Things were very close in last weekend's Texas Scramble with Ian McCloy, Tony Galloway, Kieran McCann & Phil Holcroft coming out on top after a card playoff with a net 48.5. They beat mates Dave Jones , John McCann , Ian Keelan & Mike McLoughlin. Just behind in 3rd were Neil McGrath, Joe Clarke,Mark Richards & Les Flanagan with 49.4. There were 15 twos on the 6th & 16th meaning each two was worth £7.60 or £1.90 per player in each team.
I hope you all enjoyed the golf last weekend with a great finish and Rory just coming out on top but he definitely showed ne is human with that tee shot on the 17th. We didn't hear him too often but it was Tim Backhouse announcing them onto the 18th green. The picture shows Tim at the ready to announce the next group.
As I said last week in the newsletter I will be having a Black Friday weekend Sale with some great bargains some listed below.
- Shirts from £20
- Shoes from £39.99
- Galvin Green ranges up to 30% off
- Cart Bags up to £30 off
- Stand Bags up to £30 off
Many more offers in store
I will keep my piece pretty short so you can read below.
I have pieces below from Rod Backhouse with a course work update and a couple of members who obviously need some L Plates on their trolleys!!!!! And the Handicap Committee regarding the Shotgun Start Saturday competitions.
GREENS UP-DATE 23/11/2015
Nothing surprises me anymore! (not until this afternoon)
Ninety nine percent (or thereabouts) of our members care about the golf course - sadly there are a few who seem to think that they can do just as they please and ignore no go areas, don't rake bunkers and don't repair pitch-marks - just to name a few issues.
Believe it or not, I do not place restrictions on the course through perversity; I do so because I am committed to improving the course and in particular the "greens complexes". I made a pledge twelve months ago that we would work hard on the inner surrounds, aprons and outer surrounds to approximately 35 metres from the centre of the green. I will not be deflected from this mission. That is why we put out the stakes and some ropes around the greens.
So - thank you to all who religiously observe the restrictions and an appeal to those of you who do not, please do so.
I wrote this piece this morning (23/11/15) I played this afternoon and took the photo below at about 3.00 pm. There have been no visitors on the course so dumb & dumber must be members.
Front of sixth tee - trolley wheel marks x 2 straight through the tee and down into the dip.
Right - that's got that out of the way!
Moving on to winter work issues, I am pleased to report that we are on schedule with our work on the 10th hole. It is a bit of a mess right now I know, but it WILL be OK I assure you. This "signature" hole was in a very poor state, with vegetation growing in the valley and encroaching from the left side. The area at the end of the path is unsightly and we cannot grow grass in and around the front right of the green. So just to bring you up to date with what we have done and still have to do -
We have removed all of the "debris" on the bank and "sculpted" it to be able to mow it - we still have some work to do on the left side, but this should be completed this week.
We have joined the front and right bunkers - the bunker will be slightly narrower and shorter on the right side. It will have a sand face for best effect from the tee.
I realised that access to the left side of the green could be an issue following the joining of the two bunkers, so we have created a plateau in front of the new bunker.
We now know why grass would not grow under the much-maligned oak trees. During excavation, we uncovered about 300mm deep of hard core at about 25mm below the surface. We have removed it and the present mud will be dressed with top soil and turfed. (I just pray now that I'm right!)
We shall tidy up as much as possible before leaving the site and then let Mother Nature do her work into spring next year. I cannot tell yet when the new bank will be "in play", we shall just have to evaluate it as we move towards the new season.
After Christmas, we shall clear several trees and scrub in a line from the left side of the tee to the left greenside bunker. You will then be able to see the whole of the greens complex and we can use the generally pristine left side of the tee as teeing area.
Rod Backhouse.
2015 Winter Shotgun Competitions
As most players are aware, Saturday 21st was the first in these winter competitions and unfortunately there were a few problems which need to be addressed for the rest of the winter.
These competitions are to be played over 15 Holes omitting holes 9, 10 & 11.
Some teams played the 9th hole by mistake which resulted in holdups and causing some groups to take 4 hours to complete their round which hopefully won't happen again as 3 hours 30 minutes maximum is the required pace of play for these competition.
The morning players must leave the course no later than 12 Noon even if they haven't completed 15 holes.
It is dangerous for morning players to be wandering around the course while the afternoon teams are trying to tee off.
The booking system allows the morning teams to book from 12.30pm in the Pro's shop so can I ask morning players not to attempt to book or enter the Pro's shop prior to 12.30pm as the shop is busy with afternoon teams collecting their scorecards and paying for the two's sweep and likewise afternoon teams please do not leave the course during your round in an attempt to book afternoon tee times prior to 3.30pm.
We as the Handicap Committee are endeavouring to make things easier for all by changing how to book for these competitions, removing the need to visit the club at 8.30am on a Sunday Morning to book a tee time has got to be an improvement, so all we ask is everybody sticks to the rules.
Handicaps & Competitions 23-11-2015
