MEMBERS NEWSLETTER
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2025
AN UPDATE FROM... SARAH BLUNDEN
General Manager
Hi Everyone
I hope you are all having a wonderful summer and that you’ve made the most of what has been (on the whole) glorious sunny weather.
The summer season properly kicked off with this year’s Club Championships.
The Shey Club Champs started on Wednesday, 4th and 11th June, followed by the Men’s Club Championships over the weekend of 14th and 15th June and finally the Ladies on 21st and 22nd June.
Well done to everyone who took part, and a huge congratulations to this year’s winners.
CHARITY DAY
We then entered July, which saw our flagship event of the year – Charity Day.
Each year, this event gets even bigger and better. This year, 164 of you joined us for a shotgun start on both the Main and Shey Courses, followed by a BBQ in the clubhouse.
We always have so much fun on Charity Day, and it is always fantastic to see the Hoebridge Team coming together to play and integrate with our Members. On this occasion, however, you may have wanted fewer of us playing! With two of the Hoebridge Employee Teams coming in the top three places on the Main! I enjoyed my round, and we came in a very respectable 3rd place.
Congratulations to the winning team: James Dedman (Retail Manager), Naomi Wye (Administrator), Enrico Laurato (PGA Professional) and Kaine Newman (Greenkeeper) with a fantastic score of 56.4! ensuring we are doing everything
Mens Club Championship Winner – Rhys Hughes
Ladies Club Championship Winner – Kim Price
Throughout the day, events such as a raffle, beat the pro, and a silent auction helped to raise further money for this year’s Captains Charity; Motor Neuron Disease Association (MNDA). This year, we are raising money for the West Surrey branch of the MNDA. This is a charity that is especially close to the heart of our 2025 Captain, Doug. MNDA supported Doug and his family through a very difficult time with his wife, Gill. The branch provides support group meetings, emotional support, contributes towards equipment, and raises funds towards MND research.
The charity aims to provide the best possible support to those suffering from MND, their family and their carers.
THANK YOU
Thank you to our greenkeeping team who have set our courses up brilliantly, not just for these core events but across all of the summer so far. I hope you agree with me that the greens have been playing beautifully this summer. It was great to see them bounce back once we got the temperatures for growth from May onwards, and they have been playing true ever since. As well as ensuring a great playing surface in the short term, Barry and his team have continued to work on the long-term playability of the greens through further thatch removal and increasing the PH levels. Barry explains more below on the positive effect we are now seeing from this work. A big congratulations goes out to our greenkeeper Amy, who has passed her level two Greenkeeping Apprenticeship.
MEMBER NOTICE
Whilst this summer has brought so many fantastic golfing moments, there have unfortunately been times where some of our members have spoken to the members of the club team in a rude or disrespectful manner.
Our wardens are there to ensure the best possible round for all, and that includes ensuring that groups are keeping up with the group in front and that the golf course is running as smoothly as possible. We keep a record of round times across the day, and so we are able to see which groups are holding up the course, in turn, slowing the
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pace for all behind. Very often, it is our member matches where we see slow play, and this has a knock-on effect on everyone playing afterwards, both other members and visitors.
Whilst I understand the importance of your competitions, we do still need you to be mindful of your pace and ensure you are always keeping up with the group in front. Should you not be playing to the correct time, then our wardens will issue advice, followed by a warning. This may include asking you to let others through, to pick up your ball, or to leave the course.
Our wardens will treat you with respect, but in return, we expect the same. Sadly, over the past couple of months, there have been instances where this has not been the case. A few members have spoken to our wardens in a very disrespectful way or have refused to listen to instructions when they have been advised that they are not playing at an appropriate pace.
To be clear, all members are still expected to follow the correct pace, keep up with the group in front and not hold the golf course up. Our expectation is the same for both members and visitors to ensure enjoyment for everyone. I very much hope that I do not need to have further conversations with members around their pace or how they have spoken to a member of the team. For those very few whom I may need to have conversations with, I take the respect of my team extremely seriously.
READY GOLF
Ready golf begins before you even start your round of golf, by ensuring you are on the tee and ready to play at least 10 minutes before your tee time. Once on the course, some examples of ready golf include the following:
• Hitting a shot when safe to do so, if a player farther away from the hole is assessing their options
• Shorter hitters play first from the tee or
the fairway if longer hitters must wait
• Hitting a tee shot if the player with the ‘honour’ is delayed in being ready to play
The warden team closely monitor the pace of play, and if by using some of the simple examples above, we could save two minutes per hole, that would make a huge difference of over half an hour per round and greatly enhance the enjoyment of all golfers at Hoebridge.
In the event that you do experience slow play on the golf course, please do not hesitate to contact the Pro Shop on 01483 722611 or the wardens during their regular sweeps of the course so that we can identify and deal with any issues at the time.
JUNIOR SUMMER CAMPS
The summer holidays are here and the junior summer camps are in full swing every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday across August from 9am2pm.
The cost is £55 per day or £150 per week and is open to juniors of all abilities between the ages of 6 -12.
These have been incredibly popular so far; however, we have some limited availability in the final two weeks of August if you know anybody who would like to join the fun!
