Burhill GC Newsletter - Jan 23

A note from Nick...

Renewal

We are delighted by the way our members have renewed their memberships for 2023. At the time of writing there are very few members whom we have not heard from, either to commit to the year ahead or to sadly leave us.

The number of 5 and 7-day members renewing ensures that we retain a very healthy membership base, and we expect that the main membership categories will be full by the end of February or early March.

We have been inviting a number of new members from the waiting list since mid-November and will continue to do thisaligned to the decisions made by members to renew for 2023.

Visitor and Member Guest Times

Following your feedback, we have been looking at the times during which Visitors and Member Guests can play at Burhill Golf Club. We are keen to ensure that members have priority, and, on this basis, we intend to revise Visitor and

Member Guest windows from 1st April 2023 as follows;

Member Guests

• £50 (Mon-Thurs) £60 (Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays)

• 7 day booking window

• 10am start time (subject to availability)

Visitors

• £120 (Mon-Thurs) £130 (Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays)

• 5 day booking window

• 11am start time (subject to availability)

Members may identify a £2 increase to member guest fees and a £10 increase to other visitor fees.

We will continue to not offer a ‘twilight’ visitor rate to prevent over-play of the courses in the summer evenings. But we may elect to create a Member Guest + Buggy offer periodically during the summer, and will update members in due course.

Members Q&A

The club is holding a Member’s Q&A at 7pm on Monday 30th January. If members would like to attend, please book in at reception so we can

In this edition:

• A note from Nick...

Nick Moran, General Manager

• Golf Courses Update

Rob Surgey, Senior Course Manager

• Golf Operations Update

Darren Wood, Head of Golf Operations

• Clubhouse Update

Stuart Barr, Head of Clubhouse Operations

manage overall numbers. A drinks voucher and some foodie refreshment will be available to those attending. While it is understandable that longer-standing members will attend the event, we would welcome all members and I have personally invited approx. 250 members who have joined Burhill over the last 3-4 years.

The event will be held in the Barnes Wallis Suite, and we will be joined by Rob Surgey (Senior Course Manager), Darren Wood (Head of Golf Operations), Stuart Barr (Head of Clubhouse Operations) and Guy Riggott (Operations Director of BGL).

Annual General Meetings

The Ladies host their meeting on Tuesday 7th February at 4pm. The Men’s AGM is on Sunday 26th February at 1.30pm, followed by the Club AGM at around 3.30pm. The Annual Captain’s Drive In takes place after the Men’s and Club AGMs and we encourage as many members as possible to attend and support our 2023 Captains with their ‘Drive In’ tee shots on the 18th of the New Course (around 4.15pm).

Captains Andrew Crofts, Linzi Anderson and Ben Wilson will be handing over the reins to the incoming Captains; Richard Smith, Jane Anderson, and James Bould. On the behalf of our team and all club members I would like to pay tribute to the way in which they have conducted themselves, engaged with a wide number of members and to the support they have given to their committees, to our club team and to me on a professional and personal level.

Building Clean

Members may be aware that we have started the cleaning of the exterior of the clubhouse and the four entrance pillars, using a local company. The exterior paintwork was decorated in lockdown (2020) and is due to be painted again in 2025. In the meantime, the clean has brightened the outside and we will complete the rear of the clubhouse (terrace

area) in March, prior to the season getting underway.

Contract Cleaners - Clubhouse

We have engaged the services of a new contract cleaning company who started on 9th January. Rapide have experience of cleaning clubs including The Berkshire and Sunningdale. We hope you notice the difference!

Golf Administrator

We are pleased to inform members that Paul Williams will be joining Burhill on the 30th January, to support members and Darren Wood’s team with the management of Handicaps, Competitions and Golf Diary Management. Paul spent 19 years at Wimbledon Park GC in various golf, admin and management roles and has a good understanding of WHS and Golf Rules. One might say he knows a Mulligan when he sees one!

Obituary - Vince Dean

Members will be saddened to learn about the passing of our 1996 Captain, Vince Dean (87). Vince joined Burhill Golf Club in 1967 and was a keen sportsman and member of The Forty Club Golf Society. He was a keen Bridge player and enjoyed a glass of red wine too. Our sincere condolences go to his family at this sad time. Vince is survived by his son, daughter and two grandchildren.

New Season, New Developments

We are making final plans for some preseason course and club work including some Old Course bunkers, 2nd Reservoir planning application, installation of new range targets as part of a general ‘sparkle’ that commenced before Christmas, Pro Shop expansion and refurb and the completion of the Bag and Trolley Store. Rob Surgey will provide more detail about course works in his section of this newsletter and Darren Wood will provide an update on the Pro Shop.

Graham Newton

It is a bittersweet moment as we will shortly say farewell to Graham Newton. Graham has worked at Burhill for 3-years as our Sales Executive, and members will know Graham for the splendid work he has done supporting new members through their application process along with the fun and colour he has brought to club social events. Graham will be joining Shrewsbury Golf Club as their General Manager and we all wish him enormous success and a fond farewell.

