Welcome to the last newsletter of 2023. Christmas is only 3 weeks away now and the Clubhouse and Function Suite are decorated and ready for the Christmas Parties we have booked in over the next couple of weeks. The Members’ Christmas Party is due to be held on Saturday 9th December and is open to all Members and their guests. The ticket price of £10 includes Pie, Chips and Peas and entertainment. Thank you to the Men’s Committee who are paying for the disco again this year. This is fantastic value for money, so please support the Club and your fellow members by purchasing your tickets from the Pro Shop or the Clubhouse.
England Golf & Yorkshire Union Fees
England Golf and The Yorkshire Union have announced an increase in their fees for 2024. This fee is currently included in your membership tariff and we do not intend to increase the membership rates to cover the additional cost.
Course
The months of October and November have been extremely wet, experiencing a high level of rainfall which has proved challenging — plus the addition of frost and snow just before the publication of this newsletter. Our Course Manager will touch on this in his update, but it would be amiss of me not to remind everyone to take additional care in protecting the course for the enjoyment of all throughout the off-season.
Buggies
Buggies (private or otherwise) are not currently allowed on the Fairways or the Greens. This is to prevent unnecessary damage, particularly following a number if incidents. All buggies must stay to the tracks where possible. This decision is reviewed on a day-to-day basis by the Course Manager and will be relayed by the Pro Shop and on our social channels/website.
All owners of private buggies MUST report to the Pro shop before going out onto the course. You will receive a course update and be asked to sign a disclaimer. You will be challenged if you are found to be using your buggy on the fairways or greens. We do not currently charge the owners of private buggies to use them on the course, but this is being brought under review following damage being caused.
Memberships
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.
I have introduced a number of new memberships offers for 2023/2024, including a Ladies Pathway membership and the reintroduction of a number of Young Adult memberships covering the age range from of 22 to 30 years old. I have also reduced the cost of the Junior Memberships.
Winter Membership
This year 2023/2024 we have introduced a Winter membership. The membership runs from November to the end of March 2024. The recent wet weather has caused a number of our neighboring courses to close meaning that their members or regular visitors have needed a place to play. This membership provides them with an affordable solution. We will always welcome visitors and societies to the club and accommodate their needs where possible. This membership type can be joined on a pro-rata basis if signing up later than November.
Trackman
The Trackman system calibration and testing has been completed by the Trackman team, bringing us (finally) into the official operating period. The installation of bay heaters and an outdoor display screen will continue to elevate the experience for all users — the screen will be used mainly for displaying Trackman tournament results and leaderboards. Please note that the range is now covered by CCTV to act as a theft deterrant and allow us to monitor any damage or issues.
We are starting to see an increase in the numbers of golfers using Trackman, particularly during the evenings. However, the majority of these users are visitors and not members. Approximately 18 months ago, when I first came to the club, I was asked in a committee meeting when the membership was likely to see improvements made to the driving range. Here we are, 18 months later, having spent over £70,000 on upgrading the facility finding that very few of the membership actually use it. I’m sure you agree this is quite disappointing.
Trackman is a fantastic facility. It is versatile and caters for golfers or all ages and capabilities. There are a number of children’s games on there that can be used by families and these are an excellent introduction to Golf. Food and refreshments are also available. Our Professionals and shop staff are there to assist you. We have listened and upgraded the facility so please take the time to use it.
Disciplinary Investigation
The management team were recently made aware of an incident that took place on the course during November. An investigation was launched and has recently concluded. The Management team take all allegations of discriminatory and threatening behaviour seriously. Please can I remind you that the disciplinary code for the course applies to all members and visitors. Our staff are expected to uphold the same high standards.
Christmas Booking
The Club will only be closed on Christmas Day. Booking times for members are now available from Boxing Day to the 1st January 2024 (if booking over 8 days in advance, you will need to do this via the Pro Shop).
Lastly, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous and successful 2024. Thank you for continuing to support Bondhay Golf Club. I am looking forward to seeing you all at the Christmas party.
Lisa Hardisty
Managing Director
I would like to start by thanking everyone who braved the weather on my Drive In! Well done to you all, I hope you’ve dried out by now. I would also like to extent my thanks to the outgoing captain Carl Hough for the seamless handover to myself and my Vice Captain Mark Highfield. Carl raised lots of money for the Dementia Society who will be grateful for his support.
As many of you are aware, My chosen charity is the Ashgate Hospice. In an effort to capture additional funds, the Captain’s Charity Pond is now back in action just before the 18th green. For those that unfortunately land in the water, a suggested donation of £1.00 is in place. Throughout the year it is my intension to run fundraising events starting with the Captain’s Charity Raffle, tickets are now on sale from the Pro Shop or Bar and the grand draw will be held at the Christmas Party on Saturday 9th December. Prizes include 2 x christmas hampers and 6 bottles of wine. Please be generous and good luck to all that enter!
Please don’t be surprised if I turn up and join you on the tee over the course of my Captaincy. I’m not the best golfer but I do enjoy meeting people and I hope you will be one of them, I want you find me very approachable so please at anytime just stop me and say hi.
Roy Cullis
Club Captain
Firstly, can I thank all the members who attended the AGM. All had the opportunity to ask whatever questions they felt appropriate and the Committee did their upmost to either answer or take away and respond later. The AGM minutes are now on the notice board for all to read.
