Feldon Valley Golf Club
Proposed changes to the Men’s Section competitions from 1 April 2018.
The Management of the Golf Club have stated that they require access to tee times that clash with our Sunday morning competitions, particularly in months April through August.
They have proposed that we move 1 competition a month to a Saturday morning during this period.
We have received a further proposal from Management restricting tee times for competitions a 1 tee start or a staggered 2 tee start. We feel this will fundamentally change the ethos of the competitions as we will have over 2 ½ hours between the first group and the last group finishing.
The committee doesn’t support this proposal and have proposed a staggered 2 tee start as shown on the notice board.
We believe the Autumn Classic which runs over 6 weeks in September and October and is outside peak season should not change.
Management feel the shotgun start format we use for Winter League prevents others who aren’t participation from playing. We are of the view that Winter League contributes greatly to the number of players playing over the winter and on many occasion are the only players willing to play in trying conditions.
We have offered to include guests and other members not participating in the Winter League to take up open tees in the shotgun start. We can accommodate groups of 4 off 18 tees and a further 2 to 3 groups doubling up. This would on average allow play for a further 12 – 20 golfers on the course.
We have posted the proposed diary for 2018 on the notice board for comment.
The committee accepts that the Owner has made a significant investment in improving the course and clubhouse and building of a hotel and expect him to maintain the course at a high standard. We understand that this requires Hotel Guests, visitors and other members to have access to the course at peak times which clash with the arranged competitions on the weekends particularly in the period 1 April to 31 August.
We would like to retain the ethos of drawn groups and tee times that allow us to gather as a group to socialise after the competition and as 7 day members effectively pay premium to play on weekends.
We will listen to the members and will take their concerns to Management when we meet with them later in the week. We could after having trialled these changes in 2018 find that changes are needed and we will take it up with Management.
Andrew Nardone
On behalf of the Men’s Committee