June / July 2024
AN UPDATE FROM...
Theresa Plimmer General Manager
The summer is here! Although you wouldn’t guess that on some days! Renewals hit in June, and we have been crazy busy getting everyone’s membership up and running. This year was the highest renewal rate to date. We have been operating a one-in and one-out system for the full sevenday membership category for the last few years. We opened that up in May, knowing we would lose a few. The seven-day category is closed again, and we are back using the waiting list system. As members, your friends will always get priority and will go to the top of the list.
In May we scored our highest NPS score to date (the survey you get where you can score between 0-10). Ramsdale Park ranks higher than every other BGL course at 89%. To put this into perspective –the average for Golf Courses in the UK is around 35%. However, we have taken a slight hit in June so far. Most times nothing is written in the comments – so I find it difficult to act on your feedback.
Every person who scores us 9 or 10 (thank you! The whole team appreciates it!) please make sure you pop any suggestions down. I generally use this feedback to make changes and amendments. The 9th pond, entrance and furniture all came from comments from the NPS comment section.
Theresa
COURSE REPORT
Johnny Evans Course Manager
Hi all, With the season well underway, course conditions have improved dramatically. The weather is still playing its part though, with May coming in at 76mm of rainfall and June up to 50mm so far, which brings the YTD total to 445mm!
This illustrates the difference between rain in the winter and summer, when we had just a few mm
of rain over winter it flooded some of the greens and kept the course wet. However, in summer the ground/grass can absorb it better so even 20+ mm is not a problem. The only issue is the rate at which the rain falls. 20mm in 20 hours is no problem, 20mm in 20 minutes will cause flooding to even the best greens.
We’ve been busy as usual, spring is always a tricky period for us as we are trying to keep on top of all the cutting needed, along with all the usual spring work that needs to be done.
Behind the scenes, Ramsdale Park and BGL are working hard to reduce our carbon footprint with several initiatives underway to reach our aim of carbon net zero.
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From my side of things, I’ve been tasked with looking at ways to achieve this, one way is to reduce or alter the amount of mowing we have to do, therefore reducing fuel usage and emissions, encouraging more wildlife to the site through various methods such as long rough areas, bird boxes, log piles (bug hotels) improving and enhancing hedgerows around the site and maintaining the trees in good health.
We already have Notts Ringing Group, who come every month or so and ring birds to track them as they fly north or south depending on the time of year. You’d be quite surprised by the amount and variation of birds who pass through here. I can pass the report on to anyone who wants to see it.
We also want to encourage more native wildflowers to the site to enhance the bee population, this will be achieved by cutting and collecting the long rough a couple of times a year to help thin out the course grasses. There is quite a large area of long rough, so this is an ongoing operation over the coming years.
So, as you can see a lot is going on and many projects are being undertaken in addition to keeping the main playing areas in good shape.
The Struggles
With the tropical hot days, and then the biblical rain – the course growth has been outrageous. The team have been fighting fires trying to get everything cut – difficult when there are only so many hours in the day! I know some areas of the rough are... let’s say …challenging. But rest assured we are working flat out!
Thanks, Johnny
Captains Day
What a great day this was. The tee sheet was full, the weather was good, horrendous, and then good again and the catering team made me proud!
Dene (Captain), Daryl (Vice), Sach (last year’s captain), and everyone else who helped, made the day run smoothly. There were one or two hiccups but keep in mind – it was a charity event and supposed to be fun!
Dene has worked his socks off arranging events in his year of Captaincy and he’s still got eight months to go. Well done to the winning team – you keep me on my toes, but I do enjoy your shenanigans (most of the time!)
Divot Donkey Award!
36 holes to maintain, 36 fairways, a full-length driving range, 76 bunkers and over 330 acres of land. I am finding that some members are not helping the greens team by not repairing their divots and pitch marks!
Please, it has been an incredibly tough winter so help the team out and do these basic things. It doesn’t take much to rake a bunker or pop your divot back.
Without naming names, I saw a member retrieve their ball from the hole with their putter. This damages the hole. Please stop this!
Meet Brian: Our Lovable and Straight-Talking Starter
Known as “Brutal Brian,” he’s famous for his cheeky banter and teasing on the first tee. But don’t let the tough talk fool you – Brian’s a softie at heart.
He even used his own money to get everyone special starter pens. His mix of humor and kindness makes him a club favourite!
Meet The Team
I will start putting a section in the newsletter for the new members of our award-winning team. Just so you can get to know the team better. This month it’s the Thunder from Down Under –Our Driving Range Manager - Josh
First Aiders – looking after YOU!
I am delighted to confirm that we now have 68% of our team emergency first aid trained. We are investing in the team’s training to ensure you have the necessary help should you need it.
