MEMBER NEWS
General Manager Update
At the time of writing the Greenkeeping team are busy putting the finishing touches to the course ahead of the Jamega Tour event on Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th May and I am sure that you will agree with me that it is looking fantastic out there. The temperatures and lack of rain have certainly made the past couple of months more challenging, but credit must be given to Craig and his team for everything they have achieved in the conditions. A reminder that Members are more than welcome to come along on either day to watch some of golf’s up and coming Pro’s tackle the course!
Employees of the Quarter Congratulations to our Employees of the First Quarter Alice Hill (F&B Supervisor) and Scott Walker (Greenkeeper). Alice and Scott were both deserving of the accolade and in the end, we
simply couldn’t split them. A big thank you to them both for their continued hard work, commitment, and can-do attitude which goes a long way to provide our Members with a Club to be proud of.
Investment Update The club has already benefited from over £50,000 of capital investment this year. The Greenkeepers have received a new Kabota Tractor that is a significant upgrade on their previous Izeki, a Billy Goat Blower and Sarel Rollers. We have upgraded the CCTV systems around the clubhouse and greenkeeping sheds – which includes much improved coverage of the carpark. Over the coming weeks we will also be improving the patio area as we move into some better weather (hopefully) and are awaiting delivery of new ball washers for the course which will be a big improvement.
2022 Renewal With our main renewal period on the horizon, I thought it would be helpful to remind members of what to expect over the coming weeks. Upfront Renewals Members who pay subscriptions in full each year will receive their renewal letter and invoice via
the Elite Live App, a copy will also be sent via email with a link to make payment. Where possible we encourage payment through the app – this worked extremely well last year but please feel free to contact the office should you have any questions or issues. Flexi Memberships Flexi Memberships are treated in the same way as upfront renewals, but please remember that this membership category runs for 12 months from the point of joining – you will only be sent renewal information if your subscriptions are due. Direct Debits If you pay your membership by direct debit, you will receive notification from DFC of your new payment amount in June. Please remember that your July payment (and the amount stated by DFC) will also include your one-off annual Union Fee of £24.60. From August onwards your monthly payments will reduce by £24.60 to your new monthly amount. I would like to thank Members for your support of the Club over the past 12 months and hope that you plan to join us for another great year ahead at Aldwickbury Park! Ian McDowell General Manager
A Message from the Captain
First of all, a big thanks to all who have supported recent charity events, so far, we have raised nearly £2,000 to support Ukraine (mainly the yellow ball event and senior collections). In terms of our main joint Captains’ Charity (Parkinson’s UK), following the Drive In, Mind Factor evening, Race night, donations and ball in lake insurance we are already close over £3,000 raised so far. The coming weeks include the Ladies’ Charity Day and Club Charity Day, Seniors is later this year. More about these events in coming weeks. If anyone would like to help out, donate prizes for raffles/tombola or auctions please do get in touch. Many thanks in advance for your generosity to this great cause. Donations can either be put in pots in the clubhouse or sent marked “charity” to the gents’ section bank account our online via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/apgc-joint-captains-charity Spring has now truly sprung and it is uplifting to see the course come to life with the bluebells and daffodils. The course is looking fantastic (Craig is however regularly seen doing a rain dance!). Having recently played different course in the area and from feedback from matches and other members I have to say our greens are the best of any played on so far this year. Look out for them to be super-fast in the coming weeks! This as you know is our busy event/competition schedule and a big shout out to the volunteers who organise and support the running of these events. All is done on a voluntary basis. Since I joined the committees last year slow play has been the #1 item on meeting agendas. With the efforts from the course marshal and initiatives brought in by the committees (timing competition
rounds and 3 min timers) I have to say recent competitions have not seen the poor 5-hour plus rounds this year. So these initiatives are, I feel, changing the culture of the club and encouraging people to play in a timely fashion and especially to keep up with the group in front. In terms of news and forthcoming competitions/events:Recent Mixed and Gents’ Competition Results The early ones were in my mid-month email but the full April results are:9th April Ping (Mixed) Better Ball Congratulations to Leah Fitzgerald and Lee Edwards for winning this competition where the winners are entered into the Ping competition where the top scorers across the country get through to a final round at Thonock Park on 6th Sept. Hopefully their excellent 43 points is enough to get them through. Carl and Wan Higby came 2nd with 42 points. 15th April (Good Friday)Ladies vs Gents Many thanks to both Ladies and Gents who battled it off last Friday. Many thanks to Helen Van Der Kraan and Colin Anderson for captaining the teams as Diana and I were sunning ourselves on vacation. Congratulations to the ladies who beat the men by 5 matches to 3.
