Clubhouse Development Update-Survey Results

In 2019, the Club surveyed its playing members to ascertain specific preferences in relation to potential improvement and development of our Clubhouse, with 302 playing members responding. Working from those preferences the Management Committee held a selection process in order to appoint a professional architect to provide designs for the Clubhouse which met the aspirations revealed by the original survey.

In response to the impact of Covid-19; progress on the Clubhouse Development Project was subsequently paused, in line with so many other elements at our Club.

The Management Committee has stabilised the financial status of the Club, despite the loss of income due to Covid-19, and has been delighted by the significant boost to membership this year, bringing confidence in the budget for the financial year 2020/21. The Club also holds significant cash reserves.

As part of the Club’s extensive, democratic ethos as a ‘members’ club’ it was decided to re-survey members to quantify the appetite to continue with the Clubhouse Development Project and to quantify potential participation in a voluntary members’ loan scheme. This survey closed on 30^th August 2020 having attracted 352 participants.

• The results show 81.9% in favour of continuing with the Clubhouse Development Project and 18.1% against.
• The results show that 135 members would consider making voluntary loans to Club totalling a minimum of £935,000

The Management Committee accepts the result of the survey as; in favour of continuing with the Clubhouse Development.

Next Steps

• The Management Committee will now plan for a phased redevelopment of the Clubhouse managing both risks and opportunities.
• Final plans and costings will be worked-up.
• A Special General Meeting will be called once we have final plans and costs to enable each individual member to cast an informed vote, for or against, at the Special General Meeting when this is possible bearing in mind current restrictions. 
• The Finance Committee will consider affordability of any development scheme, but it is unlikely that the Club would seek voluntary loans at the generous level pledged by members due to affordability of repayments over a five-year period.
• The minimum level of voluntary members’ loans will be reconsidered to enable more members to participate in the spirit of ‘crowd funding’ in support of their Club.

Thank you to everyone that participated in the both surveys related to the Clubhouse Development project in support of the Club’s democratic processes.

Bar & Catering

Chris Pullinger has already issued an ‘all member’ notice informing of his intention to not seek renewal of the catering franchise and to leave the Club on the anticipated termination date as set out in the existing contract. The Club had been in discussion with Chris, through the Chair of Bar and Catering, to agree a new contract and potentially manage the bar as well, however mutual efforts failed to deliver that new contract. We wish Chris, Kelly and their family continued success and happiness in their next venture and assure them of a warm welcome at the Club at all times.

Chris has very kindly offered to assist the Club in the appointment of the next catering franchisee; however, the Club is considering whether a straight like-for-like replacement would be possible at this time. Therefore, Trevor Pearce – Chair of Bar and Catering will be developing proposals for the Management Committee. More news on this in the coming weeks.

First Impressions Project

Bob Moore – Chair of Greens has presented to both the Management Committee and the Finance Committee to gain approval and funding to implement the ‘First Impressions Project’ which enhances the presentation of our Club from leaving the car park to playing the first hole.

I am delighted that Bob’s hard work has resulted in approval to deliver the project which is also being supported financially by the 100 club.

Head Pro – Transition

Mark Wood is working well with Sue, Tip and David in advance of joining the Club on 1^st November following Malcolm’s retirement on October 31^st. As Stanley has left the Club only Terry will now transfer to the new Head Pro so we will enjoy some continuity.

It is hoped that Mark’s wife Mandy will also join the new team; which replicates the very successful husband and wife team provided by Malcolm and Jane over so many years. We hope to see Mandy spending some time at the Club in October to aid the smooth transition in November.

Tee Times and Social Distancing

The Club continues to operate within the confines of central guidance from Government and golfing regulators. The Club is constantly on alert for any changes that can enable a full return to normal golfing and social conditions. For the time being; tee times have to prevail, but we will remain alert to the opportunities to get back to normal as soon as this is possible.

Good luck to all those participating in the Club Championships!

Robert White

Chairman of the Management Committee

Given the format of the Championship, players who fail to turn up for the 2nd round will cause significant disruption to the running of the competition. Consequently, and based on our experience of other 2 day competitions, we are making it a condition of competition that unless a player has a valid medical or other significant reason for being unable to play the 2nd round, he/she will be excluded from all competitions, and knock-outs until 1^st October.

Supplementary Scores

A reminder that registering for a Supplementary Score is like signing-in for a competition. If you fail to enter your score and return your card on the day you play, it will be treated as a Nil Return.

Sign-in problems – 29^th August

There were intermittent problems with sign-in for the competitions on Saturday 29^th August. This was a UK wide problem with Club Systems. I’d like to remind everyone that the software we use for competitions, handicaps, etc, is driven by servers in a cloud managed by Club Systems and outwith the control of the Club. Occasionally we do make mistakes in the setup of competitions, but this is relatively rare as we tend to copy the definition of one type of competition to another. Generally, major problems with the Club Systems servers are also uncommon, but over the past few months there has been a large number of changes to the software because of the need to mobile sign-in and score entry, plus Club Systems are also working on the final stages of WHS which is a significant piece of work.

World Handicapping System (WHS)

The switch over to the World Handicapping System is on track for 2^nd November. This web https://www.englandgolf.org/whs/golfers/ on the England Golf website is updated weekly with new information on various aspects of the new system. We expect that in the next few weeks, the Members’ App will display an indication of what information in your playing record your Handicap Index will be based on.

