Castle News - February 2009

CASTLE VIEWS - An official publication of Clevedon Golf Club keeping the membership informed

CHAIRMANS PIECE
A happy New Year to you all.
A challenging year is in prospect but we have got off to a good start having signed a new agreement with regard to green keeping machinery in line with our budget for 2009. At the same time we have negotiated a brewery deal, details of which appear later in this newsletter.
The working group looking at ways and means to improve membership and cash flow have had several discussions and will continue their work through to at least March in order to present their findings and recommendations.
Finally, as a consequence of a number of members' comments, a reminder that the Board members act on a voluntary basis paying the same subscriptions as all full members and enjoying the same benefits. So, for all you would-be Directors we are all in this together as members of the Club.
Let's hope for a successful 2009 in all respects.
Roy Quipp - Chairman

CAPTAINS CORNER

The New Year has got off to a great start. The dinner was attended by 85 members and guests when everybody enjoyed a splendid meal provided by our chef Ali and her team. Entertainment by Steve Bullimore and Steve Trebble saw in the New Year in grand style.
The 'Drive In' was very well supported and the Club appears to be led by a Lunatic in a tartan dress, a dinner lady and a fireman. Only the Junior Captain appears 'normal' (see pictures on the website www.clevedongolfclub.co.uk). My lasting memory of the day will be driving my ball right next to my name peg.
Social events over the next couple of months are the Valentines Day Massacre (14th February), St David's Day Sunday Lunch (8th March) and Irish Night (24th March). These events are great fun and I would encourage members who have not been before to try them. Book behind the bar. There are also the monthly quizzes, which are great fun. Turn up on the day.
I intend to hold two weekends away this year. One will be a mixed event at St Pierre and the other for the Men's section at Woodbury. Notices are on the boards. If the events are oversubscribed I will attempt to get additional tee times and accommodation so please express your interest as soon as possible.
The Club has had 16 members join under the 'winter membership' scheme. Speaking to them, they have been made very welcome by the Club. Keep up the good work. It is vital that we convert them all to full members. If you see golfers on their own invite them to join your group. It may make the difference between joining and not. A New Members' supper will take place on Friday 6th March with partners. Anyone who has joined the Club in the last year will be most welcome.
My charities for the year are firstly 'Wooden Spoon' which is a rugby-based charity for handicapped children. Money raised locally is spent locally. The Am-Am will support this worthy cause. My second charity is the League of Friends of Clevedon Hospital. Their Charity Day will be on Friday 28th August.
I hope to play with as many members as possible during the year. I would encourage you to put your name next to mine on the competition start sheets if you have not played with me before.
David Fife - Captain 2009

LADIES

As I write I am trying to persuade myself that being dressed in a tea-cosy and pinny at the New Year Drive-In has only added to my street cred'. My commendations go to those members involved for their creativity in costume and singing.
The Ladies Section has started the year well with all our Wednesday competitions being well supported and the weather being kind to us.
We are very fortunate this year with sponsorship from Maria Mason (she does not play but her husband, Dave is a member) who is the owner of Beauty Time in Cleeve. She is a National Judge for Beauty Awards and the Salon has won a number of accolades including Guinot Crown Salon Winner from 2001 to 2009. January saw the Ladies enjoying lunch and a talk from Maria with a crucial vote on the colour and style of our team shirts.
February brings our first serious competition with the 'Mail On Sunday' away against Shirehampton . This will be balanced by the Captain's Fun Competition (Hidden Partners) and later in the month another lunch with a humorous talk on The Rules from the very experienced Sue Rawles, whose props include a golf course on a carpet!!!
March sees a group of Ladies going to Desert Springs in Spain for 4 days pre-season coaching (and a tan, of course). During this time we will have been maintaining our swings and improving our skills so by April we will be ready for team practice, Cup Competitions, the first Sunday Medal and the first of the Friendly matches. We will also be able to enjoy our Spring Dinner on the 21st with Helen Spooner speaking on Body Balance. Helen utilises a food's resonance to measure food intolerances with a MSA Professional computer by taking non-invasive biofeedback measurements on your finger - again!!!
The month of May takes us into team matches and hopefully warmer weather and the opportunity to improve our handicaps. It is never too late to concentrate on our game Ladies and eradicate those little bad habits which have crept in during the winter while we have been trying to stay warm and dry!
Our new members are very important to us and we plan to hold a 'New Members' event every month. The first one will be on 22nd February and this will take the form of an Improvers lesson with the Pro' at 10.00 o'clock on bunker shots (bring a sand wedge), followed by eight holes and coffee. For pure beginners there will be a lesson on the swing at 10.45 (so bring a 6 iron if possible, otherwise one can be supplied). Again, this will be followed by coffee. Please also note that all are welcome at the Club Captains supper for New Members on 6th March so pop your name down on the list in the foyer.
A final note for your diaries is September 4th when we will be lucky enough to enjoy an evening with Clevedon Golf Club's first Lady Professional, Christine Langford.
Rosemary Fife - Ladies Captain

SUNDAY LUNCHES
Martyn and Linda Mills along with Ali and her team are continuing to host monthly SUNDAY CARVERY LUNCHES. The next one is on 22nd February so please book at the Bar to avoid disappointment. Serving will start at noon.
MENU
Soup of the Day or Home Made Pâté
Choice of Roast (beef or lamb) or Homemade Nut Roast
Treacle Sponge & Custard or Strawberry Meringue & Ice Cream
Coffee & Mints
2 Courses £9.00, 3 Courses £12.50

COMPETITIONS AND HANDICAPS
HANDICAPPING
As already announced on the notice boards CONGU Regulations this year make it a requirement that every player completes a minimum of three scoring cards. Failure to do so will result in handicaps becoming inactive may and preclude holders from playing in bona fides competitions.