18th April Spring Texas Scramble (Mixed) A big well done to all who took part with some excellent scores. Congratulations Aaron, Vernon, Stewart and Eamonn with an excellent score of gross 60! 1st: Aaron Ewing, Vernon Rodrigues, Stewart Fox and Eamonn Donnellan 2nd: Jan Cookson, Sid Sinclair, Margaret Chury and Robin Edwards 3rd: Chris Mercer. Tony Smith, Duncan Perritt and Harry Bech 23rd April Combination Cup (Mixed) A really fun format event where any mix of partners play 6 holes of each pairs format (4 ball better ball, foursomes and greensomes). A big field with the course playing really well with a good gathering at the end for presentation of the trophy. 1st with 43 points – Roger Small and Peter Creighton 2nd on 42 points – Dave Borrett and Bobby Kennedy 3rd on 41 points – Mark Quiqley and James Hillman
Here is Roger with the Combination Cup (Peter had to shoot off early) 1st May Mixed Match – Chartridge Away We were warmly welcomed at Chartridge Park for our mixed, friendly fixture that had been delayed for 2 years. Lunch of jacket potatoes and fillings was enjoyed before commencing the match. The weather was not springlike but, our team did their best to enjoy the game in overcast conditions. Unfortunately, our first 3 pairs were up against it but, matches 4 and 5 were successful, resulting in a 3/2 win to Chartridge Park. Our next mixed match is Arkley, at Aldwickbury on Sunday 26th June. All 7 day members are welcome and sign-up sheets are on the board in the lobby. Many thanks to Margaret Chury for organising our team. 2nd May Mo James Trophy This is a mixed greensomes event on bank holiday Monday. A lovely sunny day with some excellent golf played. The result was very close with the top 3 equal on 41 points and so decided on countback:1st with better final 3 holes, Pauline and Colin Anderson 2nd with a better back 9, Elaine Meagher and Pete Lawrence 3rd clinched with an excellent 4 for 4 on the last, Barbara and Tony Hatch Here are Colin and Pauline taking great care with the lovely glass Mo James trophy:-
26th April Divoting Party Many thanks to all who attended the divot party which was very well attended. As they say many hands make light work and even with over 20 of us it still took 3 hours to cover the course. All can see the results on the course and the rain dance Craig is doing will finish the job.
