I can’t recall a winter as wet. All golf clubs in the area have been affected, some more than others, and even here with our reputation as a good draining course we have been closed for an unprecedented number of days since November.

The weather however hasn’t dampened the pace of the planned investments and improvements across the course and clubhouse.

On the Course

• A course designer, shortly to be appointed, will help develop a long term master
plan, the first time since a certain James Braid set eyes on the course a century
ago.
• An ecological expert has also been appointed who will assess our potential for
Biodiversity Net Gains as well as provide a baseline assessment of our
habitation and vegetation. This will support the above course master plan.
• We have agreed to purchase some essential course machinery which will help
improve the quality of the tee beds and greens as well as increase efficiency
when conducting course maintenance, reducing the impact on playing time for
members. One interesting development is the planned investment in robotic
mowers which will create additional capacity for our relatively low number of
greens staff as they can operate 24/7.
• The Angel of Wilpshire has finally landed.
• There have been some notable improvements to the paths and new steps have
been installed at the 13th tee.
• New bunker liners have been installed on holes 1, 5 & 11.
• Tree management has continued, improving the agronomic conditions on tees,
greens and opening up some impressive views of the wider landscape.

In and around the Clubhouse

• The decorating and soft furnishing within the reception and office areas, and the
gents and ladies locker rooms are nearly finished. This helps create a more
welcoming and professional look to the Golf Club.
• The swing room has been fully refurbished and will improve our relatively poor
practice facilities.
• There will be some significant cost improvements required to the paths and
approach to the first tee from the upper car park as well as some urgent repair to
the Greenkeepers barn. We will now be in a position to understand the full cost
of these essential requirements by going out for indicative tenders.
• In the same vein there are one or two further efficiencies to be realised with our
costly use of utilities.
• The long awaited modernised Honours Boards are now in situ.

Bar & Catering

• There is a focused piece of work being undertaken to ensure we sustain the cost
and profitability improvements to the catering and bar.

The weather hasn’t dampened interest in membership or external interest in the club. We are already closed to 7 Day members and are almost at capacity for 6 Day membership. A new partnership has been agreed with Merlyn Wealth Management and a range of activities are being planned over the spring/summer including the hugely successful Company Day.

Hopefully, we will now experience a feast of golf, good weather and bonhomie on and off the course following the winter deluge. We warmly welcome all new and returning members and the new Get into Golfers.

Finally, we wish the respective Captains, Mark Haworth and Tricia Dugmore and Presidents, Paul Hunter and Heather Deans, a successful season.

Michael Jameson
On behalf of Council