INVITATION DAY - 2009
This will be held on Saturday 30th May and the format will be a 4 x BBB stableford shot-gun start competition commencing at 9 o'clock. The competition fee will include food (a running buffet) and everyone is encouraged to stay for the prize giving which will take place once all competitors have returned to the Clubhouse.

CLUB TOURNAMENTS AND TRIALS
· The 1st team Captain is Steve Lawrence and the 2nd team will be captained by Craig Andrews
· In the Somerset Bowl Clevedon have a bye in the 1st round and will meet either Frome or Fosseway at Burnham.
· The 'Daily Mail/Mail on Sunday' Knock-out competition involving six selected players is at home versus Tickenham.
· The date of the Team trial will be announced shortly along with details of the Bristol and District Hi-Lo qualifier.
Willy Rowlinson - Director (Competitions and Handicaps)

AROUND THE COURSE
Another year and amidst all the doom and gloom we read about in the media I believe Clevedon Golf Club has started the year in a positive mood.
The course has stood up well to the winter weather and whilst the latest cold snap put some of the greens out of commission it should help in killing off some of the bugs and fungus around the course. Given our financial constraints we have carried out little or no development work during the winter months but we have replaced some of our machinery which was reaching the end of its useful life.
We now have a number of new machines - two new surrounds-and-tee machines, a new rough machine and a new fairway machine. Given the acreage we have to mow and the fact that we cut the greens on a daily basis through the growing season five years is, I'm afraid the maximum we can hope for from our equipment. The new machine for the fairways should improve the appearance of the course with a reduced level of clumps of mown grass when the course is wet. During trials it showed a vast improvement.
Our plan for the year is to continue with our programme of regular maintenance with two major maintenance periods, one in Spring and one in late Summer. The greens have been really good this Winter but players will notice that they will become less smooth in early Spring. This is due to the varying types of grass starting their proper growing season and, yes they all grow at different rates. This will gradually improve over the years if we can encourage the finer grasses but given the nature of our course we will never quite get rid of the meadow grass. The greens will also be helped if everyone repairs their pitch marks and reminds their playing partners to do likewise.
We have played on the tees most of this Winter but we may have to come off a number of them before the Spring to give them a chance to recover before the season starts. We will do this on an as-needs basis. I believe given decent weather conditions ( it cannot be another wet summer, please!) the course will be in good condition again this year and our Green staff, as always will be working hard to provide the membership with the best playing conditions possible. This may mean that, at times there may be some disruption because of work being carried out but please be patient as the staff are only doing what is needed to keep our course in good playing order.
I wish all members a very enjoyable year's golf and that the delights of playing at Clevedon Golf Club will at least give some break from the doom and gloom that presently surrounds our daily life.
Martin Reid - Director (Course)

HOUSE MATTERS
The Catering Crew and the Bar Team continue to do well with sales up over last year. The Bar is up 7% and the Catering up 9%. If the members continue their strong support we will certainly be in for another record year.
At the same time our negotiations have now concluded and we have signed a new deal with St Austell Brewery which will be financially beneficial to the Club.
Ron Conway - Director (House)

NEW MEMBERS ALL
A warm welcome to all our new members - Christopher Lawton, Mark Church, Michael Lewis, David Ashcroft, Robert Smith, Tom Findlay, Ronald Angell, Ian Gorham, Thomas Clark, Peter Horlock, Clive Donaldson, Colin McFadden, Brian Crewe, Lee Easterbrook, Marian Crewe, Michael Sansum, Simon Wheeler, Richard Cawse, James Barclay, Nicholas Lawton and last but certainly not least Paul Thomson.

CLUB WEBSITE APPEAL
Budding Lord Lichfield's - photographs of the course and background views over the Bristol Channel are still needed for the Club's website.

SENIOR MOMENTS
The Seniors' competitions are now underway and although the weather has been cold with temporary greens there have been some close matches, especially in the Captain / Vice Captain Challenge.
The first main social event is our very popular Ladies Night scheduled for April 3rd.. An overnight trip to the Belmont Lodge complex at Hereford is planned, again in April and already support for this is at a very good level with everyone praying for good weather!
Our Seniors' matches start in March with an away fixture at Filton. Keep your eyes peeled for the notices on the Seniors' board and I am hoping to see all the matches well supported so that as many of you as possible enjoy the fun and comradeship of our trips.
The Away-day this year will be to Peterstone Lakes at Newport on Wednesday 20th May.. .The plan is again to go by coach so make sure you watch the notice board for the list.
Finally we are planning a Seniors, Ladies and guests jazz bar-b-q on Saturday 22nd August.
If you have any questions or suggestions for the Seniors' Section please contact me or our secretary Stephen Coller.
Mike Parker - Seniors Captain

PRO SHOP NEWS
Hello everybody and may I start by wishing you all a happy and successful golfing New Year.
I am pleased to be able to tell you I am now an official Ping stockist. This means that I will have a much wider range of Ping products. I have already received a supply of G10 woods, hybrids, irons, putters and golf bags and they are on display in the shop.
I will be continuing with clubs from Cobra which were very successful last year.....thank you for your support. I am expecting their new clubs to be here in March.
I have received a delivery of shoes from Footjoy and golf bags from Titleist. They have introduced some new styles so please come and have a look.
Looking forward to the new season now is the time to book a lesson or two. The cost is £17.50 for adults / £12.00 for juniors per half hour session or, alternatively book six lessons and only pay for five!
A reminder to those of you who have Powakaddy Trolleys. This is the time of year to have them serviced. You have until the end of February. From March onward I will, of course be available to carry out any repairs but please book them in as this will help me to ensure that any work necessary is carried out promptly.
Rob & team
Newsletter Editor - Paul Middleton