Remember everyone (a) repair your divots. (b) rake your bunkers (c) repair your pitch marks please (hopefully you all remember your allocated green as well – mine is the 18th)! Gents’ Teams Foxes – managed by Chris Pearce have played two recent matches and are making steady improvement with the latest result being a creditable draw against Essendon at home. A tough away match to Aldenham coming on 5th May! Chiltern Breakfast League team and our Scratch team are about to start their season in May. Forthcoming Events and Competitions The Summer League (Gents) is due to commence. Look out for the summer league weekends in the diary. Knockout Tournaments are still open to entries. The draws will be posted on the notice boards. Contact your opponents and arrange your matches as soon as you can I suggest! Thursday night 9-hole summer league has been arranged by Steve Pick who will send emails out about arrangements to those who have entered. 7th May – the club and Ed Wilkinson have another Quiz night arranged. 9th and 10th May – Jamega Tour event The course is closed to members, but all are welcome to come and watch including supporting our club champion Mike who the gents’ section is sponsoring for entry into this prestigious event! 22nd May – Aldwickbury Masters (Gents) This event is strokeplay in groups according to handicap. Then the winner of each group plays a 3- hole scratch playoff on the 10th, 17th and 18th – and it isn’t always the lowest handicap group that wins! What is also great about the event is that the field can follow the playoff around the course and see the playoff drama unfold – if you can please allow the extra time in your day if you can to support this and follow the playoff (you should allow this time anyway in case you make the playoff)! 3rd June – Jubilee Trophy (Mixed) In what is now the Platinum Jubilee year this mixed singles stableford is a very prestigious honours board event. Enter early to avoid missing out! Finally I hope our new members are enjoying the running of the club and getting the opportunity to play with different members. All need to remember though that it is “just a game” - encouraging and helping make your playing partners game enjoyable is as important as your score. The “Ball in Lake Insurance” now has over 70 entries. For those not entered yet, please do so on HDID “booking” as not only is it all for a great cause, it is also great value for money – especially as the fairways and greens get harder and faster holding the 18th gets trickier and trickier Graham Payne Club Captain gents.captain@apgcmembers.org
A Message from the Lady Captain
I hope that you are enjoying our first full summer of golf since 2019. It’s a great time of year for golf. The course is being spruced up for the Jamega tournament and it’s time to face the challenge of superfast greens. Please go to HDID and enter some competitions and sign up for matches on the Notice board in the locker room or on Google sheets. Match play is good fun and an opportunity to play some lovely courses. We have something for all abilities. There’s lots of useful information on the club website too including competition formats. Congratulations to the April winners: Weekend Medal: Julia Bashford. Weekend Stableford: Chris Woodcock. Stableford: Division 1, Pauline Anderson. Division 2, Margaret Chury. Coronation Foursomes: Chris Woodcock and Tricia Wyatt.
Pauline Anderson (pictured) won our first Honours Board Competition of the year, the Spring Meeting. Your next chance to get your name on the board is the Rose Bowl on 25th May. Thanks to Sue Phillips who is organising the tea party afterwards. If you are in touch with any past members who would like to come to the tea, please let me or Sue know. Brenda Cottle, Pat Goddard and Sarah Hodge will be running our Bring and Buy Plant sale from 1pm on 25th. Bring plants and cash! Please spread the word on this too. All proceeds will go to the Captains’ Charity, Parkinson’s UK. The Ladies Charity Day is on Wednesday 8th June. It will be a pairs Four Ball Better Ball fun competition with a Platinum Jubilee theme. So brush up your red, white and blue and find a partner or let me know if you are looking for one. If you can’t come, contributions to a bottle tombola would be much appreciated or a donation to the charity via our Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/apgc-joint-captains-charity Offers are also invited for a 4 ball voucher to play at Centurion on a Monday. The voucher is valid for one year from 1 September 2022. All proceeds to the charity. This is open to everyone, not just ladies. Please e mail dianagodden@hotmail.com. Thanks to our Club Captain, the first bid is already in at £200. Enjoy your golf. Diana Godden Lady Captain
A Message from the Seniors Captain
The month started off on 5th April with the Aldwicks Fun Day (Party Balloon Waltz played off alternating Yellow and Red tees). My thanks to Mike Crofts for organising the day. 1st place: Alex Hall; Paul Stammers & Chris Woodcock. Score of 103; 2nd place: Pat O'Higgins; Mike Hughes & Jennifer Maxwell. Score of 101 (on countback); 3rd places; Peter Ellerby; Tom Walters & Jim McGown. Score of 101. Nearest 3rd pin. Mike Childs; Nearest 17th pin. Lee Edwards.
