The Ladies Team at Bristol & Clifton have achieved an inaugural win for the Ladies Team Prize at the Finals of the Volvo National Golf Club Challenge (supporting Help for Heroes) when they played at Turnberry on Monday and Tuesday (29 & 30 Oct).

Please click here to read further.

To listen to the interview recently broadcast on BBC Radio Bristol, please click on this link: http://nationalgolfclubchallenge.org.uk/2012final/latest.php

 

Ensuring the Long Term Future of Bristol & Clifton 

Background

Since taking over as Chairman, a key task has been to consider the future well-being of the Club and to investigate what changes, if any, might be appropriate to ensure that the Club maintains its status as a top quality golf venue within the South West.  After Team GB’s Olympic success, there can surely be no better time than now to talk about legacy, focusing on realistic changes that we should consider making to ensure a sustainable future for our Club? 

During the past year, Council, through its Course Development and Clubhouse Development Committees, has critically appraised both course and clubhouse facilities. Now, at an early stage and before detailed project planning has been commissioned and costs incurred, it is time to share our thoughts and ideas with the whole Membership.  Council has always been clear in its determination to involve you, the Members, in the long term future development of our Club, hoping to ensure that the course and clubhouse which we all enjoy so much are there, and in excellent condition for future generations of Members too.

Please don’t be alarmed by this news.  Our Club remains in excellent health, in what are difficult economic times, with no debts, a healthy membership and considerable land assets, and there is no immediate need to implement any radical changes. However, it is one of the tasks of Council to look forward and plan for our future and, consequently, I ask you to consider the issues we will be raising with an open mind.

The Clubhouse

Fond as we are of our clubhouse, our condition surveys and expert advice show that over the next five to ten years major expenditure of the order of £225K will be needed just to stand still; that is to maintain the existing fabric of the clubhouse without any improvements in layout or facilities.  Alongside this, early estimates indicated that the cost/benefit of complete refurbishment of the bungalow was unrealistic.  From this starting point, the Clubhouse Development Committee was asked to consider alternative and additional improvements and developments, which could significantly enhance the clubhouse, the cost of which could at least, in part, be set against the maintenance costs identified as essential in maintaining the existing fabric. 

Clubhouse View 1

Much of the initial thinking has developed from ideas within the Club, from which the committee prepared a brief for the appointment of an outside architect.  We appointed Tony Mullin of Oxford Architects on a limited “outline” budget and asked him to come up with suggestions for addressing perceived weaknesses in the general area of the clubhouse and professional’s shop  and for meeting our aspirations for better facilities . After much discussion with the committee, he has produced the accompanying sketch plans to provide a basis for consultation with the members.

Clubhouse View 2

Through Oxford Architects, we have consulted with Structural Engineers, Craddy Pitchers Davidson on the structural matters and John Perkins Construction on indicative costs of maintenance/extension/new build matters. Several meetings have taken place, both on and off site, to discuss the state of the current building against the 3 possible options: refurbishment with or without extension or new build. JPC have also brought in their own specialist roofing and M+E subcontractors to assist in this exercise.  

Thus, the nature of the drawings you will see at this stage are very preliminary and concentrate on the functional aspects of the buildings; their appearance and welcoming aspect from the car park, the relationship of the professional’s shop and offices to each other, the flow of people around the clubhouse, both socially and for golfers half way round the course, and so on.  Tony has also developed some outline ideas, in accordance with the brief, for enlarging the bar lounge and dining room area, both judged by many to be inadequate and unsatisfactory in terms of capacity, acoustics and ventilation despite the investment made some years ago. This could all be achieved without losing the look and feel of the building.  I know this is a contentious issue, but believe we should talk openly about it.

Based on our visits to and discussions with other clubs, Oxford Architects have also produced an outline cost and feasibility study of a completely new-build clubhouse, to allow a cost comparison to be made in value for money terms with the enhancement proposals to the existing clubhouse.  Thus we will show everyone three options, minimal stand-still (whilst facing up to the on-going maintenance cost), a significant enhancement and development of the existing clubhouse and, thirdly, the cost of a new build option.

