Redbourn GC Newsletter - December 2023

MEMBER NEWS

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2023 MONTH 2023

In this Edition:

• Club News

• Course Update • Club Captains Updates

GM UPDATE Staff Update

While in normal hospitality and leisure businesses, high staff turnover always tends to see new faces appearing every few months. We here at Redbourn pride ourselves on having a friendly, professional, and relatively stable team.

This shows in some of the long-standing members of the team we have. Unfortunately having said all this, one of whom will be leaving us shortly.

Sharon Whiting – 20 years Robin Cheng General Manager

Dear Redbourn Member,

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This year has seen plenty of change and work going on Bitatur, sinctin nobist modiatio around the site. We have seen blaboritat estia quo voluptatur six new bunkers lined, with six aperfer fercia pos ut optaquid more on the way. We have had quas ipsaniet dolorep erspelistiis the men’s toilets and women’s reptio occatibuscil int qui omchanging rooms refurbished, nimendit, occum sendelendi se as well as a disabled toilet rem as as vendele ctotas dolupadded. Stephen Hunter, our tatis volore est, sunt illaboreri Head professional of 27 years, officae invende sequid quia moved on to start his life by the quidero quat. sea and subsequently, Craig Aquibus, ipid ex exerum verumHawkes started and then left. qu iaestio rporro This did however give our own Charlie Turner the opportunity to step up and take on the role of Golf Operations Manager.

The hunt for a pro is high on my list and I will actively be recruiting come the New Year.

Sharon started at Redbourn as our Administration Controller back on the 27th of May 2003, prior to BGL buying the club from Mrs Lesslie; and prior to the now-current GM being able to legally have a drink… sorry Sharon. All joking aside, Sharon has been the unsung hero of the club, helping all departments administrate themselves properly, resolving back-of-house issues and making sure we are compliant in so many ways. Sharon is widely regarded as one of the best Administrators in the group and it will be very sad to see her go.

Sharon, we all wish you the best in the future and please don’t be a stranger.

Viv Gardner – 30 years

Moving on to another woman who has been a core member of the team at Redbourn for an impressive amount of time is Viv Gardner. Don’t worry, Viv is not leaving us, but she is celebrating 30 years at Redbourn this coming December (in particular, on the 20th). Viv’s unique brand of humour combined with her friendly nature and professionalism has made her an integral part of the team, not only to the staff here but all our members. Many of whom would have shared the last 30 years with her at the club.

Continued on the next page

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Redbourn has recently set up a new internal search engine called: “Ask Viv”, to which any past fact of Redbourn can be researched.

Viv, thank you for the time and effort you have given to the club!

Gender Neutral Tees

GOLF UPDATE An Update From ...

Charlie Turner Golf Operations Manager

While all our tees are simply classified as either white, yellow or red and we don’t like to classify them to any gender, the inherent fact that certain people can’t play off certain tees due to them being slope-rated does raise issues.

The reason why the yellow tees have only been slope-rated for men, currently, is the yardage. However, if these were reduced by around 100 yards in total, a distance that sometimes they already are reduced by, then we can get them officially rated for women. We will hopefully be completing this by the end of the year.

I am Charlie Turner, Golf Operations Manager at Redbourn Golf Club. I am extremely proud to be able to manage the golf operations. and retail department at the club and hope to bring you all some great offerings in the shop, as well as make your overall experience more enjoyable.

Trollies & Carrying

As most of you are aware, we are without a golf pro in our team, but this won’t prevent you from having a coaching session. Louis Downie & James Sawford are two full-time PGA Professionals working at the club who would be delighted to help you with your game. You can find their contact numbers in the shop.

As you are all aware, the weather is now rather unpredictable and although course conditions are great for this time of year, it can still get muddy. While we are not implementing any trolley bans, and at the risk of sounding like Boris Johnson tough lockdowns, we would like to urge you all to carry, when possible, just to help reduce the load on the golf course as well as any wheel marks - either from mud or from frost burn it the weather gets colder.

Thanks,

We have had the bulk of winter clothing now delivered which is stored proudly in our pro shop; including Galvin Green, Ping, Footjoy and others.