David Lodge entering the spirit of the event:
There was a collection for the Ukraine crisis and this raised £220. 12th April was the monthly medal. Div 1. 1st Pete Laurence; 2nd Alistair Holt-Thomas; Div 2. 1st Mike Beaufoy; 2nd Ray Crawley. 14th April, Aldwicks vs. Mill Green (A). Lost 3½ to 2½. 19th April, Aldwicks vs Brookmans Park. Won 3½ to 2½. 21st April, Canadian Scramble. 1st: Carl Lawson; Dave Habershon; Paul Bullock; Peter V.D. Kraan. 2nd: Terry Daly; Mike Hughes; Tony Hatch; Peter Cleary. 28th April Aldwicks Medal Trophy (Honours Board). 1st Tony Hughes; 2nd Peter V.D.Kraan. Sadly, I have to report that, as yet, I have not received a single response to my search for an Aldwicks Captain for next year, not for a Treasurer. I will return to this real concern later in this newsletter. Congratulations to Simon Strudwick, who on 22nd April got his first hole-in-one after hitting a magnificent 7-iron (he tells me) on the 3rd hole. In the time honoured manner, he had a little celebration afterwards and shared it with the other players from the Ray Crawley’s Friday Swindle:
On 25th April we had the sad occasion of the Funeral and Wake of Robert Andlaw. His popularity was evident by the number of friends and family who filled both the Church and Aldwickbury. Events in May: Tue 3rd. Aldwicks vs Mill Green (H). Thu 5th. Seniors Ladies and Gents Championships. Thu 12th. Ladies vs Gents (prs). Tue 17th. Captain’s Day. Thu 19th. Aldwicks vs South Beds (A). Tue 24th. Monthly Medal. Tue 31st. Aldwicks vs Whipsnade Park (H). 2 June dates for your diary. Wednesday 22nd June ‘Mid Summer Marathon’ and Saturday 25th June 2022. The Club’s Charity Day and Charity Cup. This is an individual 18-hole stableford and team competition. This event is open to 5-day members who can play without a green fee. Full details of the event will follow shortly. I return now to the quest for a Vice Captain and Treasurer. I make no apology for repeating the comments that were in my last Monthly Newsletter: “I really could do with having a Vice Captain working with me and sharing some of the duties. I am sure that there is someone amongst you who would enjoy being Captain of our much respected and friendly Section next year? A number of you have been asked if you would be interested and I (and/or any of the past Captains) would be happy to have a chat with you to talk through what’s involved. Perhaps the prospect of having your own parking bay and having your annual Club subscription paid would tempt you? Please give it some thought as our Section is too important to the Club to have no continuity at the end of this year. Apart from urgently seeking a Vice Captain, we would also like to find a Treasurer to take over from Keith Cox at the end of the year. Ideally, we would hope that someone would volunteer sooner rather than later as they could then have a better understanding of what’s involved by working alongside Keith for a period of time”. Wishing you all well and happy golfing. David Phillips Seniors Captain
Course Report
Greens and Course condition It’s been a very indifferent month on the course in regard to weather. Mild temps in the afternoons with cold temperatures in the mornings and a few frosts have slowed growth up around the course, and at time we are hoping for it to start to boom. The greens are predominantly made up of two main cultivars, Annual Meadow Grass (Poa Annua) and Creeping Bent Grass (Agrostis Stolonifera) which we have been introducing over the past 3 years through overseeding. The benefit of increasing the Bent Grass is that it is more resilient and needs very little in the way of warmth and low nutrient inputs. The Poa on the other hand, requires warmer temperatures to get moving.
Greens We have been able to carry out necessary maintenance on the greens to help smooth out the putting surfaces by verti cutting which removes dead organic matter (creating a healthier root zone) and thins out the sward. We have also been keeping on top of our monthly topdressing to keep the surfaces as smooth as possible and are pleased with current conditions.
Bunkers Myself and my Deputy Ross Angelini took the decision to refurbish the two fairway bunkers on the 2nd. The old, contaminated sand has now been removed and replaced with new sand and both bunkers are back in play. The 6th greenside bunker with the fantastic revetted face is also back in play, we have installed steps to gain easy access into the bunker so please use them and not walk down the face of the bunker. It’s worth pointing out as a general reminder that you should always enter a bunker at the lowest point – we often see golfers entering down steep faces which disturbs more sand in an area we are trying to keep as compact as possible.
