AN UPDATE FROM...
ROBIN CHENG General Manager
The season is about to start, and temperatures are just reaching double digits. The course is drying up slowly, and we are seeing increasingly longer periods of uninterrupted play. It won’t be long before buggies are back on! Although there are still some muddy areas around the course that need improvement, the work carried out in previous years on paths and drainage has significantly improved several problem areas. With further work planned, I anticipate future winters will be much more accessible for everyone.
All of you who dine here at Abbey Hill - whether enjoying pre-round baps or post-round mealswill know that throughout January and most of February, we have been operating with a limited menu due to our kitchen refurbishment project. Our outdated kitchen, which had been holding the team back from delivering the level of service they wanted, has now been transformed. I am pleased to say we are back to a full menu. Keep an eye out for more homemade treats, including cakes, sausage rolls, and an ever-changing specials board.
A Message for Ross Edmonds...
The year was 2001. George W. Bush was appointed as President of the United States of America, Sven-Göran Eriksson became Manager of the England National Football Team, and Ross Edmonds started as Course Manager at Abbey Hill. Three very important appointments that year, but only one kick-started the success of our golf course, leading to year after year of fantastic standards.
Ross, who has overseen the course and the oncourse team for almost 24 years, will unfortunately be moving on this April. Ross and his team have consistently delivered exceptional course conditions and have implemented many positive
changes over the years. He has also been a highly organised and well-respected member of the team, not only at Abbey Hill but across the Burhill Group as a whole.
From all of us at Abbey Hill and throughout the group, we wish him all the best for the future— and the same for Aston Villa FC, his beloved football team.
Membership Renewals
Membership renewals go live from 3rd March, and hopefully, everyone who pays a lump sum has received their email invitation to re-join. Members on Direct Debit do not need to take any action.
You can renew by clicking the link in the email or using the Elite Live App, which you also use for booking tee times.
All members who renew on or before 31st March will receive a complimentary Abbey Hill reusable travel mug. This will entitle you to free upgrades on teas and coffees. Mugs are available to all membership categories, including Direct Debit members, Par 3 members, Flexi, and Juniors, and can be collected from the bar.
Please see below the 2025/2026 subscription fees as mentioned in my previous newsletter:
Main Course:
• 7-Day Lump Sum: £1,295.00
• 7-Day Direct Debit: £118.00 pm
• 5-Day Lump Sum: £950.00
• 5-Day Direct Debit: £89.00 pm
• 7-Day Under 25 Lump Sum: £955.00
• 7-Day Under 25 Direct Debit: £88.00 pm
• 7-Day Under 22 Lump Sum: £810.00
• 7-Day Under 22 Direct Debit: £75.00 pm
• 7-Day Under 18 Lump Sum: £395.00
• 7-Day Under 15 Lump Sum: £225.00
Short Course Membership:
• Adult Lump Sum: £350.00
• Under 18 Lump Sum: £150.00
• Family Membership: £700.00
Pitchmarks
As you can tell, we are currently between frozen and firm conditions on the course - prime season for pitchmarks. While we have a mix of members and non-members playing, the majority of rounds so far this year have been played by members. This suggests that some of our own players are not repairing their pitchmarks, which, while not uncommon at golf courses, is still disappointing.
I ask every member to do their part by repairing not only their own pitch marks but any others they see. If you notice a playing partner neglecting to repair one, please remind them. Rather than assigning holes by surname, I would like each group to allocate either odd or even-numbered holes among their members and take responsibility for those holes, ensuring they repair their own mark and at least one additional one.
We all know what a fantastic job our course team does- let’s lend a hand and do our part.
Please see the link below for guidance on properly repairing a pitch mark in case you are unsure:
Link: The Best Way to Repair a Pitch Mark
NPS (Net Promoter Score)
Many of you will be familiar with NPS, our member feedback system. Occasionally, you may receive an email or message asking you to rate us out of ten and provide feedback. All feedback is important, whether highlighting what we are doing well or areas we need to improve.
If you do receive one of these surveys, it would be greatly appreciated if you could take a few minutes to complete it. Alternatively, if you prefer to speak to me or a team member in person about any issues, please don’t hesitate to approach us. Sometimes, an early conversation can make all the difference.
For reference, here’s how the scoring system works:
• Promoters (9-10): Members who are happy with the club and would recommend it.
• Passives (7-8): Members who are neutral— satisfied but feel things could improve.
• Detractors (0-6): Members who are having a poor experience, with unresolved or poorly communicated issues.
My role is to move Abbey Hill in the right direction and deliver an excellent experience for all golfers. If anyone would like to discuss any concerns, please feel free to email me or pop in to see me. I will be here full-time from March 1st.
To encourage feedback, I will also be running a monthly draw where one response (whether it be a score of 0 or 10) will win a complimentary guest pass, valid for three months.
This will begin in March, and I will contact the winner once the draw has been completed. Hopefully, this will increase engagement and help us steer Abbey Hill in the best direction.