We have got a great selection of winter golf shoes on sale, some of which are discounted by 25%!

With the winter now upon us, I have got a wide selection of lite carry bags to get you through the wet winter season.

If you have any questions for me or would like anything from the retail department, then please don’t hesitate to approach me around the club.

Thanks a lot, and happy golfing!

Charlie

Robin

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Men’s Captain’s Update Ian Rice Club Captain After the fantastic win by the European team in the Ryder Cup, in the sunshine at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, we come back to reality at Redbourn. Recently, the weather has been very wet due to the storms, but the course has stood up well thanks to all the work that Hayden and his team of greenkeepers have done. Please keep helping by replacing divots on the fairway and repairing pitch marks on the green.

Men’s Captain’s Farewell Dinner My time as Captain is coming to an end in February and a Captain’s Farewell Dinner has been arranged. It will take place during the evening at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club on Saturday 10th February 2024. It will be a three course meal with tea, coffee, and mints to finish. Entertainment will be by our very own ElVince, along with his eight-piece band with a disco and dancing to end the evening.

The cost will be £35 a head, and the menu,

CAPTAIN’S UPDATE and payment details are on the noticeboard.

I hope as many of you as possible will come along and enjoy yourself with your partners, and help me celebrate the end of my year of being Men’s Captain of Redbourn GC - which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Redbourn v Chiltern Forest The final match of the Men’s Section season against Chiltern Forest at home ended, unfortunately, in a 3½:2½ defeat. Many thanks to our growing squad of players for making themselves available this year. We have a couple more fixtures in 2024, so hopefully more of you will get a game.

Summer Doubles Knockout Winners Many congratulations to Steve Tuhey and John Lennon (left and right) on winning the Summer Double Knockout competition. Steve and John beat Eddie Mills and Russel Field two up.

Many thanks again to Ben Gray for organising both the Singles and Summer Knockouts this year. Well done also to Eddie and Russel for making it through to the final.

Continued on the next page

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Florin Trophy - Men’s Team v Pearson Ladies Team

CAPTAIN’S UPDATE

On 17th November the Men took on the Pearson Ladies for the Florin Trophy. This is an annual fixture and usually played in October, as the Pearson Team were getting ready for their season matches. However, due to bad weather, it was rearranged this year.Why is it called the Florin Trophy?

With the help of Barbara Smith, I found out why.

The Florin Trophy began in 1993 when Bob Hooper, Club Captain 1993/1994, and Bob Knight, Vice Captain, heard that the Pearson Ladies were winning all their matches and they thought it would be a fun game for the Captain to get a team together (12 men) to challenge the ladies to a match play game. For all those of a certain age, we remember that a florin was two bob, hence the Florin Trophy. The timing of this match was set for October, as the Pearson Team were get-ting ready for their season matches.

This year the weather was perfect, and the course was in excellent condition.

The result: a win for the men 4 – 2.

Everyone who played had a fantastic time. What more can you ask of golf but a beautiful day, an excellent course, good company, competitive and close matches with great banter in the clubhouse afterwards? Congratulations to all who played, but especially to the men’s team who re-gained the trophy after the ladies were victorious last year. A great team effort.

The photos to the right are of the men’s team and the trophy presentation to the Men’s Captain by the Pearson Lady Captain, Sue Hickman-Jameson Continued on the next page

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Hole In One’s The probability of a hole-in-one for an amateur is officially registered at about 12500 to one (Golf Digest). Well at Redbourn GC, we had three in one day and all on the 7th hole on the 10th of October 2023. What is the probability of that!!

If that wasn’t enough, on the 21st November 2023 we had two more hole in one’s. So far there have been 11 hole in one’s this year, with the 7th hole being the most popular.

Many congratulations to Graham, Bob, Barry, Stephen and Andy!

CAPTAIN’S UPDATE Reminders

I hope you have tried the Redbourn Stack, which is available all day and only costs £5.35 with your card. It is certainly worth a try if you haven’t and great value for money.

At the start of your membership year, you were all given a Redbourn reusable hot drinks beaker.

Why not use this to have your coffee, where you can order a large coffee for the price of a medium coffee.

