APRIL 2025
ACTING GM & PROJECTS UPDATE
Steve Brown Acting General Manager
Dear Member,
I write to you as my temporary tenure as Aldwickbury Park General Manager comes to an end, and your new General Manager, Paul Toomey, is completing his first two weeks in the job.
Paul takes on a club in a strong position, with a course well on the way to being ready for the season, despite the difficult weather. Recent rains have helped to kick-start much-needed growth, and with the green renovations completed it is great to see the course beginning to flourish again.
I know some of you have expressed concerns regarding the next phase of the bunker renovations, but the plan is in place with more detail further in this newsletter, along with other investments being outlined.
I would just like to welcome Paul – from working together in his first few weeks, I know the club is in good hands.
Finally, I thank you all for your backing and encouragement over the last three months. You have all made me feel most welcome, and this is not a full goodbye.
I will now be taking a back seat and returning to my BGL Support role, and when I’m not on the road to other BGL clubs, I will still be using an office here regularly. So I look forward to continuing to see you all on occasion and to watching Paul and the team continue to develop Aldwickbury Park into 2025 and beyond.
Thanks again, Steve
CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE:
Phase 2 Bunkers
The plan to further enhance the work completed in 2024 has now been confirmed and is booked in for contractors to complete.
Timing to fit this work in, considering important competitions and charity events, as well as weather requirements for the recovery after completion, has meant we have had to allocate time in August and early September to build the new bunkers. I know this is later than we had hoped, so we have an interim plan to make good any bunkers that are currently GUR that are not part of the summer plan by either removing and making good as grassed areas or reinstating as working bunkers.
The bunker complexes that will be changed in August are:
• Hole 3 green complex
• Hole 13 green complex (back bunker to be filled in as grass bunker imminently)
• Hole 14 green complex
• Hole 16 green complex
• Hole 17 green complex
• There will also be a rebuilding of the path runs between 13th green and 14th tee
• We will be improving the overflow car park in August as well, but in the short term, we will be flattening and removing all potholes and indentations to improve the current surface
There are several important costs being planned in areas behind the scenes:
• The dish washing area in the kitchen is being fully upgraded with new workstations and a new industrial dishwasher.
• Our walk-in fridge freezer is in need of some major repairs.
• The irrigation pump from the reservoir will be replaced with remedial improvements to the connecting pipework being carried out at the same time. This is vital to the health of the system to ensure we have the watering capacity to maintain a healthy set of greens and approaches.
CAPTAIN’S UPDATE
A MESSAGE FROM THE CAPTAIN
Welcome to the first newsletter of my Captaincy year, which has gotten off to a flying start.
I hope that you, like me, are looking forward to a bumper year of competitions and activities.
2025 also marks the 30th Anniversary for APGC, and we will be celebrating the occasion in style on the evening of July 11th. Look out for the event posters and emails in the next week or two!
COMPETITIONS
A recap of the competitions played this year.
The Copper Cup is the first gents section board competition on the calendar and was played in chilly conditions on the January 19th. The Copper Cup trophy was presented to the club by Eric Diment in 2011. It is contested by the top qualifiers across the winter league season, and this year saw 15 players in the field. The win went to Bill Green with 35 points, 2nd was Geoff Benson on 34 points, 3rd place went to Trevor Wells on count-back with a score of 33, and 4th place went to Graham Leith with 33 points.
On January 25th, the Captains Drive Out saw a full field of 70 players turn out in support of Carl Lawson and Mike Tozer to celebrate their captaincy year.
We had a shotgun start, and the format was Canadian scramble. It was a tightly contested affair, and the winners on countback were James Miller, Bob Bailey, Naz Ball and Ben O’Connor with a score of 60.
In 2nd, Pete Armstrong, Antony Sexton, Chris Westcott and Dave Borrett and 3rd went to Chris Woodcock, Martin Lythgoe, Ed Wilkinson and Matt Cross.
CAPTAINS DRIVE-IN
Held on February, 2nd this event heralds the start of the year for the newly elected Captains for the Ladies, Seniors and Gents sections. Helen Greensmith (Ladies section), Glen Rootman (Seniors), and I were joined on the “first drive” by Mark Quigley (Club and Gents Vice-Captain).
