The ladies competition last Thursday had to be cancelled due to snow flurries.
As I write this on Tuesday morning, the mist has lifted and there is now and and the temperature is mild. Hopefully this can continue for a few days as we have a few comps coming up. On Wednesday, it’s a nine hole senior competition as part of the Bradley winter series. On Thursday, there is a nine hole stableford open to ladies and men. And then on Friday and Saturday, Bogey 4 is taking place. Good luck to all of you taking part!
Winter Practice
It’s warm and dry in the studio. The new Trackman provides incredible data to help you improve you game ahead of the golf season.
There are also over 100 different golf courses you can play, par 3 challenges, longest drive competitions and skills tests so there’s something for everyone, no matter your age or ability. Please contact me to find out more and have a go.
Snow Joke
Gwynneth Bramwell, Mandy Gilbert & Janet Grant bracing the elements last Thursday
Spot the Ball
Thanks to Bob Siddle for sending in this photo. He wondered how long had been spent looking for the ball which is lodged about 15 feet up on the right of the 5th….. “it must be round here somewhere, I heard it hit a tree”!
Happy new year to you all. Let’s hope we all get a good run at 2022 without too many Covid or bad weather issues… and while we’re at it, how about no three putts or lost balls?! It’s really not too much to ask is it…… 😁
Get your golf off to a flying start
The weather is pretty unreliable at the moment but the swing room is available for booking using the latest Trackman technology. With lots of data on ball flight and the clubhead, it will help you groove the moves you are working on. But don’t worry, you will not be bombarded with data for the sake of it. Instead we will make the information that you see pertinent to you at this particular stage of your golfing journey.
If you’re not sure which part of your game to focus on, come and perform one of Trackman’s tests to see what your “handicap” is for pitching, approach shots and driving.
It’s warm, it’s dry and the feedback you receive will help you to understand what you currently do when you swing a golf club. Only then can you work on what will have the greatest impact on making you a better golfer.
Please contact us to book your slot.
Kahla Trophy
Well done to Alex and John Moss for winning the Kahla Trophy on the 29th December with a terrific 20 points. Jack and Phil Hickson finished in runners up spot with 17 points. The event was played over nine holes and six pairs took part.
Alex & John Moss – unfortunately the trophy remained under lock and key!!
Photos
Thanks to Brian Greenbank and Tom Sloan for these great photos from when the Out of Bounders and friends got together for their early morning Christmas game. As you can see, they are sporting an excellent range of Christmas sweaters!
No caption necessary!
Here’s the view of the low winter sun as a group heads down the first hole
Colin Bamford has sent me another sighting of the sun over Hale GC in the last fortnight or so!
You may be relieved to hear that this will be my final missive of 2021 😉 I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas with your families over the next few days and the best of luck in 2022, both on and off the course!
Pro Shop Christmas Draw
Thank you to everyone who entered (and also to those who plucked the numbers out from the tombola) and congratulations to the winners. I will credit your Pro Shop accounts accordingly.
The hi-tec tombola full of tickets prior to the draw
Not long now…. I hope the majority of you are managing to stay safe and that your Christmas plans can still go ahead unscathed. A few of the members and staff have recently contracted Covid and so our thoughts are with them as we wish them a speedy recovery.
Will, Phil and I would also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone at the club a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Ladies Christmas Frolic
As always, the ladies section really embraced getting dressed up for last Thursday’s shotgun start Christmas competition as you can see from the photos below. There were big smiles and some really great outfits!
The winners of the competition with 35 points were Val Nelstrop, Gill Kay, Barbara Grant and Jane Perks. The winner of the best Christmas Outfit went to Jane Wilkinson for her brilliant creation. The Hogben’s once again kindly provided mince pies and mulled wine by the 8th tee.
Barbara, lady captain Irene Kirk, Jane, Gill & Val
Jane Wilkinson
Jane posing by the Christmas tree outside – Jane’s the one on the right!!!!