PATHWAY TO GOLF
In May, we began a new programme of lessons focused on beginner golfers. Our Pathway to Golf aims to take a beginner or novice golfer through from the driving range onto the Par 3 Course.
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No prior experience is required, as these fun and relaxed lessons give beginner golfers the chance to gain confidence and learn all the basics needed to begin enjoying playing on the Par 3. With a Trackman driving range and three golf courses, we are committed to introducing new golfers to the game and providing them with the support needed to progress to playing on the Main Course and joining us as a member.
Our taster sessions are running across August, costing £10 for a 1-hour group lesson.
If you know of someone who would like to get into golf but isn’t sure how to go about getting started, then this could be the perfect opportunity for them to begin. Speak to the Pro Shop team for further information.
To book, please speak to the Pro Shop team or call us on 01483 722611.
BAR & PATIO UPGRADES
Outside of golfing events, we have been busy this summer upgrading the bar and patio areas.
Planning for larger clubhouse refurbishment is still ongoing, but whilst we are waiting, we don’t want to just stand still. As such, we made the decision to decorate our bar and function room and replace the furniture on our patio. We hope you are enjoying the results are much as we are!
MEMBERSHIP VALUES
Whilst this summer has been full of fun, enjoyment and development, there are always the ongoing challenges of ensuring we’re able to continue offering great value across the year.
You will have no doubt read the recent news headlines reporting a 4% increase in food cost inflation in July, a jump from the 3.5% average of the previous three months. Within that, fruit, salad and vegetables have increased by around 3% but meat and poultry rocketed by up to 17%. At Hoebridge, we are also experiencing food cost pressures. As an example, the cost of one chicken breast has increased by 73% from December 2024 to July 2025. As ever, we will do what we can to provide value and deliver the quality you expect. We held our food prices this April and ensured our function and members’ competition meals remained as low-priced as possible. But there will come a time when we need to revisit pricing, and this may naturally impact 2026 menu offerings.
Whilst we are not altering any of our prices in the near future, I feel it is important for me to share with you the ongoing pressures we and all businesses face during times of fluctuating inflation. Any decisions we make on pricing are always made following a very in-depth evaluation of costs and changing economic conditions.
We will keep on pushing forward with updates and improving standards to ensure we provide the best value membership possible, in addition to all the benefits open to you as members. Some of these being:
• 14-day advance booking window
• 10% off food and drink
• 20% off range balls
• ½ price warm-up balls on the range –purchased via the pro shop
• Discounted gym membership
• Access to club competitions
• Free room hire for private events
• 1 round per month at 8 other BGL sites (excluding Flexible Members)
• 1 round per year at Burhill Golf Club (excluding Flexible Members)
• Discounted overnight accommodation at Thornbury Golf & Lodge (excluding Flexible Members)
I hope you all have a brilliant rest of the summer.
Thank you
Sarah
A TASTE OF SUMMER AT HOEBRIDGE
As the summer swings into full gear, we’re serving up some seasonal favourites in the clubhouse kitchen to keep you refreshed and well fed after a round on the course.
Our new loaded double cheeseburger is already a hit, two juicy beef patties, crispy bacon bits, and a spicy sriracha cheese sauce, all stacked high and served with fries. It’s bold, satisfying and the perfect reward for 18 holes (or even on the driving range), also a selection of chicken or vegetarian wraps, with different options available each week.
For those with a sweet tooth, don’t miss our classic strawberry trifle, light and fruity with layers of sponge, custard, cream, fresh strawberries and a chocolate crumb.
Whether you’re here for the golf or just enjoying the sunshine on our new patio, we look forward to welcoming you this summer.
See you at the club.
Gavin Field Head Chef
COURSE MANAGER REPORT
BARRY GARDNER Course Manager
THE WEATHER AND ITS IMPACT
As we continue to see the lovely sunny weather, I thought I would share with you how much rainfall we have had at Hoebridge this year (up to the 28th July) in comparison with the previous year.
We have contractors booked in for the start of October to overseed the fairways. This may seem quite late in the year, but we must make sure we are past the risk of any more dry weather and hopefully by then we will be getting the average rainfall and temperatures. Putting seed down earlier, when the risk of drought and hot weather is still there, could mean that the seed doesn’t take at all.
This winter, we will also be concentrating on some of the areas near/around the greens and will be looking to add some rootzone with more organic matter, to give the grass seed more of a chance to establish and survive.
THE GREENS
The greens have held up well in the heat, with the team having been diligent with hand watering the dry spots to give an overall good performance.
Recently, we have carried out one of our mini hollow core and top dress operations on the Main and Shey greens.
We will be carrying out our summer renovations on Tuesday, 2nd September, which will involve the same as last year, scarification followed by a hollow core, collection of cores, and then backfilling with sand.
As you can see, we have had just over half of the previous year. The low rainfall in March was one of the reasons for the slow return from winter conditions. The low rainfall seen in June and July, paired with hot temperatures, is the reason for the fairways drying out. Grass is very resilient, and we have already seen it greening up following the rain that we did get in July and now the start of August.
