takes around 2 hours for three staff to move the pen.

The range tee area is now open with a marked out teeing area for golfers to use. 

Irrigation system is now charged and in operation and we are using some water where needed, fingers crossed we get the showers over the next couple of days which will help all areas.

Finally, the annual “Divot Party” took place on Thursday 25^th April.

30 members (plus Malcolm and Linda!) joined the greenkeepers for 2 hours of exercise. 

I have estimated that 15000 divots were filled, and we will all benefit from this during the summer.  Thank you all!

Mark Tiplady

Answer.

No, there is no penalty providing the partner does not leave a mark or improves the line of play.

The 100 Club was launched in 1987 to raise funds to augment the Centenary celebrations of the Golf Club in 1990, but at the request of the members, the 100 Club has continued to raise funds for items such as the Information Board and Clock on the 1^st tee and the Automatic External Defibrillator in the Entrance Hall.

If you’re not a member of the 100 Club, you can become one for as little as £1 per month.  Shares in the 100 Club are purchased for £1 per month and there is no limit on the number of shares which can be held.  In general, most members have between 1 and 5 shares and pay by monthly direct debit, though it’s also possible to pay quarterly or annually.  Each share is allocated a number which is entered in the monthly draw.  The top prize is £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

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.