BROCTON HALL GOLF CLUB

Three off the Tee - 12 February 2025 Newsletter

Hello there

India are set for a big total in the cricket, top tier football teams are getting surprised and England took notes from the Springboks and beat France by one point 🙂. Sport is certainly never boring. 

The 5th February saw the first Management Committee meeting with the new members.

As we kick off the new year at Brocton Hall Golf Club, the Management Committee is excited to enhance your experience at the club. Their focus will be on improving our top-notch facilities, organizing engaging events, and ensuring excellent service for all members. They aim to foster a strong sense of community and encourage your involvement and feedback throughout the year. 

You can see the new Management Committee team here 

Attention all 45`s.  A game of golf and celebration meal is being planned this summer for all members  born in 1945 and their partners. (or meal only if preferred) Any member interested in having a fun day celebrating the big 80,  please let Jenny Bulman or Richard Hocknell know. (If you have not already done so)

Member Photos

Thank you to Ned Edwards for this lovely photo of snowdrops on the 2nd green. I am looking forward to sharing some wonderful member photos over the coming months as spring begins her return. Please email your photos to generalmanager@broctonhall.com

Par for the Course

The 4th tee is looking great with its new turf (Yes, it is the 4th 🙂)

Competitions

Wednesday, 5th Feb : We had a lovely sunny day for Lady Captain Jenny Bell, Lady President Mary Robertson and Vice Lady Captain Delia Fowler's Drive In. 

Thanks to Captain Richard Gee, Vice Captain Peter Berks, President Roger Edwards and Vice President Tim Williams for all being there to provide support. Thanks also to the lovely crowd who braved the cold.

Congratulations to LC Jenny, LP Mary and LVC Delia on a great combined drive total of 430. Wishing you all a great year!

Ladies Drive In. Individual Stableford 9 holes. Front 9.

• 1st  Elaine Hocknell with 23 points
• 2nd Lady Captain Jenny Bell  with 20 points
• 3rd Lady President Mary Robertson with 20 points

Ladies Drive In. Individual Stableford 9 holes. Back 9.

• 1st  Sue Turner with 21 points
• 2nd Kathryn Wilson 20 points
• 3rd Joanne Mears with 19 points

Thursday 6th Feb : All Member 18 Hole Winter Stableford Competition

• 1st  Chris Bulman with 40 points
• 2nd Andy Smith with 38 points
• 3rd John Nicholls with 38 points

Sunday 9th Feb : All Member 18 Hole Stableford Competition

• 1st  Stuart Butlin with 41 points
• 2nd Mark Newman with 40 points
• 3rd  Peter Berks with 40 points

Clubhouse

Caddie and sports speaker Billy Foster, also known as 'The Pro's Pro', is heading to Brocton Hall on Thursday, 20th February. Booking deadline is Friday, 14th February.

Billy became a full-time caddie in 1983, has caddied in 10 Ryder Cups and has been part of some of golf's greatest moments. Seve's victory in the 1991 PGA Championship and Darren Clarke's victory over Tiger Woods in the final of the WGC Matchplay in 2000. 

As well as discussing the important role a caddy plays in professional golf, Billy will also be sharing his fantastic personal anecdotes and unique insights from his years spent on tour.

• Date: Thursday, 20th February 2025
• Time: 6:30 for 7pm (pre show meal served from 5:30 till 6:30)
• Ticket prices - £42.50 (Talk only)
• Meal - Optional preshow food available (must be pre booked by 17th February)
• Bookings - What's On

Tickets are available for our popular Jazz evenings with Ben Holder and friends. In March we are treated to the lovely tones of Ben's better half, Sophie-Jayne.

• Booking info - What's On

Notices

A reminder that this year again there will be three draws of £250 each for early payment. To qualify, payments must be received in full by the close of business on the 18th February 2025.

