Club News

From Albert Sinfield, Golf Manager: It has been fantastic to see you all at the club recently, enjoying the course and the clubhouse and terrace. We hope you are happy with the reopening of the clubhouse and the environment we have created in the bar area. We are not going to rest on our laurels, however, and will be taking the menus in a new direction to further improve the food on offer. We are currently looking to recruit a head chef to join the team and we hope to have this position filled coming weeks.  

Anne and the team have been working on bring our local community to the club, but not for golf! Throughout the summer we have been running a community dog walk on the first Thursday of each month. The event has gone from strength to strength with new dogs arriving each week. These walks start at the clubhouse and walk around our grounds and surrounding footpaths, finishing back in the bar/terrace for a well-deserved drink for all.  

Pitch marks: We have seen a lot of unrepaired pitch marks on the greens recently and we would encourage all golfers to repair their pitch mark alongside others they may see while playing. To help combat this issue, we have asked our marshalling team to assist in pointing out pitch marks to golfers and to lend a helping hand in repairing those that have been missed. They will also stress the importance of mending them before you start your round. 

Divoting: We run a very tight team of greenkeepers here, with very high standards of golf course maintenance to keep up. With this in mind, we are holding a ‘divoting evening’ on Monday, September 13th from 5pm–6.30pm for volunteers to spend an hour and a half out on the course with the Redlibbets team completing some light work filling in divots and repairing pitch marks. We will finish work with a drink in the clubhouse or on the terrace if the weather permits. For those interested in helping us for the evening, please see the sign-up sheet located on the noticeboard outside the men’s changing rooms. We look forward to seeing you there. 

We held the members Q&A on Thursday 12th August 2021 with Get Golfing CEO, Ed Richardson. The evening was well attended with some great discussion. Thank you to the members that attending the evening and thank you to those that raised questions and discussion. Please see below points raised and discussed:  

• Bunkers, rubber lining breaking away and general condition not great – The bunker project was a success. We took advantage of the first lockdown and invested large amounts of money in refurbishing the bunkers across the golf course. We realise we have fallen short in the maintenance of these bunkers since completing the work and have now put plans in place to change the processes and general upkeep of bunkers going forward. We will continue to review the bunker maintenance process throughout the season.  
• Bunkers on the 5th / 18th – The project will be completed in November 2021. We plan to refurbish the bunkers to mirror previous bunker refurbishment. We anticipate the bunkers being back in play March 2022.   
• Tee box markers – need replacing / painted / new ends – We will order new marker ends and have these added ASAP.  
• Was the 17th measured from back tee during new SLOPE?  – Awaiting confirmation from the county.  
• New slope rating – need to be placed on notice board – the 9th hole is listed incorrect on WHS / England golf web site. – Completed 13th August 2021 
• Post and rope on 13th teeing ground to stop cars parking – We will investigate ways of stopping cars parking on the grass in front of the tee box.  
• Pro’s at the end of the range – We have asked pro’s not to park at the end of the range. 

Course News

From Damon Kirk, Course Manager: August has been an extremely busy month, especially in the run up to the Club Championships. We have been working endlessly to bring all playing surfaces to the standard expected for such an occasion. A constant regime of mowing has given the course a more defined appearance and brought out the true quality of the landscape. 

We will continue with our planned improvement operation straight after the competition has been completed by overseeding the greens with bent grass. As there is a high percentage of Annual Meadow grass within the sward (this is the species which produces seed heads throughout the year, making it an undesirable inhabitant), we would like to increase the population of bent grass, which has a higher disease tolerance, better colour and is better adapted to the changing climate. 

It is extremely important that we maintain the greens surfaces all year round to a high standard in order to facilitate play. During the autumn and winter months greens have a higher susceptibility to disease (Microdochium or Fusarium Patch), so, with a higher population of bent grass, we should have a better chance of controlling disease and reducing unsightly scars evident in previous years. 

The tees have already received a deep, double verti-cut and an aeration with a ¼-inch hollow tine to a shallow depth of 30mm in order to remove thatch that has accumulated. A medium application of top dressing was applied to improve levels and fill the pores created by this procedure. They have now recovered and are looking great for the competition. 

As soon as the Club Championships have concluded and the overseeding completed, we will be preparing for the Masters on September 18th. This again will be a challenge, but nothing will stop us from bringing you a course setup that will inspire all taking part.  

