WBoro 2022 Feb 1

FEB 2022

Burns Night Burns Day

www.WweellilnlginbogrobuoghrGooulfgChlugb oMlafgcalzuinbe .com 1

Clubhouse buzz is ready to make a welcome return

JANUARY is normally the time where we have
the excuse not to brave the cold as the course is
shut due to poor conditions.

This year though we have ‘enjoyed’ playing
despite the cold, indeed the course has responded
so well that the Greens Committee have allowed
electric trolleys to be used. Our thanks have to go
to the Green Staff, sorry if I have jinxed February!

On the subject of Green Staff, please can we give
their safety on the course absolute priority.

If you are playing a hole and the green staff are in
front of you, please treat them no differently than
you would if it was a golfer in front of you.

The Green Staff will acknowledge and wave you
through as soon as it is safe to do so. Or wait until
they are out of range.

My congratulations go to Carl Hughes and
Mark Walker for being the clear winners of
the Martin Kelly Bowls on New Year’s Day. And well done to Tony Camsell, Neil Carter, Alan Stokes
and Cliff Wymant for winning the Yellow Peril competition on Sunday, January 16th with 164 points.
A special thanks to Neil, Carl and Mark for giving the Handicap Committee something to consider!

The Competitions Committee are keen to return to ‘near normal’ as soon as practical/safe and the
Sunday competition on February 13th will be a shotgun start.

Personally, I have missed the buzz in the Clubhouse before and after the rounds and watching people’s
faces when they have not drawn favourable tees; wicked, I know!

The Burns Night on Friday, January 28th (some pictures overleaf) was a great success. I have to
be honest though, we did not attract the numbers we were hoping for and I would really welcome
feedback on why. Moreover, what events would members like the Social Committee to hold?
Please email [email protected].

Our annual Presentation Evening has had to be rescheduled due to Covid restrictions and will now be
held (he said confidently) on Friday, February 11th.

My congratulations and envy go to all last year’s competition winners and it would be great if members
find time to raise a glass with me in applauding their feats on the night, accordingly.

Representing Wellingborough Golf Club in our County League matches is a huge honour and testament
of one’s playing ability.

Last year, for a variety of reasons, we struggled to field teams and I would like to reach out to our low
handicap golfers, in particular, and ask for your support; including those who have not played in these
matches previously.

The fixtures for these matches - Scratch, Intermediate and Hollingsworth - are on our members website
and I am hoping to confirm the names of our Captains shortly.

If you are available for any of these matches please email me and I will advise the Captains for their
consideration.

Roy Pouncey,
Wellingborough Golf Club Captain.

2 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com

Tap-Ins RE-SURFACING work is taking place in early-
February on the oval car park adjacent to the

main hall. During this time, various parts of

CHRIS Dickens and Liz Palmer were part of the the area will be cordoned off and then closed.

winning team in both mixed competitions during The normal entrance/exit will be open at all

January. June Smith, David Birkett, Ian Jolly and times.

Sue Sharp were their team-mates in the first TEN teams took part in the January quiz
event, while Rod Gibbs, Carol Gibbs, Richard organised by Alan Stokes. It was won by one
Briggs and Pat Briggs formed the rest of the line- point by Ladies Captain Sheena Markham,
up later in the month.
Past Ladies Captain Jenny Wilkinson, husband

MARK Rashley, Martin Dalton, Adam Clifton Mike Wilkinson and Ladies Vice Captain Miriam

and Jon Critchley were successful in the Johnson.

Winter Men’s Am-Am after posting 97 points. SIMON Ozier is in charge of the next Quiz

HUW Rees, Martin Wood and Rod Gibbs were Night on February 18th.

the perfect ‘dance’ partners in the Seniors Waltz THE usual wooden tee markers and distance
competition as they carded the best score of 83 posts are being refurbished in readiness for the
points.
new golf season. The old plastic tee markers

CHARLEY Hull got her season on the LPGA have no distance or stroke index information on

Tour off to a positive start as she grabbed a them, so please collect a scorecard from the pro

share of fourth prize in the Gainbridge LPGA shop.

event at Boca Raton in Florida. WITH pages to fill in the Wellingborough Club

THERE is a planned Caribbean Night of food and Magazine, there are plenty of opportunities to

drink being held at Harrowden Hall on Saturday, advertise during the year. Please contact the

March 5th. Please keep an eye on the clubhouse Club Office to get your message across to the

notice boards for more details. members and visitors in 2022 and beyond.

Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 3

4 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com

Address to a Haggis

LADIES Captain Sheena Markham
said: “How different this year is to
last year?

“We were in lockdown 12 months
ago and unable to play, that said
had we not been, the course
would have been closed due to
snow.

“The weather has been kind to us
lately and we now are able to use
trolleys which opens the course
to more of our ladies.

“Hopefully if it continues, we will
see the use of the buggies back
on too and our Ladies section
back to normal on Tuesdays.

“For their hard work and cheery
waves, thank you to all the green
staff.

“Thanks also to everyone who
supported our Burns Night
Supper.

“A very special thank you to our
Piper, William Butler (pictured) for
piping in the Haggis, and David
Wilson for his perfect recital of
‘Address to a Haggis’.

“For the first time since
September 2019, I’m hoping to
take a holiday abroad this month.

“So I’m keeping my fingers
crossed for the next two weeks, it
may even improve my golf!

“Happy golfing everyone.”

Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 5

Who will become the next General Manager?

WELLINGBOROUGH Golf Club’s new General Manager is expected to be appointed in the coming
weeks, with a wide selection of exceptional candidates having expressed an interest in the job.
After David Waite announced his intention to retire from the position towards the end of last year, the
Club are now in the processing of drawing up a short list.
Waite, who will form part of the initial interview panel, said: “The Club are assessing candidates now,
with hopefully an appointment being made by the end of February.
“Officially I leave at the end of March, with the option of staying on until the end of April if the Club
haven’t organised my replacement by then.
“There will probably be a handover period where I can help them settle in, which is what needs to
happens. It’s probably the only time of the year we can do this. Christine has now left the office, so
my wife Sue, who does the catering admin is doing extra to cover some of what Christine did.
“The Club needs to decide how that role is filled in the long term, which will only be confirmed once
my replacement has been announced, and is in place. In the meantime, the Club will continue to
function as normal.
“On the membership front, we are allowing some five-day members in this month, with a view to
letting me upgrade to a seven-day category in the spring. But its limited to just 20 new members.
“Years ago, to become a seven-day member, you needed to become a five-day member initially
and then hope and wait for a seven-day membership spot to become available, rather than just go
straight in as a seven-day member.
“It’s now gone back to that process simply because we have so many people on the waiting list,
which is a good sign. Obviously there is some frustration with those waiting because they are eager
to join, but if there are no membership slots, there’s nothing we can do.
“We are still looking to appoint an assistant to Chef James. We did have someone for a month, while
Peter Hall’s daughter was also working here, but both have now left. We currently have a temporary
assistant to help James out, but we are still looking for someone.”

6 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com

Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 7

Welcome to the new Kitchen Garden Hut

THE Wellingborough service hut at the back of the ninth green has been rebranded ‘The Kitchen
Garden Hut’ by new owners Emily Annis-Bond and Philippa Farrar (pictured below).
After taking over from Ian Marshall (pictured overleaf) in the New Year, the sisters have also joined
forces with the Harrowden Hall groundstaff to initiate a set of refurbishments over the next couple
of months.
Annis-Bond said: “We started on New Year’s Day, and it has gone really well. The first week was a
bit of a baptism of fire, but everyone has been really supportive. We’re just about finding our feet, but
it’s been really good.
“We’ve introduced home-made sausage rolls, we’ve brought filter coffee in, we’ve got home-made
cakes and we’re doing bacon rolls and sausage baps on Saturday and Sunday, and we’ll extend that
to Society Days, Charity Days and Bank Holiday Mondays.
“It’s been good. We’ve had some positive feedback, which has been lovely. People have come up
with some suggestions, which we have taken on board.
“There are some things that we can implement quickly, and some that we can implement later on in
the year in the summer time. But it’s gone really well. We are considering putting up a suggestions
board.
“We may have the barbeque out in the summer, extending it to burgers and hotdogs, and also may
be doing some theme times, so perhaps we’ll bring some strawberries in.
“We also didn’t realise how popular cuppa soups are, so we’ve been scrambling around supermarket
trying to find cuppa soups at the moment!”

8 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com

Annis-Bond added: “We’ve been doing some different
things for the ladies, we had scones one week, then tea
cakes.

“It’s not that they are getting special treatment - it’s just
that we are providing different options to the different
sections.

“One of the ladies celebrated her 90th birthday one
week, so she asked us to bake some cakes for her, in
addition to paying for tea and coffees for all the ladies.

“The nice thing about the half way hut is that you get
four people turn up, they sit down, then when the next lot
come around the corner, they go and tee off, so there’s
not been a massive gathering of people, which has
helped with covid.

