Members - Committee news

May Notes from the Committee

Curry Lunch
There are still a few places available for the Curry Lunch on Sunday 11th May 2008. To book a table, please telephone 01428 723785 ext 2.

Change of Date
Please note that the Bridge Supper, scheduled for Saturday 4th October 2008 will now take place on Saturday 27th September 2008.

Social Events
It is planned to hold a putting party and hog roast on Saturday 14th June 2008. This will be a fun social competition for all members, spouses/partners and juniors. The cost of the evening is £15.00. If you would like to attend please add your name to the list in the Entrance Hall and pay for your entrance ticket in the office.

Preferred Lies
As of Wednesday 16th April 2008, preferred lies have now been lifted.

Tees
Members and their guests will now be able to play from all tees (including white tees) on a daily basis.

Knockout Competition
The draw for the Men’s Bailey Cup has been published. The competition is an 18 holes match play knockout off handicap.

Courtesies
A list of courtesies has now gone up on the main notice board. Courtesies may be applied for by completing the proforma, which will be found on the table in the Entrance Hall. Allocations for the days will be published on the notice board 3 weeks before the date.

Border League
We are currently looking for volunteers to play in this years Border League matches. Teams consist of 3 players 0-9 handicaps and 2 players 10+ handicaps. A list of this years fixtures can be found on the main notice board. If you are interested in playing please enter your name against the matches you are available for.

April Notes from the Committee

Temporary Membership
The new Rules for temporary Membership have now been approved by the Committee. The Committee has also published Notes for Guidance for those proposing and seconding temporary members. Details are displayed in the Clubhouse and copies can be provided from the Secretary’s office

Bar Levy
The Committee have resolved that all members other than Juniors and Full and Intermediate members below the age of 25 will be required to pay the bar levy next year.

Bar Prices
Members will be aware that bar prices have been increased, to reflect increases in supply prices. Regrettably, a further increase will be necessary in April following the Budget. The Committee is conscious of the impact on members but, with the benefit of the discount offered on the bar card; will always strive to keep prices competitive.

Curry Lunch
The Curry Lunch on 16th March was again a resounding success. A further Curry Lunch is to be held on 11th May 2008. To book a table, please telephone 01428 723785 ext 2.

Diary Notes
Please note that The Mehling Cup, scheduled for 27th March 2008 has been cancelled. The first tee will be reserved on the same day from 1300-1400 hours for the Hayling Businessman’s’ Golfing Society.

March Notes from the Committee

British Summer Time
Members are reminded that British Summer Time will be upon us on 30th March and the use of soft spikes is then recommended. Please call into the Professional’s Shop to have your spikes changed before that date.

Competition Entries
The Committee wishes to clarify the position with regard to Knock Out Competition entries.
Playing partners should be named at time of entry. Entries for a member and ‘A. N. Other’ are not permitted.
If following entry to a competition and before the first round is played, an entrant should suffer an incapacity, then application should be made to the Managing Secretary for a substitute partner to be approved.

Supplementary Scores
Under the revised CONGU handicap rules, it is now permissible for members to submit Supplementary Scores. Advice as to the circumstances in which this is to be permitted and the procedure for submission of Supplementary Scores will be posted in the Clubhouse and on the website.

Course Etiquette.
(a) Members are reminded of the purpose and use of the ball chute on the first tee; please refer to your fixture list for clarification.
(b) There is evidence that the white lines prohibiting the use of trolleys close to the greens in the winter months have been disregarded; the Committee would respectfully ask all members to abide by the directional signs on the ground to avoid the need in future to rope off the greens in winter.
(c) Members are asked not to wheel trolleys over nor park trolleys on the tees.
(d) Members are also respectfully reminded to use the trolley path from the 17th green to the 18th tee and not to disregard the signs around the 17th tee limiting the area within which trolleys are permitted.
(e) Priority on the Course - Any group playing a whole round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round.

Cleaning Golf Shoes
Members are reminded to please clean their golf shoes before entering the Professional’s shop or the Clubhouse.

Club Championship
The Club Championship was due to be played on Saturday 7th June 2008. This date clashes with the County Championships. Therefore the Club Championship has been moved to the following Saturday, 14th June 2008.

HC Clarke Trophy
The draw for the Men’s HC Clarke Trophy has been published. The competition is a knockout competition consisting of all Medal and Stableford winners in 2007.