Staff News

We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff to the team. Max Rutherford recently joined in the position of Trainee Golf Manager. Max spent the three years before the lockdown hit at the University of Birmingham studying Applied Golf Management Studies, subsequently he gained a BSc degree. At university, Max completed his training to become a PGA Professional but decided to concentrate on becoming a general manager of a golf club one day. Max has previously worked at Canterbury Golf Club and Cruden Bay Golf Club as part of his placements over the summers. Over the recent pandemic, Max was a key worker, working in Asda in Canterbury for the duration of the lockdowns.  

Good luck Mike: Redlibbets’ Golf Assistant Manager Mike Rees won’t be taking to his desk as usual on Sunday, September 12th but, no, he’s not taking a well-earned day off! Mike will be taking part in the Brighton Marathon — 26.2 miles around the city’s roads and promenade, raising vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK. 

Across the UK 

• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. 
• More than 47,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year or 129 men every day. 
• Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer, more than 11,500 men every year. 
• One in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. 
• Around 400,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer. 

Mike, a keen cricketer, who has run the Brighton event three times before — as well as London Marathon seven times — says: “Many things in life you can’t effect but here’s one I can. Believe me, every pound raised to help fight this disease proves vital. The body constantly aches but that is nothing compared to the fact that more than 100 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in men in the UK every day. Yes, that’s 100! For sure I will be in pain sometimes, but I will get through it. I know I will and in the knowledge that I am doing my little bit to raise a few pounds. Anything you could offer to support the great work of Prostate Cancer UK would be greatly appreciated. Every penny helps – thanks!” 

You can support Mike and contribute by visiting his JustGiving fund-raising page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mikerees2019 or please feel free to catch him at the club to offer a few coins (or a note!) 

Competitions News

The Club Championship was held over the weekend of August 28th-29th and was very well supported. We had two fantastic days of golf with great golf played by all. We see Elliott Dole lift the trophy on Sunday afternoon with a final two round score of 138 winning the event. We also see Ben Robins play an impressive weekends golf winning the Nett competition with a score of 134. 

The weekend saw 21 ladies tee it up in the Club Championship competition with Micah Carroll winning the Gross competition with a two rounds core of 167. Lynett Cook worked her way through the field and was victorious in winning the Nett competition with a two round nett score of 133.  

Please join me in congratulating all participants for an impressive weekends golf and for everyone’s support over the weekend. As a club we hope to make the 2022 Club Championship weekend a bigger event and are looking to hold a BBQ with music on the final day, allowing golfers to watch the final groups fight it out down the final couple of holes. We will issue more details on next year’s event once the 2022 calendar have been finalised.  

The event was the final leg of The Race to Le Touquet and offered us the winning man and lady for the 2021 season. Congratulations to Ben Robins winning the men’s competition with 430 points and Jane Gibbs winning the ladies competition with 620 points. We look forward to hosting you in Le Touquet in 2022 for a golf trip to remember.  

Join me in congratulating the winners of the events ran throughout August.  

• August 18th: Silver Hares Fransham Trophy — David Clark  
• August 14th: Foundation Cup — Trenton Bridge  
• August 12th: Men’s Midweek stableford — Michael O’Connell  
• August 10th: All members 55 and over August Stableford — Michael Hawkins  
• August 8th: Men’s Sunday Medal — Chris Stevens  
• August 7th: Men’s Saturday Medal — Toby Martin  
• August 5th: Men’s Midweek Medal — Steve Dixon  
• August 4th: Ladies Midweek Medal — Karen Taylor  

Proshop News

We also have a member buy–back scheme in aid of the charity Mumba Children’s Project. Get Golfing sites are running a member buy–back scheme on all branded golf clothes — and not just your specific club, from anywhere! We are also accepting clubs, balls and bags. These can then be part–exchanged for new logoed apparel with our new club logos. You will shortly receive an email detailing the work this charity does and how you can help us help them. Check out the poster below to see when we are at Redlibbets:

Mumba @ Redlibbets

Community Outreach

From Stuart Williams, Community Development Officer (Education, SEND and Communities), Get Golfing: Hola from a busy Community Events coordinator. 

Work on our Community HUB programme starts this month, which will see us aim to offer a variety of activities at our sites for our local communities and non-traditional visitors.  

We will be using art, music, sport, drama, walking, running, film nights and a host of activities to offer more for both members and visitors and so create some great social interactions in this disconnected age. 