Course Damage

It is disappointing for both members and greenkeepers when we hear or see elements of damage on the course. We can all get a little frustrated with a poor putt on a bobbly winter green but there really is no need to swipe at the ground and take a divot out. Likewise, the Captain has provided his support but where members practice on the golf course (we suspect in the early evening) and hit approach shots from 80 – 130 yards it just causes a general nuisance. Burhill Golf Club offers members complimentary practice balls and a great short game area. Therefore, there is no reason to practice on the course.

Regards, Nick Moran

Golf Courses Update

Rob Surgey, Senior Course Manager r.surgey@burhillgolf-club.co.uk

The weather for the past few months has been testing to say the least. We have only had 26 dry days since the beginning of October with a total rainfall of 342mm up until 15th January. We have had one of the wettest October-December periods since our current records began (2004) with 277mm recorded. The rainfall is high, and the number of rainy days is also very high.

This is the worst combination as the course is not getting the time to dry out before the next rain hits. The ground is saturated, and the smallest amount of rain causes areas to flood up. The water level of the River Mole has been very high for several weeks.

A rainfall event of 6-7mm is causing the river to burst its banks. In an average winter we would need around 25mm for this event to happen.

This graph shows just how unlucky we have been this winter with the sheer volume of rainfall!

OCT NOV DEC TOTALS

2004 94 26 47 167

2005 71 38 45 154

2006 105 83 75 263

2007 34 71 41 146

2008 62 61 43 166

2009 43 139 71 253

2010 41 38 23 101

2011 19 72 105 196

2012 80 97 94 272

2013 100 54 122 275

2014 102 122 29 253

2015 36 40 51 126

2016 29 75 8 112

2017 18 36 83 136

2018 57 90 59 207

2019 97 72 110 279

2020 140 42 93 275

2021 147 7 38 192

2022 102 125 50 277

Traffic Management

Every year we put the post and rope up to protect areas from getting worn out close to greens and tees. Can I ask that these are adhered to so we dont get worn areas close to the greens. Unfortunately, we have had reported a number of the ropes being cut which then allows other golfers to walk through into wet areas. If you remove a post to play a shot can you make sure that it is replaced.

There are some areas on the New Course that are strugging around the greens. The 2nd and 13th are the main ones and we have layed rubber mats to help get golfers to and from the green. We also have mats down leading to the 16th tee on the New Course. This area is wet as it has been under the flood water for many days over the past few months. We plan to raise the pathway from the 15th green to the 16th tee as this stays wet causing golfers to walk on the grass verges which are getting muddy.

The issue we have is that we can’t get heavy buggy loads to this area at present as it would make more mess and we may get stuck.

The new pathway from the 5th green to the 6th Tee of the New Course is now complete. This has really improved this area, and we now don’t have a long diversion behind the black tee.

See some enlightening photos from before and after the work are down below!

Before After

Course Etiquette

Unfortuately, we have had further damage to the course over the past few weeks. The below shows the 15th apron on the Old Course having a number of divots taken out of it. Even more concerning is the divots out of the 11th green on the Old Course. If you get to a green which has this sort of damage on it that you report it to the pro shop so that we can narrow down the time that it occurred. We will also be stepping up our surveillance to help identify the culprits.

Planned Course Maintenance

Weather permitting, we intend to carry out greens maintenance on 13/14th March – New Course and 20/21st March – Old Course. We have diary dates planned for autumn maintenance on 24/25th July and 21/22nd August.

Turfing

We have continued to turf a few more areas on the Old Course. The 7th right-hand side fairway bunker has been renovated (see image). We have also turfed the walkway to the right-hand side of the 5th green.

Winter Frost

Many of you will have seen that the sustained cold weather has brought an extended period of frost to the course.

One of the few bonuses to frosty mornings at the course is that we can capture some beautiful dawn images. Take a look at the gallery below.

Old Course Bunker Renovation Programme

The next phase of the Old Course bunker renovation programme will begin on 30th January. Holes 2 and 16 will be renovated. There is no huge change, apart from the removal of the right hand side cross bunker on the 2nd hole. This removal will allow for a better view of the 2nd green from the fairway. We will create a temporary green/short par 3 while the bunkers on the 2nd are worked on midweek

All bunkers on both these holes will be reshaped slightly in their current position, drained and lined with Bunker Blinder. We have chosen these two holes because we find they are the main holes that require us to pump out water after heavy rainfall. They are also contaminated with silt and stone caused by washouts after heavy rainfall.

Please see below the designs from Tim Lobb, our achitect. We hope these works will take no longer than six weeks, and the plan is to have them back in play for the Spring Meeting - weather permitting.

Golf Operations Update

Darren Wood, Head of Golf Operations d.wood@burhillgolf-club.co.uk

New Professional Shop & Current Location

The Professional Shop refurbishment is now well underway, and we are excited for the opening of this in March. Our team are still available to help on the reception desk and should you require any additional items other than the ones that we have displayed then please do not hesitate to ask.

We are still holding stock of waterproofs, golf bags, electric trolleys and, where possible, can place orders with one of our other BGL venues or suppliers directly.

