From Mike Rees, Golf Manager: Welcome to the September newsletter. We hope you are all well and enjoying your golf!
General news
It has been another busy month at Redlibbets with excellent feedback regarding the condition of the course and the level of service and quality of food served. As ever, please contact me (via [email protected]) if you need to discuss any aspect of your membership.
General trading
While we have all experienced a rise in the numbers playing golf since the partial lifting of the lockdown in May, much of Redlibbets’ historical trading has come from food and drink sales, as well as the events and functions side of the business, so overall trading has remained challenging to say the least.
Get Golfing, however, sees Redlibbets as a key site and will be investing in it significantly over the coming years. That said, any support Members can give to the staff and Club in the meantime would be greatly appreciated. For example, it would be a great help if Members could make sure they regularly use the kitchen and bar offerings and could introduce their golfing friends to membership of Redlibbets as well. If you use the Member referral programme, you will receive 10% of the new Member’s first-year subscription as a credit on your bar card.
Future development plans
Planning has been obtained for a new entrance and the design and pricing is with contractors with a view to work commencing in the first quarter of 2021.
Competitions
The competitions have been coming thick and fast with the Race to Le Touquet being well supported. The winners of the Race to Le Touquet Order of Merit majors so far are: Karen Taylor (St George’s Day Cup), Peter Huntley (Foundation Cup) and William Boys (OCO Cup). There was also an excellent turnout for our Club Championships over the weekend August 28th-29th. A round-up from that weekend will appear in next month’s letter.
The series features seven events, with points allocated depending on the position each player finishes. The winners of the men’s and ladies’ Order of Merit will win an all-expenses paid trip to the 2021 Le Touquet Amateur Classic next August and includes travel on Eurotunnel, five nights’ accommodation and entry into the 72-hole competition.
Food and drink news
Summer Specials: We might have experienced some unseasonal weather recently but September is upon us and good weather is around the corner again. Our clubhouse may be closed but Afternoon Tea on the Terrace and the Savoury Platter — both provided by Head Chef James Hopcroft and his colleagues — are still available. Contact [email protected] for more information. And please don’t forget we continue to offer a varied menu from the BBQ/grill and don’t forget to check the weekly specials board.
Course news
From Richard Covey, Course Manager: Maintenance week took place in August, which I talked about in the previous newsletter, and we also completed our redevelopment of the 9th tee, which we hope will enhance golfers’ enjoyment of their round. The tee’s position has been relocated to the low-lying area adjacent to the rear of the 8th green, giving the golfer an easier journey to the next hole.
The work undertaken has been to raise the teeing surfaces from the base of the 9th bank for both black and white markers as well as the individual gold positions, though not to the same elevation. The surfaces have been relaid by using turf taken from the existing 9th teeing area, this process will reduce the time of reestablishment to ensure the new tee is playable as soon as possible.
A footpath has been constructed to the black and white teeing location to ensure a comfortable climb, with a buggy parking area to be positioned at the base of the footpath to allow for parking and turning.
The two teeing surfaces have had their height of cut lowered and have been top dressed by hand to work the level of the tee to a playable standard. The tees will continue to be lowered in height and we hope for the tee to be ready for Club Championship weekend.
We also hope that once the new tee is open for play, the redevelopment will increase the pleasure of golfers’ rounds. A plan is currently being formulated to redevelop other tees with the intent of furthering the playing enjoyment at Redlibbets Golf Club.
We’ve had a new roller for a few months now and it has made a huge difference in green speeds and trueness of the putting surface. Get Golfing has also invested in a host of new machines, which you will see in action around the course. These include a Cushman with top dresser and sprayer attachment, a Toro sidewinder to help us cut around the new bunkers and a Jacobsen Eclipse tees/approach mower, which has made a big difference in the quality of cut.
Pro news
The new and improved Redlibbets Junior Academy has now been launched! A few weeks in and we are seeing a good uptake from the sessions but, of course, we would love to see as many juniors as possible.
It is a three-stage progress Academy with a beginner group, intermediate group and elite group. The beginner group — The Pars — is run by Olivia and is for newbies to the game to get them ready to play on-course golf.
The intermediate group — The Birdies — is run by George and is for juniors ready for the golf course to gain a handicap and get their handicap down for the Elite group.
The Elite Group is run by George and Jerri and this group is to get juniors ready to compete on a club and county level.
It would be great to see all our juniors and their friends at the Academy, as we know golf is one of the safest ways to exercise in the current situation, so why not give our academy a go! Please refer to the accompanying artwork for more information on session timings.
If you would like more information regarding the academy, please contact [email protected]
Free Members’ Group Session: The free group session is back and it promises to improve your game! Every Thursday one of our professionals will be giving up an hour of their time to make sure your game is in a great place. The sessions will be different every week and will cover all areas of the game.
We anticipate that demand will be high because of the current Coronavirus situation (along with the fact that we now have more than 800 members), so we would ask you to limit yourself to one session a month. Please book the session via [email protected].
George’s Monthly Money Maker: Coaching Team Leader George Lings is going to give you little Friday night reading, ready for the weekend to help you take money from your golfing buddies! This month’s is all about practicing and how you can make it more efficient:
Hi all,
I see a lot of people on the range, practice area and putting green hitting balls, chips and putts but no one looks like they are using their time effectively. This FREE guide will help you to improve your practice habits and allow you to get more out of a practice session, which should then improve your scores on the course. As a professional, I will always practice this way and so should you. Click here below to enjoy the read. Let me know if you have any questions.
Online pro shop
Towards the end of the year, we will have our own online golf shop, which will enable members to buy their golf merchandise direct using their club cards and receive the relevant discounts that go with their membership category. Merchandise (including Club logo apparel) will be delivered to their home or on a click-and-collect basis at the Club. Get Golfing is confident that this will mean that members at Redlibbets will receive outstanding value on their purchases and, if we may borrow a term, “never be knowingly undersold”. More information will become available in due course.