Aldwickbury Park Member News - October

MEMBER

GM Report

The leaves are starting to fall and while we are still enjoying some sunny days here and there, the Autumn is definitely with us. I’m sure that like me, you have been amazed to see the progress of the course over the past weeks and while there are still some areas to work on, we emerge from this summer’s drought in a far better position than was the case in 2018. Credit must go to Craig and his team for their excellent work to bring the course back as well as they have, and they will continue to seed and scarify where required over the coming weeks to continue the recovery while growing conditions are still favourable.

As in previous years, our main focus through the offseason will be to protect the golf course as much as possible and we will soon be installing post and rope as ground conditions soften in order to manage traffic and keep the wear and tear well away from the greens and approaches. Members are also reminded that winter wheels will soon be mandatory on all trolleys, but where possible we do encourage players to carry if they are able to do so – it really does make a huge difference.

Last month a small group of us from across the BGL group completed our 300km bike ride from Burhill Golf Club in Surrey to Paris in aid of the British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal. Thank you to everyone who made a donation (even those who offered double if I stayed in France), I am so proud that between us we were able to raise over £10,000 for this fantastic cause. It was certainly a challenge but a very enjoyable few days and an experience I will not forget.

This month sadly sees a number of team members leaving us. Alice Hill (Assistant Food and Beverage Manager) is moving down to Dorset, Connor O’Sullivan (F&B Supervisor) is moving to London to try his hand in the big smoke, Mimi Squires (Senior Sales) is moving to a new opportunity at Sopwell House and Niamh Considine (Wedding and Events Sales Co ordinator) is moving to the Coltsfoot Wedding venue in Knebworth. All will be missed, and we thank them all for their hard work. On a more positive note we welcome our new Sous Chef Simon Wilmott to the team and look forward to unveiling our new Senior Head Chef at the end of the month!

This week we began work to refurbish the men’s changing room toilets which will make a big difference to this area which was looking very tired. The changing rooms will still be accessible, but male members are asked to use the main toilets during the works.

Finally, we are currently in the process of updating the payment systems on our App to the new 3DS2 security and as part of this, members will be asked to re enter and confirm their payment details next time they use the platform to pay for anything. In addition to the security update, members who use Apple Pay through an iPhone will be able to use that in addition to their normal payment method. If you experience any issues please do let us know.

I look forward to seeing you at the Club soon

Ian McDowell General Manager

A Message from the Captain

Lots of news and info this month. Season summary from our team Captains. Results from recent events including my Captains Day and information on forthcoming tournaments and events.

Firstly, though Craig’s rain dancing worked a treat and after a long hot summer the rain came. The course has recovered quickly, the greens now back to slick and the extra focus on bunkers by the greenkeeper team has made a significant improvement (thanks everyone for responding so positively to my previous rallying call for raking)

I managed to finally catch up with Ziad in the clubhouse to finally present him with the Club Championship Plate trophy which he won back in July. I also thoroughly enjoyed Diana’s Ladies Captains Day where senior Captain David outdid me massively on the summer theme dress theme! This as we helped with the crazy golf course the green staff had set up on the last 4 holes of the Manor course with things like the hole in the bunker, rakes and hose pipes over the greens and one hole in a paddling pool! Here are photos of Ziad with the Plate and David and I on the crazy golf (more of which is in Diana’s section).

Recent Mixed and Gents Team News

Many thanks to team Captains/Organisers for doing such a great job. Here are their team reports summarising the season.

Mixed Teams update (Margaret Churry)

Thanks to everyone who signed up and played in the mixed matches. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful at both matches, this season, played away at Chartridge Park and Mill Green. Hopefully, we can do better when the fixtures are at home in 2023.