“Although we don’t ever think we are rushed off our feet,
there is always that steady flow of customers, and that is
constant. I quite like the outdoors and fresh air. We are
also keeping the birds fed.

“Thank you to the groundstaff that have started making
improvements and tidying the outside of the hut for us.
Also if anyone would like to contribute any materials
then please get in touch.

“Although it will still no doubt be known as ‘The Hut’ or
‘Halfway Hut’. We have re-branded it as ‘The Kitchen
Garden Hut’ due to the brick wall being the original wall
to the kitchen garden.

“We have all felt really welcomed and the members
have been lovely. We also have social media pages on
Instagram and Facebook.”

Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 9

10 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com

Storm damage has now been cleared up

HEAD greenkeeper Steve Mackie said: “Since Christmas and New Year, we have been busy with
machine maintenance, drainage work, a lot of tree work, including removing the tree near the 18th
green (pictured below) and clearing up after the storm.

“The storm hit in the last week in October, just as the drainage work was being done. It’s taken three
months to complete the clear up job - 99% of what came down has now been cleared up, everything
on the course is done.

“We usually have to do some picking up and clearing up throughout the winter, and leading up to the
start of the new season because there’s always debris to pick up and leaf clearing. But this winter
was a freak.

“There were some days when we had four guys on one area for eight hours a day, so that’s 32 man
hours a day straight away that is taken away. We worked it out that it was getting close to 500 man
hours set aside to do the full clear up.

“This time could have been spent on other things. There would have been a lot of stuff that would
have been planned for the winter, which has now been moved back purely because we needed to
make the course safe and playable.

“We are always try to play catch up, and trying to prioritise what we need to do - certain things will
need to be put back, it’s just going to happen.

“With the bunkers, it is ongoing - edging some, moving sand, topping some up, redistributing the
sand in some bunkers.

“One of the bridges that we use to move machinery needed to be worked on. One of the big trees
came down, and the sleepers were rotten so we needed to replace that for safety reasons, especially
when it’s wet.”

Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 11

Mackie continued: “We are looking to do a bit of renovation work on the greens in early February.
“The greens are not as good as we would like them just yet at Wellingborough - we’ve had a bit of
disease. There are fungicides that we can use, but only five active ingredients nowadays.
“Slowly it will get better, if the weather is kind. It has been good recently. It’s been cold in the mornings,
but it’s been dry and the forecast is similar for the next week.
“We’re disappointed that the greens are not as good as we would like them to be, so we will be
spending money on seed, overseeding them and getting better grass in there, so that they are less
susceptible to disease.
“There will come a day when there are no fungicides because more and more are coming off the
market all the time. I’m not scaremongering, but it is a battle.
“It’s getting harder and harder each year because there are more and more products that are coming
off the market because of the EU and the companies can’t get the raw materials, so they just stop
making them.
“I’m not saying that we are going to go vegan but we are looking to reduce the costs - the money you
spend on a fungicide can buy you a lot of seed.
“So it’s now getting golfers into the mentality that we will get disease - every course gets it, it’s there
all year round. As greenkeepers it’s our role to reduce the effect of it, by better seed.
“Members need to understand that we are fighting a losing battle as far as chemicals go - it’s a
problem everywhere, worldwide, with the possible exception of America, who are a law to themselves.
“There’s nothing we can use, apart from sand, there are just no chemicals we can use. The active
ingredient is about one third of what it used to be ten years ago. We’re not looking for excuses, but
it is hard.”

12 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com

Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 13

14 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com

Sunshine State is first destination for MacLaren in 2022

WELLINGBOROUGH professional Meghan MacLaren has outlined a flexible plan for 2022,
starting with a run of spring competitions in the USA on the new Epson Tour, which used to
be called the Symetra Tour.

Despite gaining full playing rights on the Ladies European Tour, MacLaren wants to
concentrate on the LPGA-feeder Tour initially, in the hope that she can pick up enough
early-season ranking points.

She admitted: “The first event I’m going to play is the first week in March on the Epson Tour.
I’m going to be based out there for the first few months of the year, at least. And then we’ll
see how it goes.

“The opening competition is in Florida at Winter Haven, which I played a few years ago – it’s
about an hour outside of Orlando, so I will head out there in mid-February. I’ve played a bit
of golf in Florida, since I went college there.

“That event wasn’t on the schedule last year, but the next five or six events, I played last
year, so it’s quite a nice way to begin the season.

