Membership Update – 18th March 2021

Dear Members,

We are getting ever closer to the course and bowls green re-opening (HURRAH!!!!) and I thought it was an opportune time to update our members on the re-opening timetable and a couple of other matters.

March 29th/April 1st : Our golf course will re-open on March 29th and the bowls green shortly after on April 1st in line with the rules governing outdoor sports. The basis of play for the club will be :

: Golf –
– Format of play – up to and including 4 balls
– Initially the course will open for members and their guests and Stuart will open the booking system from March 21st at 9pm for booking from March 29th.
– The course will be opened up to visitors at a later date subject to tee time availability but members will be given a booking window of seven days while visitors will have a shorter period.
– COMPETITIONS – With the resumption of golf from March 29th, we plan to include as many club competitions as possible with immediate effect. Entry to these will be via How Did I do and the competitions committee are currently setting these up on the system. The April competitions program is now set up on the system for membership entry as are the Summer knockouts”.

: bowls green opens on April 1st – detailed guidance on play is still awaited but the booking procedures have already been issued.

: Initially the club house will remain closed, probably until May 17th.

: Stuart will be on site to open changing rooms for access to toilets but his shop will remain closed to customers and please note that Stuart will lock the changing rooms when he leaves each day.

April 12th – bar and restaurant opens for outdoor service only

: Pro shop open to customers (face masks mandatory)

: Bar service but no customers inside clubhouse – only outside table service

: Restaurant service outside – times to be determined (not every day)

: Outdoor seating – rule of 6 or two households applies

May 17th – Club house opens but subject to the rule of 6

: snooker room opens but subject to guidance yet to be published

: Bar and restaurant service inside but subject to rule of 6 or 2 h/holds (maybe face masks)

: Outside – rule of 6 no longer applies – groups of up to 30

June 21st – all restrictions lifted which should allow the club bar cards to be used but we await guidance

Other Matters

Insurance claim – I am pleased to report that we have now reached an agreement with our insurer with regard to the flood claim and we should receive the financial settlement over the next few days. This will allow us to push ahead with the replacement of some plant and machines and the repair of the remaining machines.

Swing room – Late last year we decided to plan for the creation of a “Swingroom” in the multi function room between the top bar and the bowls changing room and applied to England Golf for a grant towards the project. The initial application was unsuccessful but, subsequently, England Golf made additional funding available and we were invited to re-apply for £5000 which was successful and during the lockdown period we have made good progress towards the projects implementation. Work on redesigning the room should be completed towards the end of April and Stuart has ordered the best golf simulator system, Trackman 4, for delivery in early May. This will represent a significant improvement for the club and enables Stuart and Mitch to provide tuition throughout the year irrespective of the weather outdoors as well as being able to offer the opportunity to play, virtually, a variety of courses from around the world.

My last update included a reminder to members to pay their fees, if due, as any member who is overdue will not be able to access BRS to book tee times or the bowls booking system for bowls rinks. Judith can be contacted on 01487 813595 to take payment which will apply from the due date.

Stay safe

Richard Coles
Chairman, Ramsey Golf and Bowls Club