The Gents Foxes (manager Chris Pearce)

We are still finding our way in The Foxes (open to higher handicappers) and have been steadily building the squad. It was great again to welcome some new members into the squad and this year we had 23 individuals who represented and played for the club in this season, which I would like to thank you all. It is always hard playing away, and we started off the season in the cup away to Essendon, which we unfortunately lost. This meant we could turn our attention to the league and came up short in a few matches, resulting in four draws, which ultimately prevented us from progressing into the knockout stages.

The final league table was as follows,

1) Aldenham 56 points, 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss

2) The Shire, 48 points, 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses

3) Essendon, 41 points, 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses

4) Aldwickbury, 35 points, 1 win, 4 draws and 3 losses

5) Knebworth, 22 points, 1 win, 1 draw and 6 losses.

The season has been great fun and played in a competitive manner but with the enjoyment factor, which is what The Foxes is about. Good luck to the 6 guys representing the club at the end of the season event over at Chesfield Downs on Wednesday 12th October.

Have a great end to 2022 and I’ll be back in touch at the start of the 2023 season which will commence near the end of March.

Our Gents Chiltern Breakfast League (CBL) team (manager John/Geordie Taylor)

Our team just missed out on a play off place by a few points finishing 3rd. Fingers crossed for better in the winter foursomes. This is a very competitive league mainly for mid handicappers, please sign up as it is a great way to play different courses and make new friends.

Gents Scratch Team (new manager Steve Sierra)

Well this year hasn’t exactly gone to plan but I can assure you that it wasn’t through lack of trying. Unfortunately, our last match away to Mid Herts resulted in a 5 1/2 - 2 1/2 loss. We knew it was going to be a hard battle away from home but we gave it a good go. The simple fact was that this season we gave too many points away in our home games which made the away games even trickier. We will be back next season stronger and hungrier, ready to smash it!

In other news Aldwickbury Park entered the Hertfordshire scratch foursomes championship at Moor Park. As you can imagine the field was extremely strong with 72 competitors, 45 of which were scratch or better handicappers. Overall Steve Sierra and Matt Brown came 10th, Mike Van Wyk and Aaron Ewing came 23rd. Aldwickbury Park came 7th out of 16 clubs. A great day out that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Recent Mixed and Gents’ Competition Results

So lots to report on covering both August and September:29th August (Bank Holiday Monday) – Langshaw Trophy.

This is a very competitive mixed pairs event always held on the August bank holiday Monday. Congratulations to Linda Reeve (Chair of Rules and Handicap Committee) and Lee Edwards who has hit a winning streak. Here they are collecting the lovely trophy (not to be dropped!).

8th Sept – Kitchener Trophy (Mixed)

This board tournament trophy is where the winners of the mid week stablefords and newly introduced winners of the Thursday night league nights played off for the outright winner. Many thanks to next years Club Captain Steve

10th Sept – Captains Day (Mixed)

For those who didn’t play make sure you check the diary and ink this event in it for next year. Top prizes in what is always a fun event. This year we made the format very different and great feedback from everyone saying it was fun and interesting to play off different tee boxes. As expected, there were some excellent scores with gents benefiting from advanced tee boxes and the ladies getting 4 extra shots to balance out the tee box advantage for the gents. Some feedback that this wasn’t enough but as Diana and I tied for first spot only losing on countback it cant have been too far off. One to discuss with handicap committee as we all learn the new WHS system though

The main pairs event was incredibly closely fought. A better ball format where 4 teams ended up on 50 points (that’s 14 under net par!). Sadly, Diana and I plus David Lodge and Tyler Flack (getting a game at the last minute due to a drop out) missed out on count back finishing 4th and 3rd.

In 2nd were the Rogers (Gibbs and Small), coming runners up though winning £75 each. Congratulations to the winners by a whisker (£100 each) - Dean Mayo and Ed Laver (great socks Ed!).

Pick for organising the series and the final. Congratulations to a delighted Lee Edwards for winning the trophy presented by Steve and I.