Our NHS Blood & Transplant awareness and recruitment campaign is growing with every visit (see more below from Hampton court). Next stop is Arkley Golf Club on October 3rd when we will also run a great pairs scramble competition that is open to members, guests and visitors. After that it is the turn of Ansty in Coventry on October 30th.  

The NHS desperately needs more donors. Please don’t be put off if you offer and they give you an appointment in a few months. They have to manage demand peaks, blood types and are still under-strength themselves as they return from Covid. You really will be doing something amazing and thanks to those members who already donate. 

Hampton Court gives blood: Our national partners NHS Blood & Transplant had a great recruitment day at our stunning Hampton Court site. They recruited more than 45 new donors, enlightened lots of people as to their blood type and spoke to a host of amazing people who already donate to help people they will never meet. Thanks to David and the team at Hampton Court for their support of this event. 

Community Partners: We are now taking nominations for local community groups that could do with help and we are also selecting our partner primary and special schools. Please do get in touch if you would like to suggest a small local charity or community group or school that we could help in 2022. 

Memory walks: We are hosting a series of Memory Walks for the Alzheimer’s Society around our beautiful sites and it would be great if you are free to join us at The Club at Mill Green, near Welwyn Garden City, on September 18th at 4pm, or at Redlibbets in Kent on September 19th at 3pm. 

You can find your nearest event at alzheimers.org.uk/memory-walk or you can set up your own. We are looking to raise funds to beat this horrible disease but also to create a lovely social event for people to chat and enjoy our sites. Everyone is welcome and we ask for a £5 donation for adults but nothing from children and dogs. We will have a 5km and 2.5 km route that will start and finish at the clubhouses. 

Exemplar local partnership: The Club at Mill Green is supporting Music 24, which does amazing work through music to bring smiles to dementia sufferers plus their carers, and creates amazing social interactions for those of us who are lonely. To find our more visit https://www.music24.org.uk. 

All this amazing group needed was a space to meet on a Monday afternoon every two weeks to bring sunshine and smiles to those suffering from dementia. We are happy to give them it free of charge. 

If you know of any local groups that need a free space to use, help expanding their provision or raising awareness of their work, we would be happy to help. Please contact [email protected]. 

Also, in September, we will be launching our Adopt a School programme, where we identify a local special school and primary school to help unlock their students’ potential. We will host a series of golfing, music, art and drama opportunities at our sites to allow their students to shine. 

Walking the Dog: Hopefully by now you are aware that all our venues are dog friendly and that you are keeping an eye out for when a great social walk around our sites is taking place at your club. 

Our dog of the month is Ted from Mill Green. Ted likes sitting down, sniffing, and listening to loud music. If you email me a picture of your dog at the golf course or on one of our walks, they could be famous. We look forward to next month’s nominations. 

Ideas please: Finally, I would love to hear from you, so please do contact me with any ideas you have for using our sites to do some good. Our venues and staff are our greatest assets, and we want to use them to have a positive impact on our local communities. Please do remember to say “thank you” to your clubhouse team, chefs, green keepers and golf ops as they are doing an amazing job in tricky conditions.  

I look forward to meeting more and more of you on my visits and please do come up and say hello if you see me in your clubhouse. Contact me at [email protected].

Pro News

From George Lings, Assistant PGA Professional: Here are my free and paid for sessions this September. 

FREE 30-minute lesson: Have you recently joined the club? Enjoy a FREE 30-minute lesson with me. Get in touch via email: [email protected] or Whatsapp: 07772660570.  

Wedge Craft Clinic: Come join George Lings, accredited Wedge Craft professional with a short game masterclass. This short game clinic will show you the concepts of hitting wedge shots around the green and pitching shots. It will give you the basis to perform different trajectory shots from similar setups. We will work on some technical aspects of your motion and help to provide ways to produce spin.  

Hosted by Redlibbets Golf and Country Club on Friday, September 24th from 1pm-4pm, at the cost of only £50pp! For more information or to book contact George via email: [email protected] or Whatsapp: 07772660570. 

Junior Golf Camp: Happy that the children are back at school!? Well you can hand them over to our Junior Camp for a day in the October half term too! A fun four hours with DBS-checked Pro George Lings. Lots of games and fun activities, certificate of achievement and progression into the Redlibbets Junior Academy.  

The camp takes place on Thursday, October 28th from 10am to 2pm at the price of £35 per child, which includes lunch. For more information or to book contact George email: [email protected] or Whatsapp: 07772660570. 

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