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Club News

From Paul Fileman, Golf Manager: It was a chilly start to the month but eventually the sun shone through, and May was busy on and off the course. 

We have now hosted our second Race to Le Touquet event with the Vize Cup, the weather was to say the least horrendous, but we still had an incredible turn out. Conditions were tough going but Luke Robinson still managed to come in with an impressive 39 points to win, Philip Ridley was second with 38 points and third was Richard Munroe with 37. Prizes are awaiting all three in the Pro-shop.  

The Top 3 on the leader board are: Luke Robinson 19 points, Mark Downing 13 points and John Flanders 10 points. The next event will be held on May 30th and the winners will be announced in next newsletter. 

We hosted our first new Members’ event, which had a fantastic turn out. We ran a 2-hour clinic with Wayne and Russ, followed by a nine-hole team comp on the Childerditch,. There was a short prize giving on the decking by the Pro-shop on completion, and everybody involved had an incredible afternoon. Stay posted for our next new Members’ event. 

The Captains’ Drive-in took place on Sunday, May 23rd and the new Captain Dave Datson has officially taken up his position after a long postponement due to Covid. It was a fantastic morning with LIz Brown our returning Ladies Captain, Luke Cursons and Dave all driving in. I must say, though, I am not certain the Ski Golf will catch on! 

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As you will all now be aware we have now started the renovation work on the front 9 holes of the Warley Course. Details of the work were sent out to everybody but just in case anybody missed what will be happening, here is a quick recap: 

  • Putting Green: We will be constructing a new putting green where the existing 1st tee is located. 
  • 1st Tee Complex: This will be constructed to the right of the existing path, making the hole slightly shorter. 
  • Ditch crossing the 1st: We will construct a weir close to the bridge to retain the water. The water level will raise and become visible from the new tee improving the aesthetics. 
  • 4th Green: A new 4th green will be constructed with a lake short of the green. 
  • 7th Green: A new 7th green will be located closer to the lake and the existing 8th tee. 
  • 8th Tee and Green: A new 8th tee and green complexes will be built diagonally across the smaller of the two lakes. 
  • 9th Tee: A new 9th tee complex will be constructed. 

Please keep an eye on the Warley Park Golf Club Members Group and the club page on Facebook as I will be posting regular pictures throughout the month along with updates on the progress of the work. 

Ed Richardson, Get Golfing’s CEO, will be holding a Q&A session on Friday, July 9th. Tickets are available to book via the IG members app Here!!! please ensure that you have booked a ticket if you wish to attend, tickets are free. 

Finally, let us hope we finally see an appearance of the elusive sunshine this month and happy golfing everybody. 

Course News

From Dominic Rodgers, Courses Manager: After 39 days without any rain, sub-zero temperatures and 47mph winds, I am delighted to announce that spring has at long last arrived!  

During the period of slow growth in the first part of the month, we decided to undertake some long overdue tasks. The chainsaws were duly warmed up and we removed all the low branches on the willows around the 5th tee pond along with all the scrub. As you can see from the pictures it has really opened the area allowing the light and air to pass creating a feature pond. 

We then moved onto the 6th hole and the spinney to the left of the hole in the dip. The large Ash tree was diseased and for safety reasons we called in some specialist tree surgeons to remove it. We also cleared the spinney of scrub and removed all the spindly trees. The removal of the Ash gave us the added benefit of opening the hole up, allowing the green to be seen when playing your approach shot. 

As the warmth and rain returned, we took the opportunity to overseed, top-dress and water in the greens. We have overseeded the greens with a dwarf rye grass that can be cut down to a height of 3mm, and, more importantly, is disease resistant. With chemicals for disease becoming more restrictive every year, it is good to get ahead of the game and allow us to retain good true, firm greens year on year. 

This month has also seen another member of staff join our team. Chris Blackwood will be looking after the bunkers every day. Chris is extremely enthusiastic and takes pride in raking and weeding the bunkers, so if we can give him a hand by returning the rakes to the bunkers after you have used them, he would appreciate your help. Until the next report, happy golfing  

Captains Updates

Men’s 

From Dave Datson, Club CaptainLadies and Gentlemen are you unhappy with your game at the moment (and honestly who is happy with their swing)? Then may I recommend our teaching professional, Russell Killington to you. I recently had a lesson with him, then played 9 holes, and for the first time in ages managed to score 18 points on the front nine. If things are not going right don’t just keep repeating your mistakes — have a lesson with Russell! 