Mince pies and mulled wine at the Hogben’s
Lynette Lodge, Sue Bromley, Irene & Nancy Fallows
Noelle Morris & Nancy
LC Irene
Pat Jefferies
Val
Kahla Trophy
This year’s Kahla trophy will take place on Wednesday 29th December with tee times from 1100. The format is nine holes foursomes stableford from the adult tees and the event is open to any mixed generational pairing. For example, father and son, father & daughter, grandmother & daughter etc. In addition, it’s fine if the younger partner is an adult.
Please let me know if you would like to play.
Atlantic Rally Race for CAFT
Andrew Warnes and I exchanged emails a few days ago and he has been on quite the adventure, having just sailed across the Atlantic! He did it on behalf of the local charity CAFT (The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust) and so if you would like to donate to his TotalGiving page, please click here
Pro Shop Christmas Draw
Just a to let you know that the draw for this will be taking place on the 23rd December (on reflection, I decided that Christmas Eve was perhaps leaving it a little late)!
I will contact the winners via email and send out a brief newsletter with the results on. Thank you so much for the huge support from you all for this and best of luck!
Both Wednesday’s Seniors comp and the ladies / gents 9 hole fixture had to be cancelled last week due to the dreadful weather. Fingers crossed for better this week as we have the ladies Christmas Frolic & lunch on Thursday and the final gents / ladies nine hole stableford of 2021 taking place on Saturday.
Pro Shop Christmas Draw
There are still spaces available so if you’ve not had a go just yet, please pop into the shop and get involved!
The actual draw will take place as people pop into the shop during the day on Christmas Eve. The results will then be posted on Facebook and Twitter and the winners will also be notified by email. There will also be a newsletter that will arrive into your inbox on Christmas Day which will list all the winners. Good luck!
An Historic Moment: Hale Golf Club Limited is incorporated
Hale Golf Club has been an unincorporated association since it was founded in 1903. The Club’s property has always been held by trustees, currently Peter Hardern, Andrew Pendleton and Peter Veitch. Because the Club itself cannot be sued, there is an uninsurable danger that the trustees (and Council members) might become personally liable. This position is clearly no longer acceptable and, like many other golf clubs, HGC has decided to become a company limited by guarantee, a separate legal entity that can own property and be sued but in which the liability of each member is limited to £1.
Despite so many other golf clubs having become companies the process of incorporation has been a long and complicated one. A committee chaired by Andrew Fishwick was set up in July 2018 and celebrated the completion of its work at a transfer signing ceremony on Friday. The members were Paul Gilbert, Ian Ponter, Wendy Jenkins, John Gower-Jones and Ken Hawes (until February 2021). Needless to say, several other members contributed to the success of this mammoth undertaking.
A big thank you to all involved in the process and to Chris Wood for supplying me with this text and the photographs.
Transfer agreement between club and company Past-President Barbara Grant, President Barry Jefferies, Andrew Fishwick, Paul Gilbert and Chair Roger Sheen
Transfer of property between club and company Peter Hardern, Peter Veitch and Andrew Pendleton (trustees), Andrew Fishwick, John Gower-Jones and Ken Hawes
Best Shot Distance vs Normal Shot Distance
One of the biggest mistakes amongst golfers is that they don’t take enough club into greens. Looking at the data, the vast majority of players are missing greens on the short side, and it costs them easy strokes.
A launch monitor can help you keep track of your distances and give you a more realistic understanding of your shot patterns. For example, you might see when you strike your seven iron perfectly it will go 150 yards, but notice on most shots it’s traveling closer to 135-145 yards because of mishits. Applying this information to your decisions on the course is an easy way to hit more greens and lower your scores.
If you’d like to book a session in the swing room here at Hale GC to help you better understand your distances then please contact the Pro Shop. With the weather not being the best at the moment, this is a great time of year to do so.
Chasing Rainbows
Thank you Brian Greenbank for this lovely panoramic photo of the rainbow.
Thanks to Hamish Rankin for this photo looking back towards the 4th tees. As he pointed out sadly the pot of gold was in the river!!
Sunrise early on Saturday morning. Greenkeeper Ben can be seen working away on the LHS of the photo.
Water Features
These were taken after the heavy rains of last week.
By the side of the ladies first tee
On the right hand side of the third fairway
The hole that appeared near the ladies tees on the 5th / 14th hole, following the heavy rains of last week.