The Course

Currently, the development of the course is driven, year on year, by the priorities set out in the Course Development Plan,  a plan reviewed annually, which sets out a five year rolling programme of course development and enhancement. For the past 2 years, the priority has been and continues to be the improvement of bunkers, but the focus, following two consecutive wet summers, is likely to settle in future years on green improvements, particularly drainage to promote healthy grass growth.

In addition to improving the existing Course, the acquisition some years ago of additional land to the right of the 14^th fairway and, more recently, the land exchange giving us land to the right of the 15^th fairway too, has given scope to consider significant changes.   I am sure most Members would express a keenness to improve the course, for all sorts of reasons, and this new land would enable the development of new holes, with minimal disruption to playing our existing course during the development period.

There are many issues to consider; length, safety, the golfing challenge, etc. which bother us all in different ways.  Given the task set by Council of "maintaining B&C at the fore-front of SW golf",  the Course Development Group has come up with a very interesting and compelling preferred plan for future course development, which would deliver significant improvement and enhancement to the status of the Club.   I firmly believe that our emphasis should be on improving the course as a whole rather than just “tinkering” to satisfy possible health and safety, bottlenecks and other similar issues.  Solving these would inevitably be part of a more comprehensive plan anyway, as you will see.

Funding

Cost is inevitably something which rapidly leaps to the top of almost everyone’s list at an early stage.  Although we will be able to give outline indicative costs for both clubhouse and course, we believe it very important for the Membership to look at the possible changes in the light of whether they will ensure the long term future of the Club, whether they will be a suitable legacy and whether we all see the strategic benefit of doing them, within a timescale and funding regime that is acceptable to the majority.  When and if it has been decided that we should proceed, the question of funding will be considered in more detail.

I should make it clear that Council is not seeking a firm decision by the Membership to either clubhouse or course development, at this embryonic stage. Council needs  Members’ endorsement of the ‘principle’ of change, both to clubhouse and course, and to sanction further work on both projects, so that it can come back to you all with firmer, affordable proposals. We are seeking an indication of your support, in the best interests of the future of the Club so that Council can return in due course with plans, the evolution of which you will have been part of and therefore hopefully feel able to continue to support.

We have organised a number of Member’s Forums at which these outline ideas will be presented by those who have been closely involved with their development and to whom Council is very grateful.   Peter Scott, David Marval and Tony Mullin for the Clubhouse and Peter Southerby, Mike Biggs and David Hares for the Course.  Although they are to a degree inter-dependent, we will present the proposals for the Course and Clubhouse at separate times to avoid concentrating on one to the detriment of the other.

Member’s Forum Dates

Clubhouse Presentation:            

Friday, 2 November at 7pm

Saturday, 10 November at 5pm

Course Presentation:                   

Saturday, 3 November at 5pm

Thursday, 8 November at 7pm

Please do try and come to see what’s been going on, on your behalf, and to give your views.  This is only a consultation exercise at this stage with very little money having been spent.  We are not presenting you with a fait accompli, but rather asking you as Members to help us develop the ideas for the future. This is your Club and change can only be achieved with your approval.

Best wishes

Peter Simpson
Chairman

South West Schools Championships - Results

The Club was delighted to host this event on Wednesday, 30 May and with very impressive results - how about starting with an albatross and following it with a birdie?

Gloucestershire’s Victoria Wakeley–Jones began her second round with a two on the 402 yards par 5  thanks to a 170 yard shot into the green with her handy rescue club. Next she chipped in for a three on the par 4 322 yards second. She finished in top spot in round 2 of the competition.

County players Shelby Smart (Gloucestershire) and Molly Haslem (Devon) battled for first place at the Championships. With 1 shot separating them after the first round Molly went ahead in the second to take the title. 