There is a list of our first aiders in the foyer – this is also where all of our first aid boxes are kept.
Charity Day
The Main event of the year raising funds for Emmanuel House and Base 51.
What you can do:
• Donate – for raffle and auction on the day. Health and Beauty, wine etc – all gratefully welcome! You can drop it off with Theresa. We will welcome any prize donations and if you’re unsure speak to Theresa.
• Auction lots can be your service too – if you are in a trade and want us to auction you off – we can do that, and it would add a lovely twist! Let Theresa know.
• Come to the Auction – starting at 7 pm –we have a quick presentation of the day’s winners then Dan the Man goes straight into the Auction. It’s FUN – you can pick up some amazing 4 ball vouchers, trips, signed sports memorabilia, guaranteed comp tee times, car parking spaces – and loads more!
Supporting Emmanuel House and Base 51.
Thanks for You Support
Danny Harking our Club President is the driving force behind our Charity work.
Without Danny we would not have reached the £40,000 we raised as a club last year – thanks Danny!
What’s Happened so Far…
It’s easy to forget what we have achieved over the last couple of years, and I just wanted to recap. There was a time when we used to only get 40 entrants into the weekend competition, and we now have 140 that regularly play.
Previously, we did not generate enough to invest in the way we are now. Thanks to the strong membership, the new equipment, and more greens team members, we’re able to invest in the course and club.
Recent:
New Tractor
Sadly our previous tractor came to the end of its life this year unexpectedly, but we had enough in our budget to be able to purchase a new one straight away. The verti-drainer didn’t fit the new tractor (brilliant), so we had to get a new one of those too. In total around £59K of unexpected cost that we could spend without it affecting the course.
Patio
We have a stunning patio, but the rattan furniture was hard to clean and wasn’t up to scratch. We decided to invest £10,000 into this beautiful space for members to relax, listen to some chilled music and enjoy the sunshine!
Drainage
The drainage projects on the 5th, 6th and 7th are ready to go once the contractors are available to start the work.
Pond
The new pond on the 9th is now well established with plenty of wildlife attracted.
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But can you remember what it looked like for 28 years before we upgraded it?
We have made many more changes from the front gates to the back nine. Keeping sustainability in mind we will continue to improve our beautiful course.
New Members Day - Sunday 4th August
• Free to enter
Every six weeks, Tom and Matt run a new member day.
This helps new members integrate into the club – find other playing partners and can help get you a handicap if you need your card to be marked.
• Bacon roll & coffee on arrival (lounge bar)
• Fun competition
• A chance to meet other new members and ask the membership team any questions
• A chance to do a handicap card
• 18 holes on the Seely course starting from 1 pm Email matthew.richardson@ramsdaleparkgc. co.uk to book your place.
Par 3 ChallengeSunday 21st July
Join our group event on 21.07.24
• 18 holes on the Par 3 (Lee Course)
• Sandwiches and fries in the clubhouse
• Prizes to be won, fun for everyone!
• £12 entry for Members
Again, book with the Events Team
Members of the month
These three chaps have worked solidly to ensure that your handicaps are up to date and maintained - all competitions are entered, scored and paid out in time - all for free. They all give their time (along with others) free of charge to ensure all our members are looked after. Problems are often thrown their way – but not much in the way of a thank you.
I was delighted to take them down to Burhill GC last month as a little thank you for their dedication. A couple of rounds of golf with committee members from other courses within our group. A snazzy dinner and a stunning BBQ the next day. Burhill is such a beautiful course – I would urge you to use your reciprocal round for sure!
Thank you, Mark Northern (Handicap Secretary), John White (Comp Secretary), Sachin Kanaiya (Past Captain), and all the team on the committee.
Under the heat
The difference in heat absorption between different coloured polo shirts. Keep safe (if the sun comes out for longer than 12.6 minutes!)
I have been out and about this week during the heatwave, making sure you are safe, hydrated and cool! I won’t be able to do this all the time but I will try whenever the sun comes out with that kind of force!
The Members Thank The Greens Team
It was lovely of the members to present the greens team with a little treat (in the form of lots of beer!). They are grateful when you appreciate them, and seeing the team happy makes me appreciate you even more.
Bees in the Wild
A little update on the bees I rescued on the course. The hive went into quarantine for six months to ensure no parasites or diseases. The temperament is also tested.
Having hives at Ramsdale Park is not off the cards! But it is slightly more complicated than me just buying a box and placing it in a field! So my six-week beekeeping course started in September and we will hopefully have two hives. My queen bees will be born!
Please Support Tom who Organises Our Special Events!
His next event is on 19th July and we have two soul singers to entertain you!
* Canapes and glass of fizz on arrival
* Two course meal
* Dancing and two sets from the live act ‘The Soul Brothers’
£25.00 for members
Please book with Tom
