Discussions started about
renewing/refurbishing the clubhouse about twenty years ago, well before I
became a member. This suggests:
- there really are problems that
need to be dealt with, and
- despite that we’ve managed to
cope so they haven’t been that urgent; we have the time to get it right.
After the centenary and the
course purchase a development committee was formed; the first priority was the
new greenkeepers’ shed; the second the clubhouse and a plan incorporating lots
of good ideas was drawn up; unfortunately the cost was estimated at well over
£1m and so the plan was dropped. The need to deal with the inadequacies of the
structure, kitchen, heating, wiring, plumbing meant we started to plan again
about four years ago. This post sets out, for the record, what we’ve done and
why.
Initially we a) asked what
members thought; b) chose a firm of architects; c) carried out a structural
survey; and d) held a forum with members to get detailed views. All this
informed a design brief for the architects and we gradually refined the plans
to those which were put forward and endorsed at the second forum. The key
decision was not the design itself: instead it was to deal with the inevitable
high cost by saying we would first agree the plan and then only start once we
had dealt with the financing rather than – as before – give up, and we would
phase it if necessary.
The plan, with an estimated cost,
was presented and endorsed at a second forum and we then went for planning
permission. After some interesting discussions with the conservation officer
about the sightlines, window details and the way that the existing extension
blends into the landscape (?) we got planning permission. As the notice in the
clubhouse and on the website states, we will now get a detailed specification
(hopefully complete by February) and then put them out to tender (during
March). If there are no surprises we’ll present the final plan, the costs and
the financing plan to another forum and an EGM. We’ve wondered whether to have
just one meeting, but decided to have both so that any concerns can be picked
up and dealt with at the forum.
You might remember that the plan
lends itself to minimum disruption. We aim to start work in October and be
complete for the beginning of the following year’s season. The nature of the
work means that we should be without a kitchen for only about four to six
weeks, in the early part of the year.
We’ve had positive feedback from
a number of members about donations, tee sponsorships and loans to help finance
the project; we also plan to offer a limited number of life memberships. Ian
Brown and I are talking to those who’ve offered some of the larger amounts so
we can prepare a detailed package. We expect to do this in Spring and – subject
to the project being approved - would hope to ask for money in late summer to
be ready for the start of building. We have also prepared a tee sponsorship
package similar to the one used for the Centenary but which would last for
three years.
The final thing we’ve done this
year is a full repainting of the clubhouse repairing much of the badly damaged
woodwork. The previous work was not done to such a high quality and we decided
to do it now so we could repair the woodwork and prevent it from needing
replacement at a later date, at a high cost. We’ve phased the quality: the work
at the back of the clubhouse, which will be affected by the development project,
has been done with a two to three year time frame in mind. Also – how many of
you have noticed that one window in the dining room has been replaced with a
double glazed unit? This was done to test how easily that can be done: the
answer is quite easily and all the windows at the front will eventually be
double glazed.
The plan for next year in summary
is:
- Get detailed drawings: February
- Tender: March
- Finalise loan, life membership
and tee sponsorship arrangements: April
- Forum/EGM: May/June
- Appoint builders: July
- Collect funds: August
- Start work: October
All this assumes there are no
surprises and that members continue to endorse the project. The main caveat is
financial: if we are not confident about the financial arrangements then we will
delay the project until it can easily be afforded. This year has not been an
easy one financially, principally because of the weather; we hope to be
profitable but not by as much as the budget or last year. The cash we generated
has been used to buy some machinery which should benefit the course – a grinder
and a turf iron – and to pay for professional fees which form a necessary part
of the development. We should have as much in October next year as we expected
for the start of the project but we will watch finances carefully and if next
year is also a bad one for visitor income then we may delay. One thing we will
not do is risk not investing in the course because of the clubhouse.
Four years ago a common question
I was asked is “why are we doing anything?” Now most members I speak to
recognise that we have to improve the clubhouse and the most frequent question
I’m asked is “when are we starting?”. I hope the above gives a clue.
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