“The new sponsor is awesome for the Tour. I think over time it could make a real difference
for players trying to gain their LPGA card because a lot of people have found that the
Symetra Tour, as it was called, was quite a hard Tour to play on financially.

“Especially if you are straight out of college or you’re trying to give yourself two, three or
even four years to get yourself to the level you need to be at.

“If you don’t have financial backing, you
can’t really do that. So this will give more
people the chance to get to the level
they dream to get to.

“There’s 20 or 21 events on
the 2022 schedule. How many
I play in, will depend on how
well I play. At the moment, I’m
committed to pay in as many as
possible to give myself the best
opportunity to earn my card on the
LPGA Tour.

“But I would love to play really well
early in the season, to free up the
possibility of playing in Europe a little
bit more later in the year.

“Having said that, I’m fully aware that
on this tour, you can’t really skip events
because unless you play very well, you

have to look at the year as a whole.

“The flip side is that if I play terribly
at the start of the season, I might
concentrate back at home and try

and qualify for some of the bigger
events in Europe. Obviously I
hope that doesn’t happen, but to

have that option is nice.”

Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 15

MacLaren added: “Winning the Prasco Charity
Championship on the Symetra Tour last year is a
huge confidence boost to me.
“Going into last year, I’d played a couple of
months on the Symetra Tour in 2018, and
I really struggled, and that was after I’d
already won in Europe.
“So that was a bit of a wake-up call that the
change in environment could really affect
my golf, and that I needed to learn from that
and be better.
“Last year, I felt comfortable early on, which was
a nice reassurance that my golf was pointing in
the right direction.
“My golf must have improved a lot for me to feel that
comfortable out there. And that was validated further
when I won.
“It’s a different place than the Ladies European Tour –
not necessarily better or worse – but to prove to myself
that I could win in America when there was a deeper pool
of players was good for my confidence.
“The Prasco Charity Championship is not on the schedule
this year however - I seem to have a habit of winning events
that either disappear or go to a different golf course.
“This takes away the opportunity to return to an event
where I have good feelings. But at least I’ll be defending
champion for longer, I suppose!
“Unfortunately, getting into the major tournaments is going
to be difficult for me this year.
“The only way I can do it is to go through US Open qualifying,
which is a one-day event, so I could try that. And it’s similar
with the British Open.
“But it’s hard because, by playing in America, I can’t work my
way up any rankings in Europe. In the past, I’ve managed to
get into the Evian Championship and the Open that way.
“So it’s those things that make my decision to stay in America
that little bit harder because I’m limiting the opportunities to
play in those events. But I think I need to look to the long term.”

16 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com

MACINTYRE HUDSON

Chartered accountants,
tax and business advisers

MHA MacIntyre Hudson are proud to have Wellingborough
Golf Club as a valued client and to support their activities

Get in touch T: 01604 624011
E: [email protected]
For more information, macintyrehudson.co.uk
please contact Steve Munns

Now, for tomorrow 17

Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine

Dress Code is amended to remove any ambiguity

THE standards of dress required to be observed at Wellingborough Golf Club by both members and
visitors may be varied from time to time by the Committee and relaxed in certain circumstances by
prior authorisation of the Captain, General Manager or their representative.
But our Dress Code is intended to ensure that all members, their guests and visitors to our club
have a pleasant atmosphere in which to enjoy our facilities and services. Members and visitors are
requested to maintain a high standard of dress both on the Course and in the Clubhouse.
Officials of the Club and our staff have been instructed to ask any person to leave the premises -
Course or Clubhouse - immediately if the requirements below are not being respected:
On the Course - Gentlemen:
Shoes: Only conventional golf shoes may be worn. No Trainers. Soft spikes are preferred all the
year round but, in any event, metal spikes are permitted only between November 1st and May 1st
(please see notice boards as dates may change based on ground conditions).
Shorts: Must be tailored and not worn below the knee or more than 3” above the knee. Short socks,
including trainer socks, may be worn. They must be appropriate plain colours.
Shirts: All shirts should be recognised golfing attire, must have collars or roll necks (turtle necks
included) and must not be worn outside trousers/shorts. Tracksuits, hooded tops, football shirts or
similar are not permitted.
On the Course - Ladies:
As above for the gentlemen but with the following exceptions:
Tops with collars: May be worn with or without sleeves and may be worn outside of Skirts/Shorts/
Skorts.
Tops without collars: Must have high necks and sleeves.
Skirts/Shorts/Skorts: Not more than 4” above the knee.
Capri Trousers: Any length below the knee.
In the Clubhouse - Gentlemen & Ladies:
Smart, clean casual dress and footwear must be worn at all times as a minimum requirement, this
may now include smart denim trousers (i.e. not including any distressed, ripped or faded styles).
Casual shoes are permitted but sports and activity shoes that are primarily designed for sports or
other forms of physical exercise, including golf shoes, are not permitted. Stockinged feet, hats and
collarless shirts are also not permitted. Gentlemen should wear socks with all styles of shoes at all
times. Under 12’s are exempt from the above dress code.
Exceptions for First Floor Dining Room:
The dress code for dining in the upstairs rooms will be stipulated by the event organizers. Smart
casual attire required as per the above guidelines, unless more formal dress is specified.