Insurance cover: My thanks also go to Chris Vander, who has delved into the insurance position at the Club. Get Golfing is pleased to confirm that Warley Park Golf Club’s Public Liability Insurance now includes Personal Public Liability Insurance for Warley Park Members, their guests and fee-paying visitors while playing golf at the course.  

In addition, all active Warley Park Members are affiliated members of Golf England and are also covered for Personal Public Liability Insurance, details of cover provided can be found on the Members’ website www.englandgolf.org. 

Q&A with the boss: I hope you have seen that Get Golfing CEO Ed Richardson is coming to the Club for a question-and-answer evening on Friday, July 9th at 6.30pm. If you have anything you want asked, then your Captains — myself, Liz Brown and Steve Abbott — would be happy to collate the questions ready for the evening. Please feel free to send them through to us. Speaking for myself I think the ideal way to let me have your question is over a large glass of Zinfandel rosé in the clubhouse now that it is open! 

Finally, this month may I try to promote a newish competition for Warley Park, the Ping Mixed 4- Ball, Better Ball being played on Thursday, June 10th. Details are on the app or in the Club. Let me or Lady Captain Liz know if you are interested but do not have a partner — we can pair you up very easily. 

Seniors 

From Steve Abbott, Seniors’ CaptainI was delighted to be offered the opportunity to have a second year as Seniors’ Captain, and particularly grateful to Colin Brown, my Vice Captain, for his continued support. I intend to uphold the section’s tradition of providing fun, social golf with a healthy element of competition, and to ensure that all new Members receive an open and warm welcome. 

We have a very full programme of friendly matches, numerous individual (including 10 Golfer-of-the-year) and team competitions, as well as regular swindles on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  

We have already had five competitions and two matches, as well as a very enjoyable Ladies and Seniors event with 56 players and lunch on the patio.  

I would like to wish Dave Datson, Club Captain, Liz Brown, Ladies Captain and Charlie Wiles, Colts Captain, a highly successful and, hopefully, uninterrupted year. 

I would like to thank the Seniors’ Committee for their guidance and support, Keith Regan for facilitating our competitions, and Paul Fileman for his help — particularly for ensuring our regular swindles have continued in an efficient manner. 

The course is looking better every day, the bar is open, all we need now is for the warm weather to arrive. 

Ladies 

From Liz Brown, Ladies CaptainWe have started our interclub Essex County matches, mainly away, except for an extremely windy match against Chelmsford last Friday. I think the players were just relieved to get round and get back to the clubhouse in one piece. We did have a good win away at Upminster in the Annodata competition. 

The Captains’ Drive-In went extremely well on Sunday, unfortunately numbers were hugely reduced by Covid but Dave entered the spirit of the occasion by wearing full ski kit and kept warm in his salopettes. 

At the time of writing, many of our ladies have been at Ballards Gore in the Bronze County Open and I hope they had a good day and avoided the rain. 

Some of us have been taking advantage of the free lesson Russell Killington is giving on a Monday afternoon (alternative weeks for men and ladies, book your place via the booking office). 

I am looking forward to the Lady Captain’s Day on Saturday, June 5th — if you have not entered yet, please do so. 

Clubhouse News

From Sophie Jones, Events ManagerMay has been a brilliant month in the Warley Clubhouse. We were so happy to be back open indoors on May 17th and the Spike Bar has been busy, busy, busy! We thank you for your patience with the restrictions, new coffee machines and some fresh faces to the team.  

May also saw the launch of our Soul Sunday event, functions and Captains’ Drive-In, all of which have been a success! From all the bar staff, we want to wish all our Captains a fantastic year ahead. 

Over the next few weeks, we will continue to grow our team and improve the experience within the clubhouse. We have a new range of draught beer and will soon be introducing a new menu for you all to enjoy, with some of the old favourites making a return!  

Missing Spain and getting away to The Costas, do not panic we have the perfect solution! June 6th  will be Sundown Sunday, there will be some great music on the terrace and enjoy a selection of tapas in the sun along with a sangria or two — Olé! Not to mention we will find somewhere for some of the golf bandits to hang their sombreros! 

Lastly, we have arranged our first lunch event for Father’s Day, if you would like to book a table speak to a member of the team or email [email protected]. 

Announcing Arkley

Charity Get Golfing CIO is excited to announce that it has agreed a 25-year lease with property company, U+I plc to take over the running of Arkley Golf Club, near Barnet in Hertfordshire.