PING Fitting Day

Tuesday 21st February between 11:00 – 15:00

If you are looking to purchase a new set of clubs before the season starts, then contact the Professional Shop now to book a slot in the PING fitting day. An expert fitting technician will be available with the latest PING products, including the G430 driver.

General Play Score

The World Handicap System allows golfers to enter scores for handicap purposes during a general play round of golf. This must be done in accordance with the rules of golf. Please ensure that you register for all general play scores prior to your round and enter your score either via IntelligentGolf or the England Golf app. You cannot decide during or after your round that you want to enter a general play round. If you are experiencing any difficulties registering, then please speak to one of our team who are happy to help.

Rule on the Post and Rope

I have had a few discussions about the post and rope around the course and what happens when a player’s ball strikes it. The post and rope are a movable obstruction therefore golfers must play the ball as it lies should their ball come in to contact with it.

Head of Golf Operations January Tip

As we are in the middle of one of the wettest winters in history, have you considered adding loft to your driver? Once purchased, golfers often forget that they have this option available to them with the latest technology. Even if you have been fitted for a specific loft, this is quite often in the warmer months and does not take into consideration the wet ground conditions. There is very little roll in the winter, therefore carrying the ball in the air further is more beneficial. For any assistance please do not hesitate to ask our team.

TaylorMade New Product

The new TaylorMade Stealth 2 product (pictured) is now available for fittings at Burhill Golf Club. The all-new Stealth 2, combining the elements of speed and forgiveness to unlock FARGIVENESS. Contact the Professional Shop now to book a fitting slot.

Safe Golf

SafeGolf is a partnership of UK golf bodies committed to promoting a safe and positive environment for all those participating, working and volunteering in the sport of golf. We have been awarded our Safe Golf Certification for 2023. The certificate and letter of authority from England Golf are on display in the clubhouse.

Clubhouse Update

Stuart Barr, Head of Clubhouse Operations

s.barr@burhillgolf-club.co.uk

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2023. I do hope those that attended events in December, found that there was a great buzz around the club, particularly for the Lady Captains Carvery!

The first date for your diary will be our Valentine’s Evening on Tuesday 14th February, with a glass of fizz on arrival, followed by a three-course menu created by David, our Executive Chef.

The format for the evening will be as follows;

Valentine’s Menu 2023

To Start

Rosemary Truffle Goats Cheese, Pickled Wild Mushrooms, Celeriac, and Horseradish Salad

Oak Smoked Salmon, Baby Capers, Red Onion, Lemon, Sour Dough

Chicken Liver Parfait, Brioche Toast, Plum Chutney

The Main Event

Crispy Suffolk Duck leg, Fondant Potato, Tender Stem Broccoli, Red Wine Jus

Pan Roasted Seabass Fillet, Saffron Infused New Potatoes, Bok Choy, Spring Onion, Ginger and Soya Glaze

Coriander Gnocchi, Sautéed Wild Mushrooms, Spinach, Courgette & Asparagus

To Finish

Warm Chocolate Fondant, Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Raspberry Crème Brulé, Fresh Berries, Vanilla Shortbread Biscuits

English Cheese, Grapes, Celery and Artisan Biscuits.

The cost per head is £55 per person (A 10% member’s discount will be given)

To book a table please call 01932 227345 and speak to Jessica, Helen, or our Reception Team.

Alternatively email Reception on reception@burhillgolf-club.co.uk

Non or Low Alcohol Alternatives

We have been listening to your feedback and will shortly introduce two new nonalcohol products behind the bar. Guinness 0.0% and Beavertown Non-alcohol IPA in cans will be available adding to Heineken Zero and our various soft drinks, we hope you enjoy them.

Reusable Coffee Cups

As the Club continues to look at sustainability, Olivia Trimborn, one of our team members suggested we resource Reusable Coffee Cups rather than continue using the hundreds of disposable single use cups – which are soon to be illegal.

We have sourced a rather nice mug from a local environmental supplier that can be purchased for only £9.99 before member’s 10% discount AND your first cup of coffee is free! The mugs will be available to purchase from the Halfway Huts and the Honours Bar. As a bonus, there is a further 50p discount every time you purchase a coffee when using the reusable cup. Most members will have paid for the mug within a couple of weeks. It’s a no lose bet and great for the environment!

Whilst staffing in hospitality continues to be difficult, I hope members are noticing consistent faces either serving behind the bar or delivering food.

We are still on the lookout for team members so please get in touch should any friends or family be looking for some parttime work at s.barr@burhillgolf-club.co.uk

Kümmel Alert

There seems to be a world shortage of Kümmel, but we have been able to resource 4 bottles in readiness for the Six Nations competitions running over the next couple of months! Enjoy it while it lasts!

Men’s Annual Awards Dinner

The Men’s Annual Awards Dinner will be held at 7.30pm on Friday 17th February 2023, to celebrate the past golfing year at Burhill. Each table of eight will be themed to the relevant major trophy and the winning Burhillian or pair will be hosts. Their silverware will be the centrepiece on their table all evening. Timing: