Mandofred
Well-known member
Even if you get a bore hole......at least around here you are limited on how much water you can remove during the year.
Annual subscription 2026
- Thread starter Taz
- Start date
nickjdavis
Head Pro
A load of earthworks have appeared in a flat area behind our 18th green by the path on the way to the first tee.
Was chatting to the GK yesterday as I had a session in the nearby nets. Club is putting in a dedicated artificial chipping and putting area and a new proper grass putting green will be built on what is currently the first tee, which will be moved 70 yards right of its current position. This should greatly improve the visuals from the tee and probably make the opening tee shot a little easier, as you will be aiming actually down the hole rather than at an angle from left to right which brings a large tree on the left into play, effectively narrowing the fairway unless you are big enough to go over it.
An area has also been cleared to make way for a new 8th tee, the club are looking to expand the size of the 14th tee, and a new pond and a restructuring of the approach to the 18th is also underway....hopefully the dry warmish weather we are currently experiencing (which looks set to continue for the next fortnight) will assist greatly in helping move these projects along.
I think the club have wanted to get on with these for a few weeks now but it has simply been impossible to move the machinery around the course due to the wet conditions. Hopefully me and others paying our 26/27 fees early will have given some assistance to help the club deliver what it wants.
Was chatting to the GK yesterday as I had a session in the nearby nets. Club is putting in a dedicated artificial chipping and putting area and a new proper grass putting green will be built on what is currently the first tee, which will be moved 70 yards right of its current position. This should greatly improve the visuals from the tee and probably make the opening tee shot a little easier, as you will be aiming actually down the hole rather than at an angle from left to right which brings a large tree on the left into play, effectively narrowing the fairway unless you are big enough to go over it.
An area has also been cleared to make way for a new 8th tee, the club are looking to expand the size of the 14th tee, and a new pond and a restructuring of the approach to the 18th is also underway....hopefully the dry warmish weather we are currently experiencing (which looks set to continue for the next fortnight) will assist greatly in helping move these projects along.
I think the club have wanted to get on with these for a few weeks now but it has simply been impossible to move the machinery around the course due to the wet conditions. Hopefully me and others paying our 26/27 fees early will have given some assistance to help the club deliver what it wants.
Neilds
Assistant Pro
Sounds great, but.....
Why are you, and possibly other members, only finding out about such major work when you just happen to see a great big pile of soil on the course? Have the club sent out any notification of this work? Is it bad communication or you not reading the communications?
PNWokingham
Journeyman Pro
Yes happy to support a member owned club on necessary major initiatives. There are other good projects in teh pipeline on drainage, tree managment, bunkers etc over the coming years. Nice to see multi-year strategic plans to improve the course and playability through the winter
nickjdavis
Head Pro
Generally the club communicates pretty well... communications went out a few weeks ago about what the plans were in respect of the chipping/putting area and the desire to improve some of the tee boxes....just talking to the GK you get a lot more detail (for example the moving of the 1st tee and the existing tee being converted to a putting green wasn't part of the initial communication)...sometimes its difficult for the club to put specific timelines on events as the number of staff is relatively small and work is behoven to the weather conditions...so all of a sudden you will see a pile of earth (or a big hole) appear and work is underway. You know something is planned to happen...you just dont know when!!!!
Most stuff is communicated, but occasionally the club seem to act on impulse...or perhaps you could view it as seizing a window of opportunity to start works. I guess this is not uncommon at small clubs with limited staff.
The new pond in front of the 18th though was a surprise when work started, but again, the changes will be a huge improvement to the current green complex and the visuals as you approach it. I hope to be equally surprised one day when I turn up and find a new tee being built for the 15th hole!!!
Bratty
Princess Pouty (Queen of Fish Lips)
Which golf course, out of interest, Nick?
Bazz
Q-School Graduate
Not a member anywhere as we like to play some different each week. But the last club I was a member at has closed the range to create four padel courts, cant imagine the members are too pleased with that.
irip
Head Pro
I bet that has caused a right racquet
chrisd
Major Champion
Bearsted is absolutely the best compared to Tudor Park, Cobtree, Leeds Castle.
A club local to me is putting in two padel courts. They are taking some car park spaces, moving the practice area a little. It's a members club so needed approval but they need the income more than the space.
Closing a range is a more dramatic move but maybe times are hard and padel is the hot sport right now.
Lucifer MorningStar
Well-known member
Absolutely agree, I’m playing there next month as my Brothers a member, been a while since I’ve played it but am looking forward to it. As for the other courses if I never played them again I would not be bothered.
Mandofred
Well-known member
Just got one of my courses.....£1443 I think. Whatever. About right I think.
Bazz
Q-School Graduate
I've reread the update and they're actually moving the range to accommodate it. Padel is a proper money spinner now though, everywhere near me gets booked super quick.
nickjdavis
Head Pro
Brett Vale
Bratty
Princess Pouty (Queen of Fish Lips)
I used to love playing that course when I visited a uni friend, whose husband was a member! Lucky man!
nickjdavis
Head Pro
When was that...i've been a member for 25 years...may know him/them.
Bratty
Princess Pouty (Queen of Fish Lips)
I'll pm you...
Orikoru
Tour Winner
Last two words being the operative ones though. How long will it last? I remember several years ago plenty of clubs were rushing to put FootGolf tracks into their courses. Is anyone still playing FootGolf now??
Neilds
Assistant Pro
A range with top tracer (or similar) is also a proper money spinner - quote form our financial report for Oct 25:
The decision of the Board to invest in the Top Tracer software has driven income from the Driving Range to £118,880 for the six months.
This has resulted in a profit of over £94k for the half year.
I can see padel lasting longer though. Footgolf needs a large area, is limited in who can play it. The benefit of padel is that it seems to be open to all ages, can be played all year around. Only time will tell but I suspect it should have some legs to it.