Last call everyone for these fabulous Hale GC crested Christmas gifts. We need your orders by close of play on Thursday (the 9th December). Thank you!
Turkey Trot
Congrats to gentleman captain Johnny Yates and Paul Bramwell for winning Saturday’s Turkey Trot with an excellent 37 stableford points. They beat Ian Macklin and John Munnery into second place on countback. Chris Davies and David Swale finished one point behind to collect third place. The Paxo Turkey Stuffing was kindly donated by Peter Hardern and won commandingly by Andrew Kay and Chris Ravenscroft!
Gentleman captain Johnny Yates & Paul Bramwell
Ian, Johnny & John
Andrew, Johnny & Chris
Three Clubs and a Putter
Well done to Mandy Gilbert for winning last week’s 9 hole competition with a very impressive 19 stableford points. Mandy tells me she’s now going to put her other 10 clubs on eBay!! Diana Harris was runner up with 17 points. Five players shared third place with 15 points.
Quote
I love this quote from Danielle Kang that I came across whilst reading a Golf Digest interview with her the other day. I especially like the final sentence because it’s just so true!
My relationship with golf changed three or four years ago. I love the game now. I love the process. I love getting better. I love working on shots and pulling them off during a tournament. I love making putts when I have to. I love everything about it. I even love that if you do everything right, you can still get screwed, and you have to be OK with it.
Festive Dinner Friday 3rd December
The club’s festive dinner took place last Friday. There was plenty of delicious food and fun night for all! Thanks to lady captain Irene Kirk for these photos.
As you are probably aware facemasks are again compulsory when entering shops so please have yours at the ready before entering the Pro Shop. If you don’t have it handy, please stand at the door and we’ll endeavour to serve you as best as we can from there. Coming into this extra special time of year, let’s stay safe everyone!
Mats
Here’s some further clarification on the use of mats over the winter period. It is optional in both social and competitive golf to use a mat from the teeing area. However, for the men when playing a competition from the blue tees, it is mandatory to use your mat from the par three teeing areas.
Help Required
Brian Greenbank on behalf of the Greens Committee is looking for volunteers on Wednesday & Thursday (subject to weather) for the final push to complete work on the upper tee. Please meet in the car park at 0830. The work should be completed by 1200 and will followed by coffee on patio, again weather permitting. Please see the section below for more details on the work that is taking place.
Christmas Presents
Time is running out on this superb opportunity to get that special person in your life some personalised Hale GC merch! Please contact me asap to pace your order.
Ladies Thursday Competition
Well done to Amanda Greaves for winning Thursday’s back nine stableford competition with an excellent score of 21 points. Sue Fallow was just one point in arrears to finish runner up. Mandy Gilbert was third with 19 points.
Lady captain Irene Kirk & Amanda
Irene & Sue
Saturday back nine Stableford
Well done Peter Hindle for a magnificent score of 20 points in the cold and string winds on Saturday. Gentleman captain Johnny Yates was second with 18 points. Brian Greenbank also scored 18 points but was beaten into third place on countback.
In the ladies event, Caroline Perkin played very well for 18 points. Tiff Fielden finished runner up with 14 points.
New Fourth Tee
Well done to all the volunteers headed by Brian Greenbank for all their hard work creating the new 4th tee.
Below is how it was looking on Thursday. The photo below that is how it was looking on Saturday morning after the strong winds of Friday night.
A dead tree had been blown on top of it damaging much of the work that had been done. This must have been really dispiriting for the team but despite that they have been straight back out there tidying things up and getting ready to move things on again. We’re all indebted to them so thank you and keep up the good work!!
Before the winds came….
…and afterwards ☹
Give a Garmin
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
Thanks to Terri Broadbent and Tracey Thompson for these contrasting views of the club’s lovely Christmas Tree on the terrace.
This week we have a round up of golfing exploits, Christmas present ideas, the club’s quiz and even some recycling news. Let’s dive in…
Trackman Update
We’ve had some training with the new product and it looks fantastic. However we’re just currently experiencing one or two teething problems so we’ll report back when we feel we can offer you the best experience using it.
