1 A growing number of societies are appearing on Fridays. Is there a reason for   this and does it mean that we are likely to see societies on three days of the week?

A: The committee decided last year (reported in Tee Times May ’06) that the number playing in the eclectic on Thursdays was much reduced whenever there was a large society. The eclectic plays a particularly important role in helping new members to become established in the club. The switch to Fridays has attracted larger and better quality societies. There will continue to be some smaller societies on Thursdays, especially when there are club events on a Friday.

2 There is growing pressure on the course from new and current members. Can the committee provide an assurance that there will be no proposal to increase the number of members in any category at this year’s AGM?

A: The committee has no current plans to increase the number of members in any category this year.

3 The proposed temporary greens at the 16th shorten the hole considerably. Please explain why the suggestion that the practice ground adjacent to the 17th should form the temporary 16th was rejected. 

A: The possible solution provided by the practice ground at the 17th was rejected principally because it is very poorly drained and almost unplayable in winter. The problem will be addressed this winter through extensive drainage works on the 17th, the practice ground, and the approach to the 16th green.

4 Why are we not using the existing hole below the practice putting green as the temporary replacement to the 6th green this winter?

A: The is purely for Health and Safety reasons, as players crossing the 7th  fairway towards the temporary green would have balls coming directly over their heads.

5 Is the unsightly drinks dispensing machine adjacent to the 10th tee to become a  permanent feature?

A: The committee approved David Gleeson’s request to install a drinks vending machine last year. Few members oppose the machine in principle. It will be retained for a trial period provided it can be positioned inside the hut.

6 My club card is in urgent need of replacement. When can I order and expect to receive the new proximity card?

A: A new card can be ordered by contacting the office.  If we go ahead with the new proximity cards, these will be available September/October (approx cost £10 per card).

7 When will my locker be fitted with the promised D-ring to secure my clubs against theft?

A: A number of lockers have already been fitted with the D-ring and work to complete this will be done over the next few weeks.

Planning is well in hand for one of the biggest events in the club calendar - Four Nations Charity Day on September 15.

This is the day when the club raises much needed money for the Captain’s chosen charity. Once again this is to be Aspire, the charitable organisation which does so much to help those who have suffered spinal injury.

Raffle tickets, accompanied by some literature about Aspire, will shortly be sent out to all members, together with a letter from the Captain.

Please do your best to sell your allocation. If you are able to sell more, further tickets are available. Don’t overlook the opportunity to sell to visiting societies or teams played by the Foxes, Tigers or Commandos.

Tickets are available behind the bar in the hope of tempting visitors to win the top prize of £1,000 of John Lewis vouchers.

David and Julie Talbot have already been offered some very generous donations from members and local organisations, but more are still needed.

If you, someone you know or some business you are in touch with would like to sponsor a tee on the day, donate a prize for the raffle or an item for the main or the silent auction, please contact David or Julie.

Pledge forms will shortly be available in the clubhouse for members who wish to use them.

The day’s golf - to be played in the same four ball format as last year - is open to all members. You can enter either individually or as a team.

From 1st October, the existing system which allows members to pay their annual subscription in instalments will be augmented  by a new direct debit scheme. This will involve less work for the member and for the office and will streamline the present time-consuming process.

The existing Standing Order scheme will continue along with the Direct Debit scheme for one year but at an increased credit charge of 7% to reflect the greater work involved in administration.

The new system will work as follows:

A letter will be enclosed with the 2007-08 subscription notice (which we hope will be sent out at the end of August) inviting members to apply for the scheme. This letter will ask for bank details and other information necessary to implement the arrangement and must be returned to the office as promptly as possible and certainly by 7th October.

On receipt of the letter, the office will prepare and send out a schedule showing the dates and amounts of the payments. As at present, this will include a 6% credit charge.

The first payment will be taken from the member’s bank account on 28th October and will include the bar levy. Further instalments will be taken on the same day each month for the following nine months, but if the 28th falls on a weekend or a Bank Holiday, it will be taken on the first business day after that date.
 
The same process will be repeated each year as long as the member wishes to use the facility.

While most members use the existing system properly, there are often problems if, for example, a member changes his bank. At present, about 100 instalment payments are received in the club’s bank account each month and most of them are for the same amount. Identifying exceptions can be tortuous; the new system will automatically do that.

Any payment which is not collected will be notified to the member and must be corrected within eight days. If there is a subsequent problem, then the facility will be withdrawn and the member must pay any outstanding balance within 14 days of notification by the office. Failure to do so will invoke the same sanctions as apply to members who do not pay their annual subscription by 31st October and could ultimately lead to termination of membership.

New members joining during the year will be able to join the scheme which will be governed by the rules which apply to all direct debit arrangements.

Jeff Cloke
Hon Treasurer

A new club wine list will soon be introduced featuring an exciting range of vintages to delight every palate, reports Alan Lambert. Our Captain and Vice Captain feel that our current selection is somewhat dated and now is the time to introduce variations to meet modern tastes. So they asked the social committee (plus one or two others) to come up with proposals. And for wine drinkers, the results could be life changing!

The new list is based on wines from Majestic Wines, supplemented by one or two other selected suppliers. With drinking quality enhanced and prices lower (with no reduction in margins to the club), it’s hoped that all will take advantage of the excellent wines on offer.

There will be a range of house wines (whites, reds and rose) all priced at £9.50 (currently £11), and at £10.95 there will be a Club Claret specially bottled and labelled for Porters Park.  In whites there’s an excellent New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a wonderful Sancerre, Pinot Grigio and Chenin Blanc. Reds include favourites such as Shiraz and a classic Rioja, as well as high quality claret, a Georges Duboeuf Fleurie and a wine often requested by members, Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

In wines (like golf courses) it’s recognised that there’ll be as many opinions about what’s good, bad and indifferent. However, if you have any positive and constructive thoughts on how further improvements can be made, please pass them to Peter Marshall or Gill / Adrian behind the bar.

