Hello all, and welcome to our October 2024 Member’s Newsletter.
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We are well and truly into Autumn. Summer seems to be a distant memory with cooler weather, leaves and thermal layers seemingly coming from nowhere. We will likely change to Winter Rules as of 1st November, but if conditions dictate otherwise, we will update you.
Irrigation
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As you are all fully aware we have had irrigation issues on the course spanning back to 2022, that this year have impacted the course from July onward. With renovations week now complete, as well as plenty of fertiliser and seed put down, the grass has started to grow, and the patches will soon repair themselves.
GM UPDATE
Due to the those issues, we decided to switch contractors to get a fresh perspective on the system and have found multiple issues that we are currently working to resolve. We have recently replaced our two pumps, part of the suction pipe, as well as a foot valve in our reservoir. While the system has improved, there are a couple of more issues to iron out before the system is considered airtight. We will keep working through the latter part of this year to make sure the system is ready for the season and give you all the season you want.
Winter Wheels on Trollies
Just to remind you all that as a rule of thumb, we go onto winter wheels for all trollies, on both the main and short courses as of 1st November. If the weather remains dry then perhaps this may be delayed, but I ask everyone to be prepared. As soon as winter wheels go on, it means general-use buggies will come off and we will be working on a day-to-day basis, including on the use of medical buggies.
There may be points throughout the winter when generaluse buggies are back on due to course conditions, and in this period, winter wheels will not be enforced.
As always, I ask all those who can carry to do so more often. I fully understand that many of you need a trolley to get around, but for those who can carry a round or 2 more, then please may I ask you to do so. We will be working hard to bring the course back from the issues in the summer, and any help you can give us this winter would be much appreciated.
Fog Policy
As normal for this time of year, we sometimes get thick fog banks which delays play for safety reasons. I have uploaded our fog policy onto your Elite Live App in the Noticeboard section. It is also pinned outside the office on the noticeboard.
Pace of Play Incentive
This Winter we will be trialling a pace-ofplay incentive this month for all members. For all those groups of three or more, teeing off between 8 – 12 pm we set a target of 4 hours or under from your exact tee time to checking in with the shop to confirm your time (5-minute lenience will be given). Those groups who achieve this will have their card signed and get either a free tea or regular coffee in the bar that day. For all those in two or less, the benchmark is 3 hours 20. The same process applies.
Repair your Pitch Marks
With the greens getting much softer, please can I ask you all to make sure you repair your pitch marks.
Please see below a link to show best practices for repairing a pitch mark.
The Best Way To Repair A Pitch Mark (youtube.com)
What’s going on
Paths:
The paths we will be looking at are: 9th,11th, 8th/10th path complex, 14th path, and 12th to 13th path.
Gravel banding:
This autumn/winter before it gets too wet, we will be putting some gravel channels (pictured top-right) linked to drainage pits to help alleviate these extremely wet patches: 3rd approach, 7th approach on both sides of the bank, 12th approach and various other areas. We will then turf over.
CLUB UPDATE
Sustainability - Chance To Win!
We have an exciting update from the sustainability side of things here at Redbourn!
We have had the eagerly-anticipated results of our botanical survey conducted by the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust back! We will take some time to process through it all but in the spirit of all things botanical, can you identify these six bugs that were found on the golf club?
Send your answers to sustainability@ rebourngolfclub.co.uk for the chance to win a £10 voucher to spend in our Pro Shop.
CAPTAIN’S UPDATE Captain’s Update
Neil Marcus Club Captain
As we are now in Autumn, I can’t believe I’m over halfway through my captaincy, and the summer season seems like a distant memory.
The courses have taken a pounding from the weather, and we thank Haydn and his team for all their hard work in presenting the course in great condition. We have been ploughing on through the trophy competitions, medals, mixed friendlies and inter-club fixtures with good levels of member participation. Through my monthly Newsletter, I try to keep the Men’s Section informed about all our activities, and I’m pleased to report that we regularly achieve a 70% read rate.
As you probably know by now, one of our male members had a heart attack on the Ver course recently. Thanks to the immediate administration of CPR by his playing partners and a fast response by the Redbourn staff with the defibrillator, the member was kept alive while the emergency services reached the scene of the incident. On behalf of the Men’s Section, I would like to thank everyone involved for the rapid and caring support they provided. It was a very distressing day for everyone involved. I am pleased to report that the member is now at home recovering, and we hope to see him at the club very soon.