You will find links to more information on WHS on the Match & Handicap Committee page in the Member’s Area of the Club Website.

George Clelland

Question.

A players ball lies on the fairway and a large branch then falls covering the ball.

The branch is too large to move.

Is the player entitled to free relief?

Aside from the Vets Championship, little other Vets specific golf has taken place in the last few weeks. However, congratulations to the following Vets for their success in other Club events during August:

• David Marshall – second with 42pts in the Alresford Show Trophy.
• Tony Smyth – winner of the Over 60’s medal with a net 64 on count back from fellow Vet Peter Armitage.

And lastly, 

• David Nightingale – with 41pts the winner of the Cornhill Trophy. David is a former Club Captain and will be taking part in the Over 80’s Championship in September. I was fortunate enough to be drawn with David in the second round of the Vets Championship. He played beautifully. Every drive went straight down the middle.  His success in the Cornhill proves emphatically that you don’t have to hit the ball miles to play and score well. Well done David, you are a credit and inspiration to us mature golfers.

Finally, I hope to be presented with the long awaited Wessex Seniors Winter League Trophy at Corhampton GC on the 7^th September. You may recall Alresford Vets won this back in March, just before the lockdown was imposed. It will be nice to get our hands on the Trophy at last for only the second time since the competition began. My thanks to Robin Bashford, yet again, for a job well done. Robin will be relinquishing the AGC Coordinator role in September. Keith Turner has kindly agreed to take over as Coordinator.

Enjoy your golf and continue to stay safe!

Ed Tinley

Benches; ball washers and water fountains are regularly agonised over, but, as I write, it’s felt they can’t come back into usage.

1^st Impressions has been updated and a working budget provided by Fincom from 1^st October.

The latest explanation will be laminated and posted inside the current Starters Hut and on the Greens Page. The project has been able to move ahead partly through the generosity of The 100 Club who have very kindly agreed to sponsor the new Starters Hut. That became the hardest issue to decide on but it was decided that we needed something and that it ought to impress.

Needless to say I know very little about the technicalities of course maintenance! So the following is direct from Simon our Course Manager.

Hopefully by the end of this week (22^nd Aug) we will have had an inch of rain which will do wonders for the course and in turn green it all up for Club Championships.

Warm days and warm nights together have pushed the soil temperatures up to the highest ever recorded on site here.

I can look back on records to 2002 when we take readings at 6am and the highest I can find is 22, this last week we have had readings of 27 and consistently above 24.

I am really pleased with how the greens have recovered from maintenance week; we have had some great seed germination after a pretty intense renovation. We now sit with wetter more humid conditions which has thrown out some other issues in the form of summer or brown patch. This is evident on greens 5, 12 and 13 possibly linked to their location with trees and hedgerows enhancing shade and dampness to increase the problem. Greens have had another feed and light aeration today (19^th) and once the wind kicks in at the end of the week the surfaces will dry out and the patch will start to disappear.

Tees and Aprons have also been fed with growth regulator applied to slow down the clippings. The bare patches we are left with after the heat have basically been cooked by the hot sun enhanced by thatch build up and watering. The solution is obviously thatch removal and over seeding to encourage new grass which will be ongoing through September. Large areas on Fairways are the same but hoping for some natural recovery and a good Autumn brush and rake to bring them back.

Mown rough hasn’t grown too much over the last two months but this rain will kick it into touch along with other outfield areas.

Bunkers have been edged and fly mowed, sand levels will be adjusted over the coming weeks with hedges and paths being tidied as well.

Irrigation finally breathes a sigh of relief and is resting for the time being!!

New academy green 8 has been installed and seeded and given these weather conditions seed is showing through already, some more bank work to be completed on Green 1a and 8.

Plan for the greens is to start speeding them up through the next week, if the forecast is kind my target speed for the championships is 10.5 but hoping to get them there at least a week before. I will also be hand cutting them from the 1st September.

Simon Justice, Course Manager

Finally, can I point out to the nearly 100 new members, that within the members section of the AGC Website is a Greens Page.

Please, check out our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ in particular where we explain, for example, that our green speeds are only target speeds. We also explain how and when they are measured, so do take a look.

Good luck to all those taking part in the forthcoming Club Championship!

Bob Moore
Chair of Greens Committee

Answer.

No

A player is not allowed to restore worsened conditions when altered
by a natural object or natural forces.

See Interpretation 8.1d(2)/1

The objective is to raise funds for projects or items requiring capital expenditure which will enhance the Golf Course and/or Club House. These would generally be considered as extras and not necessarily within the Club budget.  Over the years many items have been purchased or contributions made towards the cost – notably the shoe and trolley cleaner, the information board and clock on the 1^st tee, the Starters Hut and several sets of patio furniture including the new rattan furniture last year.

The draw is monthly and there are cash prizes to be won: £100, £50 and four at £32.

How do I join?

If you would like to join and enjoy the chance of winning a cash prize each month then it is very easy. Each share cost £1 per month paid for by monthly standing order and there is no limit on the number you can purchase.  Members generally have between 1 and 10 shares with 5 being the most common holding.

The list of prizewinners is posted on the Secretary’s noticeboard in the entrance hall and of course in this section every month.

Application forms can be obtained from the Secretary’s office or from me –  Pat Wallis phone 01420 564417 or email peterpat51@outlook.com

Pat Wallis