There were plenty of
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nerves, despite which we all managed to hit boring drives down the middle (mostly) of the 10th fairway. A packed field of 92 played the stableford team event, with the best three scores to count on each hole.
The charity raffle and “Captains’ drive” sweepstakes were enthusiastically supported, and we had a fine start to our charity drive for 2025.
1st on a score of 112 points were Eleanor Brooks, Stewart Fox, Tim Horan and Aaron Ewing. 2nd with a team score of 111 points were Mike Tozer, Gary Fowler, Paul Gardner and Gordon Banks and in 3rd place, Steve Pick, Julia Bashford, James Lawrance and Robin Edwards.
Valentine’s Pairs is a fourball better ball stableford event that was
FRIDAY 11TH JULY
7pm-Midnight
Celebrating 30 years of tradition, triumphs, and community
ArrivalwithDrinksReception SpeechfromourCOO&FoundingMemberPhoto RaffleforCaptainsCharity ColdForkBuffetfollowedbyDessert LiveMusicfrom‘TheCarnegies’ £45perperson
01582760112
CAPTAIN’S UPDATE
held on February 15th and saw 13 teams competing. In 1st place on 41 points and decided on countback were Julia Bashford and Pete Laurence, with Linda Reeve and Gareth McNeill in 2nd and Dinah Howard and Gary Fowler finishing 3rd on 39 points.
The Fletcher Shield dates back to 1996 and was presented to the club by Barry Fletcher. This event sees all winners and runners-up of the midweek competitions competing for the seasonending trophy. The winner was Kevin Trehy with a nett score of 68, 2nd place went to Silence Sibanda on 71 and Matt Brown took 3rd place with a score of 71 (playing off +2).
Remember to check and register for the upcoming events on HowDidIDo.
RULES
QUESTIONS
The following rules questions have been raised recently, and answers are provided below.
Do I need to mark my ball when taking a ‘preferred lie - in the general area cut to fairway height or less’?
There was much discussion about this question following an article in National Club Golfer Magazine.
Answer:
There is nothing in the Rules of Golf to say that you must mark your ball when taking a preferred lie if you walk up to your ball and place it on a new spot (without turning away and losing site of the original spot).
Our Temporary Local Rule (that covers this relief):
a)Recommends you mark the position of your ball so that it is clear to other players you have taken relief correctly (no nearer the hole and within 6 inches).
b)States that you must mark your ball if you move away from the original spot to clean your ball.
There is a specific area on the 4th Hole (between the trees inside the roped area) where ‘preferred lies’ are allowed. Is there a similar approach to ‘preferred lies’ on the 2nd hole on the slope up to the green?
Answer: No. The drainage improvements have meant that play from this area is now far better than in previous years and the
definition of the fairway and approach to the green is much improved.
My ball lies in the hedge where there is also what remains of an old wrought iron fence. Do I get free relief because of the fence?
Answer:
The test in this situation is always whether ‘relief is reasonable’ in the circumstances. If you are unable to play the ball as it lies because of something other than the abnormal course condition (the fence), in this case, the hedge, then getting free relief would be unreasonable. A player would proceed in this situation by taking unplayable ball relief under a penalty of one stroke.
Review of the need for the internal out of bounds on the 12th hole and some of the consequences it produces
Outcome:
In considering the main question about the need for an OOB, our conclusion is that there still is a need for one. The reason remains the same; one of safety, to protect players on the 13th hole.
We agreed that there are a small number of members who currently try to drive the hedge. However, we believe that, were the OOB to be removed (and therefore the penalty for playing in that direction), more members would attempt to clear the hedge by going down the 13th. The same has to be true for visiting societies. The result would inevitably be more near misses at best.
We looked at the purpose of the OOB between the 12th tee and the hedge. We recognise that removing it would certainly benefit a few members who hit bad shots and go OOB when laying up. We decided, however, that this does not outweigh the benefits of the current state whereby:
• The OOB posts provide a very clear indication to players from all tees (particularly visitor who are less familiar with the course) that there is OOB on the right-hand side of the hole.
• Players going out of bounds are prevented from playing from a potentially dangerous area between the 13th green and the hedge (and it therefore speeds up play on both holes).
• Players can see the OOB from the tee and are aware
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CAPTAIN’S UPDATE
that bad shots get punished all over the course (other OOB, lakes, woods, etc).