Any Members, including those currently registered with Golf Credit, wishing to pay their subscriptions by monthly instalments must go online and complete the application process by the latest 28th February. (Please note that the Club abbreviation is CANN) www.golfcredit.co.uk

The SUGC are pleased to announce that the Staffordshire Union of Golf Clubs' Competition Schedule for 2025 is now live! You can view the full list of events and details via the following link:

Click here for the competition list. The Union exists to promote golf for men and boys in the County and to provide competition for the top county players as a route to Midland and International golf.

All of us at Brocton Hall wish our many members with a birthday this week a very Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday to Luke Bailey, Andrew Pennington, David Wise, Margaret Robertson, Craig Hadley, Mike Butler, Patricia Godwin, David Bishop, Paul Grindrod, Anthony Chaplin, Helen Tasker, Sean Nelson, Ken Bailey, Jacob Straw and James Sutton.

May your wrinkles be outnumbered by your laughter lines! Happy Birthday!

Members Question

You are invited to send any questions in that you would like one of the Management Committee members to answer. Often a committee member is approached on the putting green with a question that might not relate to their area of knowledge. This is a way for you to ask those questions.

Q. Some time ago we had an agronomist come to look at why the fairways on the 5th/6th, 12th,14th and 18th we're getting flooded. 

We members have not been informed of the results of his visit, is there any update on his findings

A. Following on from a report done by a golf course drainage expert here at Brocton our plan going ahead is as follows:

We now know that regular aeration and top dressing is a key factor to maintain healthy thatch free greens. We will conduct hollow tinning in the spring and early autumn as we have always done, albeit at the right time and conditions as we know that doing it at the wrong time has a detrimental effect to the surface. We will also continue to regularly micro tine with a light top dressing of sand every month where conditions dictate. On top of these processes, Verti cutting and scarification will also be done.

As we all know drainage is our priority over irrigation and with the report in mind and expense to the club, we will undertake the work ourselves. The work is labour intensive but relatively simple as the report describes. Our two areas of main concern are, in and around the brook running from 14 to16 and the 6th fairway leading up to the green and surround. This will involve us hiring a trenching machine (walk behind type) and creating new drainage channels in these areas using the natural contours of the course.  As with most of this type of work we will have to wait until these areas dry out so as not to create more damage This will cut into the start of the golfing calendar but is essential to mitigate further issues that we have endured over the past 2 winters.

Hole in One

The game of golf can be quite unpredictable. You may feel disheartened and ready to give up one moment, but the next time, it surprises you and reminds you of your love for the sport. On the other hand, just when you think everything is going well, you may encounter a hole that seems impossible to conquer. Here are few of those:

• Starting in South Africa (no, I haven't played it.. yet) is the 19th the Entabeni Safari Reserve. The anticipation begins when you finish your round at the 18th hole and board a helicopter to ascend to the peak of the nearby Hanglip Mountain for your tee shot. It is the longest tee shot for any par three in golf, and it takes nearly 30 seconds for the ball to land.  
• The 8th at Royal Troon Golf Club (Par 3, 123 yards) - The 8th hole at Royal Troon Golf Club, also known as ‘Postage Stamp,’ is one of the hardest golf holes, and it is easy to see why. It is aptly named for its small green, which is reminiscent of a postage stamp. The green is not only small but also located on a sandhill, making it one of the toughest to hit in all of links golf.
• The 16th at Cypress Point (Par 3, 219 yards) - Considered one of the hardest holes in golf, the 16th hole at Cypress Point, nicknamed ‘The Sistine Chapel of golf,’ poses a unique dilemma for players. Alister Mackenzie designed the hole with two options, drive over the Pacific Ocean to reach the green, or play it safe and land on the left fairway. Despite the potential risks, many golfers can’t resist the urge to attempt the 219-yard carry to the tiny green. During one year’s Bing Crosby Pro-Am, Jack Lemmon had to be supported by Clint Eastwood, Peter Jacobsen, and Greg Norman to prevent him from falling down a 30-foot cliff after playing his second shot from the precariously positioned green. Three-time Masters champion Jimmy Demaret aptly described the hole, stating, “There is no relief. The only place you can drop the ball over your shoulder is in Honolulu.”

Happy golfing everyone,

Karen