It’s hoped that the new wines will be available during July. And members will of course continue to benefit from club card discounts. Good health!

Eclectic 2007 reached the halfway point this month and is being supported by record numbers of members, writes organiser David Talbot.

Over 150 have so far taken part and it is pleasing to see so many new members playing regularly as well as the more experienced veterans. Weekly entries have been very large, with well over 70 players competing. Larger entries, at just £2 a head, mean larger rewards on the night for the winners of each category (handicaps 0-12 and 13- 28). Individual payouts, in vouchers to be spent either in the pro’s shop or in the bar, have been as high as £45.

The current leaders, on net 50, are Julian Lappert, the 2005 Eclectic champion, and Gordon Parsons. But with 12 weeks to go as I write, the competition is of course still wide open.

If any new members have not tried their hand in this unique format, they are most welcome. Tee-off on Thursday afternoon/evening now starts at the earlier time of 3pm. June’s long, light evenings offer an ideal opportunity for working members to play a full weekday round and then enjoy a drink and a much improved choice of food afterwards.

The final round in September will also include the Barron Cup which is open to all club members with 5-day and restricted 7-day membership.

I have been preparing the temporary greens on the 16th and 8th practice ground in readiness for their coming into play in September. Mowing is now three times per week and both greens have been over-seeded, top-dressed, fertilised and watered. Please remember that these greens are compulsory GUR, as marked with the white line.

We are awaiting totally dry weather to enable us to spray paint the water tank. I hope to have completed this by the end of the month.

Watering the trees is taking up a lot of staff time. Despite this, three of four trees are showing signs of stress. Be assured that every effort is being made to ensure their survival.

Several members have commented on the difficulty of finding balls in the rough. The new rotary rough cutter does lift the grass to an upright position, making balls settle deeper into the grass. To try to overcome this we have lowered the height of the cut and are spraying fast growing areas with growth suppressants. We will keep a close eye on this and decide on the best way forward.

Martin Smith
Course Manager

This was acclaimed as an excellent evening. The nine holes of golf were played as teams, 4BBB stableford, with the top two scores counting. Colin Murray’s team was the winner.

A tasty Thai buffet followed. Our thanks not only to Tim McRae and his team for the food but also to the bar staff who looked after us so well. A quiz, prepared by Cathy in the office, was won by the “hookers and slicers”. 

Forthcoming events:

July 13 – Nine-hole competition for golfers and non-golfers, followed by a barbecue. The golfer plays from tee to green and the non-golfing partner putts. There will also be a putting competition. Bring spouses/partners/ friends/children. If you don’t want to play golf just come to the barbecue. Children under 10 half price for BBQ.

August 18 – Picnic in the Park, the annual classical cabaret concert.

Martin Jeens has kindly agreed to become the club’s archivist. Watch this space for requests for information and archive material and progress reports.

Porters Park’s Michael Moore led the qualifying for the County Championship with two rounds of 70 at Berkhamsted. Unfortunately he was knocked out in the match play, as was last year’s winner Nick Pateman. Gordon Forster made it to the semi-final. Well done all who took part.

The Captain is pleased to welcome as playing members: Malcolm Wildridge, Devesh Gundecha, Mathew Jones and James Gold.

Twenty eager recruits turned up for the girls-only morning up and most have joined the coaching sessions under our teaching pro Matthew Masters.

The juniors won their Herts League match against a hitherto unbeaten Brickendon Grange 2½ - 1½ , but later lost away in the league to South Herts at home 3 - 1. In the Ver Shield they beat Verulam 7 - 0 away and play the return home match on July 8

Only 12 signed for the ladies’ academy held on Saturday, June 2 – but, perhaps encouraged by the sunshine, 32 turned up! Eight played a few holes while the other 24 had a starter lesson with David Gleeson and then signed up for a six-week course. A big thank-you to those members of the ladies’ section who gave up their time to help.

Simon Kowalski who won the Centenary Medal with 69-3 = 66 from Mike Mealey with 73-6 = 67

Luke Gutteridge who won the June midweek stableford with 42pts from Geoff W Kirby with 38pts

Derek Fotheringham who won the Equality Cup with 40pts from Sanjay Shah with 37pt (last 9) and Steve McAlister

The June men’s medal was cancelled due to bad weather

Sue Lawrence who won the 36-hole Lane Salver with 71.75 from Anita Healy with 73,76. 

Shirley Gudgeon who won the silver division 1st leg of The Westgrove Cup LGU medal with 86-14 = 72 from Fionnuala Smith with 82-7 = 75.  Sandra Mackenzie won the bronze division with 106-33 = 73 from Sue Leen with 103-24 = 79

Anita Healy who won the Tatham Cup with 84-13 = 71 from Anita Prosser with 84-10 = 74

Rena Delaney who won the Lady Captain’s Prize with 39pts from Gill Cooper with 37, Anita Prosser with 36, and Margaret Nelson with 34. Best nine-hole prizes went to Julie Talbot and Carole Bamford. Eirwen Cox was nearest the pin and Sue Hawkey hit the straightest drive.

Rosemary Watters, Helen McDonald, Christina Lye and Pam Cohen who came third in the combined scores at the inter-club Scratch Foursomes at Bishops Stortford

Rory Suttie who won the junior Centenary Medal with 87-22 = 65 from Joe George with 102-34 = 68. Ben Lawrence had the under-16years best gross with 79 to qualify for the regional finals of the Andalucia Junior European Open.