Wycombe Heights Newsletter June-July 2024

A NOTE FROM ...

Mark Woods General Manager

Hi everyone,

I’m thrilled to have finally started at Wycombe Heights and wanted to thank all the team and members I have met so far who have made me feel so welcome.

What a great time to start after the bunker renovations and the short course tee boxes. We’ve seen some outstanding greenkeeping ensuring both courses look great. Well done to Stuart, Dean and the greenkeeping team.

With the weather continuing to tease us there has never been a better time to get ready for the golfing peak season.

The team have organised an exciting calendar of events throughout June including Taylormade custom fitting and trade-in event, as well as the club championship and Captain’s Charity Longest Day Challenge. Please reach out to Duncan and the pro shop team for further details.

We also have several exciting events taking place in the clubhouse over the next few months for you to enjoy with friends and family, including tribute nights, ‘Schools Out’ event or an alternative venue to enjoy the summer’s sporting calendar.

The best way to improve your experience is by understanding what’s important to you as a member, which is why my door is always open. My aim over the next few months is to meet as many of you as possible, so I will be holding an informal Meet the Manager event on Thursday 27th June with slots at 1pm and 6pm. Come along for a tea or coffee and let me know what’s important to you as members.

Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye to Rhiannon, Assistant F&B Manager, at the start of June. I know I speak for all the team when I say we wish her well and I’m sure we will still see her on the course.

Rhiannon Curnow

Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye to Rhiannon, Assistant F&B Manager, at the start of June as she is taking up a senior management role at Moor Park. I know I speak for all of the team and members when I say we wish her well and I’m sure we will still see her out on the course.

Regards,

Mark

COURSE UPDATE

Stuart Giddings Course Manager

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the sun out on the course when it decides to make an appearance.

We have been very busy recently with more improvements out on the course starting with the new tee mats out on the short course. We have had nine brand new refurbished tee mats which has made a massive difference to not only the appearance but also playability when playing around the short course. The tee mats that have been refurbished are, 1st, 9th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th.

Not only have we been busy with the tee mats, but we have also been busy with our short course 18th green. As you all know it had a severe slope at five degrees causing all the balls to fall down the left-hand side. We started this renovation on Tuesday, May 7th using only recycled material. We now need to leave it to settle and I’m aiming for it to be back open and ready for play by the beginning of July.

We have a very busy month ahead of us with lots of competitions including Captains’ Day and The Club Championships. Following several heavy downpours the course has held up well and I’m hoping the weather will be on our side, so we can get the course in tip-top shape so everyone can have a fantastic game of golf.

Take care everyone!

Stuart

AN UPDATE FROM...

Duncan Purcell Head Professional

Good day all.

We have seen a glimpse of summer, followed by torrential rain. Looking at the long-term weather forecast, we should start to see some warmer days. Let’s hope this prediction goes better than me predicting Jordan Speith as the Masters winner… Championships

Also, in June we have the Captain’s Charity Longest Day Challenge. This is where the Captain and others will play 72 holes in a single day. Henry and I will be supporting the cause on behalf of the Centre. The Captain’s Charity this year is MIND. MIND offers information and advice to people suffering with mental health problems. Every year, one in four of us will experience a mental health problem, but too many of us aren’t getting the help we need. Please support the charity by following the instructions on the photo. Not only will we be raising funds on behalf of Captain Jag, but your donations will be helping those in need to get the right support.

TaylorMade Event

June represents the busiest month we have for the golfing calendar, with the Club Championships for all sections. I’d like to wish all participants the best of luck as they look to add their names to the Honours Boards here at the Centre. Good luck to the respective defending champions: Sue Pearson, John Dimond, and Mark Vining.

On Tuesday, June 25th we have a TaylorMade fitting event here at the Centre. The event runs from 14:30 – 19:00 and is by appointment only. There is no charge for this for our members. TaylorMade drivers this year have been the longest in all our in-house testing. A special mention for the MG4 wedges as well, which feel great and produce a lot of spin. Why not book a slot to upgrade your equipment?

Nearly New Golf Event

On Thursday, June 27th we have a trade-in event with Nearly New Golf. If you have any clubs, you would like to trade in then bring them along. In return, you will receive a quote on the day for your items. If you trade in clubs, you will receive credit to be used in the Professional Shop. This event runs from 15:00- 19:00 and no booking is required.

Jamie Amer

A new feature for the newsletter is What’s In The Bag. This month we will look at PGA Trainee, Jamie Amer’s bag.

Driver: Titleist TSI 3 Driver. 9 degrees

Fairway: Titleist 910 3 wood. 15 degrees

Irons: Titleist T100. 3-pw

Wedges: Vokey SM9. 50, 56 & 60 degrees

Putter: Mizuno Bettinardi Blade

Bag: Titleist Tour Bag

Ball: Pro V1

As promised in my last newsletter, I have started to play more golf. This helps with not only physical and mental exercise, but I also get to see what you are all seeing when you play. This helps with feedback to members through the member surveys, and we as a team can communicate where things can be actioned.

