Dear Members,
As it is a few months since my last bulletin, I wanted to take this opportunity to update all our members with latest developments at the club and keep you informed of our plans for the future.
May I start by thanking all the members who attended the Club AGM on July 31st. We had an encouraging turnout and covered a wide range of topics in addition to the standard order of business on the agenda. Minutes of the meeting will be circulated to members in the next few weeks.
At the AGM, as per the club rules, we had four nominations for the four vacancies on the management board. As no vote was necessary, it was a pleasure to welcome Gill Willis (re-elected), Andrew Jones, Phil Ackers and Adrian Molloy onto the board. At our subsequent board meeting, prime areas of responsibility for each director were agreed, which are as follows:
Alan Mawhinney – Chairman & Estate Management
Peter Topham – Vice Chairman & Land Development
Gill Willis – Hospitality (Bar) & Bowls
Andrew Jones – Hospitality (Catering)
Chris Grace – Finance
Phil Ackers – Marketing/Communications & Health and Safety
James Else – Course Director
Adrian Molloy – HR & Safe Guarding
As previously, our management team will lean heavily for advice and help on Stuart Scott (all areas affecting our golf membership and estate maintenance) and Judith Bailey (all aspects of day-to-day administration).
I am very confident that the new team will act in your very best interests and will all play their part in improving your membership experience.
Course Projects
Our golf members will have seen the extraordinary amount of work that Head Greenkeeper Richard and his team, assisted by outside contractors,
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have embarked on to improve course drainage. Several of the perimeter ditches have now been excavated with a great deal of debris and growth removed. Additionally, our series of flap valves along the entire length of the brook are being replaced (fourteen in total). These valves, which were all in a terrible state, are designed to feed flood water back into the brook when we get a deluge of rain and should greatly reduce the number of lost days where we have to close the course. The majority of this work has now been carried out and is scheduled for completion in the next few weeks. Additionally, a great deal of essential tree maintenance has been carried out with the removal of dangerous limbs and, in some instances, complete trees. The concrete foundations for several permanent winter tee emplacements will also be completed this Autumn, providing a much more stable and durable teeing surface for winter golf.
Website
As many of you will be aware, our Golf Website has been managed by Club President Ina Hartley for the past number of years and we owe an enormous vote of thanks to her for single-handedly updating and looking after this. With Ina having decided to relinquish this area of responsibility and, with the recognition that our on-line presence would benefit from some updating, we have commissioned VDM Agency to design a brand new site which is now in the development stage. We are very excited about the part this can play in driving the club forward and are confident that it can be up and running in the near future. Further details will be forwarded as soon as we launch but please be assured that the emphasis will be on easy navigation, logical layout and very positive imagery.
Clubhouse and Maintenance
With the spiralling cost of energy bills, particularly electricity, we have been carrying out a feasibility study on how we can mitigate against further increases. To this end, we invited tenders from two recommended suppliers and have now reached agreement with Greensmart Renewables Ltd who will be installing solar panels above the newer part of our building this Autumn. The savings that solar will provide us with, should ensure capital payback in the first four years and provide significant savings going forward.
I am also pleased to announce that the old steward’s flat which was abandoned by the last tenant has now been completely cleared with essential repair work taking place. From the 1st September we have a new tenant who, as a painter and decorator, will be making further - 3 –
improvements and will ensure that no further deterioration of this area takes place. Importantly, both our flats are now occupied by reliable tenants, are in good condition, and will be a welcome source of income for the club going forward.
As previously advised, it is our intention to press on with the installation of new toilet and shower facilities in the men’s locker room around the turn of the year, and we also intend to address the décor and floor covering of the bar and dining area in the New Year.
Decking Area
As mentioned in my last update, we have replaced all the old wooden benches with 100% recycled, low maintenance versions. However, we were disappointed to discover that a design flaw was causing breakage to some of the seats. Following complaints to our supplier I can now confirm that we have received all the necessary replacement parts and will be fitting these over the next few weeks.
We have created a designated smoking area adjacent to the deck and would appeal to all golf and bowls members to refrain from smoking on the deck itself. Appropriate signage is being displayed requesting this.
Catering & Bar
During the latter half of the summer you will have noticed our additional bar staff, assisting Bex. Corley, Trina and daughter Suzie have been great additions and have ensured sufficient cover following the cessation of volunteer help. We have redesigned the upper bar “prep” area, with new floor covering, new sink unit and a washing machine. This should make life a lot easier for our bar staff.
As reported previously, Sarah D joined us to assist Sarah and Jerry, and this certainly is helping plug the gaps in our catering capability. Further work has been on-going behind the scenes with a new door being fitted to our Prep Room (the building across the tarmac) and new cooking and mixing equipment installed. This will provide a much-improved working environment and has created much needed space to our cramped kitchen area. - 4 –
Social Events
I understand that the re-introduction of Quiz nights from November is planned. These are always great events and full details will be circulated in due course.
And finally ……….
Can I say a big thank you to all our bowls and golf members for your continued support and hope you continue to enjoy your membership for the remainder of the year.
On behalf of the management team.
Alan Mawhinney
Chairman Ramsey Club Company Ltd. 27th September 2