Our recent soil sample test has shown an encouraging change to the pH, and we are now around five on average, on the Main Course greens. This has been noticeable in our fertilising plans, as the greens are holding their colour and growth for longer, showing that the fertiliser is being utilised more and is not having to be applied as often. We will continue to work towards changing the pH over the remaining months of this year.
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BUNKERS
This winter, we are planning to redesign the bunkering around the 2nd and 12th holes on the Main Course, using the same method as our previous bunker renovations. We will be reshaping the bunkers and adding the rubber crumb liner to the base to aid drainage and limit contamination. China Clay sand will then be added, as we do for all our bunkers that have the rubber crumb liner.
We are also bringing in a golf course architect to look in more detail at our current bunkers and to work with them to create an ongoing plan for future bunker renovations. We know how important bunker playability is to all of you, and we will always work towards ensuring the design of our bunkers works best for your game and their long-term standards.
Happy golfing
Barry and The Greens Team
GOLF OPERATIONS UPDATE
IAN HAYWARD
Head Professional
Hi everybody,
I hope that everybody has been enjoying the fantastic weather and has been getting out and playing plenty of golf!
The season is now in full swing; we now know all the major champions, and all roads lead to the Ryder Cup in September!
Please find below an update about some exciting new product launches that are due imminently. What is there to look forward to in the second half of 2025?
Titleist New Product Launch
Titleist have done it again. Already very well known for creating some of the best-looking and feeling irons ever created, their latest release doesn’t disappoint.
The T100 and T150 are always going to supply the user with a fantastic feel and consistency. The club that stole the show for me was the T250; all I’m going to say is that you need to come and try it out for yourself.
TaylorMade Zero Torque Putter
TaylorMade’s Spider 5K-ZT is a great option for golfers looking to stabilise their putting stroke. Despite its more forgiving nature, this putter still delivers in terms of feel, not to mention the premium and iconic Spider styling.
Its standout feature is the elimination of face rotation, delivered through clever weighting and engineering, while keeping the beloved Spider aesthetic intact. It’s tour-tested, already helping players claim a win on the PGA Tour, and feels reassuringly solid through impact. If you’re in the zero-torque market, this is the new benchmark.
Nearly New Golf
If you have old golf equipment gathering dust at home in the garage, why not bring it into Hoebridge and get it converted into Pro Shop credit instead.
The process couldn’t be any simpler:
• Bring in your old golf equipment (Branded product within the last 15 years)
• Obtain a valuation from the Pro Shop team
• Spend the credit against anything in-store!
Don’t delay, convert your old clubs into credit today!
HOT SUMMER SALE
In addition to the new product launches, there is still plenty going on at Hoebridge!
Our Hot Summer Sale has now arrived, and it’s packed with sizzling savings across the shop! From game-changing equipment and performance-driven footwear, to stylish clothing and advanced GPS devices, everything you need to elevate your game is now available at incredible prices. Don’t miss this limited-time opportunity to stock up, save big, and step up your game in style!
EVENTS AT HOEBRIDGE
Whilst we are still in the summer months, we are already thinking about our events for the later part of the year, including Christmas!
Freddie Mercury Tribute: Friday 7th November Don’t stop us now and go Radio Ga Ga for our amazing Freddie Mercury tribute act.
• Two-course meal
• Live Freddie Mercury Tribute act
Members: £34.95 (member card required)
Visitors: £39.95
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Christmas 2025
Here at Hoebridge we throw open our doors to welcome groups of all sizes, for all festive occasions, whether it’s a Christmas party night, Christmas lunch, Breakfast with Santa, curry & quiz night or one of our golf experiences, such as festive golf days, driving range or a work do with a twist on the adventure golf.
Look out for our Christmas posters around the site, which have a QR code to our brochure.
Business Meetings
Looking to host a business meeting? We have you covered.
Whether you need a meeting room for eight people or 80 delegates, our Sales Team can advise you on the best room to book to suit your requirements
H&F UPDATE
RYAN STONEHOUSE
H&F Manager
Stay strong this summer!
Following on from the flexibility exercises in our previous newsletter, here are three exercises that target whole body strength. The TRX suspension trainer is simple to use and has low impact on the joints. So, if you struggle to perform pullups or press-ups, the TRX is the perfect place to introduce you to strength training!
If you would like to come and give them a try, as well as some other golf-related strength training, then please email fitness@hoebridgegc.co.uk to arrange a taster session.
Packages start from £26.00 per person To book any of the above events, you can either call our Sales Team on 01483 722611 or ask at the Bar or Pro Shop, and we will be delighted to help.
TRX Squat & Row
TRX Press Up
LIFESTYLE MEMBERSHIPS
A reminder to all our golf members that you can upgrade your membership at any time to include the Gym and Classes.
A Lifestyle Membership at Hoebridge gives you full access to the Gym and Classes as well as a starter personal training session to create a workout plan bespoke to your fitness goals.
Upgrading costs less than £7 per week and is a great way to integrate both your golf and fitness under one roof.
Thank you for reading the latest Members News.
Please feel free to contact us on 01483 722611
HOEBRIDGE GOLF CENTRE