October Medal Winners Saturday

Division 1: Glen Wilkes gross 77/nett 67 Division 2: Mark Zieseniss gross 81/nett 65 Sunday

Division 1: Ivan Boyce gorss 82/nett 70 Division 2: Leslie Rodd gross 93/nett 67 Tuesday Graham Walker (7th)

Bob Alexander (7th)

Division 1: Chris Dyble gross 95/nett 76

November Medal Winners Sunday

Division 1: Pete Freeman gorss84/nett 70 Division 2: Bob Taylor gross 90/nett72 Tuesday

Division 1: Pete Freeman gorss84/nett 71 Barry Tofield (7th)

Stephen Garety (7th)

Division 2: Glen Barker gross 89/nett 72

Boniface Trophy Winner Saturday

Tony Biggerstaff gross 76/nett 69 Sunday

Tony Biggerstaff gross 75/nett 69

Andy Griffin (4th)

Continued on the next page

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November Junior Medal Winner

CAPTAIN’S UPDATE Well done and thank you to those who made the effort to dress up – pictured are Maggie Melville, Judith Allnutt and Pauline Simon.

Eddie Diprose gross 88/nett 71

Remebrance Trophy Friday

Richard White 34 points Saturday

James Mitchell 37 points

Particular thanks to Linda and Paula for making the five guys who were distributed around the course.

Sunday

Ian Rice 38 points

Lady Captain’s Update Sheryl Tye Ladies Captain The golfing year is drawing to a close, and we have now played the final 18-hole competition and final qualifier.

We look forward to the remainder of our 13-hole Turkey Trots, and the Christmas Cracker Fun Game with Auction and Raffle.

Congratulations to Sue Hickman-Jameson for agreeing to be Linda Hill’s Vice Captain next year. Thanks to Sarah Hogben for three years’ service as Draw officer. She is now handing over to Mary Bromfield.

Wednesday 8th November Fireworks Vagas Scramble

Due to the weather, the game was reduced to 9 holes, meaning that the competition for nearest the centre of the Catherine Wheel was not played – a real shame as the green keepers had kindly drawn out a massive Catherine wheel on the 12th fairway.

Winner of the nearest the rocket on the fourth was Judith Allnutt.

The golf game was a Vagas Scamble, where the drive to be taken was decided by a throw of a dice.

In first place were Astrid Renaud, Bev Walters and Tracy Carr. Congratulations to all the winners.

My thanks to Paula Craddock and Linda Hill for all their efforts to make this a wonderful day. Despite the high winds and driving rain, 11 teams of three braved the elements to enjoy this spectacular!

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Sunday 12th November Remembrance Cup

CAPTAIN’S UPDATE Thursday 5th October – Pearsons vs Bishops Stortford (at home) Under Sue Hickman-Jameson’s captaincy, our first Pearson match of the season at home to Bishops Stortford got off to a flying start.

Redbourn won 6.5 to 0.5.

Congratulations to Lin Taylor for winning the Remembrance Cup, and to Di Ritson-Hall as runner-up.

Wednesday 15th November – Pendleton Cup A beautiful fresh but sunny day crowned our final official 18-hole competition, and our final qualifier of the year.

Most of us found the going quite difficult and the scores were not high. In third place on countback was Christine Greig, and in second place was Bev Walters, both on 29 points, but it was Di Ritson-Hall on 33 points that took home the trophy.

Both our matches against the other two teams were cancelled due to the weather - the away game against Aldenham was abandoned just as the first players reached the waterlogged sixth green, making fair play impossible.

Monthly Charity Draw, supporting the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance The seventh and eighth of 10 draws for this year took place in October and November.

The winners for October were: 1st prize - £40 to Olive Hayward 2nd prize - £25 to Annette Brooks 3rd prize - £15 to Clive Mills The winners for November were: 1st prize - £40 to Edward Tough 2nd prize - £25 to Steve Lellicott 3rd prize - £15 to Mike Box Congratulations to the winners and thank you for taking part in the draw!

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Thank you for reading the latest Members News.

Please feel free to contact us on

01582 7934393

REDBOURN GOLF CLUB Kinsbourne Green Lane Redbourn Hertfordshire AL3 7QA