In the singles there were again

prize winners the results were:-

gross

points didn’t make it). Excluding the

Overall Winner (£70) with a really excellent 4 under gross (45 points) but only just winning on count back was Aaron Ewing.

And then playing in

group

Congratulations to Gill Lee for best Ladies singles score on 38 points (£50)

fantastic round by Vice Captain Steve Pick getting best Gents winning (£50). (sorry Steve no photo due to the little mix up on prizes)

Lots of other prizes with bottles of wine for greenies, nearest pin in 2 on 9 and 18 and longest drives (ladies and gents) went to Bill Green, Trevor Pyne, Marlon Gill, Dave Borrett, Anthony Tankard, Tony Froud, Steve Sierra and Leah Fitzgerald.

Here is the fine looking collection of winners.

Finally, there was a putting competition after play on the 18th green where a bottle of Bollinger was won by Jan Cookson. A great putt the length of the green that just lipped out!

The putting competition and the competition entry fee all went to our Captains charity. Thanks also for the generosity in the pots at the halfway hut. As I provided the prizes the competition entry fee is given to the charity pot. Overall this meant just over £650 was collected for Parkinson’s UK our Joint Captains Charity.

18th Sept – Redbourn Shield (Gents)

This is an annual event arranged by Redbourn for local clubs. The Gents section enter a team of club reps/committee members as a thanks for their efforts. Our team of me, David Phillips, Gareth McNeil, Richard Hyne, Terry Lansdowne and Mark Quigly put up a brave fight but came up short by 14 point coming mid pack (I won’t divulge a couple of the scores to protect the over golfed in our team). The winners benefitting from home course advantage were Redbourne – they don’t win it every time though and it is definitely there for the taking as we have won it before!

24th Sept – Summer League Final (Gents)

Many thanks to Richard Hyne and Duncan Miller for running the summer league this year which had a much larger entry field than previous years which is excellent. The event was played off on Saturday 24th (sadly our team just missed out in making the final). The result was a resounding win for “The Duffers” - Corin Superfine, Pete Laurance, Paul Beecher. Well played Paul with a fantastic 43 points on the day.

Second - Balls Deep - Andrew Davies, Alistair Holt Thomas, Gary Fowler

Third - Fab Flamo - Ed Laver, Chris Mercer, Tony Smith

No photo I’m afraid as I couldn’t make it to the club but looking forward to seeing “The Duffers” at the January awards evening!

2nd Oct – Hertfordhire Mixed Greensomes Knockout

Congratulations to Elaine Meagher and Pete Laurence for winning at Porters Park yesterday. Fantastic result!

Forthcoming Events and Competitions

Lots to look forwards to this Autumn. If you haven’t entered a tournament please do put your name down as a reserve as often places become available the week before or even on the day (as happened on Captains Day)! Also, if you are unable to make it on the day of an event you have entered please can you call the clubhouse to notify those at the club doing meet and greet that you wont be there. Email hyne_richard@hotmail.com competition secretary or gents.captain@apgcmembers.org if you want to be added to reserve lists.

Events coming this fall are:-

Winter League

The winter league is now open for entries. This keeps your hand in over the cold weather months and ends in a play off competition for the Copper Cup.

Winter Foursomes

This is a pairs event which is now open on HDID. To book you need to go to the “KNOCKOUT” section on HDID rather than the “booking” tab.

6th Oct is Aldwicks Charity Day. Booking is closed and more on this in David’s section. Wishing David and the Aldwicks a hugely successful day and I am looking forward to playing and running the auction!

8th Oct – Gents Autumn Cup

This is a pairs event with booking now closed. Please do put your name forward as a reserve in case of drop outs. (Covid is rearing its head once again!).

23rd Oct – Redbourn Challenge (Mixed team)

I am not sure about this event or how it is brought together. Any help gratefully received???

13th Nov – Fox Hunter Trophy

This trophy donated by the ayephone king and ex Captain Jock Hunter and now moved away Tim Fox. It is a Medalford tournament which slightly favours those who avoid a big blow out on any holes as your stableford score is deducted from your net score (so need to concentrate on both)!