The Burhill Triangular Trophy took place on Thursday 19th September, where we welcomed teams from Aldwickbury Park
and Burhill in our 3-way annual competition. The winning 3-ball was Nigel Thomas (Redbourn), Dave Habershon (Aldwickbury) and Andrew Strange (Burhill). The overall winning club that claimed the Burhill Triangular Trophy was, for the second year running, Aldwickbury Park. Many thanks to Vice Captain Glen Barker for arranging a great day.
Thanks to all the hard work from Paul Geary, our Charity Garage Balls initiative is going well. It seems like a never-ending number of balls are being deposited in the bucket outside the pro shop and for each one cleaned and sold, the charity receives 20 pence. We are now sitting at over £1,000, so thanks to all of you for your kind donations and towards saving another life at sea.
Just a heads up on upcoming matches. If you would like to enter, please see the noticeboard:
Friday 11th October: Florin Trophy annual challenge against the Ladies’ Pearson Team
Saturday 19th October: Men’s match vs Chiltern Forest (Away)
The Friars are always looking for new members.
If you’re 55 years or older and fancy playing golf during the week, joining The Friars could be just the thing for you.
Continued On The Next Page
With around 70 members, The Friars is the largest golfing group at Redbourn Golf Club and plays regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They have roll-ups, their own competitions and a comprehensive friendly fixtures list playing other clubs in the area, where, for the cost of a meal, you get to play at many clubs with no green fees. Moreover, in The Friars, you get to meet and play with all the Friars in a fun, sociable atmosphere.
If you wish to join The Friars, contact John Barber on 07956 546507 or email John at: johnsgonegolfing@gmail.com
Finally, February 2025 sees the end of mine and Ladies’ Captain, Linda Hill’s captaincies, and we will be marking this with a farewell dinner & dance at Redbourn Golf Club with entertainment provided by “Evince” on Saturday 8th February 2025.
We would be very pleased if you could come along to share the occasion with us. Full details will be put on the noticeboard soon but save the date for now.
Neil
Events and Deals: GOLF UPDATE
COURSE MAIN & DESSERT
£21.95 • KIDS £11.95 UNDER 5’S FREE 12:00 - 14:30
COURSE UPDATE Course Manager
Update
Haydn Drinkwater Course Manager
Hello everyone,
The weather experienced at the start of this month meant that the course received 133mm of rain in one week, causing the River Ver to burst its banks. With the hard work completed by Paul keeping the river channels clear over the summer has helped the water to drain off the course quickly and caused no longterm damage to the golf course.
River Ver Restoration
October will hopefully see a very exciting project starting in affiliation with Affinity Water and the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust. It will be the beginning of a two-year project to restore the River Ver, increasing biodiversity, and better flow in places as well as helping retain water. More details will follow shortly.
The greens are recovering from the recent coring and dressing with them all being overseeded to aid recovery, some areas will need seeding again before the temperature in the soil drops. Greens will have a liquid fertiliser applied along with an application of granular fertiliser to help the seed germinate quickly on the bare areas.
Tees and approaches have also had a slow-release granular fertiliser applied and this will release nutrients depending on the weather over the next three months, and regular liquid fertiliser also applied
when weather conditions allow. The tees and approaches will be verti-drained to aid drainage and will help develop root growth.
Fairways will have a granular fertiliser applied when the weather allows to help reduce worm casting and produce a thicker grass sward. They will also be slit tined to help develop rooting and drainage.
Haydn
An Update From ...
Charlie Turner Golf Operations Manager
Winter is fast approaching, so don’t leave yourself short by not preparing.
We are now filling the shop with all our autumn/winter clothing for the season. Also, don’t forget that we are still running a massive SALE from polos up to £20 off. We have also had a new delivery of winter Footjoy shoes.
With the winter season upon us, why not get working on your game and book in with Beth for a lesson to sharpen up your game for next year’s golf season? You can contact her at:
b.sellars@redbourngolfclub.co.uk.
With the ground becoming a lot softer coming into winter it is crucial that you are getting the most out of your golf equipment. We do not charge for any custom fittings, so why not spare an hour of your day comparing your equipment?
To book your free fitting, please come and speak to us in the shop.
