Hello golfers, 

 

For all those who were unable to attend the AGM last Tuesday please find the Wiseviille report below

Bletchingley Golf Club - 2015 AGM - Management Report

The Course 

Looking back on 2015 the weather throughout has made life quite tough for our green staff to maintain a product to a standard our members, visitor’s, directors and myself would expect year on year. During the spring time we only received between 50-70% of the average rainfall and the temperature in May in the early hours was only a couple of degrees above freezing. On certain days we were still waking up to frosty conditions. This type of mix is not conducive to growing weather at a time when you want the poa grass to die away and the fescue and bent grasses to take over which then by the middle of May golfers would start to see an improvement in the surfaces but unfortunately this did not happen in early spring. At this point we were already around 4-6 weeks behind schedule compared to previous years. The other dilemma we had was the reservoir water was so cold that would have only brought the ground temperature down further, so we had no choice but to wait for natural rainfall and a rise in temperature.

Through May we saw a slight improvement due to the rise in temperature and an increase in rainfall but that was short lived. Temperatures through June gradually rose and by the beginning of July the temperature had reached around 30 degrees Celsius and that is where it stayed for the most part of July and August. No matter how much water we applied to the greens it had very little impact. The green keeping staff in my opinion did all they could as 2 staff members each day were assigned to hand watering specific areas of the greens as well as the sprinkler system automatically coming on every night. We were promised rain two or three times through August but to no avail. We had now gone through the whole summer without a drop of rain and being on sand the course was looking pretty baron. I am not standing here tonight to try and make excuses for the state of the course this year and I know it wasn’t at its best but what I would like members to understand is that we are trying to find solutions that will help improve the product especially if British summers that we experienced this year are repeated. 

First and foremost we replaced and raised a number of sprinklers this year both on the greens, approaches and the tee boxes. Over the last couple of years our attention through the winter has been to update and re position a number our sprinkler heads, this maintenance work will continue this winter which we will get onto in a moment. For next summer we are looking in to a new chemical on the market which would be drip fed into our reservoir, adding the same type of nutrients that fresh rain water contains. As mentioned earlier, we have thrown thousands of gallons of water onto our course through the summer but 1 days’ worth of rain on our course and it instantly starts to look greener and healthier once more. This product has been tested at a number of courses including links courses which have the same sandy soil as us and results have been very positive. The hope is we will then not have to apply such large amounts of water throughout the day in the summer just to maintain, or if we do we should see the benefits of the added nutrients. 

This winter the course will undergo further maintenance and improvements. The Men’s 11th Competition tee will be increased in size and sprinkler heads re positioned. The men’s 18th yellow tee area will also be increased and improvements to irrigation will also be made. The ladies will not be forgotten either with a new tee being built on the 5th as we feel that is very much needed. The rest of the budget will be spent on replacing and raising other sprinkler heads predominantly on tee boxes. The trees on the 17th will also be pruned back by a Professional tree surgeon who is also a very good golfer and he has done work for us in the past including the lollipop tree on the 17th the last time it was pruned. I am at present awaiting a date from him for the work to commence.

Catering 

I am sure many of you after this report are going to ask me about our current catering franchise. I don't feel this is the time or the place to discuss or listen to personal issues. I would however like to encourage members to return any food order that you feel is substandard. I cannot resolve any issues unless myself or a member of the bar staff is made aware of the grievance at the time of service. Please do not sit in silence and just accept what you are given, then knock on my door 2 days later to complain. This is the only way issues can be resolved and be fair to Baldwin catering so that they have a chance to reply on the day. Baldwin catering and I are scheduled to meet with the current Vice Captains prospective Vice Captains, Seniors Captain and a BOFS representative later on this month. A number of issues from both sides will be discussed and a constructive discussion will be held to try and find a way of moving forward. This meeting will be a chance to air views from both sides and thus produce a positive outcome that we can move on from.

Now onto the clubhouse! 

This time last year I announced in my AGM report that work will be done to the changing rooms but could not put a time frame on this work being carried out. I am pleased to announce that in January both changing rooms will undergo some refurbishment. In the Men's Changing room new lighting will replace what is currently on the ceilings and both Men's and Ladies rooms will have a fresh coat of paint in them.

Both ladies and Men's washroom room areas will also have new sinks and taps, the old radiators will be replaced along with the hand dryers. All silicon sealant around the sinks, toilets and all around the floors will be removed and new sealant will be applied to help enhance the washroom areas. The shower areas will also be looked at with new pipes and the replacement of shower heads where needed. The water pressure issues that have arisen in the men's showers have not been easy to trace due to the problem being intermittent at times however this will also be investigated further and hopefully a solution will be found. Unfortunately the tiles will not be replaced due to cost but they will certainly receive a steam clean after the other works have been completed. 

The toilets in the foyer area will also be out of action at some point in November as they will also be having some work done to them in a similar way to the work done in the function room toilets. 

In the months' ahead we will also be looking to tighten the security around the changing rooms with new key pads being installed on the main doors. This will allow us to alter the code number on the door far more frequently and easily which will increase security in that area. We are also going to install a CCTV camera outside the men's changing room near the back door to either try to help catch or certainly deter potential would be thieves. The wall outside the Pro shop will also be looked at, with the top layer of bricks being skimmed off and replaced.

And finally… 

Members From March 2016 there will be some changes with regards to some member groups' benefits. Flexible members will receive a 5% discount on food and drink when using their bar card instead of the current 10% and all flexible members will be issued with a new silver bar card (any current balance will be transferred over to the new card). 

We would also like to reward the Past Men's and Ladies Captains who have served their time on committees and have been a figure head for the members section here are Bletchingley. From March 2016 all past Captains will receive a 15% discount on all food and drink purchases whilst using their bar card. We do hope this added discount is used in a manner that it was given and is not subject to abuse. 

Current serving Captains will receive a complimentary large locker for the period in which they serve their Captaincy, this will begin from November and the lockers will be handed over to each new Captain each year. 

We do hope this will go a small way to encourage other members to consider taking on the role at some point in their golfing life. 

Locker fees will also be reduced from March 16 by around 20%. 

The reigning Men's and Ladies club champion will also be rewarded by having their own designated car parking space alongside the Captain's current spots. Just like with the lockers for the Captains, these parking spots will be given up and utilised by next years' club champions and so on.

We have also looked at trying to find ways of adding more value to the five and seven day member's subscription and in March after renewal every 5 & 7 day member will receive a new metal Bletchingley bag tag.