MONTHLY TERN
Reflecting on a Challenging and Rewarding Year
As we enter the final month of 2024, I have taken some much-needed time to reflect on what has truly been a challenging yet rewarding year for Newburgh Links Golf Club. It has been a year of significant progress, growth, and achievement, and as we approach 2025, I feel a great sense of pride in what we have accomplished together.
Progress at Newburgh Links
This year, we have made great strides in advancing the golf course, and our reputation is steadily growing—not just locally, but also across Scotland and even further afield. As we look ahead to 2025, we are anticipating our busiest year in the club’s history. It is incredibly gratifying to see the hard work and dedication of everyone involved beginning to pay off, and this success is not only down to the efforts of those of us at the golf club but also to the incredible team at the OGV Group who continue to support our vision.
Enhancing Course Quality
Building on the improvements from 2023, this year has seen a major focus on enhancing the quality of our playing surfaces. Through increased nutrition, aeration, and topdressing, we have significantly improved the health of our turf. The results from our testing have been promising, and the quality of the grass is visibly healthier than ever before. We are committed to continuing these processes into 2025 as we work towards our goal of becoming one of the top golf venues in the North East of Scotland.
Matty Smith Course Manager
Gratitude to Our Community
None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our members, corporate partners, visitors, and everyone who has been a part of Newburgh Links this season. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of you for choosing to spend time with us and for being a vital part of the club’s success. A special thank you also goes out to our suppliers, whose support has been instrumental in helping us achieve our goals.
I must also acknowledge George, our local mechanic, who has been an absolute lifesaver this season. His hard work and expertise have kept us on track, and we are incredibly grateful for everything he has done for us. Finally, I want to express my sincere thanks to Kenny and the entire OGV Group. Without their continued support, we simply would not have a golf club or careers.
Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
On behalf of all the staff at Newburgh Links, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2025 for what promises to be an exciting and successful year ahead. Thank you once again for your continued support!
Robbie's Top Tips!
Coaching Tip Month 2 PITCHING
This month's lesson is on pitching, one of the most important parts of the game for reducing your score and your handicap. Most of the mis-hits I see when coaching chipping or pitching happen when the player stops turning their body, especially their upper body, round to face the target at the end of the swing. This means that, as the body stops turning, the hands then overtake the body and cause a 'flip of the wrists' at the hitting area resulting in shots which are either thinned or fluffed.
The 2 images show how you can practice the correct body movement with a club held half way down the shaft. Picture one shows the starting position with the grip of the club resting on the left hip. Picture two shows the finishing position with the grip of the club still resting on the left hip. If you allow the body to stop turning, or even slow down, the butt end of the club will dig into your ribs.
Newburgh Links Ladies Winter 9 Hole Stableford
We are delighted with the level of interest shown in our Winter 9 Hole Stableford Competition
Sadly the weather has not been on our side to date, resulting in only 2 rounds being played so far but … this means that scoring is still wide open.
Of the ladies who have played, only 3 played in both rounds with cumulative scores very tightly grouped 33,31 and 31 points. Plenty time for anyone interested to join in and have a great chance.
Competitions have been set up every Sunday right through to the end of March – potentially 23 more times to accumulate 8 fantastic scores and claim the Ladies Winter Stableford 2024/2025 title. And the bonus is that we are pleased to say that the previous winter trophy has been located and will be presented to the winner – don’t worry, you won’t need to increase your house contents insurance if you win this!
Don’t be shy, if you are interested in joining the fun get in touch via the club office or the Pro shop.
Newburgh Links Winter Open Mixed Stableford 2/11/2024 Prize List
Thank you to everyone who took part in our winter open today and thank you for the positive feedback!
Newburgh-On-Ythan Golf Club Ltd Minutes Of Annual Meeting 2024
Welcome Sam Boyle (Vice Captain) welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for their attendance and support over the year. Before the meeting started the 100 Club draw for November was made.
Present There were 36 members in attendance.
Apologies were received from J. Moir, R & J Dobson, G. Annand, Frances, Keith & Coby Watson, I & J Waddell, G. Williamson, H. Butler, S. Hepburn, M. McFarland.
The minutes of 2023 had been issued prior o the meeting, only one question was raised, this was regarding former members who had not paid the levy if they would be allowed to join. Former members who had not paid the levy will still need to pay this if they want to join the club. All members who joined this year 2024 had paid the levy.
Vice-Captain Report was read out by Sam Boyle.
Course Manager Report was read out by Matty Smith.
OGV Report was given by Kenny Dooley, Managing Director.
Election of Club Captain Sam Boyle was nominated by Grant Leslie and seconded by Heather Marr. Sam accepted the nomination and with no other nominations was appointed as Club Captain and thanked everyone there for their confidence in him.
Election of Committee Les Simpson was nominated to join the committee and the current committee members all stood for re-election. With no other nominations Les and the current committee were appointed to the committee. Committee Members: Heather Marr, Shelley Johnston, Paul Marshall, Ron Wilson, Robbie Stewart.
Members Annual Subscription the subscription for 2025 has been set at £725 for all members the senior’s concession is no longer available.
