Camberley Heath Members

After shooting a second round of 68, for a four under total of 138, Ralfie’s on a charge, and currently sitting with three others in a tie for fifth place.

Three shots off the lead with one round to go.. Live Results

February 27th – 1st March

History will be made this week when the 2009 European Senior Tour season gets underway with the inaugural Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum.

Never, in its 17 year existence, has the European Senior Tour travelled so far east and an impressive field has assembled for the curtain-raiser to an exciting year which will is scheduled to feature a minimum of 17 tournaments in 11 different destinations.

Leading the way at The Empire Hotel and Country Club in Brunei are an illustrious trio of Scots; Ryder Cup winning Captains Sam Torrance and Bernard Gallacher, Sandy Lyle, and one Englishman that goes by the name of Glenn Ralph.

To keep up to date with how our pro is getting on : Live Results

Congratulations to the following members who
took part at the weekend :

Saturday 21st

Division 1
1st M D Leney 43 points
2nd P Ogilvie 41 points
3rd A Barber 39 points

Division 2
1st R Silver 39 points
2nd B Pudney 38 points
3rd A Robson 38 points

Full Saturday list please click here

Sunday 22nd

Division 1
1st K Ranger 42 points
2nd M Fletcher 40 points
3rd B Hunter 40 points

Division 2
1st D Mace 42 points
2nd R Jones 37 points
3rd M Hardy 34 points

Full Sunday list please click here

Annual Chairman’s Report 2008/09

Fellow member,

As we now head quickly towards the start of the 2009 Golfing season it seems appropriate to report on some of the events of the 2008 season that have not been fully covered in the newsletters or at the Club AGM.

COMPETITIONS:
Club Captain, Ron Barton, revived the competitive edge within the Club by either choosing strong Team Captains or competitive teams and pairings to “ acquire” several trophies last year. Under the watchful eye of Senior Co-ordinator Keith Wailes and team captain Mike Wagstaff, the Senior Team won the PENANG Trophy in 2007/08 and this was followed by a magnificent performance from our team in the Surrey Seniors County Championship who won the prestigious John Ling Surrey Team Trophy, ably Captained by John Towlson. There were several other strong performances throughout the main season with one notable being Graham and Pat Scott winning the coveted Hartley Cup, a very popular win.

Our Club Champion this year was Roy Matthews Jnr taking the Men’s Club Championship along with the Junior Club Championship a couple of weeks later. Roy managed this Club record feat at the tender age of 14!! Well done Roy.

The Ladies Club Championship was won for the second time in succession by Sheree Dove. This years win was decided by a well fought 18-hole play off, as both Sheree and Arlene Castle had finished level after the normal 36-Hole Competition.

In all, external results and performances were much stronger this year helped, we think, by the Main General Committees decision to adopt the policy of the Ladies Section in reviewing the Clubs Team Colours. The Men settled for Black Sweaters and Trousers with white shirts (which are available from Glenn in the Pro Shop). We are all now looking forward to the Team performances over the 2009 season with some anticipation.

COURSE:
The Course greatly benefited this year from the completion of the 3-year Course Development Programme. Through the C.D.P. we have enlarged many Teeing areas, extended several of our weaker holes and reopened several of the old “Harry Shipland Colt” bunkers filled in during the Second World War. The completion of this programme early in 2008 allowed John Bunton and his team to really give their full attention to day to day matters. You will have seen over the past month or so, the trimming back of the gorse and wild shrubs that encroach onto many of our tees, greens and fairways. The gorse in particular produces nitrogen and drops seed that tends to kill off the fairways and heather alike. This major clearance programme should result in more light, wind and sunshine being allowed onto tees, greens and fairways benefiting the course all-round.

In March ‘08 we saw the new Tee marker posts with a revised stroke index incorporating the recommendations of the E.G.U. Modern Laser measuring systems employed by the company carrying out the project threw up a few surprises when we re-measured some of our unchanged holes! Additional “spot marker” posts were introduced to some heather areas where members may tend to ‘come up short’.

The Black Course was opened providing a “General Play” option or, if required, a “Day Tee” for the Academy and Senior golfers and we find that this course is proving popular for all members but especially those of us whom, from time to time, lack the carry off the tee. There is still a little work to do on these tees but they should be in full playable condition along with our other Summer Tees by April 1st.

The Heather regeneration programme was tackled early in 2008 with new shoots of heather being planted on the 13th and an extensive programme of spraying on other heather areas. Like many other Heath-land courses in the area, we are slowly losing our heather and are in danger of becoming a Parkland course. The Course Development Committee is closely monitoring the situation through our network of friends and experts who work in the golf industry with every effort being made to retain and improve this valuable feature. The C.D.C also realises that on those odd occasions we visit the heather, it is still difficult to extract the ball and efforts are being made to review the carries from some of the tees which should help.

In addition to these few points regarding the Course activities, this year saw the introduction of The Course Policy Document. The C.P.D is housed at reception and is available for all to read and John Hiscock will be happy to provide members with their personal copy if required (please contact John directly). The C.P D. is an inspirational live document which is designed to inform members of the intentions of CHGC Ltd and the efforts they are making through John Bunton and his team. It should also answer many of those questions you always mean to ask but never get round to it. As with the Members Policy Document, members are free to jot down their ideas and concerns and they will be placed on the next agenda of that Committees meeting.

To all members who are interested in course issues John Bunton issues quarterly statements and the company notice board is actively kept up to date regarding course issues.

I must thank those Members who have provided feed back on all Club issues from course items through to Saturday morning help and so on. There are too many names to mention but they know who they are so thanks to you all.

Finally and to close I must add how much I enjoyed our 2009 Captains “Drive in”. An early breakfast and an 18-Hole Stableford was just the thing to set up a lively drive in. Ron Barton, a tremendous Captain in 2008, handed over the mantle of the Captaincy of the Club to Geoff Rout who hit the ground running with long straight drive down the first fairway. I understand that Captain Geoff has lots of ideas and energy and, with his Committee, fully intends to make 2009 a great golfing year for all at Camberley Heath.

Regards and good golfing to all,
Mike Wilde.