The Boys were  having their own battles with Jordan Fletcher (Somerset) leading after round 1 with a score of 70 only to be pipped after the second round by Jack Singh Brar (Hants) posting an amazing six under par gross 66.

The top 11 Boys qualifying for the National Finals to be held at The Kendleshire on Monday 25^th June are:  Jack Singh-Brar (Hants), Jordan Fletcher (Somerset), Jordan Sundborg (Hants), James Dobbs (Glos), Callum Hannay (Avon), Harry Mayers (Devon), Jack Stubbington (Hants), Kenny Overthrow (Glos), Josh Knight (Avon), Andrew Ferris (Avon), Dominic Knight (Hants).

The top five Girls also qualifying are: Molly Haslem (Devon), Shelby Smart (Avon), Alice Plumb (Somerset), Alex Patton (Avon), and Victoria Wakeley-Jones (Glos).

Winners of the Team Championships for the day were Avon for the Girls and Hampshire for the Boys.

 

Boys Champion: Jack Singh-Brar (Hants) and Girls Champion: Molly Haslam (Devon) 

Congratulations to all those who took part. 

R&A - The Etiquette of Golf with Padraig Harrington

Short video of Padraig Harrington taking you through the basic etiquette of golf.

ENGLAND GOLF MERGER APPROVED
16th November 2011

For Immediate Publication

The merger of the English Golf Union (EGU) and the English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) was approved today (16 November 2011) at simultaneous general meetings of both organisations.

The merger will come into effect on 1 January 2012 and will create England Golf, one national governing body to represent all amateur golfers in England.

The merger proposal was approved by 86 per cent of the voting members of the EGU, meeting at its headquarters in Woodhall Spa; and by 100 per cent of the voting members of the EWGA, meeting at the National Motor Cycle Museum at Solihull. Both organisations had to approve the proposal by a majority of at least 75 per cent for it to be successful.

The decision was immediately hailed as a triumph for golf and a vital step forward for the game. Nigel Evans, Chairman EGU and Sylvia Perrins, Interim Chairman EWGA said: “This merger is in the best interests of golf and we are delighted that it has been given overwhelming support by our members. We look forward to a new era and to realising our vision for the future.

“England Golf will speak with one voice and send out the powerful, modern message that golf is a game for all, for men and women, boys and girls.

“A unified organisation, which promotes both the men’s and women’s game, will be more attractive to new golfers, will help us to grow the game, will be more appealing to commercial partners and sponsors and will mean we can be more cost effective.”

The merger vote followed a long period of consultation and preparation, which began in 2009 when a steering group was formed of members of both organisations. Following lengthy discussions, and the involvement of ten working groups, the proposal was produced and ratified by the Boards of both organisations before being put to the voting members.

Key points of the merger

• The headquarters of England Golf will initially be at the National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa. The EWGA offices in Edgbaston will continue in use until at least October 2012.
• The counties will continue to be the voting members. Counties will be encouraged to merge their Unions and Associations, but this will not be mandatory.
• The Board of England Golf will initially include 10 stakeholder non-executive directors, six nominated by the EGU and four women nominated by the EWGA. One of these 10 will be nominated as Chairman.
• The first sole President of England Golf will be a woman. The President will be supported by the immediate Past President and the President-Elect. One of these three will always be a woman.
• Club golf will go on, from day-to-day, as it does now, but members will benefit from the positive perceptions created by the merger and by the better support available for clubs.
• All the championships and tournaments currently run by the EWGA and the EGU will continue.
• The regional and group structures of the two organisations will continue to run competitions. The decision-making role of the EWGA regional committees will end.
• Affiliation fees for men and women will be harmonised and will be equal by 1 January 2014. Women will continue to pay an additional subscription to the Ladies Golf Union.
-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
Lynne Fraser, EGU Marketing and PR Manager
Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org
Tel: 01526 354500