Fund Raising the members will now need to raise funds to help pay for trophy engraving, signwriting and hospitality for interclub competitions as money for these will no longer come from subscription fees. If anyone has any ideas for fund raising or volunteering to help raise funds, please contact the committee through either the pro-shop or club manager email.
Gents & Mixed Games Rules & Format these had been issued prior to the meeting. No questions were raised so these will now be adopted.
Code of Conduct this was issued prior to the meeting. A question was raised regarding the dress code. It was agreed that dress should be smart casual (no ripped clothing). Also, there is a caveat to the use of mobile phones, part of the code states that phones should be on silent. It is accepted that some members require to be contactable at all times and require to have the ring tone on, providing they explain to their playing partners the requirement to have their phone on, it will be acceptable to keep their ring tone on.
QUESTIONS RAISED
Question 1 Will it be possible to pay fees by Direct Debit. Yes, same arrangement as was in place last year but likelihood that only 12 month option will be offered. Details will be sent out with fee notices.
Question 2 Traditionally, accounts have been presented at the AGM. Will this no longer be happening?
Moving forward this will be usual practice. OGV had hoped to have accounts ready for the meeting, but this proved not possible. However, they do intend to have accounts ready soon for 2023-24. It is still proving difficult to access all the information necessary for completion of the accounts for 2022-23.
Question 3 Why was the decision taken to stop using mats in the winter. As the course is in such excellent condition, will this not put this in jeopardy?
Mats were not in use last season. and this did not seem to have a detrimental impact on the course. No mats has been a big feature in increasing membership, and this is a main focus for the club. The situation will be closely monitored by the greenkeeping team and adjusted if it is felt necessary. It is hoped to enlist a large group of volunteers to do the necessary patching in the spring.
Question 4 In the past members were able to purchase a block of visitor vouchers at a reduced price. Will this be on offer for next season?
This is not in place at present, but it will be discussed at the next committee meeting.
With no further questions members were thanked again for their attendance and the meeting was closed
Newburgh-On-Ythan
Winter Stableford Order of Merit
SATURDAY
Keith
Kyle
Sam
Brian
Neil
Joseph
Nigel
Alan
Neil
Brian
SUNDAY
Our First Year at Newburgh Links: A Year
of Growth and Transformation
Our first year at Newburgh Links Golf Club has been an exhilarating journey. While there were steep learning curves, the rewards have been significant.
Starting with limited knowledge and understanding of the club’s situation, we’ve made substantial progress. We’ve successfully reduced the debt by over 60%, increased membership, strengthened corporate partnerships, expanded our team, established a club shop, and most importantly, significantly improved the quality of the golf course.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to Lynda and Heather for their invaluable support from the outset. Their guidance was instrumental in our success. I also thank our club captain, Sam Boyle, the committee, and all our dedicated members for their tireless efforts.
Our primary goal for the next year is to eliminate the remaining debt and achieve self-sufficiency by October 2025. This ambitious target is now within reach, thanks to new marketing channels and diverse revenue streams, including corporate memberships, moderate fee increases, buggy hire, lessons, club fittings, venue hire, and visitor revenue.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone at the club, our staff at Newburgh Links, Newburgh Taproom, and OGV Studio for their hard work and dedication. We look forward to a prosperous 2025. Merry Christmas!
Members' subscriptions and green fees 2025
Seniors Prizegiving dinner –
Thursday 5 December 2024
Thursday 5 December 2024
Our annual prizegiving dinner was held in the clubhouse and was a fitting close to what was an excellent 2024 season. Attended by 60 members/ guests, a great time was had by all and the food was absolutely amazing – the evening’s menu and pictures are below for you to salivate over.
I’d like to open by congratulating Senior member Sam Boyle on his recent appointment as Club Captain. Best wishes in your new role Sam from all at the Seniors Section.
Seniors winter Open
Thursday 14 November
To support and share the excellent course condition with visiting players we introduced an early Winter Open to our calendar. I’m delighted to say this event proved very popular with a full card from 9am through to 12 noon. The results from the day were as follows:
Congratulations to all our winners in the first of our Senior Winter Opens. Newburgh unless stated otherwise
The weather was very kind for November and again it was great to see so many people play. Thanks as always to our band of helpers – Sam Boyle, Grant Leslie, Stan Hepburn, Norman Stephen. Thanks too to Lynda Carnie for arranging that results were posted on Social media outlets and for preparing the all-important winners vouchers.
Thanks to John Stewart for his photography expertise on the night. The remainder of the evening’s photos can be viewed by visiting… https://jfs509ce3. myportfolio.com.
Our winter calendar is now in full swing although the weather hasn’t been too kind leading to a number of cancellations. I’ll provide a summary of winter competition winners in my next post.
And as always, our Seniors raffle proved popular with over £200 being raised. All funds are recycled to support Seniors activities throughout the season subsidising events such as our Prizegiving meal and our outings to other courses, trophy engraving etc. Thank you, Norman Stephen, for continuing to keep Senior funds in a healthy position despite the cost of living crisis.
Regards Dave
Seniors Convener