I am fortunate to work with great greenkeepers in Stuart and his assistant, Dean. We have spent time on the courses assessing the development of the current bunker project and speak weekly about these. We have implemented the new out of bounds areas around the course, with potentially more to come.

This week, the fairways have been cut and brought closer to the tees on holes 5,9, and 13. Approaches have been extended on holes 6 and 10 too. This was thanks to member feedback. As a collective, we are looking at potential future projects, such as the next phase of bunker works as well as tee box renovations. The greenkeeping team have done a great job to have the courses in such great shape this year – and with all the Club Championships coming they will no doubt step it up another level altogether.

As for my golf, it could always be better. I am happy that it is trending in the right direction despite not playing much until recently. So far, a 68 is my best for the season. My goal is to get a 65 this year, but more work is most definitely needed!

Duncan

“I’m a big believer that when you look down at any club and like what you see, then you are filled with confidence. I like the look of my clubs; however, I test equipment regularly. I play golf two or three times a week and find that by upgrading my grips twice per season I can maintain peak performance. Grip wear and tear is something not many golfers consider, especially when playing regularly. Poor grip condition = poor shot strike and consistency. In terms of the Pro V1 ball, I like the lower flight it produces off the tee compared to the Pro V1X but added spin around the greens.” Jamie Amer

RANGE UPDATE FROM...

Jack McDonagh Driving Range Manager

Hello All,

I wanted to take the opportunity in this newsletter to give you all a bit more insight into the fantastic technology we have to offer on our driving range. Trackman Range is a flexible golf-ball tracking solution with tour-proven technology and the industry’s leading Virtual Golf, Practice, and Entertainment software. The best way to break Trackman range down is by looking at the home screen, where you can see the options for ‘Practice’, ‘Games’, ‘Courses’ and ‘Competitions’.

Practice allows you three options: Range practice, on-course practice and find your distance! Range practice brings up a virtual reconstruction of the driving range here at Wycombe Heights, and it will allow you to practice freely, giving you accurate and detailed information about each of the shots that you hit. There is also a handy ‘convert’ button, which allows you to turn the restricted flight driving range balls, into a premium golf ball that you would ordinarily use on the golf course.

On-course practice is very similar to range practice, however, it allows you to practice on some of the best courses across the world. You can select a golf course and hole of your choice, and then put yourself anywhere on that hole! It allows you to visualise yourself on a golf course, and that can be helpful when you are trying to practice a specific shot that you have been working on!

The final mode in practice is ‘find my distance’. I believe this is an excellent innovation and it has helped me massively improve my golf over the past year. Find your distance allows you to build your bag virtually, and helps you find the distance with each of your clubs. With each club in your bag, you will take 5+ shots and it will learn your behaviours with each club and give you specific and reliable data that you will be able to transfer to the golf course.

There are some terrific games to play on Trackman range, for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy. There are some specific games aimed at younger golfers, which may be a great way for you to introduce children and beginners to the game of golf. The three main ones are scrapyard, where you find yourself in a virtual scrapyard, having to blow up cars to win the game! Another game for the younger audience is on the edge. This game is great for encouraging accuracy, as well as control in the game of golf. You must hit straight and well-thoughtout shots to save the day! The final game for the younger generation is Magic Pond. Magic Pond is extremely popular, and it allows you to explore the area with your golf shot! With each shot, you will find a magical beast hiding, and when you find each one, you get to add them to your collection!

The other game modes on the Trackman range screens are just as fun and can create a real competitive game if you are playing with a friend or family member! The game mode Hit it! encapsulates nine shots of the golf ball, and you must hit it as far as possible. The longest drive wins!

Capture the flag and closest to pin are also great games to play with friends and family! Capture the flag starts with each of the driving range targets as neutral, and you must hit your shot close enough to the target to capture the flag! Beware though, as your opponent can always steal your flag back after you have captured it! Closest to pin is also a game of accuracy, where the closest shot to the pin wins! The final game is also one of accuracy, and that is bullseye. Each pin on the range is turned into a target, and the closer you get to the centre of each target, the more points you get! You get nine shots each, and the person with the most points at the end wins!

The next section of the Trackman range is the courses! There are many virtual courses to choose from, all over the world! The courses available on the Trackman screens change each month, here is a sneak peek of what to expect in June:

Adare Manor – Limerick, Ireland

Hualalai Resort – Hawaii, U.S.A

Lofoten Links – Gimsøysand, Norway

Pebble Beach Golf Links – California, U.S.A

Real Club Valderama – Sotogrande, Spain

Royal St. George’s – Kent, England

Royal Troon – Ayrshire, Scotland

Senoja Valley – California, U.S.A

The Grove – Hertfordshire, England

The Lost Nine – Fictional par 3 Course

Wentworth West Course – Surrey, England

My personal favourite is Lofoten Links, located in the northern circle. It allows you to play golf whilst under the northern lights! A true sight to behold.