Range Baskets
These are provide for the use of all members and should please be returned to the Professional’s Shop after use.

Professional’s Shop – March Offers
There are a number of attractive offers available now within the Professional’s Shop.

Cancellation Charges
The Professional has reluctantly introduced cancellation charges for those missing appointments for lessons or club fitting. This is an inevitable consequence of the discourtesy of missed appointments and the Committee would ask members to contact the Professional’s Shop as soon as it is known that an appointment cannot be kept.

February Notes from the Committee

Temporary Members
Due to the success of the scheme, the Committee has decided to restrict the number of ladies joining as Temporary members. New rules for Temporary Membership have also been considered by the Committee. The new rules will be displayed in the Clubhouse shortly, as soon as they have received full approval, and will be the subject of detailed explanation in the next Newsletter. Guidance Notes will also be made available to Members as to the responsibilities for those proposing or seconding Temporary Members.

Drinking Water
Members are reminded that the water supply to the locker rooms is not for drinking. Arrangements have been made for taps for drinking water to be installed in the locker rooms.

Social Functions

Notes for Members’ diaries – the following social functions have been arranged:

Saturday 2^nd February Bridge Supper

Saturday 14th June Hog Roast and Putting Competition

Saturday 4^th October Bridge Supper

Saturday 15^th November Wine Tasting

Alistair Macdonald and Eddie Oliver
Members will be pleased to know that both Alistair Macdonald and Eddie Oliver are making good recoveries. Alistair Macdonald is now out of hospital. Eddie Oliver is now back to work, carrying out light duties.

Course Winter Programme
The Winter programme of work on the course is progressing well. Routine course maintenance has ensured that, to date, course closure has been limited to one morning only and that was due to dense fog on 23^rd December. The Greenstaff and contractors employed by the Club work hard to ensure that we have a course to be proud of and which we all enjoy playing and Members are respectfully requested not to hinder either Greenstaff or contractors in carrying out that work

Annual Handicap Review
The new golf sub-committee will be carrying out an annual handicap review in accordance with the CONGU system before 29^th February. Any Member who wishes the handicap committee to review his or her handicap should submit representations in writing to the Managing Secretary as soon as possible and no later than 15^th February.

January Notes from the Committee

New Rules Regarding Drivers & Match Play
Members are reminded that new rules regarding drivers come into effect 1^st January 2008. For further information please refer to the R and A website (www.randa.org) or speak to the Club's Professionals. The new rules regarding the introduction of Full handicap allowance during singles matchplay competitions will also be introduced at this time. The implications of this will be made clear in the New Year and before our next round of matchplay competitions commence.

Winter Work Programme
Members will recall that in the last Newsletter, the plans regarding the long-term improvements to our course were explained. The winter work programme has already started with all ditches and streams cleaned out and flowing far better. Ground scraping has commenced at the 3^rd and will continue at the 11^th and to the right of the 14^th. This aims to reintroduce healthy heather similar to the earlier successful programme between the 9^th and 10^th. Following scraping the area becomes GUR and golfers may lift and drop to the nearest point of relief. Verti-draining of fairways starts in late February and all fairways have been sprayed with sulphate of iron to curb moss and harden for play during wet and frosty conditions. Members are also asked to accept that some unusual teeing positions will be experienced in order that wear and tear through the winter is spread as much as possible. A “Championship” Tee is being prepared behind the 12^th Tee. Planning work on bunkers is also progressing.

Deputy Head Greenkeeper
Alistair Macdonald, the Deputy Head Greenkeeper, has been transferred from St. George’s Hospital to Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford (Hindhead Ward). He is now making good progress. He has limited movement in the left hand side of his body and has taken a few tentative steps.

Happy Christmas
The Committee would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our members, the staff and our professionals a very happy Christmas and New Year.

Thank you
On behalf of the membership, the committee would like to acknowledge the outstanding personal contribution made by Alan Cooper over many years, voluntarily enhancing and maintaining the flower beds, shrubs and borders around the club house and car parks. We have been very lucky to receive such a high level of expertise and dedication. The club is genuinely grateful. We would also be grateful if anyone believes they could replace Alan? It takes about 12 hours a year and anyone with some gardening experience and the enthusiasm to take on a little bit of responsibility as a volunteer would be much appreciated.