Turkey Trot
This event was played last Thursday and perhaps there were some fuzzy heads after the previous nights dinner? It was a team stableford competition played over the front nine holes.
The winners were Irene Kirk, Freda Hunt and Trina Walsh who scored 41 points. Second place after countback went to Karen Stockton, Sue Fallows and Joanne Bryant with 38 points. So that means with the same score but in third place were Gill Kay, Jean Green and Pat Jefferies. Sorry I don’t seem to have photos for this ☹
Doing our bit!
The Pro Shop has been trying to help with the environment as best we can. This means we are gradually moving away from plastic tees to bamboo or more easily biodegradable wooden ones. We sell drinks bottles if golfers are less keen to buy single use plastic bottlers. Plus over a year ago now, we put the blue recycling crate below the bin outside the Pro Shop door which we then put in the correct large bin when full. We also do our level best to recycle all paper, card, tines and plastics that we use in the shop as well.
If there’s any obvious things that we are missing, please let us know and we’ll do our best to implement them.
Non plastic tees
Ladies Annual Dinner
This took place on Wednesday evening and a great evening was had by all. Thank you to Sue Bryant for sending me all these photos (sorry Wendy that I didn’t end using yours in the end). My apologies if I have made any mistakes with who won what!
Lady captain Irene Kirk & Tiff Fielden with her Medal Final trophy
Irene & Tiff with the Charlton Cup
Irene Kirk & Caroline Massey with the Bech Cup
Irene & Janet Grant with the Bunty Booth candlesticks
Susan Craig talking to Jackie Murphy after her talk
Irene & Caroline with the Joyce Fisher prize
Irene & Caroline with her award for the Most Improved Golfer
Irene & Amanda Greaves with her prize from the Lady Secretary
Tiff with her Birdie Tree prize
Irene & Jane Perks, who was the winner of the nine hole eclectic.
Christmas Gift Ideas
Time is running out to order these personalised Christmas gifts so please get in touch to secure yours asap!
Quiz
Well done to the Gower-Jones’ for running an excellent quiz on Friday evening. Congratulations also to two clearly very cerebral couples, the Wells’ and the Sampsons, for winning the quiz.
Michael & Vicky Wells and Gail & Tony Sampson
Gill & John Gower-Jones
Bernie Bike Ride Club
These hardy cyclists swapped bikes for golf clubs to hold their inaugural golf day last Wednesday. In a close run contest, Phil Long’s team won the race to the line to win by one stableford point. Great fun was had by all followed by a lovely dinner provided by Ben and the team.
Phil Long, Brian Greenbank, Bernie Wilcox & Neil Stockton
Martin Oldfield, Tom Sloan, Joe Bluer & Tony Sampson
There’s been a slight delay in setting up the Trackman that I spoke about in last week’s newsletter but I hope to have it fully operational by early next week so watch this space for further details.
Even Trackman feels the effects of Covid!
Remember it’s mats and winter wheels with electric trolleys as we march further into winter and closer to Crimbo 🎅
Bogey 3
Bill Dixon battled the failing light on Saturday to shoot a tremendous score of six up and win Bogey three. Ian Ponter came in second place with three up. Third place went to Matthew Hodder playing in his first senior competition. His score was two up.
Bill & Chris Wood
Chris & Ian
Ladies Poppy Day Competition
Congratulations to Jane Perks for scoring an excellent 21 points to win the Poppy Day Stableford. She received a very nice commerative medal and a Pro Shop voucher for her endeavours. Second place went to Ann Davies, also with 21 points. Vanessa Veitch was third with 19 points.
Lady captain Irene Kirk & Ann
Irene & Vanessa
Jane & Irene
Men’s 9 Hole Stableford
There was also a men’s nine hole stableford played on Thursday. Roger Fielding was the gold medal winner for the men with 20 points. Keith Thompson and Tony Adamson were both one shot back but Keith grabbed the runner’s up spot by beating Tony on a card play off.
Email us or pop into the Pro Shop for more details
Goodbye Marquee!
Thanks to Tracey Thompson for these photos. It was taken down last week – just in case you’d been down and not noticed!
