Clarion June 2020
Fellow swingers. All the nooz that is nooz (and some that is not).
Before the latest torrent of vacuous guff begins; may I please request that you do not respond to me with enquiries about the content within that would be better directed to the relevant sub-Committee Chair. I have included the e-mail addresses of each of them at the foot of this and previous Clarion editions for your reference. I am not a Committee member and I cannot make binding decisions on their behalf. I am more than happy to respond to any complaints about the style, content or format. I cannot take payment for green fees. I thank you in anticipation.
I am also happy to receive any thought through editorial that you would like considered for inclusion.
And so to the good bit:
Colin Hook and Cliff Stromdale have both successfully sat and passed the World Handicapping System exam and are ready (?) for this change in November. Well done to both of them!
Lots of footfall on the course and it is great to see everyone out and enjoying the weather we have been having (until yesterday). The course looks fantastic and is playing equally well. The Greenkeepers and the Friday (9 am to 11am) working parties (Paul Carters Fusliers) are doing a grand job on our behalf. Here is a list of work carried out this month or currently in progress, hot off the pigeons leg from Paul Carter:
All branches from snowdrop spiny now chipped and spread on bluebell path. Please use this path.
Sand being added to bunkers. All surrounds cut and cleared.
Ditches have been strimmed to speed up play.
New gate posts placed on roadway entrance and slabs being laid to tidy muddy entrances.
Irrigation fixed on 6th tee and whole watering system has been serviced and now functioning.
Drainage under First tee entrance repaired and cleared out.
Astro turf being laid between 5th green and 6th tee.
Fairways may not be cut over weekend as cylinders being repaired.
Hedges trimmed by your Club Captain (Bob ‘where is my fuel bottle?’ Damon)
The Fusiliers need some additional numbers now with some works they wish to undertake on the course. As you are probably aware, it is usual for a clubs Senior section to provide these working parties, as a ‘quid pro quo’ for the privilege of having exclusive use of the course for a Seniors morning once a week. This does not mean that the Senior section must exclusively provide this workforce and any willing volunteers would be welcome. You will need to take a short Health and Safety test online prior to being able to join this happy throng. Adults of any gender are welcome to participate. Please contact Paul Carter on the e-mail below to express your interest.
The website upgrade has continued apace and now offers a much brighter and more functional portal to our Club, Please visit the site and familiarise yourself with it. Big thank you to Adrian Percival et al for all of their hard work here. A request:
Adrian is responsible for the club website, as I am sure many of you know. The committee is concerned that he has been alone in doing this for a long time now. We would like to have at least one other member to support him, so that if (as has recently been the case) he is incapacitated, then someone would still be able to access and update the website. You don’t need to be a website expert, as Adrian is more than happy to train someone in the basics of site management. So if you have some basic I.T. knowledge and would like to learn more about website development and design, then let one of the Committee know or -mail Adrian direct at web@sharnbrookgolfclub.co.uk
The knock-out competitions are now up and running. Please try your best to stick to the dates as shown on the draw sheet that all entrants will have received. I would firmly suggest that you and your opponents come to a firm agreement before you tee off as to how you are going to deal with putts that would obviously have dropped but which subsequently just bounce across the hole. I would proffer the suggestion that if it does not rest within the circumference of the cup, it is not in the hole. Just agree a solution that suits both/all 4 of you in advance.
John Greevy has been seconded on to the Committee subject to full confirmation at the AGM in December, taking on the position of Chair of the Marketing sub-Committee and thus allowing Graham Wright to stand down from the Committee and free up more time for his role as Safeguarding lead.
Graham has worked tirelessly for us all over the last 3 very difficult years for the club. Along with his team, he has kept the interest in the club going by searching out new members. Without his efforts, our current position would be a wish and not a reality. On all of the Clubs behalf: thank you, Graham! Thank you to John as well for stepping up.
A message from the Secretary, Roger Tunn.
-
The Club is investing in the Club V1 system to replace the current Master Scoreboard. Club V1 will give all members access to the popular HowdidIdo app.
