Club Newsletter: July 2023

Update From The Board

Is this our best use of our talented Greens Staff?

Our team are working 24/7 watering the greens manually in a valiant attempt to keep them alive in near drought conditions. You may well have noticed the concentrated effort on the greens but this is to the detriment of the tees as there are only so many hours in a day and our staff are fully occupied with this firefighting exercise. Our existing irrigation system is old and the underground pipework is prone to leaking with a pump incapable of delivering sufficient water to extremities of the course. Two holes can only be watered manually via the bowser and about 8 greens can only be watered half a green at a time due to the poor water pressure provided by a pump that has reached its lifetime use.

So what’s the solution?

Most modern golf clubs water their greens using wi-fi operated sprinklers. The Greenkeeper can remotely programme the heads to operate early morning allowing him and his team to attend to other duties and priorities throughout the day.

Furthermore, to deliver the water to every hole we also need a replacement irrigation pump. The total cost of the project will be in the region of £50,000. In an ideal situation we would also replace the entire underground pipework system with new, but this would cost us money we simply do not have.

So how do we pay for it?

Our Finance Director has detailed below a members loan scheme so the club can fund or part fund the project.

Peter Borley
Chair

A Letter From Our Finance Director

Dear members,

I would like to express my gratitude to you for my appointment as your Finance Director. I will endeavour to serve the Club with diligence and transparency.

With the support of members, the future of the Club looks bright, having an excellent golf course and a
substantial clubhouse. However, with low levels of reserves, the financial position of the Club needs to be
strengthened and in this period of high inflation there are a number of financial matters that need to be
addressed. Annual income needs to be increased, costs need to be managed, financial controls strengthened and the cash position improved.

Once I have fully familiarised myself with the Club’s financial position, working closely with the Board, I expect to provide financial input into the long-term strategic plan that will prioritise enhancing member experience and return on investment through capital expenditure, course improvements and clubhouse refurbishments.

The Board has advised me that there is an immediate need to invest in the renovation of the greens-irrigation-system at a cost of approximately £50,000, but has limited funds with which to implement this project.

Having personal experience of the successful implementation of a similar member-loan offering, the following proposal has been approved by the Board in order to initiate the aforementioned long-term strategic plan, and is summarised as follows:

2023 Member Loan Offer (Offer)

• In recognition of members who take up the Offer, their annual subscriptions will be discounted at the rate of £50 per every £1,000 loaned to the Club (effectively a 5% p.a. net return equating to a gross
  equivalent of 6.25% for standard rate taxpayers and 8.33% for higher rate taxpayers).
• Target amount to be raised by the Club is currently £50,000. However, if the Offer is oversubscribed,
  an updated target will be limited to the lower of the borrowing limit set out in the Club’s Articles of
  Association or £150,000.
• Loan application thresholds for respective members who are fully paid up for the 2023-2024 year are as follows:
  o Minimum of £1,000 and a maximum of £20,000 for full paying members (6 & 7 Day)
  o Unfortunately, this Offer will not be made available for those members who hold a Junior Playing (11-17), Junior Playing (u11) or Social (non-playing) membership.
• Loans will be repayable on demand by providing the Club with 6 months’ notice in writing. Loans can be redeemed by giving notice at any time after the first 6 months following acceptance by the Club of a member’s application.
• The terms of the unsecured loan will be set out in a formal Offer document and loan agreement.
• The Club is not able to offer security for these loans.
• As with any investment, it is important that each member seeks their own independent financial advice before making any applications for the Offer.

I look forward to working with the Board and all members to build on previous accomplishments and take the Club forward in a financially sound manner.

Greg Element FCA

Here are my contact details if any member would like to contact me directly.

M: +44(0)7970 727596

E: gelement@elementconsulting.co.uk

How would you improve the course? The chance to have your say.

We will shortly be compiling a list of ways in which we can improve our course. We already have a superb layout for the course, but we are always mindful that there are ways in which it could be improved.

Many improvements would cost money, many would take time. But we need to see what we could achieve. That’s where YOU come in.

I need you to tell me, as quickly as possible, what those suggestions are, no word of mouth, I tend to forget easily! So, email me at ronboyce@outlook.com. The course won’t change overnight but it wouldn’t be for want of trying.

Thanks very much,

Ron Boyce, Course Director

First impressions

Have you seen what’s happening by the first tee? Well, you only get one chance to make a first impression and ours has not been good, hence the changes that are being made.

A Message From Our Captains

From Our Ladies’ Captain

Dear Members

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman of the Board of Directors
for inviting me to the Club board meetings. This provides an intriguing insight into how our
golf club is run. It was a privilege to be asked and I firmly believe that the future of our club
is in safe hands.

Our ladies section has had a very busy month organising Members and Guests, Ladies’ Open
Day and our weekly competitions. Congratulations to Linda H for winning the Long Salver, to
Jules for a very impressive 40 points in the weekly stableford and to Jill for an amazing nett
67 to win the Welsh Dragon Brooch, all ladies playing under their handicap. Our Ladies Open
was a great success with our guests thoroughly enjoying the course and our delicious cream
teas served from the Halfway House. Well-deserved winners were Kay, Lorraine and their
guest. Our Seniors have played two rounds of the Marie Saunders with Ann securing
another win and Linda T and Kay won the Foursomes Cup with an excellent nett 72. Finally,
good luck to Ann and Jo who, with myself, will represent the club at the Medals and Bowls
Final at Llandrindod Wells G.C.