Sun 13th Nov – Gents Daily Mail Foursomes

The winners get entered into the Daily Mail foursomes tournament.

3rd Dec – Turkey Trott (Mixed) (Definitely one to look out for)

To kick start getting in the Christmas spirit this scramble format event is always great fun. As years go by Christmas hats have been supplemented by Christmas jumpers, then flashing lights and more recently Christmas suits and Ed as a Snowman! So enter early and a special prize for the most festively dressed! Here’s the sort of dress sense you are up against from last year although Terry clearly missed the memo!

Don’t forget the regular monthly events and mid week stablefords (just enter on the day).

All in all a lot to look forward to in the next few months!

CLUB AWARDS EVENING – EARLY REMINDER FOR THE DIARY

Key Date for the diary though is Club Awards Evening now scheduled for Thursday 26th Jan. This is followed by a Race Night which is great fun so even if you haven’t won a trophy please do come down to support the other players and enjoy a great fun evening.

Rules and Handicap Committee

Linda, Carl and Axel have been very busy as a result of the hot summer and a number of temporary rules have been introduced incl winter rules a bit earlier than normal as the fairways recover from the dry summer, rules on the cracks on areas turfed earlier this year, cracks and other conditions involving animal poo! These are all available on the notice board outside the ladies changing room. Please take time to familiarise yourselves with them before you head to the practice green!

Finally

Many thanks for the huge improvements on bunker raking – keep it up adding to it pitch mark repairing please as the greens are now much softer and many pitch marks seem to be going without repair!

Cheers, Graham Payne (Club Captain)

gents.captain@apgcmembers.org

A Message from the Lady Captain

It’s been a glorious summer and it’s good to see the golf course turning green again. Don’t forget to replace divots,

repair pitchmarks and rake the bunkers as the course recovers from the drought.

The ladies’ section has had a busy time with lots of good golf. Firstly, the Ladies Open. Congratulations and thanks to all the wonderful ladies of APGC involved in helping to stage another great golfing day for 84 visitors, one of the best Opens in Hertfordshire, renowned especially for our warm welcome, and fabulous Halfway House. After seven years on the Open Committee, Anne Roche, Pat Goddard and Maggie Cartmell are stepping down as organisers Thanks to them and to Helen Greensmith and Alison Gardiner who are staying on and have already started organising for next year.

We visited my hometown of Letchworth Garden City for our Awayday with a winning result for me and my team: Chris Woodcock and Judith Pearson. The event was wonderfully organised by Penny Fairweather and Sue Phillips.

Lady Captain’s Day started with the serious stuff with the trophy won by Gill Lee The afternoon devolved into craziness assisted by our Club Captain, Graham Payne, and Senior’s captain, David Phillips. The short course was transformed into an obstacle course including rakes, hose pipe and Graham’s grandaughter’s paddling pool. We understand why it was called greenkeeper’s revenge!

There have been fun competitions and the usual medals and stablefords with lots of winners: Jan C, Sue H, Chris M, Chris W, Mary, Elaine, Helen G, Irene, Jan S, Caroline, Kate, Judith P and me. Eleanor Brooks showed us that 3 clubs and a putter were enough to score 43 points, very well done We also played our first yellow tee qualifying competition which was won by Naz Ball.

Results of qualifiers are on How Did I Do. The Ladies’ section of the APGC website has all other results for matches and non qualifiers and details of competition formats, so do have a good look. Here too are the successes of our teams in county and national competitions. We are fortunate to have Caroline Skelton to keep all this information up to date.

Here’s a happy picture of the Grannie Bowl lunch. The trophy was deservedly won by our organiser Margaret Chury.

