It’s a long time since I’ve
posted anything – not because nothing’s happened but because a lot has.
The work on the greens carried
out in August appears to have improved them and the quick recovery justified treating
them early: we’ll continue to do that in future, and also slit-tine and dress
the greens more regularly during summer. The idea is, weather permitting, to do
this at the start of the week before the fourball competitions.
The winter work is going to be
approved at a green committee shortly, but will involve tidying up some of the
paths, gorse management (management rather than destruction, please note),
drainage improvements and improving the winter tees as well as repairing the
walls by the 14th. The most controversial item for the green committee
is the position of the 14th tee, where there are strongly held split
views between the old position and the new, on top of the hill.
We’ve had two general meetings
since I last wrote; both seemed to go well, at least from my point of view. The
first approved the clubhouse development, both in principle and also the
detailed work to be carried out this year. We have now written to ask people to
assist in the funding and the contractors are on site doing preparatory works
before starting the main demolition work next week. As important part of this project has been minimising
disruption to the day to day activities so we’re pleased that the bar can
continue to operate throughout, that Paul will be able to provide basic
catering – probably most of the things people want in winter anyway – and that there
is a bit of slack in the timetable so we should be open for business before
April next year – as always, weather permitting.
The next six months will be
critical to the long term development of the club; it’ll see the main phase of
the clubhouse improvements and we’ll be very focused on finishing it within
budget and to a high quality. We’ll be having regular team meetings: something –
probably more than one thing – is bound to go wrong and it’ll be important to
catch that early and to respond flexibly.
The AGM also went smoothly: the
best line from my point of view was that since becoming chairman people only
talk to me to complain about something. Since then – they do talk and they haven’t
complained! I’m sure that will change but it’s nice while it lasts.
Looking forward, we had our first
committee meeting of the new year last week, welcoming the new captains. We
decided on the main objectives for the coming year – we won’t achieve them
all but it’s a useful discipline. The
main ones are:
- the clubhouse development and
its financing (obviously)
- completing the new rules
- reviewing and possibly updating
the competition system
- Improving the course management
We have also decided to improve
our marketing efforts – we’re not sure how yet, I’ll write more about that
later, but we need to improve our profile to attract more visitors and
potentially, as the waiting list declines, members.