We believe future success at Bondhay Golf Club can be greatly enhanced if we promote club inclusivity across the sections. Once again, we have reshaped the Committee thus improving alignment and communication. The “Club Committee” will now represent all sections including Ladies, Seniors, Juniors, and Men’s section. The Committee will consist of Bondhay Director/Management, Secretary/Treasury, Handicap Secretary, Club Captain, Seniors representative, Ladies representative, Course Manager and Club Professional. All sections will be invited to the quarterly meetings. The team’s knowledge and input will be help drive our club forward.
Over the few months I will be organising the following:
And finally “The Christmas Dinner and Dance” will be on Saturday 9th December so please support and bring your family and friends, it will be a great evening.
Mark Highfield
Secretary
Let me start by thanking you all for your support not only to me, but also to my staff, Tom, Reece and our new addition Clive. It has been a tough year for golf with the weather not knowing what it’s doing from day to day, even in the summer months.
We now have a fully stocked Shop with the latest winter attire such as bobble hats, winter mitts, snoods, fleece sweaters, waterproof jackets, winter trousers plus much more. We have a selection of Under Armour and Penguin golf shirts left in stock now with 20% off for December so pop down or send your love ones for a last minute stocking filler. In stock is a small range of Island Green Autumn and winter ladies wear.
If we don’t have anything in stock which you would like, please don’t hesitate to ask myself or a member of staff and we will try do our best to get it in for you.
We get asked a lot about Titleist golf balls and I’m currently discussing a ball contract with them to launch in March 2024.
We had our first demo day with PING back in November, which was a hit and popular with members. Next year the plan is to hold more demo days with additional suppliers such as TaylorMade, Srixon and Titleist (which are in talks as we speak).
Tom and Reece did exceptionally well playing this year in their tournaments and both are leading the way in the Notts Alliance Winter Series and Bondhay are currently leading the order of merit.
I’m currently looking at running a winter Matchplay knockout over 9 holes of your choice on the Trackman, this will be run as per the summer Matchplay rules at an entry fee of £5.00.
Trackman has been a new edition for members and we hosted a golfer non golfer on the Aces Par 3 course and it was very successful and well supported so keep an eye out on our socials for the next event, perfect if your at a loose end on a Friday evening.
We’ve been running Beat The Pro’s score on Trackman Bullseye, but unfortunately no one has beat Tom or Myself. At the time of writing on 27th of November, it is Reece’s turn so come along and have a go if you think you’re good enough. A longest drive competition has been running throughout November and a new one will be starting in December so on those boring dark nights swap Coronation Street and EastEnders for a session on your floodlit Trackman Range.
May I take this opportunity from myself, Tom, Reece and Clive to wish you all a Merry Christmas and good golfing new year for 2024.
Barry Hurt
Head PGA Pro
I hope you’ve all had a excellent season despite the weather through the summer and autumn. I’m keeping everything crossed for a better season next year. Can I just remind you how important it is to respect the Winter Rules and especially to repair pitch marks. This time of year if a pitch mark is not repaired immediately it will make recovery take much longer and potentially not recover until spring, making putting surfaces worse. Roped areas are there to keep trolleys and buggys from causing wear in the main playing areas. If using any type of ride-on vehicle (not just buggies), you need to ask the Pro Shop for the daily rules and updates. Hopefully we can get through winter without having to restrict the use of ride-ons.
The weather through October and November has made it impossible for us to get out with mowers and leaf collecting machinery most days, and using hand blowers has been very time consuming. Hopefully we will get a break from the wet weather and pick some of the cutting jobs back up. Tree felling will continue through the winter, followed by stump grinding.
Bunkers are currently optional G.U.R. again. As the weather takes a turn for the better (touch wood) we will try and get these back in play. Bunker edges have been stimmed and flymo’d, had debris removed, have been raked and new sand added where needed. While the weather has been so extreme, I’d sooner focus work hours on tree removal and greens health. Most of the leaves have now dropped so work to remove them will continue. As always if anyone wants to know more please contact me through the Office.
Lastly I’d just like to say thankyou for the continued support from staff, members and visitors and from me and the rest of the Greens Team, I’d like to wish you all a Merry Xmas and Happy New Golfing Season.
Ellis Wilson
Course Manager
Like many departments across the Club at this time of year, my time is being spent putting things in place for a busy festive season and prepping for the return of a busy spring and summer. It’s worth bringing to your attention some of the key things happening throughout December:
December Events
Moving on, November saw the annual handover between the Club Captain to the Captain-elect, so I send my thanks and best wishes to Carl Hough and the best of luck to Roy Cullis. The Management Team and I are already working closely with Roy on a number of exciting changes during his Captaincy year.
I’m incredibly proud that Bondhay was named Turnaround Club of the Year at the 2023 Club Awards! This is incredible testament to the hard work and dedication of each and every member of the Bondhay Team after going through a period of great change, plus our Members for embracing the improvements and helping us to promote and embrace the positive changes. So a huge thank you to our team and all of our members and customers. At the same awards, we narrowly missed out on Golf Club of the Year and found ourselves nominated on the night for Website of the Year.
Earlier this year we were named Golf Club of the Year at the Yorkshire Prestige Awards. The official presentation for this award will be taking place at Hazlewood Castle in December where the Managers from each department and our Club Captain will be in attendance.
I am keen that we continue to build the community at the Club over the next year, so if you have any ideas or requests in terms of events, socials etc, please do get in touch.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Josh Clarke
Marketing Manager