We are very pleased to report that the APGC Ladies Scratch A Team have successfully maintained their position as a Division one team and finished a creditable third after recording 3 wins and a draw in the Herts County Ovaltine League. There was an amazing team spirit between all the players and some excellent results against teams fielding single figure handicappers, County players and some International players too. Well done to all the ladies who played this year: Elaine (Captain), Linda, Chris, Lucinda, Leah, Julia and Debbie.

Scratch B have had a good finish to the season too against Chesfield Downs. Naz, Gill, Chris, Van and Sheila won 4 1 against a team with far lower handicap indices than ours.

Congratulations also to those who played in the Chiltern Ladies Golf League. They were runners up in the league and in the Ryder Cup day. We have had a very good summer in friendly matches winning all home matches and one away and enjoying some beautiful courses and hospitality.

My thanks to everyone who represents our club in matches and leagues and national competitions and to the many ladies who organise them especially Elaine Meagher, Sue Hattam, Annie Kirkham, Jan Cookson, Eleanor Brooks, Margaret Chury and Linda Reeve.

As you can see from the photos, we are fortunate in having a happy and well run section with something for all abilities. Please do come along or give me a ring if you would like to get more involved. Happy autumn golfing (with the help of preferred lies).

Diana

A Message from the Senior Captain

August was another hot month with very little rainfall. September at long last had a reasonable rainfall which was welcomed by Craig and his team. The course has responded well, though there are still various patchy areas on the fairways. In mid September, Herts County Golf allowed us to implement Preferred Lies at our Course with immediate effect. Because of this, qualifying/general rounds can be played with preferred lies of a max of 6 inches only in areas cut to fairway height or less in the general areas.

Also in mid September, following the welcome return of the swans and their families (but not their attendant ‘poo’) to the course, there is now a permanent rule for Abnormal Course Conditions to treat Swan, Goose, Fox and Dog Dung as GUR. In addition, a Temporary Local Rule of free relief has been introduced that covers areas of newly laid turf besides the bunkers on holes 6, 8 and 16.

During August and September we had 9 Aldwicks matches (5 at home and 4 away); the Mick Railes Autumn Cup and the Burhill Triangular (at Burhill). The Monthly medal due to be played on 25th August was postponed due to the very high temperatures being experienced. The Home match vs Chesfield Downs scheduled for 13th September had to be postponed as Chesfield Downs couldn’t raise a team (rescheduled for 25th October).

We managed to maintain our 100% record with our home fixtures with wins against Aldenham (4 2); Panshangar (5½ -2½) and The Shire (4 2). On 29th Sept our home match vs South Beds ended 4-4

I am delighted to record that we have finally beaten our 100% failure rate on away matches with a win, masterminded by John Harris, against Brookmans Park (3½-2½) with our last 3 pairs winning their matches! Sadly, we lost our away matches against Whitehills (3½ to 2½); The Shire (4 2) and Whipsnade (1 5).

On 24th August, the Wednesday Swindle held their Ryder Cup Match. The Captains on the Day were John Cullen and Gus Merelie. The Robert Andlaw Trophy was presented by Robert’s wife, Ros, to the winning Captain, Gus. Some photographs of their day:

The Mick Railes Autumn Cup was organised by Nick Boardman and played on 30th August.

The winners were: Dave Habershon and Len Fellowes with 45 points.

2nd place: Pat O'Higgins and Glen Rootman with 43 points,

3rd place: Tony Phillips and Bruce Olds with 42 points (on c/b).

On 31st August the ever young, Chas Torbett, celebrated his 88th Birthday. A single figure golfer in his prime, he still maintains his effortless easy swing.

On 14th September, the Ladies Captain, Diana Godden, held her Captain’s Day which included a crazy golf course laid out by Craig and the Club Captain, Graham Payne. The dress code for the Day was ‘on holiday’. Graham and myself entered into the spirit of the day.