Enables us to move to WHS in November and provides lots of other benefits:-
C l Cloud based system – Use the system from anywhere using a secure username and password
-
Support team based in Manchester and available at weekends
-
Local account manager looking after the area
-
Preferred partner with England Golf
-
ClubV1 will be WHS2020 compliant
-
Membership database
-
Ability to send subscription invoices out through the software and post payments
-
CONGU scores and handicapping
-
HowDidIDo and HowDidIDo APP – Free of charge for members with over 400,000 golfers registered
-
HowDidIDo offers fantastic promotions – If a member scores a hole in 1 in a singles qualifying competition, we will send the golf club a Hugo Boss BOSS watch to present to the member. Image attached
-
HowDidIDo – Members can become friends with members of golfers at other HowDidIDo clubs
-
Data conversion and training
-
Online Open Booking
-
Online Competition Booking
-
APP scoring
-
Email members facility within the software to keep members up to date
-
This software has been installed at over 1,600 golf clubs over the U.K and Ireland
The cost is not significantly more than we currently pay for Master Scoreboard and offers huge benefits for our Club.
-
Could Members and guests please refrain from cleaning shoes and trolleys etc at the back of their cars in the carpark. Please do it somewhere off the tarmac.
A Finance update from Richard Lowther (Treasurer)
I am pleased to announce that due to your faith and commitment to our golf club, we will be able to meet our financial liabilities this year. To achieve a healthy and thriving club in 2021, we need to increase our membership by approximately 30 full members, as this would give the Committee the scope to invest in the course and facilities to everyone’s benefit. To this end, I would like to announce the following incentive for members:-
Any member introducing a full category member who subsequently completes the joining process before 30/09/2020, will receive £50.00 off next year’s membership fee. This will rise by a further £50.00 off next years membership if the new member renews in 2021. Introduction of a 2nd club category member would be rewarded by £25.00 rising by a further £25.00 on 2021 renewal. Any new members will receive a 10% discount on the pro-rata subscription cost (as detailed below) with effect from 1st July 2020. It is worth also noting that our yearly rate includes the affiliation fee to England Golf, which most clubs charge as an additional fee of around £10 pa.
Membership subscription rates Sharnbrook Golf Clubpro rata July 2020 to 31/03/2021 |
Full membership with 10% Discount for the same period |
|
<16 |
£40 |
£36 |
16-20 |
£75 |
£67.50 |
21 – 30 |
£240 |
£216 |
80 or over on 1/4/2020 |
£240 |
£216 |
31-79 full membership |
£360 |
£324 |
Associate Members |
£20 |
£18 |
Corporate Members |
By arrangement |
By arrangement |
Second club membership (CGU handicap held at another club with higher subscription rate) |
£135 |
£121.5 |
Gripe time:
Slow play is always a problem, but is more so when we can only get limited numbers onto the course in the first place. There is nothing in the Covid-19 rules that says you cannot let a faster moving group play through if you are holding them up. While it has not happened to me as yet, I have observed a few examples of 4 balls holding up 2 balls (that sounds so wrong) and in one instance watched as two 2 balls joined up in exasperation (doesn’t really help with distancing) at being held up. There is no real excuse other than a lack of awareness of golfing etiquette or of other golfers (or maybe it is just old fashioned bloody-mindedness: let us hope not). Be aware of the pace of golf around you: you should stay in touch with the group in front, not just aim to be in front of the group behind. There are plenty of places on the course (ie; any par 3) where it is easy to let the following group or any singleton through if they are moving faster than you. Think.
Marshalling continues to be carried out on the course, with sessions being carried out every day. Whilst Covid-19 rules are being adhered to very well, it is becoming increasingly clear that there are a few ‘rascals’ helping themselves to free golf. This is either with the co-operation of a member who decides (forgets?, cannot be bothered?) not to follow the stated green fee payment procedure, or just the occasional interloper trying their luck. It is incumbent upon all members to ensure that golfers playing the course have a right to be there, so please do not hesitate to challenge anyone you think may not have that right. Clearly displaying your own bag tag is the most obvious starting point in this matter. Golfers who have no right (ie; no green fee paid or just ‘bunking-on’) to be on the course are not insured in the event of them being hit, or if they hit you, with a stray ball. There appears to be a level of antagonism toward the nominated Marshalls (occasionally with good reason, I am sure) but the job is being done to benefit all fully paid-up members. The answer lies with all of the membership, not just with a dozen souls who freely give up their time. Put up with it until things get better, please. The alternative will be an even heavier presence, which no one wants.
For clarification: show your bag tag clearly and pay the required green fee online to the Treasurer in advance. For further clarification: in advance means before you play, not ‘I was going to transfer the money later. Who do I pay it to?’ when challenged.
And finally…..
Two grumpy old men, Nigel and Roger, are sat on a park bench feeding the pigeons and talking about golf.
Nigel turns to Roger and asks, “Do you think there’s golf courses in Heaven?”.
