MEMBER NEWS
A Message From Russell, General Manager
Hello everyone, I hope you are all well and have been enjoying your golf. April was a nice dry month weather wise. We could do with a bit of rain on the golf courses but I can't complain! I'm really happy with the condition of the courses currently as we enter the main golf season.
The completed bunker project looks great on the 8th. I haven't hit a ball into the new bunkers to try them out yet, more through luck than judgement, but am keen to try them out! We've finally managed to secure some new bunker sand and so have also started topping up all the other bunkers on the course. We are now rolling the greens at least twice per week and they are looking great & rolling nicely. Having invested heavily in machinery and green keeping staff resources this year, again I expect the course to get to it's best ever condition. Other projects that we have planned this year in the Autumn are 3 more new tees, new drainage for the 14th green, and bunker refurbishments to the 7th green side bunkers and the 15th fairway bunker. A huge thank you to all you members who've renewed your memberships. Despite the difficult times financially and a necessary increase in your fees, we have still seen a very high renewal percentage with now over 92% of members renewed. 7 day memberships are also selling very quickly and so we will be back to a waiting list in June so that everyone still has good access to weekend tee times As some of you may know from seeing the ambulances and air ambulance on the course we had a medical emergency last week. I'm pleased to report the golfer who suffered a cardiac arrest is now recovering well. I'm so proud of the quick response of my team and the fantastic efforts of the 3 golfers who stopped to help. Ultimately, their efforts and the defibrillator saved his life. The golfer and his family would like to pass their sincere thanks to everyone involved. For me, witnessing the second life saved on our golf course by CPR and a defibrillator in the last 13 months has demonstrated what a vital piece of equipment they are. We have now purchased a second one and have one in the clubhouse and one in the marshal buggy for quicker access to the course. Please, please look after yourselves on the golf course...tell someone if you are feeling unwell, stop and rest if needed, stay well hydrated, use sun protection and book a buggy if you are struggling to walk round. One thing you can all do to help in case of emergency is store the following number in your phones ABBEY GOLF EMERGENCY 01908 562566. Phone 999 first but then let us know by phoning this number so we can get a first aider and the defibrillator out to the casualty asap. In this newsletter we have an update on the GEO Certification that we have for all the great sustainability projects that we are undertaking as a company. We are proud of our sustainability policies and in upcoming newsletters I will explain details of what we are doing such as LED lighting in all areas, water recycling, sequestration, food, glass, paper and plastic recycling, meat free menu options, bug houses, new electric vehicle charge points, electric greenkeeping machinery as well as many more exciting new projects. In this edition we have a focus on our course marshals, a course update from Ross, Pro tips from John as well as details of our upcoming Queen's Jubilee event! Hopefully I will see most of you in the coming days and weeks. Happy golfing and stay safe! Best regards Russell
Course Report From Ross, Course Manager As somewhat predicted last month, April followed the trend of the past few years with delivering another very dry spell. Coupled with fairly cold night-time temperatures, resulting in another dormant Spring and tough conditions for plant growers. In fact, this April served up one of the driest months on record, with only 50 % of the average rainfall for an already dry month. In total we recorded a mere 13 mm
of rain, the average being 34 mm, however this year is nowhere near our lowest total for April, that was back in 2007 when a measly 1.5 mm of rainfall was recorded over the site. I won’t tell you exactly what happened the month after in that year, but it is safe to say the sale of umbrellas and waterproofs increased in the shop! Some good news to report on our supply chains, we have finally taken delivery of some path material for topping up pathways and also some bunker sand. Please bear with us as we now start the process of topping up and tidying bunkers, something that has not been possible for a number of months. Like me, I’m sure you are all happy to see the 8th bunkers now in play and this will be the standard for all future bunker works.
May is another busy month of works planned, with overseeding and dressing of greens scheduled, along with spraying of all surfaces with fertiliser, iron, and growth regulator. Hopefully the weather will be on our side and give us some favourable conditions. Please continue to repair any pitch marks on the greens and be mindful that us green keepers are out on the course, we will move out of the way when we see you, please have our safety in mind before playing a shot. Ross and all the greens team.
John Scheu, Our Head Professional!
John's Tip Of The Month! Correct Ball Position With Every Club. The position of the golf ball actually changes depending on the club you’re using. The reason for this is that we want to slightly change the impact position and the launch conditions so that we get the best ball flight possible for the club in hand. Take your correct width of stance and place a drillstick directly in the center, at right angles to the ball-to-target line. This central position is the ideal position for the shortest clubs in your bag.