The match takes place once a year and is played on a rotating basis with Burhill, Redbourn and Aldwickbury. Up until last year Burhill had won it every year but Redbourn won last year. Burhill were victorious again this year and we came second. Thanks to John Harris for having organised this excellent away day. Next year it moves to Aldwickbury when hopefully Mick Beaufoy will succeed where others haven’t.

On 8th September we had the very sad news that Queen Elizabeth 11 had died.

On Monday 19th September Aldwickbury Golf Club closed out of respect for the Queen’s funeral on that day.

On Tuesday 27th September we had the Monthly Medal.

In Division 1, the winner was Pete Laurence with gross 81; h/cap 10, Nett 71

Second was Glen Rootman with gross 92; h/cap 17, Nett 75.

In Division 2, the winner was Alan Taylor with gross 101; h/cap 27, Nett 74

Second on c/back was Robert Gold with gross 113; h/cap 38, Nett 75

On Thursday 29th September we had our home match vs South Beds. Result was 4 4.

On 15th September, the prestigious Burhill Triangular match took place at Burhill.

Looking ahead to the events in October, they include:

4th - Seniors Singles Ian Kerr Memorial.

6th - Seniors Charity Day.

13th - Away match vs The Hertfordshire.

18th - Ladies vs Gents (Singles)

20th - Away match vs Hartsbourne

25th - Home match vs Chesfield Downs.

27th - Winter Stableford.

To finish this Newsletter, a couple of photos of our Captain Elect for 2023, Mick Beaufoy, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of his group, The Cock Sparrer, at the Camden Roundhouse in September This English punk rock band was formed in 1972 in the East End of London

David Phillips.

Seniors Captain 2022.

Course report

Greens

Greens renovation took place during August with surfaces on both courses heavily topdressed, spiked with 8mm solid tine, brushed, and feed with a granular feed to get growth and recovery back. Once these had settled down, we overseeded with a brown top bent grass. We have had great success trialling this on the par 3 course with fantastic results.

Fairways

During August we had a few small, short sharp showers to help soften up the course and everyone was asking me if the course was going to recover and if we have had enough rain. In the short term yes, it’s great to get any amount of rain, the only issue with that was the ground had been so dry that the water just runs straight off the surface. We did have one Friday of 50+ mm of rainfall so I took full advantage of an applied a wetting agent, potassium nitrate, liquid urea, and seaweed and that has seemed to have really help in get recovery, weaker areas have also done well and will continue to be worked on There’s still a way to go but we have had far better recovery this time compared to the last drought in 2018.

Renovation

We are currently in the process of renovating the tees and approaches around the course. All tees have been hollow cored and the material removed has been moved to the old fairway bunker on 16 which will be levelled and overseeded in due course. The tees will now be heavily scarified to remove more Organic material and thin out the sward followed by a topdress and overseed to give us healthier, stronger and more durable tees going into the winter. This process will also be repeated next year in the spring.

Etiquette

A few weeks ago a member of my green staff was hit on the head from a golf ball, this split his head open requiring hospital attention. After a number of near misses and this latest incident, please can I ask members to take extra care when green keepers are working nearby, making sure to call FORE loudly and wave if there is a risk of a ball hitting a member of the team (or if you have lost the ball in flight). If the team is in the potential path of your shot, please wait to be waived through so that you can be sure they have seen you and know you are there.

See you on the course!

Craig Betts Course Manager

Pro’s Tip: Winter is Coming!

Inevitably as winter approaches we are all going to have to deal with the change in playing conditions. The colder temperature, wind and rain will test our skill and patience, but these are all part of the challenge of the game and why we enjoy it so much. One mistake we can all be guilty of though is pressing too hard and trying to fight the conditions. This can lead to a loss of rhythm, timing, tempo and balance, four ingredients that are essential for good play. Remember “when it’s breezy swing easy!” In other words, swing as if you’re being paid by the hour and not the job. It will also help if you lower your expectations a little and keep a level head when things don’t necessarily turn out the way you planned. Embrace the challenge and good luck.

NEW YEAR’S