The latest Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) report is probably the most glowing yet. “The general quality of the course was extremely good considering the very cold, harsh winter…” it says. And goes on: “It was truly amazing to see how much of an improvement [to the greens] has been made even since as recently as last year’s visit.”

In short, the excellent work put in by Martin and his team is bearing fruit. We see this particularly in the quality of the tees and greens, which are holding up wonderfully well in the current tough conditions. The fairways had excellent cover at the beginning of the dry spell, so although they are brown and hard they have a fair amount of grass on them.

The borehole: We cannot use this fully yet. Tests measuring flow to be sent to the Environment Agency are being conducted on our behalf.

The RSPB: Martin Smith and I played with our opposite numbers from Brookmans Park and received from them an excellent suggestion. As a result, the RSPB is now carrying out a bird count for us and will report in due course. If we buy some bird boxes from them (about £8 each), they will site the boxes at the most likely points for the various species. Brookmans Park spent £400 or so in this manner, and I would hope that we could do the same.

We have already launched a tree appeal, with the hope that members might like to donate trees for planting in the autumn. I’d like to add to this a bird-box appeal so that we can contract for a number of the boxes with the RSPB. Any donations would be appreciated, and should be sent to the office, earmarked for either trees or birds.
The ponds: Following an approach from one of the Government bodies, a free pond survey is being carried out, with suggestions to follow. We would certainly like to make more of the ponds, not least perhaps with plantings, say, of lilies on the 13th.

Alan Pountney
Chair of Green

There seems to have been some confusion about the handicap allowance for the knockout stage of the Nathan Cup. This is 0.6 of the lower handicap plus 0.4 of the higher handicap, then ¾ of the difference in handicaps. If there is any confusion over this, please check with David in the pro’s shop and he will help you out.

Slow play has become an issue again. I know that it has been very hot but a few commonsense measures will help. Please be ready to tee off when it is your turn, rather than waiting for your partner to tee off before selecting a club. Walk at a steady pace between holes and keep up with the game in front. Trolleys should be left at the side of the green not directly in front of the green.

All this is pretty basic, but such shortcomings are frequent and slow play has become worse at weekends. For the sake of all, please be aware of your place on the course.

We still need volunteers for the KGV on Sunday, 6 August. If you would like to man one of the scoreboards, please speak to Jan Kilsby who is coordinating the rota for the day. The list for volunteers to ball-spot will be on both notice boards.

The success of a day like this depends largely on the goodwill of the members. So please, if you can, spare us an hour or so of your time.  It’s also a chance to watch some fine golf and see how our updated course stands up to the test.

The ladies’ academy continues to be very popular. There are now five groups of six ladies, three beginners’ groups and two improvers’. Three of the ladies among the improvers have applied to join the club. Hopefully more will follow. Well done, to everyone involved in this project. It has been a huge success.

Rowena Hemmings
Chair of Golf

It was to prove a long, long day and probably one of the summer’s hottest when the Tomblin brothers, Paul and David, joined by David’s friend Lloyd Reynolds, embarked on their challenge to play four rounds of golf between dawn and dusk in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief.  Paul and David lost their father last year, and Lloyd his mother, all to cancer, and were keen to undertake the challenge in their memory and also to raise money for a good cause.

Paul writes: We met at the club about 4.30am and teed off some 15 minutes later. The sun was just rising with a significant mist hanging over the course. This soon gave way to brilliant sunshine and the course looked magnificent. It was very quiet and the first people we encountered were the greens staff at about 7am just before we finished our first round at about 7.30.

We took a break between each round, had a welcome shower and a bite to eat, and even saw some World Cup football. Rounds 2 and 3 were played during the hottest part of the day and we stocked up on water and energy drinks. The final putt was holed at about 8.30pm and we retired to the bar for a well earned pint!

We were still a little tired the following day, but felt a great sense of accomplishment and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We received much encouragement throughout from members and visitors alike.

The challenge raised just over £3,000 for Macmillan Cancer Relief, mainly through work colleagues and friends via our website. About £200 came from the membership, including a generous donation from the bar and kitchen staff.

Our thanks to all. Our website  - http://www.justgiving.com/tomblin - is still open and any further donations will be welcome.

With less than three weeks until the King George V, the course is holding up to the dry weather extremely well. This will be the first year for the players to try out the new fairway bunkers.