Continued On The Next Page

Next, we have tournaments. Tournaments is the section where any competitions that are being run will be shown! This is a great opportunity to tell you about the awesome competition we will be running throughout February, open to members and guests! We will be running a bullseye competition, with prizes for places 1st – 10th. 1st prize will include a dozen PRO V1 golf balls, a two-hour VIP driving range session with unlimited golf balls, and a premium Trackman golf glove.

To enter the competition, make sure you have downloaded the Trackman app on your smartphone or tablet! The Trackman app is essential to making your experience as good as it can be! It allows you to save all your data, as well as allowing you to enter competitions for some excellent prizes!

Finally, I would just like to remind you of all the perks you receive as a member of Wycombe Heights on the driving range. On Thursday evenings, we run members nights for every member. All you must do is bring along your members card with you and receive a free basket of balls.

We also offer a members warm-up basket each morning, which is a 25 bucket of balls, worth £4.50, which is available to all members for £2! Thank you all once again for your continued support for the range and the

centre as a whole! I hope to see you all playing and practicing on the range soon!

Regards,

Jack

F&B UPDATE

Sophie Owen Food and Beverage Manager

It’s hard to believe we are halfway through the year already! Although the weather has been treating us unfairly, it has been wonderful to see so many of you come rain or shine. We have extended our opening times to 6.30am to 9.00pm every day and will begin to close at 10.00pm later in June.

I hope you have been enjoying our new Summer Club menu. We have brought back some delicious members favourites. We have also brought back our weekend members’ menu for just £10! If there is anything particular you wish to see on there, please do let me know. Food is served daily 6.30am to 7.00pm.

We are now serving oat milk in our café bar! Enjoy a delicious hot or cold beverage before or after your round and remember we do takeaway too! If you are feeling extra why not add a shot of vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut syrup as well?

We have additions to our cider collection for you all to enjoy! Now also serving alcohol-free berries and cherries flavour to our Old Mout lineup. The decking is scheduled to be painted early this month and will be in full bloom before we know it.

Why not add a pack of crips or a selection of nuts to your drink order. You may have seen we recently moved over to the British Crisp Company, as well as being made in the UK the crisp packet is also fully recyclable.

You may have heard Rhiannon F&B Assistant Manager will be leaving Wycombe Heights on 5th June. Her professionalism and enthusiasm with be missed throughout the clubhouse. We are sad to see her go but I’m sure you will all join me in wishing Rhiannon all the best in her journey and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Best Regards,

Sophie

GOLF S&M UPDATE...

Henry Willett Sales & Marketing Manager

Since our last newsletter, we hosted our Tina Turner Tribute Night. Nearly 50 guests enjoyed a fantastic two-course meal followed by Simply the Best tunes from our fabulous returning act Typically Tina. If you feel like you missed out, don’t worry – Typically Tina is back for a Christmas Tribute Night on Thursday 5th December!

Membership recruitment is firing on all cylinders, and we have signed up 84 new members in the first five months of 2024! A good proportion of these members have been from your referrals so thank you for recommending Wycombe Heights to your friends and family. As a reminder to those who have not benefited from the programme – you receive a £50 bar levy top-up if you refer any new member to a 5-day, 7-day or intermediate category so please continue to encourage your friends and family to reach out to us if they would like any more information on our membership categories.

In July we are running a Schools Out event targeted specifically at teachers, nursery workers, and assistants on Thursday 25th July –just in time for the school holidays! If you, your friends, or family work in the education industry then spread the word - just £20.00 per person for buffet, DJ and drinks specials!

On Friday, August 30th we are hosting our first Scratch Open! This is a 36-hole gross strokeplay event available to all golfers with a handicap index of 10.0 or lower. The regular price is £69.00 which includes:

• Warm-up bucket on our Trackman Driving Range

• Morning 18 holes on the Main Course

• One Course lunch

• Afternoon 18 holes on the Main Course

• Prizes

We are happy to extend a special members price of just £20.50 for this event and we would love to see Wycombe Heights members take home the top prizes!

Later that day (Friday, August 30th) we are hosting a Mamma Mia tribute night! Finish off your summer season in the best possible way by enjoying a wh’opa’ of a Greek feast while listening to the fabulous Dynamo’s perform all of your favourite ABBA hits!

I am sure many of you will grumble if you hear about Christmas in June however our brochure for the 2024 festive season has arrived! Please follow the link below or talk to our sales team so you don’t miss out on your preferred date for Christmas lunches, parties or tribute nights!

https://shorturl.at/3z0ak

After our Tribute Nights sold out last year, we have added three more dates and included 80s Rewind Night to the returning classics

of Magic of Motown and Grease vs Dirty Dancing!

Henry