Arkley joins Get Golfing’s stable of clubs including nearby Mill Green, which sits between Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, Warley Park in Essex, Surrey clubs Hampton Court Palace and Pyrford Lakes, Redlibbets in Kent, The Bristol in the West Country and Sherfield Oaks in Hampshire.

Situated in close proximity to the M1, M25 and A1 on the outskirts of Barnet, Arkley Golf Club is a beautiful par-69 course laid out by celebrated golfer and course architect James Braid and further improved by the legendary course designer Harry Colt. The tree-lined, 9-hole course has 18 distinct tee boxes and provides an enjoyable challenge for golfers of every level.

Get Golfing CEO Edward Richardson says, “Arkley is a special golf club with an important place in the development of golf in Britain, so we are delighted to be involved in returning the club and course to its former glory. We would encourage anyone who loves golf to try Arkley, it is a historic course and a very welcoming venue to relax after a game of golf.

“We are also immensely proud that the current operator, U+I Golf Limited, has chosen us to continue their good work. Director John Weir is a hugely respected figure in the golf industry and to get his endorsement means a lot to all the team at Get Golfing.”

The change in management also means that Arkley members will now be able to access other clubs in the Get Golfing group at great rates and will benefit from a range of market-leading discounts on drinks, food and golf equipment. They will also be able to enter some of Get Golfing’s fantastic competitions, such as Get Golfing’s Society Masters and its Order of Merit series for members, called The Race to Le Touquet, which in addition to offering the opportunity to win golf trips, comes with a fantastic array of prizes.

Club Captain Kaz Donald told Arkley members in the club’s April newsletter that the handover was “a real positive” for the club: “President David and I have met Edward Richardson and we were very impressed. His passion for golf, and the future, is palpable… I do believe that the future is bright!”

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Pro News

From Russell Killington, PGA ProI would like to give you another reminder about your free, Members’ group lessons that are on Mondays from 2.00pm to 3.00pm — alternating weekly between men and ladies. The sign-up sheets are in the golf office.  

The ladies have really taken up this offer but the men’s group has been a bit smaller in numbers. The next men’s lesson is on Monday, June 14th at 2.00pm and it would be good to see some new faces. Happy golfing. 

 

From Wayne Selley, PGA Pro: Congratulations to Phil Michelson for winning the USPGA Championships at Kiawah Island to bring his major tally to six and to become the oldest golfer to win a major. So, for all our seasoned golfers out there — there is still time! 

The thing I found hard to get my head round whilst watching the championships was that the 30 acres of sand on the course is classed as waste areas and not bunkers. This meant that players were allowed to ground their club, remove loose impediments and even make practice swings. However, that did not mean that players were allowed to improve their lie or conditions as the course had to be played as it was found. I am sure there were a few interesting lies that the players had to play from.  

If you are struggling with your bunker play, then try these few simple tips: 

  • Use 56-degree or 58-degree sand wedge 
  • Line your feet up left of the target 
  • Line your club up slightly right of the target with an open club face 
  • Swing the club along the line of your feet 
  • Hit the sand two inches behind the ball 
  • FOLLOW THROUGH to the finish like any other shot 

Special offer: 25% off any bunker lesson booked in the month of June.  

Juniors: We still have spaces available for our half-term junior coaching day on Tuesday, June 2nd from 9am to 2pm. Please phone on 07813822842 for more information. 

Proshop News

Demo Days

It brings me great pleasure to announce Demo Days will be coming to Get Golfing sites throughout the summer. With Premium brands including TaylorMade, Callaway, Cobra, Srixon, Wilson; get fitted for the latest and greatest!

Warley Park has confirmed demo days for the following manufacturers:

Alternatively please contact Nick directly at [email protected] or call 01474 554960 for available slots.

 

New Brands in the Proshop

  • Ecco Golf Shoes – Blending on-course performance with off-course style / Premium comfort and Henrik Stenson representing as their new ambassador.
  • Duca Del Cosma Shoes – All new Nappa Leather Golf Shoes. The Belair is an award winning shoe from Golf Monthly Editors Choice for 2020!
  • Srixon Golf Clubs – Tee off with the Srixon ZX5 driver that Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters with. All new hardware available now.

 

June Promotions

  • Buy a Cleveland Zipcore Wedge and receive 6 Srixon Z Star Golf Balls completely free!

 

  • Purchase a Wilson Staff Grip Plus glove and receive a 2 Ball Sleeve of Wilson Duo+