Welcome to GUW Golf Club of the Year 2009

The committee extends a warm welcome to the Members Section website. From here you will be able to access scores, handicaps, emails us, read the new style Members Newsletter, read committee minutes, check fixtures, in fact most things that you’d like answers to.

A Word from the Captain

The last twelve months have seen some major changes in the club and there are more exciting times ahead in respect of the course and the clubhouse.

On a personal note, I thank Andrew Shufflebotham as Captain and the rest of the committee for all the hard work that they put into the club last year. Mike Davies has settled in extremely well as our new Head Professional and is being ably supported by Leighton Medway. I would urge both new and existing members, to use the expertise of Mike and Leighton to improve your game.

As you are no doubt aware, the club won the prestigious award of Welsh Golf Club of the Year 2009. The award was presented by Rhodri Morgan at the “Ryder Cup Year to Go” dinner at the Celtic Manor in October last year. This was in recognition of the continual improvements that have been made over a number of years in all aspects of the club, some of which may have impacted on yourself and others that may not be familiar to you. Copies of our application are available in the clubhouse and these sets out the progress the club has made since the official opening in 1992 when our club president, Terry Griffiths OBE, hit the first ball on the course.

Improvements are still continuing and the building works to the clubhouse are the most obvious signs of this. It is anticipated that part of the extensions will be available for use later in the season for Open Week and the Dai Gravell Memorial competitions.

Each year, since 2006, the club captain has organised a Captain’s Project. On the course Emyr Thomas’s project has been completed, (the stone bridge on the first). Andrew Shufflebotham and I have decided to construct a joint project for 2009/2010 and the hexagonal starter’s hut/ halfway house is now taking shape on the edge of the practice area.

This will provide shade or shelter for those waiting to tee off, as well as a clock on the dovecote style roof.

The seniors have also been busy. Last year they cleared many of the ditches of scrub edging the fairways and this season they have been re-staking the course hazards, ditches, ponds, out of bounds, etc.

It has been asked by some members why the committee and others carry out such works? Surely they should be the responsibility of the owner. Unfortunately in these harsh economic times all expenditure has to be prioritised and as a small club with limited resources the committee and other groups have taken the view that if they can assist in providing better facilities so that the management can concentrate their efforts on improving the playing conditions and the club house facilities, this will be beneficial to all.

If any member wants to provide assistance for any of the projects, whether it is financial, labour, materials or anything else, please contact me or anyone on the committee.

As an example, thanks are due to Mike John and helpers Louis, Dan, Rob and Simon as we have a pond on the third that really is the business. All the rocks have been excavated on the course, and pond plants are due to be added on Wednesday 14th July. What a difference. Well done guys! It’s an example too of continued improvements on the course, as well as the work being done on the Club House.

I hope you all have an enjoyable season.

Derek Baker – Club Captain 2010