It helps us to hit down on the ball creating more backspin. As each club gets longer and less lofted, you move your ball position roughly 1/2” forward towards your lead leg. Happy Golfing Everyone!
More Sand In The Bunkers!
We have finally managed to secure a delivery of new bunker sand. There has been a national shortage. This week we started topping up all the bunkers on the main course. Over the next week or so all the bunkers on the course will get some new sand. Please bear with us we know some of the bunkers are very hard as the old sand has become very compacted.
Driving Range Netting Repair A quick update: We have secured a contractor to replace the broken driving range netting that blew over during Storm Eunice. The work will be completed week commencing Monday 27th June. The range man be closed for a few hours but most of the work can be done with the range open. Thanks for your patience whilst we get this replaced.
Reciprocal Golf The Sales and Events Team would like to say a warm welcome to all our new members who have recently joined us here at Abbey Hill ready for the season ahead. It is lovely to see you all around the centre enjoying your Golf and hopefully meeting some of our other members and the rest of the team. Please remember one of your benefits of the full membership is to play 1 x reciprocal round per month at one of the other BGL ltd courses within the group. In order to book a tee time this must be done via ourselves in the office a maximum of 7 day prior to the date you wish to play. Please see a link to all the courses included here Golf - BGL Company , in order to book feel free to drop us a call or pop into the office and we can help get your booked in for an away day, you are also more than welcome to take visitors with you who will benefit from member guest rate at the club. We hope you enjoy your Golf this coming season and any questions please do not hesitate to ask. Ramsdale Park our fantastic course near Nottingham seen below is definitely worth a visit!
Meet The Marshals! We are working hard to look after you on the golf course and also keep a good pace of play. We now have 5 course Marshals after investing in 2 new team members. Most days you will see one around the course as well as one to get you started and welcome you on the first tee. From next week we will also be able to sell soft drinks and snacks from the marshal buggy to keep you hydrated and give you an energy boost! Pictured from left to right are Head Marshal Barry with Kingsley, Ed and Gordon. We also have Alan on the team.
Jubilee Flags! In 2022, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service. Get involved in celebrating Her Majesty's historic reign with us. Look out for barbeques on the patio every day of the bank holiday weekend as well as a live DJ, bouncy castle, arts and crafts, and golf games for the kids on the Thursday 2nd June. You will see our new Queen's Jubilee flags on the 10th and 18th holes in the coming weeks!
Sustainability & Environment Update
Sustainable.Golf - Article published 06/04/22
Burhill Group Limited (BGL) is proud to announce that its entire portfolio of golf clubs has been successfully reaccredited as GEO Certified. This news highlights the group’s continued commitment to environmental progression and solidifies its place as the only major multi-course operator to have achieved GEO Certified across all its sites. Each club will hold the renewed certification for the next five years. The GEO certification encompasses environmental success in the areas of golf facility operations, golf development and renovation, and golf tournaments. This status demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement around nature, resources, climate, and the community. The announcement comes following the recent recertification of Wycombe Heights Golf Centre in Buckinghamshire, Aldwickbury Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire, and The Shropshire Golf Centre in Shropshire. Sustainability projects undertaken both on and off the course have contributed to the recognitions, including the planting of trees, water retention and recycling, tracking of carbon footprints, use of ultra-efficient LED lighting, and a reduction in the use of cling film and takeaway cups, among others. Commenting on the achievement, BGL CEO Colin Mayes, said: “Sustainability is more important than ever, so we are continually striving to operate our clubs in the most environmentally sensitive ways possible. For our entire golf portfolio to have been reaccredited with GEO certified status is a testament to the fantastic work ethic and vision of team members at BGL. “Each club has developed bespoke maintenance programmes designed to incorporate more sustainable and efficient practices, while simultaneously continuing to make improvements to the courses and club facilities that are enjoyed by our members and visitors every day.” BGL Golf is one of the largest owners and operators of golf courses and facilities in the UK. The company currently operates 22 golf courses at 10 venues across the country, each providing a different style and character while offering a high-quality, friendly, and professional service. Kelli Jerome, Executive Director, GEO Foundation For Sustainable Golf, added: “BGL’s commitment to sustainability is unwavering, and testament to their progressive nature as a group. They are the first multi-course operator to have all their facilities GEO Certified and all of them have continued to renew and track their progress yearon-year. They have also been setting new ambitious targets and engaging people across the organisation. This leadership shows they are taking the sustainable golf responsibility and opportunity seriously, and GEO Foundation has been very pleased to support, recognise, and share their commitment and results over nearly 10 years.”