• Changing/reducing the posts to just short of the hedge could lead to misunderstandings by players.
Finally, we considered the OOB beyond the hedge and specifically its’ applicability to players playing their second shot from the tee side of the hedge. We are aware of instances where balls from the 12th fairway have come very close to ladies on the 13th tee. In addition, the Rules of Golf guidance on ‘Course Marking, Out of Bounds, Other Considerations’ is very helpful in this instance. It states that:
“The rules do not contemplate an area having more than one status during the play of a hole, and so an area must not be marked as out of bounds for certain strokes, or strokes made from certain areas, such as the teeing area.”
Applying this guidance, the out of bounds must always apply in the playing of the hole.
I hope you find these items helpful and informative
Rules and Handicaps Committee
CLUB AND COURSE NOTES
Please remember to check in at the Pro Shop before playing your round.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve Brown for the sterling work he has done as interim General Manager at APGC. He has provided great support to members, our committees and the APGC team, all while delivering his duties as ESP support Manager for BGL.
Wishing Paul Toomey a warm welcome as he assumes his role as APGC General Manager in early April. We look forward to building on the solid foundation that Ian McDowell, Steve Brown and the entire APGC team have established over the past years.
Spring & Summer Preparation
We’re delighted to share that the course is in fantastic shape as we head into the spring and summer
seasons. Thanks to the proactive maintenance measures implemented by Course Manager, Craig Betts, areas particularly vulnerable to foot traffic and trolleys have been well protected over winter, ensuring excellent playing conditions.
So, a huge thank you to Craig and the entire greenkeeping team for their dedication and hard work throughout the winter months. Their tireless efforts have kept the course open for the most part, with minimal closures when deemed necessary to reduce the risk of excessive damage.
We appreciate their commitment, and we’re looking forward to a great season ahead!
We have a packed events calendar this year, so please remember to check notice boards, HowDidIDo, our Facebook pages, etc., to make sure you’re able to register in time for participation.
Have a fantastic golfing year!
Gareth McNeill Club and Gents Section Captain 2025
ALDWICKS CAPTAIN’S UPDATE
Glen Rootman
Aldwicks
Senior’s Captain
A MESSAGE FROM THE ALDWICKS CAPTAIN
Taking over the Captaincy for 2025 from Mike Tozer is a privilege I do not take lightly. I would like to thank Mike for his hard work last year, and I hope to build on making the Seniors Section a fun space for all our members.
I am delighted that the Seniors Committee from 2024 have all agreed to continue serving again in 2025, giving up their valuable time and energy to ensure that all aspects of our section run smoothly.
They are:
Mike Tozer, Ex-Captain
Trevor Hones – Treasurer
Mick Beaufoy – Secretary
Eugene Hickey – Competition Administrator
Robin Edwards – Match Administrator
Sue Hattam – Committee member
Harry Bech – Committee member
Trevor Pyne – Committee member
No events or matches in our calendar can go ahead without organisers. There are too many of you to mention, but you all play a vital role in our section, which does not go unnoticed. Thank you!
Before wishing all of you a happy golfing year, I would like to remind you that the Joint Captain’s Charity for 2025 is Orchid - Fighting Male Cancer.
COMPETITION RESULTS
The Texas Scramble, one of the many events in our calendar, was held in March with nine fourballs competing.
Historically, this event required calculating the results down to three decimal points to determine the winners. However, this year was a little different with Tony Smith, Trevor Pyne, Peter Tonathy, and Robert Gold winning comfortably. Congratulations!
1st - Tony Smith / Trevor Pyne / Peter Tonathy / Robert Gold
2nd - Pat O’Higgins / Brian Aris / Norman Kershaw / John Kettle (count back)
3rd - Allan Fender / Gerard Bannon / Mike Crofts / Keith Sheffield
OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS
We saw the start of Aldwick’s interclub matches in March with a home match against Redbourn, and three matches in April. Please watch out for the match notifications and register to play in one more of them if you can.
The Seniors Scratch Team’s campaign started in April with a league match away against Harpenden, followed by a knockout match at home against Brocket Hall. Well done, Keith Greatbanks/Tony Phillips and the team!