COURSE UPDATE...
ROSS EDMONDS Course Manager
Greetings to you all from what is my final Course Manager’s update at Abbey Hill - more on that later.
After what had seemed like a dry and positive start to 2025 when I wrote my first newsletter of the year back in mid-January, the weather quickly dampened our optimism by delivering over an inch (25mm) of rain in the final week of the month. We finished January with 76mm of rainfall, making it the fourth wettest January in the past 25 years. However, this does not tell the full story, as the weather since mid-September last year has been particularly unpleasant, with very little sunshine, cold temperatures, a lack of consistent wind, and persistent damp conditions.
February brought a slight improvement in the weather, with a few brighter days, some muchwelcomed increases in temperature, and a few windy days. These conditions have a significant impact on our evapotranspiration (ET) levels, aiding soil drying and improving turf appearance.
The next three months should hopefully bring continued improvements in the weather, leading to better course and playing conditions.
A lot of work is planned as we move into spring, including topping up bunkers and paths, spraying fairways and tree bases, and fertilising all areas. The team will be busy, but it’s great to see the course transforming as it emerges from the winter months.
Plans for the year are progressing well, with further bunker rebuilds scheduled for later in the year on the first, twelfth, and fifteenth holes, with work planned for early autumn.
Rope draining (PCD) of the ninth green and approach is scheduled for mid-April, leaving just two greens (third and tenth) left to complete. This project has significantly improved the greens over the past few years, and we now rarely experience waterlogging.
Further plans include installing an additional pathway on the fourteenth hole and extending two others on the first and second holes to improve weather resilience. We also plan to continue improving teeing complexes, with work scheduled for the sixth, seventh, and fourteenth holes.
The G Team: Sam, Ross, Kev, Jess, Ethan, Darren, George, and Blaise
It’s a goodbye and thank you from me (and Jess). After nearly 24 years, this spring will be my last at Abbey Hill. Having been a Course Manager for 30 years, I have decided to move on to pastures new and embrace a more relaxed life with a five-day working week and weekend lie-ins. I joined Abbey Hill on 2nd September 2001, when both the world and Abbey Hill were very different—and certainly much quieter— places.
Over the years, I have had the pleasure of working with some incredibly dedicated and professional greenkeepers, many of whom have gone on to become Course Managers themselves, not only in the UK but also in Norway and the USA.
I would like to take this opportunity to mention two people in particular who have been my constant support throughout. Firstly, our mechanic George, who has worked alongside me for the past 18 years. He, too, is due to retire and return to his home in Poland on the same day I leave. George has saved the club thousands of pounds and has kept our fleet of equipment in excellent working order during his time here.
Secondly, Kevin Steppings, who joined Abbey Hill just two weeks before me all those years
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
ago and has been my deputy for the past 21 years. Like George, Kev is also set to retire in September. It has been an honour and a pleasure to work alongside these two gentlemen for so many years.
I have had a wonderful innings and have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Abbey Hill, making many friends - not only among my colleagues but also within the membership. I hope to start playing golf more regularly (more than once in ten years!) and plan to visit Abbey Hill often for a game and a catch-up with you all.
As always, enjoy your golf.
Ross and all the greens team.
PRO SHOP UPDATE
JOHN SCHEU Head PGA Pro
TaylorMade Fitting Event
Tuesday 18th March 2025 11:00-15:30 - Abbey Hill Driving Range
Abbey Hill GC will welcome Stuart Gauld, TaylorMade Fitting Expert, to host our first Fitting Event for 2025. Stuart has extensive industry experience fitting golfers of all abilities with a professionalism and integrity that shines through.
If you would like to take advantage of this completely FREE 45-minute custom fit opportunity, then contact a member of the pro shop today!
In conjunction with the TaylorMade Fitting Event, we will also be welcoming the Nearly New Golf Club Team – It’s your opportunity to trade-in your old, unwanted golf equipment with an instant quote/credit against your next equipment purchase.
Special Offer
Ex-Rental Motocaddy S1 Lithium Electric Trolley with 24v Battery & Charger - New £629.99 Clearance £399.99 (only 4 available!)
Mother’s Day Sunday 30th March
Get ready for a Mother’s Day like no other at Abbey Hill! Enjoy a delicious two, or three course lunch while soaking in the fantastic atmosphere. But that’s not all—the fun doesn’t stop there!
Take on a family adventure with a round of Adventure Golf, promising laughter, friendly competition, and unforgettable moments. Plus, we’ve got a FREE gift for Mum!
It’s the perfect recipe for a memorable Mother’s Day.
Link to book: https://www.ibookedonline.com/ abbey-hill-golf-centre/event-bookings/mothersday-lunch-and-adventure-golf
CUSTOM FITTING EVENT
EXTENSIVE SHAFT OPTIONS
DATE:
TIME:
LOCATION: Tuesday 18th March Abbey Hill Golf Centre - Driving Range 11:00 - 15:30
Thank