Our Ladies N2G taster session was held at the start of the month and thanks to Tom this was
an absolute success with all of the ladies signing up for group lessons. We have 11 ladies and
10 junior girls being introduced to golf and with encouragement and support from our
section we look forward to them becoming future members.

The Eagle Series continues to be enjoyed by our members especially the Generation Cup
Greensomes Foursomes competition. Our new lady members played in a fun 9 hole
competition which was followed by a BBQ. Well done to Mandy for achieving 20 points to
win her first golf competition. We also had a ‘family of winners’ with Kelly being placed in
the ladies’ competition and Eve and Jo winners in the junior section, congratulations! It was
a lovely family afternoon enjoyed by all and I am sure that we all look forward to future
events!

I am organising a silent auction of 4 ball vouchers from local golf clubs to raise money for my
Lady Captain’s Charity, Alzheimer’s. There are posters displayed around the clubhouse with
details of the golf clubs and vouchers. If you would like to place a bid for a 4 ball voucher
then please email me with your name, the name of the course you wish to bid for and the
amount of your bid to Ladiescaptainstmellonsgc@gmail.com . The closing date for the first 3
golf club vouchers, Radyr, Whitchurch and Newport is Sunday, July 9 th whereby, with
verification from the General Manager, the highest bidder will be informed.

And finally, for my ‘Step Up for Dementia’ Challenge I have achieved 380 000 steps so far.
Many thanks to those that have donated already, I have a few more walks planned and
hopefully some of you will be able to join me. If you would like to make a donation to my
charity please click on the link.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stepupfordementia2023-sallymadsen

Thank you
Sally Madsen

Thank you
Sally Madsen

From Our Mens’ Captain

We held the 2nd working party on Monday night, I would like to thank everyone who attended, we managed to paint the walls around the patio area and all the flower pots were refurbished with some nice bright new flowers,

Our next working group is scheduled for Monday 31st July,

Why don’t you come along and make a difference it would be great to see you.

My Captains charity for 2023 is LATCH

What Does LATCH Do?

LATCH supports the children and their families who are being treated by the Cancer Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Wales

LATCH is most well known for its on-Site Family Accommodation at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

This unit consists of eight hotel-standard bedroomsas well as kitchen facilities, a laundry room, a dining room and lounge so families can make themselves at home. The accommodation is offered to families free of charge and helps keep families together during their child’s stay in hospital. Staying on site allows families to stay together during a really tough time, especially considering many families travel from as far as Aberystwyth.

LATCH also provides emotional and financial support. Parents may have to give up work to look after their sick child and have no means of income or families often face higher heating bills both of which LATCH support through grants.

Families stress that LATCH lifted them when they needed it the most and in many cases stopped them from buckling.

Thanks
Rob Cook

Best Wishes,

Robert Cook,
Captain

Updates From The Pro Shop

Eagle Series

Following the huge success of last month’s Greensome Foresome/Generation Cup Eagle Series event
where over 80 men, ladies and juniors competed with a further 40+ attending the BBQ, our next
Eagle Series Event is the WIP competition on Sunday 16 th July. The booking sheet is now live on Club
V1 with tee off times between 8.30-11am and is open to all members with an active handicap.

An updated Eagle Series Order of Merit sheet will be available to view in the pro shop before this
event. We look forward to seeing many of again on that day.

Open Sweep

The Pro Shop Open Sweep is back! Last year we had a large number of members who enjoyed this
sweep stake and we’ve been asked by many of you to repeat it.
This year 1 st prize will win a Motocaddy S1 Trolley (£649) and any additional money taken will be
paid out in yet more prizes!
The conditions are as follows:
– £10 entry
– Choose 1 player from each of the 4 categories
– All 4 players in your team must make the cut
– The lowest aggregate score wins!
To enter please see the Professionals in the shop. You can view the categories in the pro shop from
Saturday 8th July and on our social media pages. Remember ‘you’ve gotta be in it to win it!’

100 Holes In A Day

James Elliott and Hywel Matthews completed 100 holes in 1 day on Wednesday 21 st June 2023.
Together they have raised over £2,600 for McMillen Cancer Support and a Guide Dog Charity close
to their heart. On completion James said, ‘We walked 60000 steps which equates to 28.3 miles and
went from 4.20am to 9.45pm at night with only a couple of pit stops for food and fluid.’

We would like to congratulate both members on such a fantastic achievement!

From The Proshop

ACCOUNT CREDIT

We still have 153 members with money on their account in the pro shop.
A reminder, THIS MUST BE USED BY 24/12/23.
Any outstanding credit passed this date, cannot be claimed with either myself or the incoming professional.
It’s time to use it or lose it!

EX DEMO EQUIPMENT

As the date for ordering equipment has now passed, we can now sell our ex-demo clubs and rental trolleys.

Drivers available from £300:
Ping G430 SFT
Titleist TSR2 & TSR3
Callaway Paradym 3D, Standard & X

Fairways available from £200:
Ping G430 MAX & SFT
Taylormade Stealth 2 HD
Callaway Paradym X

Hybrids available from £200:
Ping G430

We have a variety of shafts available and the Professional Team will be happy to advise which is best for you.

We have 2x Powakaddy FX5 GPS ex rental trolleys for sale @ £300 each.
Both have been recently serviced, are hired out regularly, come with a lithium XL battery, three prong charger and GPS with thousands of golf courses preloaded.

If you’re interested in a brand-new trolley with a long warranty, we have Powakaddy and Motocaddy trolleys now available from £599