Roger thinks about it for a minute and replies, “I dunno, but let’s make a deal — if I die first, I’ll come back and tell you if there’s golf in Heaven, and if you die first, you do the same.” They shake on it and sadly, a few months later, poor Nigel passes on.
Soon afterward, Roger sits in the park, feeding the pigeons by himself, and hears a voice whisper, “Rog… Rog… .”
Roger responds, “Nig! Is that you?”
“Yes it is, Rog,” whispers Nig’s ghost. Roger, still amazed, asks, “So, is there golf in Heaven?”
“Well,” says Nigel, “I’ve got good news and bad news”.
“Gimme the good news first” says Roger.
Nigel says “Well, there are some great golf courses in Heaven’’.
Roger says, “Brilliant! What news could be bad enough to ruin that?”.
Nigel sighs and whispers, “You’ve got a tee booked at 07.15 this coming Friday’’.
Useful e-mail contacts:
Roger Tunn (Secretary) secretary@sharnbrookgolfclub.co.uk
Richard Lowther (Treasurer) rlowther438@gmail.com
Bob Damon (Club Captain) damonbob65@gmail.com
Colin Hook (Competitions, handicapping, rules and Vice- Captain) cjhook48@icloud.com
Paul Carter (Course) paulcarter24@hotmail.com
John Greevy (Marketing) johngreevy@btinternet.com
Adrian Percival (Website Editor) web@sharnbrookgolfclub.co.uk
Kind regards
Nigel
The Clarion (Special Edition Late May 2020)
All
As of Monday 1st June, the course will be open for 3 and 4 ball play. These larger groups can all come from separate households. No car sharing, unless you are from the same household please. REMEMBER: all of the other ‘Play safe; stay safe’ rules, as previously informed and posted on the course and car park still strictly apply. Also remember that you are playing 9 holes, so if you want to play another 9, then you will need to join the back of any existing queue of people waiting to play. The ‘filtering in’ rule remains suspended at present.
There is regular marshalling continuing to be carried out on the course. All members have the right to challenge anyone they suspect may not be a member or a bona fide guest and are encouraged to do so. We are currently experiencing a problem with 2 errant young men (about 19/20), neither of whom are members. They stick out like a sore thumb because they are young! They have now been challenged 3 times but seem to keep returning. There is no real sanction that we can apply (and please: no aggression, violence or poor language as we are guests of Unilever, whose image will not be enhanced by poor publicity) but please endeavour to let any interlopers know that they have been spotted and politely ask them to leave the course. If we all display our bag tags prominently it will help enormously in this matter, so please do not be offended if you are a fully paid up member who is challenged: who knows; you might make a new acquaintance! I asked a player if he was a member recently and he responded by saying ‘only for the last 23 years!’.
Reminder: if you wish to bring a guest, it must be pre-arranged and paid for via the Treasurer, Richard Lowther (see below).
The Club has a Pastoral Officer: Phil Dams. If you are aware of any member, past or present, who you feel could benefit from a kindle voice from the Club. please let Phil know their contact details. Phil’s e-mail is: phildams@ntlworld.com
Now a message from your Committee:
-
The Committee would like to thank the membership for sticking with the rules, especially the 15 minute gap. Unilever are pleased with our discipline and have agreed to carry on as we are for the time being.
-
Reminder: do not to touch anything on the course. Some golfers have been using the divot mix from the boxes to repair divots on the tees; please desist from this practice, as we have a team who are making repairs using personal scoops.
-
Big please. At all times, help the green keepers by giving way to them, unless they tell you differently. They are doing a great job but tend to have less time available to wait than we do. What else are you going to do with your time?
-
The seemingly ‘unpopular’ OOB has been removed from between holes 7 and 8. Please do not deliberately play down the wrong fairway it can be potentially dangerous. Remember to accompany any misdirected shots on the course with a very loud FORE LEFT! (occasionally) or FORE RIGHT!! (a lot more frequently). Of course, the regularity depends on whether you are left or right handed, before pedants corner raises its voice.
-
On the same subject don’t tee off on 3rd until you hear the bell – unless, of course, you are taking the conservative option of laying-up short of the pond.
-
We still have a few vacancies for new members and YOU are the best advert the club could have. Recruit friends, relations and even enemies. Golf is enjoying a period of great interest and growth, with post-lockdown applications to golf clubs up by 15%, most of whom seem to be returners to golf.
-
Your Committee is still meeting via videoconferencing: next meeting is on 1st June
-
Any comments (brickbats or bouquets) please email; secretary@sharnbrookgolfclub.co.uk