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Club News

From Paul Moger, interim Golf Manager: 

Well, what a horrible May weather wise we have had. There has been more rainfall in May than in the last four months. which caused us to make decisions to protect the course. 

Firstly, by restricting buggy use, followed by course closure and then by only opening nine holes. These decisions are not made lightly and are the result of discussions between the Course Manager and management.  

Hopefully, June is going to bring us a long overdue dry and warm spell and we can all return to playing golf. Dave and his crew work tirelessly as ever trying to present you with a great golf course. I would also like to thank Lance, Errol, Ken and Paul, our marshals for keeping play going and being out there in all weathers. 

On a personal note, I will be leaving The Bristol on Friday, May 28th, and leave the General Manager’s role to Henry Alliss, who is an exceptional manager and brings a wealth of experience to the club. He is very knowledgeable and has great plans for the future of the club. 

I have enjoyed my time at the club and believe there is a great synergy within the staff and wish them all the best going forward. Things are really going to be exciting at The Bristol and it will soon be a club that will be the envy of clubs around. 

Thank you, Paul. 

Course News

From Dave Taylor, Courses Manager: As I started my last newsletter with excitement about the onset of rain after such a long dry period. I write this in hope that we have seen enough from the heavens!  

To date in May, we have had more rain than the combined totals of February, March and April all put together. We are running at more than 140mm of rain, or five inches.  Two inches of that came down within three days over May 21st to 24th 

Unfortunately, this meant we had to close the course due to excessively wet ground conditions — it was just not fit, or safe, for play. Thankfully, the forecast for the next couple weeks looks like we are back on track with higher minimal and maximum temperatures.  

The conditions we have experienced through May are typical of what you get in April. The Southwest is usually synonymous with April showers but in that month, we had most days starting under frost and temperatures not rising above 10c, and now we are seeing the usual April weather patterns in May. 

This is something that over the last five years has become more apparent, and really does suggest we are experience climate change. 

On the course we have seen a huge difference with the rise in temperature. The greens are starting to wake up from dormancy and are beginning to sustain their natural growth patterns in line with higher soil temperatures.  

To help kickstart them, we have applied a granular feed that will help thicken out weaker and bobbled areas.  

The bobbling is caused by leatherjackets (Crane Fly larvae), which were a major problem last year as well. Not only does their presence lead to turf loss on greens and tees but where they feed on the roots of the grass leads to a collapse in the affected areas, which in turn leads to bobble on greens. 

We are still in the same predicament regarding their control. At present, there are no safe-for-use amenity turf chemicals that we can use to stop them from hatching and laying. Products that are available have a strict application clause, which states the area has to be closed off to public for minimum five days. That will only work if there is another covid lockdown, and we don’t want that either.  

Many other clubs are suffering with the same issue, which really leaves our industry in a hard place. Our hands are tied behind our back because this is something we have no control over. Add in the cold April, which meant the greens were not growing, and the effect of the leatherjackets has been really heightened.  

To counter this, we have applied multiple 10-tonnes top dressings to the greens to reduce the impact of the bobble and so improve the surface. A total of 30 tonnes of sand has been applied in May, along with a compound fertiliser. Both that and the rise in temperatures should see a vast improvement to the greens in the next couple of months. 

Captains Updates

From Tony Crook, Men’s Captain: The poor weather continues but the spirits are high at the Bristol Golf Club, the knockout matches are progressing nicely and we have the first honours’ board winner for the year — congratulations to Jerry Walker.  

It was decided at the committee meeting this week that the Presentation Evening this year will be a double celebration and both this year’s and last year’s trophies will be presented on the same night. This should be a great night and the newly refurbished St Swithin’s suite is booked for the event.

72-hole Challenge for Captains’ Charity: On Monday, June 21st, I will be doing a 72-hole Golf Challenge to raise money for our Captains’ Charity. I am looking for people to join me for nine holes throughout the day and would like a £25 donation to our Charity for the privilege!

The tee slots are: 

1st: 5:00am – FULL
10th: 7:00am – FULL
1st: 9:00am – 2 Spaces Left
10th: 11:00am – FULL
1st: 1:00pm – 1 Space Left
10th: 3:00pm – 3 Spaces Left
1st: 5:00pm – 1 Space Left
10th: 7:00pm – FULL 

Give me a shout if you are interested in joining me on this day to raise some money for our amazing charity. There are, obviously, only three slots available in each tee slot to make up the fourball. Be quick as they are going very quickly!! 

I will also be selling “guess-my-overall-Stableford-points-for-the-day” for £5 a time. This will range from 100 or less to 150 or more. I will put an entry sheet behind the bar this weekend so you can select your number. There will also be a sponsorship form at the bar for any other donations people would like to make.

Team Golf 

  • First Team: Played 3 – Won 2/Lost 1 
  • Second Team: Played 3 – Won 1/Lost 2 
  • Third Team: Played 1 – Won 0/Lost 1 
  • Stags: Played 2 – Won 2/Lost 0 

Events News

From Gemma Smith, Events Manager: The refurbishment of The St Swithin’s Suite is nearly complete! We just need a spell of dry weather to finish off the outside patio area to include lights, new patio furniture and outside heaters (certainly required at the moment, fingers crossed not for much longer!). Have a sneak peek at our video. 

The diary is filling up fast for events. If you are looking for a venue to hold any of the following celebrations, please drop me an email and I will be more than happy to talk you through our new catering packages: 

  • Birthdays 
  • Christenings 
  • Wedding Receptions 
  • Baby Showers 
  • Anniversary Celebrations 
  • Any off-site meetings you may require 

The Ladies will be one of the very first groups to enjoy the newly refurbished St Swithin’s Suite on June 8th for their Ladies’ eclectic match which is always a HUGE success.  

We will be holding our famous “Bottomless Prosecco” event again on Saturday, July 3rd and should be the perfect occasion to enjoy a well-deserved catch up with family and friends this summer.  

https://www.bristolgolfclub.co.uk/whats-on/event/bottomless-prosecco/ 

 Bottomless Prosecco – The Bristol Golf Club 

Bottomless Prosecco. A bottomless cream tea is a great way to get together with friends and family and enjoy a well overdue catchup this Summer. 

www.bristolgolfclub.co.uk 

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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Competitions News

All competition results are available in the folder in the clubhouse reception.

Singles and Doubles knockouts: Please could you pay for your entry to the Singles and Doubles knockouts in the clubhouse. A sheet with everyone’s name is behind the bar, please make sure you pay and get your name checked off.

Mixed Knockouts: Entry is available now for the Mixed Knockouts, please enter via the App or on the Touchscreen in the clubhouse. Entry for this competition closes on May 26th and the draw will be made on May 27th.

Up and Coming Events 

May 29th: Saturday Stableford 

June 5th: Anniversary Bowl – Drawn Event 

June 12th: Captains’ Charity Day 

June 19th: New date for the County Medal – drawn event 

June 26th: Men’s June Stableford – OOM 

If you would like to receive the Members’ Newsletter generated by the captains for all sections, you can subscribe on http://eepurl.com/gQKAKT 

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!

Please contact Nick 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 Wilson Staff Grip Plus and receive a 2 Ball Sleeve of Wilson Duo+