Lockers, Pro's and Con's

[Bunkermagnet]

I had a locker (well my dad did but I used it) when I was a junior/intermediate at my first club. Was amazing as a youngster as I could cycle the 8miles to the club, play & practice all day lock them up and cycle home. That was until the club had a break in and 40+ lockers were ransacked including mine. I was absolutely gutted those Titleist DCI 962s were my first ever set of custom fit clubs, still hurts now!!

Few years later they had a completely new clubhouse built with key fob entry etc, a dozen or so lockers then got raided by one of the members late at night, he thought he’d never get caught but forgot his key fob registered his entry and the CCTV caught him walking out with several sets of clubs!

Gillingham?

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Gillingham?

How did you know

 

[Bunkermagnet]

How did you know

Put 2 and 2 together
I wonder how much concern there is now at the club, what with the councils ideas of selling off land/assets to help them financially

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Put 2 and 2 together
I wonder how much concern there is now at the club, what with the councils ideas of selling off land/assets to help them financially

Quite an easy one to work out. When you know the area and type of surroundings. I haven’t lived down that way for near on 23years now since I first joined the RE in Chatham recruiting office, in that time I’ve only played it probably 5 times.

Dad was a member there right up until his passing nearly 3years since. I believe there was a lot of concern about assets and running costs but I’m out of the loop. I still remember the old course before they sold off land that affected 5 holes for the Link road and the changes that brought around from a tight long(ish) challenging course to the now short course with 7 x Par 3s.

Took a lot of time to get used to that change and that money effectively built the new clubhouse, but absolutely ruined the atmosphere and so many members left for the surrounding courses. My dad went off to Bearsted for a bit with my brother, but he gravitated back due to friends etc, Brother still at Bearsted though and mum still lives down in Rainham.

I do still know a lot of members there so I may reach out and ask the question, I don’t know what land they really have left to sell as it’s a cramped course as it is nowadays. Possibly a slither behind 2nd green down to where it meets the 4th tee! But that’s literally it! Unless they planning on selling some of the land that the whole course is on but that literally would be risky! As sad as it would be it wouldn’t surprise me to see it fold!

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Quite an easy one to work out. When you know the area and type of surroundings. I haven’t lived down that way for near on 23years now since I first joined the RE in Chatham recruiting office, in that time I’ve only played it probably 5 times.

Dad was a member there right up until his passing nearly 3years since. I believe there was a lot of concern about assets and running costs but I’m out of the loop. I still remember the old course before they sold off land that affected 5 holes for the Link road and the changes that brought around from a tight long(ish) challenging course to the now short course with 7 x Par 3s.

Took a lot of time to get used to that change and that money effectively built the new clubhouse, but absolutely ruined the atmosphere and so many members left for the surrounding courses. My dad went off to Bearsted for a bit with my brother, but he gravitated back due to friends etc, Brother still at Bearsted though and mum still lives down in Rainham.

I do still know a lot of members there so I may reach out and ask the question, I don’t know what land they really have left to sell as it’s a cramped course as it is nowadays. Possibly a slither behind 2nd green down to where it meets the 4th tee! But that’s literally it! Unless they planning on selling some of the land that the whole course is on but that literally would be risky! As sad as it would be it wouldn’t surprise me to see it fold!

I remember Langton Playing fields before some of that land was taken for the golf club. My junior school used to use it for sports days and things.

It's the land it's on that is under thread. The council are selling off land assets, and GGC has been talked about as a possible sale item as the council still own the land.
It's a crying shame that GGC didn't move over to Deangate and do what was needed to make that real top notch when talk of Deangate first closing was first mooted.

 

[Taz]

I remember Langton Playing fields before some of that land was taken for the golf club. My junior school used to use it for sports days and things.

It's the land it's on that is under thread. The council are selling off land assets, and GGC has been talked about as a possible sale item as the council still own the land.
It's a crying shame that GGC didn't move over to Deangate and do what was needed to make that real top notch when talk of Deangate first closing was first mooted.

Played Deangate lots, one of the few courses that you were able to get on as a casual golfer.
Add Shoreham, Lullingstone and later on Pedham.
Queuing for hours just to get on , lockers never entered my mind

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I remember Langton Playing fields before some of that land was taken for the golf club. My junior school used to use it for sports days and things.

It's the land it's on that is under thread. The council are selling off land assets, and GGC has been talked about as a possible sale item as the council still own the land.
It's a crying shame that GGC didn't move over to Deangate and do what was needed to make that real top notch when talk of Deangate first closing was first mooted.

Same I remember playing football at Langton one year the next year it was redeveloped to squeeze in a Par 5, Par 4 and Par 4. That left foot volley I scored was suddenly a 6 iron into the green

Ah noted, I believe at the time I left there was murmurings about how the lease should be renewed for longer clearly that can’t have happened. I wasn’t aware they’d had the chance to take over Deangate (but I was too young to know the dealings). Sounds like they missed a huge opportunity there then, yes that would have meant the club was in the Hoo Peninsula rather than town as it is now, but Deangate had so much land, was a decent layout and with the right green staff and private club membership that could’ve been a hell of a success.

So if that happens the GGC will be no more as there isn’t land anywhere to move it to nor will there be enough in the coffers to develop a new course elsewhere whilst trying maintain membership. Interesting question then do the surrounding courses, have enough room to accommodate the exodus of members GGC folding would create. The only real close one for current members would be Upchurch, Sittingbourne further afield but I guess accessible.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Played Deangate lots, one of the few courses that you were able to get on as a casual golfer.
Add Shoreham, Lullingstone and later on Pedham.
Queuing for hours just to get on , lockers never entered my mind

Lullingstone one of the worst courses I’ve played

Never got to play Pedham though, what was the course near Gravesend, not Mid Kent but the one that was at Thong Lane next to Cascades! Was built well after the range and I believe has since been redeveloped

 

[Burnsey]

Four pages on lockers

 

[Taz]

Lullingstone one of the worst courses I’ve played

Never got to play Pedham though, what was the course near Gravesend, not Mid Kent but the one that was at Thong Lane next to Cascades! Was built well after the range and I believe has since been redeveloped

Southern valley, never played it, flint city

 

[Orikoru]

Four pages on lockers

And you'd need four lockers for all your gear

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Southern valley, never played it, flint city

That’s the one. I played it once and can’t remember a single hole it was that bland! Not surprised it disappeared as quickly as it arrived.

 

[Burnsey]

And you'd need four lockers for all your gear

New purchases find their way into my locker, then I swap ut with other stuff, as I flog to club members usually.

Wife has no idea, s wrth every penny of fifty quid a year...

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Southern valley, never played it, flint city

By the time it was closing, it had settled down rather nicely. What it did do was drain very well. When there were other clubs closed due to the constant rain, Southern Valley would be open and totally playable.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Lullingstone one of the worst courses I’ve played

Never got to play Pedham though, what was the course near Gravesend, not Mid Kent but the one that was at Thong Lane next to Cascades! Was built well after the range and I believe has since been redeveloped

Pedham Place is a rather decent course. It's just a shame Sevenoaks council want to build houses on it.

 

[Taz]

Pedham Place is a rather decent course. It's just a shame Sevenoaks council want to build houses on it.

Agreed apart from the 15th
Onc e they put in the internal OOB it was a lot safer

 

[KenL]

Four pages on lockers

And now we’ll get 10 pages on unrelated guff.

 

[Slab]

So is it a padlock, built in key lock or combination lock you guys have?

 

[PaulMdj]

So is it a padlock, built in key lock or combination lock you guys have?

Built in key lock for us.