Welcome to the Bondhay Newsletter, which is intended to bring you up to date on any changes that have occurred or will occur at the Club in the coming months. It is intended that the newsletter will be circulated bi-monthly, including updates from our Head Pro Barry Hurt and Head Greenkeeper Ellis Wilson. I will also be inviting our Club Captains, Committee Chair Mark Highfield and Handicap Secretary Roy Cullis to provide their updates in future editions.
Firstly, I would like to thank you for your continued support over the last 8 months. We have seen a significant increase in the cost of goods (food, refreshments and shop goods) and a 600% increase in our electricity bill. This has resulted in us having to increase our prices in the Bar, Shop and for our Memberships. However in this time we have started to renovate the Clubhouse and make changes to our menus etc. which will hopefully benefit our members in the future.
Please continue to support the Club in 2023 by making use of our facilities and embracing the positive changes.
The 2023 Membership rates have recently been published. The difficult decision was made to increase the tariffs by 20% due to a number of the factors mentioned above. However, we have now included an OAP 7-day Membership, Joint Membership and a Family Membership. Society and Hospitality Rates have also seen an increase.
Yorkshire Union and England Golf subs are now included in your membership. Details about these subscriptions can be found on our notice boards outside the Pro Shop.
We have recently upgraded our membership to GolfNow/BRS. This system will allow you to access details of your membership, payment details, make payments and more, all from an app on your mobile phone. You will also be able to see what tee times are available on each day. We are currently moving our membership details from our old system to the new one, so please ensure that the details we have for you are correct, which can be updated by emailing memberships@bondhaygolfclub.com. Our long-term plan is to allow you to book your own tee times on the app.
You will have likely seen our Head Greenkeeper Ellis Wilson out on the course most days. From 30th January, Ellis will take a more strategic role which will allow him the time to plan the work required on the courses, further train and develop our current greenkeepers, research products to assist in keeping the greens and fairways in good condition, and conduct the required health and safety checks.
A tree surgeon is working with the Green Staff at the end of January to take out approximately 45 trees and cut back the canopies. This will free up the team to work on other parts of the course, with the Surgeon continuing to work alongside the Greens team on a monthly basis. It is intended that some of the logs will be bagged up and offered for sale to our customers.
We have recently launched our Winter Menu, adding new items such as chicken wings, fish & chips and stew & Yorkshire puddings, plus delicious Sunday lunches served from 12 noon every week. Our food is freshly made using locally sourced produce and we have improved the quality and presentation significantly. I hope that you will continue to support the kitchen and bar in 2023.
This year we are celebrating Mother’s Day in style, serving a three-course menu with free gifts for all the Mothers. Food will be served in the newly refurbished function room. Members receive a 10% discount on the total bill. We are taking bookings from 12 noon. All welcome. Please refer to posters around the Club or social media for more information and the menu.
A number of members have asked for Sky TV in the Bar and Function Room. Sky have informed us that we can have access to their channels for £600 a month, basing their calculation on the rentable value of the business. Unfortunately, I cannot justify spending £600 a month on Sky at this time.
The Bar and Pro Shop’s till system has undergone an upgrade that will soon allow you to use any vouchers against hospitality, clothing and accessories. This will also make it easier for any future discount schemes to be offered to Members using a membership card. The migration is still in place between systems at this current time and updates will be provided when available.
A new car park barrier has been purchased and installed. Fobs are available to purchase in the Pro Shop. Alternatively, the code is available from the Bar and the Pro Shop on a day-to-day basis.
In 2022, a juice buggy was purchased for use on the course, equipped for selling hot and cold items. It will be staffed on busy days by one of our Pro’s who will move around the course offering hot pasties and sausage rolls, confectionary, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, tea, Bovril, and freshly made soup. Please support the use of the buggy by purchasing goods while on the course so we can continue to offer this service. Members can request the use of the buggy for any events that they are involved in planning.
The Club’s large function room has recently been refurbished and saw use throughout December hosting a number of Christmas parties and weddings. The room is now the perfect place for all types of events such as Weddings, Parties, Christenings, Baby Showers and more, as well as continuing to be used official Club events. A range of food options is on offer, from a formal sit-down meal to a finger buffet and can accommodate 120 for a sit-down meal and 200-250 for an evening reception/party.
We are in the process of creating a bespoke brochure to advertise the function room to Club stakeholders and further afield.
Our intention is to renovate and refurbish the Clubhouse in 2023. We have already started renovating the corridors leading up to the Clubhouse and clearing out some of the clutter that has accumulated over the last couple of years. The aim is to make the Clubhouse comfortable and welcoming for our members and our guests. This work will be started over the next few months.
Lockers & Driving Range
I am aware that the Driving Range and the Men’s Locker Room are in need of refurbishment. This will take place at some point in the near future, however other more pressing issues have had to take priority such as replacing equipment in the kitchen, replacing and repairing several pieces of machinery used by the Green Staff, and the new barrier and till system. Further updates will be provided in future newsletters.
A new website for the Club has recently been commissioned, which will host a direct link to BRS and a dedicated member’s section. An online shop will offer the opportunity for increased exposure of the Pro Shop and allow people to purchase clothing, footwear and accessories with delivery to your home address or collection from the Pro Shop. The new site will come fully responsive and be regularly maintained, which will be a huge step up from the existing one.
You may have met our new Marketing Manager, Josh, whose role is to continue to increase our visibility through a number of outlets and within the community, whilst updating the corporate identity of Bondhay. Our aim is to attract new business and returning business to the Club. If you have any thoughts or comments, you can reach Josh on marketing@bondhaygolfclub.com.
I’d invite you to follow us on Facebook and Instagram if you don’t already:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bondhaygolf
Instagram: @bondhaygolfclub
A suggestion box has now been placed on the corridor wall opposite the Pro Shop. Please feel free to leave any constructive feedback in this box or alternatively (and my preferred option) come in and speak to me when you are at the Club. All feedback placed in the box should have your name and contact details on it so I can contact you to discuss your comments.
Our aim is to promote positivity at the Club, in person and online. I am aware that a minority of our members do very little to promote the changes at the Club and their feedback is destructive, not constructive. This isn’t helpful and I encourage you to work with us for positive change.
We have recently experienced a number of people who have been playing on the course(s) after their membership has expired. All golfers (Devonshire and Academy Course) must pay the appropriate green fee before playing, or renew their membership.
Score cards must only be submitted when you have played the course. Any player found to be fraudulently submitting cards will be reported to England Golf.
Please do not go in the Clubhouse in your Golf shoes. Leave them at the door or change into an alternative clean shoes before entering the Clubhouse.
Please rake the bunkers, repair your pitch marks and replace your divots on each hole. This applies to members, members’ guests and visitors. Our Green Staff work hard to maintain the course and it is important that you all follow these very basic rules to preserve the Course for everyone’s benefit.
Finally… I would like to thank you all for your support over the last few months. I hope that you will continue to support the Club and staff during 2023.
Lisa Hardisty - Managing Director