A local representative from the RSPB will be visiting to carry out a survey of bird species on the course and to advise on the part bird boxes might play in enhancing the population of local species.

Final adjustments to the mist sprayers will be made shortly by Autoflow Systems because some noses on the bunker banks are showing signs of dryness.

There have been problems with the drinking fountains caused by corrosion spreading from the stopcocks to the valves. We hope to rectify this matter soon.

Martin Smith
Course Manager

A different form of fun golf as a forerunner to the summer barbecue proved a popular innovation, writes Malcolm Field. Teams of four golfers played all the shots to the green and their non-golfing partners did all the putting. Alan Pountney and his wife Daniella won first prize over the six holes played, while the winners of the putting returned a creditable 11 putts each.

Tim McCrae and his team laid on a tasty barbecue which was accompanied by delightful background music from Dave Brown on the piano, John May on trumpet and vocals from Kevin O’Donnell. Altogether a pleasant way to spend a lovely summer’s evening.

Future events:
Saturday, 12 August - Charity Concert and Picnic in the Park.
Saturday, 9 September – Four Nations Charity Day and Dinner.

With eclectic 2006 now at the halfway mark, nearly 140 members have so far taken part. We expect this figure to increase as more juniors play during the summer holidays. New and existing members are always welcome to play and eat and drink afterwards with their playing partners. It’s an ideal way to meet others.

At the moment the competition is wide open with the lead changing hands every week.  It will finally be settled on Friday, 16 September, when the annual eclectic dinner will be held. Please note this if you have played in the competition. It is one of the great nights in the club’s social calendar, paid for, in part, by the weekly entry fee.

The Equality Cup has been and gone amid some lack of awareness, writes Captain Ken Hannah. The Ladies’ Captain and I would like members, albeit after the event, to know more about this new competition.

The point of the trophy is to create a counting competition which can be won by either a male or a female against their respective cards, played off their respective medal tees. In some clubs all competitions are genderless, so in our case it is a way to compete with each other on a handicap basis.

A trophy has been created by Henry Abercrombie and Brian Young for this competition. There will be a first and second sweep for the adults from the entrance fees and a first and second for the juniors.

It is hoped that the event will be an annual one with, perhaps, even a board for the winner in due course.

Our junior team’s attempt to retain the Ver Shield for a third consecutive year came to an end in their home quarter-final match against Brookmans Park. After drawing 3½ - 3½ in the away leg and making a promising start at home, our juniors, who were without three of their stronger players, finally lost 4-3. They have since derived some consolation from beating Moor Park 4-0 at home in the Herts League.

Amid squeals of delight, 17 very young would-be golfers enjoyed the latest pre-junior session, organised by Gerri Warnes and son Padraig. The youngest aspirant to our tantalising game was one of Duncan and Dagny Moffat’s grandchildren, aged just 3½.

The next session is planned for Monday, 31 July at 5.30pm. Please check with Gerri first on 01727 866612.

CHARITY DAY team entry sheet is now in the Palm Court. Please form your team and sign up as quickly as possible for what promises to be a memorable day for the club and the charities that we support.

THE POSTPONED Lane Salver will now be played on Tuesday, 1 August.

VICTOR LYE holed his tee shot at 1st for an albatross – a rare bird indeed.

THE CAPTAIN wishes to make clear that the main prize on Captain’s Day can only be won by a man as historically it is a trophy and board competition. The Ladies’ Captain’s Day which follows is the equivalent.

David Ring who won the July medal with 73-5-68 (last 9) from David Fennessy with 76-8-68 (last 9) and Daniel Marsh 78-10-68. Division II was won by Stephen Barry with 82-13-69 from Christopher Ward with 98-26-72.

John Freeman who won the July midweek stableford with 38pts from Brian Morris with 37.

Margaret Nelson and Judy Williams who won the Farquharson Cups with 36pts. Helen Emms and Rosemary Watters were runners-up with 33pts.

Christina Lye who won the silver division of the July stableford with 37pts from Dagny Moffat with 36. The bronze was won by Rena Delaney with 39pts from Loretto McHugh with 38.

Janet Longhurst and Norman Sagar who won the Commandos/ladies mixed foursome stableford with 39pts.

Carole Sharp who won the Equality Cup with 41pts from Paul O’Sullivan with 40.

William and Michael Gallimore who won the Second Generations competition with 39pts from Carl and Rhys Jacob with 34 and Benjamin and Sue Lawrence, also with 34.