Clubhouse Development

The Management Committee met on the 23^rd September and has finally approved our Architect’s specifications and drawings for membership consultation.

These are now being prepared for presentation to you, which we hope will take no more than two weeks, at the time of writing. This probably means that consultation will now start in the first half of October. 

I am conscious that we are slightly behind our timetable, as indeed I am for your considerable patience in waiting for the consultation period to start.  In mitigation I am sure you will understand the complexities of working with third parties and bringing all members of the Management Committee to the point of agreement and approval to proceed.

It is still our intention to hold an EGM, which we shall call with two weeks’ notice, following conclusion of membership consultation.

Social Media

The Planning and Development Committee’s task is to manage both internal and external club communications and we have as a goal how we might make better use of our Facebook page, and other Social Media, in promoting the club and its activities to potential golfers.

We recently undertook a mailing to members to invite enthusiastic users of Social Media to offer their expertise, advice and potentially on-going help to the Committee. We received a positive response to this mailing and are currently in discussion as to how best to take forward this offer of help. We will report further as developments advance, but suffice to say we will do everything we can to ensure these channels of communication are used both professionally and effectively, rather than a source for potential trivia. 

Non-Paying Visitors

We have had a recent spate of non-paying visitors; a problem faced by all golf clubs, yet one we should all help in keeping to a minimum occurrence. When challenged “we were going to pay at the end of our round” is a typical response.  Whilst many might resist making such a challenge, if you have any suspicion of a non-paying player, then please do approach and report. It is your course and we all need to do what we can to ensure these are rare incidents. Many thanks.

Nick Duncan
Chair, Planning and Development Committee

I also really enjoyed playing in the ProAm, Millennium Quaiche and the Mixed Invitation – all for the first time.  It is always a pleasure to play at Alresford – the course has been in excellent condition and many handicap reductions have occurred as a result so well done to everyone who has come down.

Graham Marshallsay’s Captains Day was a great success very much enjoyed by all who took part.  The halfway house was particularly good with many temptations both alcoholic and nibbly!  I know Graham really enjoyed his day and was delighted by your support.

Our congratulations go to Di Peisley who has accepted my Vice Captain Mal Hope Mason’s nomination as next years Ladies Vice Captain. Di will become Ladies Captain in November 2020.   With just two months left of my Captaincy it feels like the year has gone incredibly quickly – I hope you have all got the message about the Ladies AGM being moved to the 23^rd November to enable me to have a holiday before Christmas!

October brings the Autumn Meeting, Vets v Ladies the last of the Friendly matches, the start of the Nine-hole competitions and the mixed winter knockout.  The draws for these are already on the noticeboard – good luck to everyone taking part!

Happy Golfing!

Sue

World Handicapping System

England Golf have just announced that the new handicapping system will be implemented on 2^nd November 2020. David Maskery and myself will be attending a County Workshop on 4^th November (this year) to hear the latest information and plans for WHS. Subsequently we will pass on the information by posters in the Clubhouse and through Fore Info.

Presentation Evening

Advance notice of the Trophy Presentation Evening which will be on Friday 15^th November. A list of all the trophy winners will be posted on the notice boards by the end of October. We encourage all those who have won a major competition during the year to attend and receive their trophy and the plaudits from the assembled company. If you won a trophy last year and have kept it at home, could you please return it to the Office as soon as possible so that it can be engraved with this year’s winner.

The Sheep are Back!

A reminder that the sheep enclosure is a no-play zone and you should not enter the enclosure to retrieve your ball as the fence is electrified. The enclosure, wherever it might be, is defined as an abnormal course condition – no play zone. You may claim free relief if your ball is known or virtually certain to be in the enclosure. For the purposes of finding the nearest point of complete relief, if the ball can be seen and identified, the reference point for the relief area will be the spot outside the enclosure, not nearer the hole which gives complete relief from the condition; if the ball cannot be seen and identified then the reference point is the spot outside the enclosure from the estimated point where the ball crossed the edge of the enclosure

George Clelland

Question.

A players ball is found in a drainage ditch full of water. The ditch has not been marked by the committee.

Should the player treat it as:

• not being in a penalty area,
• being in a Yellow penalty area, or
• being in a Red penalty area.

Fred White Foursomes:

Winners                Steve Oldham and Gareth Rees
Runners up          Tom McGrath and Trevor Hodgkinson

The summer friendly matches are also drawing to an end with 38 out of 39 played; 20 wins recorded and 8 halved matches. A total of 58 Vets participated in these matches.

There are still a few vacancies for the Vets and Partners Dinner on Thursday 24 October. Those who have signed up but not yet paid or made their menu selection should do so by no later, but preferably sooner, than the closing date of 18 October or risk being excluded.

The Vets’ AGM will take place on Wednesday 6 November Those wishing to raise any issues should contact Graham Lumb the secretary.

Drew Fielden

not have that issue. The fairways will be dressed this Autumn using the three year old leaf pile, which produces a lovely fine material.

We could do with some more rainfall though, as having used our borehole quota for the summer, we now switch to Mains water that is 40 times more expensive.

We are very pleased to report we are finally up to full manpower level and welcome Dominic Say onto the Team. Dominic has fitted in really well and will be learning the trade by attending Sparsholt College every Wednesday. 

A sub-committee has been working on a 1^st Impressions project: The approach and surrounds to the 1^st Tee being our “shop window” and therefore we should strive to be making a good impression.

The outcome will be presented to MANCOM soon for approval with the hope that it can be implemented over the next three years from our annual budget. The new practice bunker was part of that and we hope to reshape the old first tee now used for putting and add a practice swale this winter. Should anyone have CAD skills we would welcome some help to merge photos and plans to help communicate the proposals for the whole 1^st Impressions Project.

There is a wealth of information on our Greens Page within the members section of the club website. We are particularly pleased with the “Frequently Asked Questions”.

For example you might wonder “why” we ask for rakes to be placed completely in the bunkers with the handle pointing back towards the Tee you have played from.

All being well if you double click on this web link you will see the answer https://www.alresfordgolf.co.uk/members-area/course-and-greens-info/greens-faq/

If you are having trouble with your short game, when was the last time you played on the Academy Course? Take a look, it’s currently in excellent condition and well worth a visit.

Finally, on behalf of the Greens Committee, we extend our sincere congratulations to Mark Tiplady (Tip) on being nominated by Mary for the position of Club Vice-Captain for next season. 

Bob Moore
For the Greens Committee
(Tip is on holiday)

Answer.

The player should treat it as lying in a Red penalty area.

“See definition of Penalty Area. For relief options and penalties, see rule 17.1d”

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