The Crameri Cup Knock Out also started in April, with 75 teams from 44 clubs around Hertfordshire taking part. This year, Aldwickbury Park had two teams competing, Trevor Pyne and Paul Bullock in one and John Russell and Darrell Martin in the other. Well done gentlemen!
Glen
LADIES CAPTAIN UPDATE
Helen Greensmith
Ladies Captain
A MESSAGE FROM THE LADIES CAPTAIN
Firstly, I’d like to thank all members who supported us on our Captain’s drive-in. Personally, it was a terrifying moment driving off with so many watching. Luckily, I didn’t disgrace myself and hit the ball forward! Thank you ladies for all your support and good luck wishes.
Our Annual Meeting and awards afternoon was a great success, with over 30 ladies supporting the event, where we congratulated many winners of our trophy competitions from throughout the year. These were also recognised on Champion’s Day back in November. Many congratulations to all the winners and runnersup! However, without members participating and supporting these competitions, they wouldn’t exist! So please keep signing up and taking part.
Well, it’s been a relatively quiet start to my Captaincy with the weather hampering our golf, and there have been fewer events. However, plans are underway!
During January and February, Gill and Pauline organised various fun team competitions, ladies enjoyed playing these, as it was evident in the numbers that signed up. These are meant to be ‘fun events’ for all ladies to enjoy. We have had various winners with prizes funded by the entry fees. A big thank you to Gill and Pauline!
Our weekend lady swindlers continue to do battle on Saturday mornings, and we have enjoyed competitive fun, despite the mud! Spring is around the corner, the course is drying out, and then there’ll be no excuses.
March and April saw the restart of our qualifiers, monthly medals and stableford competitions. We also have a couple more fun competitions, the Aussie
Spoons and Spring Cup! We have some friendly matches, and the Pearson Season continues. So, lots to look forward to for everyone.
RECENT RESULTS:
February
• Fun Texas Scramble: Winners; Jennifer Maxwell, Margaret Chury, Annette Bugaighis
• Yellow Ball; Elaine Meagher, Linda Reeve, Chris Marsden
• Waltz; Elaine Meagher, Linda Reeve, Lucinda Mileham
• Unique Greensomes; Elaine Meagher, Leah Fitzgerald
March
• Medal 5th March; Winner Elaine Meagher Net 72
• Stableford 5th March; Winner Annette Bugaighis 37 points
• Pearsons Match Away vs Old Fold Manor 7th March5-0 win!
• Stableford 16th March; Winner Elaine Meagher 36 points
• Pearson vs Bishop’s Stortford Away 4-1 defeat
• 18 hole stableford 19th March; Div 1 Winner, Helen Greensmith 35 points, Div 2 Winner, Dinah Howard 40 points
• 9 hole stableford; Jan Southwood 15 points
• Honours Board: Winter Singles K/O Final; Annette Bugaighis vs Elaine Meagher.... Winner Elaine Meagher!
• Pearson Team won their final group match at home vs Old Fold Manor 5-0! This now takes them through to the Quarter Final knockout stage!
Congratulations to the squad!
PRO SHOP UPDATE
GOLF COACHING
If you have a friend looking to get into golf, ask in the golf shop about our Pathway to Golf coaching programme. Starting with a 90-minute taster session and then following up with a four-week group coaching course or individual sessions we are confident we can get you out playing and enjoying the game quicker than you ever imagined. Ask in the golf shop for upcoming availability.
GOLF SHOP PROMOTIONS
New season clothing collections from Footjoy, PING and Under Armour
3 for 2 on selected Stuburt and Oscar Jacobson clothing
3 FOR 2 ON STICKERED ITEMS
FATHER’S DAY BBQ
SUNDAY 15TH JUNE • FROM 12.00 - 3.00PM
Celebrate Father’s Day like never before here at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club!
• BBQ on the terrace
• FREE drink for dad
• Option to add a round of golf on the main or short course (tee times booked separately)
• BBQ Only £22.95pp
• BBQ Only (under 12’s) £14.95pp
• BBQ & Short Course Round
£29.95 (tee times from 9.30am)
• BBQ & Main Course Round
£55.95 (tee times from 1.00pm)
All members can book BBQ only tickets & contact us to book tee times.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO BOOK ONLINE
TODAY
Thank
ALDWICKBURY PARK GOLF CLUB Piggottshill