Divot Party On the 26th of April was our 1st divot party since all the covid and lockdown restrictions and it was a fantastic turn out from the full allocation of 25 members and our Sales Manager Holly who all gave time to join the Greenkeeping team to help fill divots around the course. We had all fairways completed in roughly 3 hours which was a brilliant effort, but I have heard there were a few aching bodies the next day! The afternoon was topped off with a brilliant BBQ to thank everyone for their time and effort. A Massive thank you also goes to Alex Hall who helped drum up support for this event. If you couldn’t make it this time, we will be looking to do another later in the year around the end of August/September.
Gardens You will have seen the gardens around the clubhouse and patio area all now bursting into colour, and this is all down to Gill Lee, former Ladies Captain and member at the Club who comes up every week, potting up new plants, taking cuttings, weeding, and making the areas around the clubhouse look spectacular. This is all done voluntary, and I can’t thank this lady enough for what she has done over these last few years – it looks amazing! I look forward to seeing you on the course. Craig Betts Course Manager
June Bank Holiday Special offer
SAVE £400!
*
on room hire over the June Bank Holiday Weekend Last minute availability 3rd, 4th & 5th June 2022 *Special offer valid on new bookings only.
Contact us now to book on 01582 760 112 option 2 or email info@aldwickburyparkgolfclub.co.uk
Tip of the Month: Don’t let the lie send your game downhill! Many players struggle with the second and third shots into the 1st and 15th hole because of the downhill lie of the shot. A slope in this direction certainly makes it harder to get a good contact so here are a few keys to get a solid strike and hit the green; 1) Go up one club – The ball will fly lower and run more so give yourself a little extra loft. 2) Aim left – The slope will make your swing a little more upright and make it harder to shift your weight on the backswing, this promotes a slight left to right ball flight for right handers 3) Ball Position – most importantly move the ball back in your stance and set your shoulders at the same angle as the slope to reduce the risk of hitting the ball too cleanly 4) Focus on Balance – With all awkward lies it’s harder to stay balanced and centered throughout the shot. Avoid any inclination to “lift” the ball up. Stay in the shot, swinging down with the slope and use the lower ball flight to your advantage Robin Turley Head Professional
Book A Lesson
Golf Shop Offers: Wednesday 25th May 11.00am – 15.00pm Ping Custom Fitting Day with Ping Master Club Fitter Morgan Darnell If you are looking to upgrade any of your clubs from wedges to driver this is a great opportunity to see what shafts, lofts and lie angles work best for your game. Fittings are open to any standard of player and Ping will have their complete range of clubs including ladies and left hand models. If you would like to book a one-to-one fitting appointment then email or talk to Robin or Steve in the Golf Shop who w ill book you a space.
26th March 2pm - 6pm
STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Aldwickbury Park GC
Wednesday 25 May - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Golf Marathons scheduled for 22nd June Please support this initiative! Everybody at the club seems to like guess for charity. We have therefore re introduced a golf Marathon to this year’s charity events. Not just one marathon but TWO happening on the same day at Aldwickbury. The First Marathon challenge, commencing at 04.30 A.M on the 22nd June will be by your Club Captain, Graham Payne, Playing index 4.3, attempting to complete at least 4 rounds, playing Stableford Format on the Park Course. Graham will walk the course with a trolley, supported by volunteers playing alongside him for encouragement. The Second Marathon challenge, commencing at 07.00 A.M also on the Park Course, will be by two well-known Aldwicks, John Harris, Past Aldwicks Captain, Playing Index 16.7 and Rajesh Panchal Playing Index 13.5, playing Greensomes Format, in a buggy, attempting to play as many holes/rounds as the daylight will allow. The Marathon Team as Follows:
Please support this initiative, open to all members, Family, and Friends. You can enter this competition by completing a Rules & Entry Form, which you can download by clicking the button below. Please read the Rules provided at the top and bottom of the ENTRY FORM before completion. Once you have entered your chosen number of guesses, forward your completed Form to Eric Wyllie, eric.wyllie1@gmail.com. The Total Prize Fund will depend on the entry level
Download Entry Form
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