21st July 2025 Newsletter

Dear {FORENAME} 

The highlights from the Board Meeting held on Tuesday 15 July 2025 were as follows: 

• Unexpected capital expenditure of £24k has been incurred to repair two sections of the path by the 1st tee. 
• Converting to the Xero accounting system is almost complete. 
• The annual staff salary increases and bonuses were agreed. The wage bill will rise by 5% due in part to higher NI costs. 
• The Summer Party was a popular and enjoyable occasion, although the band were disappointing. The food, hall decoration and innovative serving style were particularly successful. 
• The Captains’ Charity fund has grown significantly over the past month with Adam Benjamin’s Longest Day Challenge, Alan Baker and Friends Cycle Challenge and Sandra Whitehead’s Women’s Charity Day all raising significant amounts. Many thanks and congratulations to everyone involved in these initiatives.  
• Linda’s Charity Day is on Thursday 11th September so please add this to your diary and let Linda know if you’d like to donate prizes to the raffle or auction. 
• The Captain would like to pass on her particular thanks to Danni for all her organisational assistance. 
• The club has established a partnership with “The Syndicate” who organise golf experiences for high-end customers. Numbers will be strictly controlled but with a single fourball paying £300 for a sandwich, golf and a drink, there is the potential for some significant income. 
• A request for a roll-up group to have a reserved tee time was not granted but visiting societies and inter-club matches will be encouraged to avoid the group’s usual tee times whenever possible. 
• A plan to close the loop for a few weeks over the winter to address drainage and contour issues is being considered. 
• Despite the significant challenges due to the dry weather, the greenstaff have been working hard on overseeding the tees, sanding the cracks on the 2nd, 4th and 5th fairways and carrying out the irrigation work on the 14th, 15th and 16th. 
• A plan is being devised to protect the tees over the winter whilst still giving members the opportunity to submit cards for handicapping. 
• A 5-year plan for course improvement is being developed focussing on irrigation, machinery and course projects. 
• Mitigating any impact of a hosepipe ban during the dry weather will be incorporated in the club’s Business Continuity Plan. 
• Concerns about some aspects of the practice nets (slope, length and mat position) were raised but were mainly due to restrictions imposed by our net supplier. 
• A Garmin R50 launch monitor will be purchased for use by the members in the practice nets at a cost of c£4k. Members will be able to book it in half hour intervals through the pro shop. Further details will be circulated shortly. 
• A smoking ban on the course during the dry weather has been introduced. Members are reminded that smoking and vaping in the clubhouse is strictly prohibited at all times. 
• The general office will be refurbished in August. 
• The external timber outside the Gallery Restaurant will be repaired. 
• The furniture in the bar and Ransome Lounge needs updating but no funds are currently available. Various potential fundraising initiatives will be investigated. 
• A comprehensive energy audit is being carried out to pinpoint inefficiencies and reduce operational costs. 
• The start date for the new GM was agreed as Monday 22nd September and Jonathan will shadow Ray during the initial stage of the handover period. 
• Following the serious incident on Saturday 12th July, the Munch Buggy will be immediately and permanently retired. Affected members are being monitored and any damage to property will be reimbursed. A static service using the gazebo on the 1st and 10th tees will be provided until the end of the season by which time a plan for a more permanent replacement will have been developed. 
• The ability to top-up barcards via the website has not been activated due to concerns surrounding the third-party supplier of this service and the security of the club and members finances is paramount.  All existing options for topping up in person or over the phone will be communicated shortly. 

Graham Hamilton 

Chairman 

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