18 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com

Results

Winter Men’s Am-Am (January 30th):
1 Mark Rashley, Martin Dalton, Adam Clifton &
Jon Critchley (97 points), 2 Alun Rees, Chris
Otterwell, Jon Dyer & Derek Saunders (95), 3
Ryan Layland, Darren Parke, Dale Botterill &
Matthew Francklow (93).

Mixed Competition (January 23rd):

1 Rod Gibbs, Carol Gibbs, Richard Briggs, Pat

Briggs, Chris Dickens & Liz Palmer (99 points),

2 Roger Mudd, Jacqueline Mudd, Gaynor Arnott, Seniors Waltz (January 5th)

Neil Robinson, Kate Nolan & Mark Anderson 1 Huw Rees, Martin Wood & Rod Gibbs (83

(95), 3 David Birkett, Jenny Wilkinson, June points), 2 Richard Sharp, Andrew Nicholls &

Smith, Martyn Smith, Graham Thompson & Iain Auld Snr (82), 3 Les Hillman, Roger Seamark

Miriam Johnson (93). & Gary Grimmitt (80).

Yellow Peril Team Competition (January 16th): Ladies 4 Clubs & Putter Stableford (January 4th):

1 Tony Camsell, Neil Carter, Alan Stokes & Division 1: 1 Josie Patrick (23 points), 2 Lema

Cliff Wymant (164 points), 2 Dale Botterill, Paul Townsend (22), 3 Claire Lindsay (22). Division 2:

Parkerson, Matthew Francklow & Jamie Jones 1 Helen Marriott (20), 2 Denise Roderick (16), 3

(163), 3 Mark Walker, Carl Hughes, Jonathan Susan Sharp (15). Division 3: 1 Carole Cornforth

Gould & Dave Connolly (163). (24), 2 Liz Palmer (19), 3 Sarah Chudley (18).

Mixed Competition (January 9th): Kelly Bowls (January 1st):

1 Chris Dickens, Liz Palmer - pictured below, 1 Mark Walker & Carl Hughes (43 points), 2

June Smith, David Birkett, Ian Jolly & Sue Sharp Robin Butler & Robin Everard (39), 3 Neil Carter

(63 points), 2 Rod Gibbs, Carol Gibbs, Michael & Richard Walmsley (39), 4 Carole Cornforth

Billson, Gill Rivers, Richard Briggs & Pat Briggs & Grahame Cornforth (39), 5 Wayne Partridge &

(62), 3 Chris Reading, Sarah Reading, Jenny Andrew Cox (39).

Wilkinson, Richard Walmsley, Sheena Markham

& Tim Coleman (60).

Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 19

20 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com

February 2022 fixtures (subject to change)

Date Start/End Event (1st tee unless stated)

Tue 1st 09:30 - 12:40 Ladies Competition Advertise
Wed 2nd 08:00 - 12:30 Seniors February Competition With Us
Sun 6th 10:50 - 12:20 Mixed Competition
Tue 8th 09:00 - 12:10 Ladies 14-hole Competition Please join us in 2022
Sun 13th 08:15 - 13:15 Men's Competition (all tees) and beyond
Tue 15th 09:30 - 12:40 Ladies Competition
Sun 20th 10:50 - 12:50 Mixed Competition Full page;
Tue 22nd 09:00 - 12:10 Ladies 14-hole Competition from £70 + VAT
Sun 27th 08:15 - 13:15 Men's Competition (all tees)
Half page;
from £45 + VAT

Quarter page;
from £30 + VAT

Office -
01933 677234

general.manager
@wellingboroughgolfclub.com

Bar Hours

Monday 11:00am - 5:00pm

Tuesday 11:00am - 7:00pm

Wednesday 11:00am - 7:00pm

Thursday 11:00am - 7:00pm

Friday 11:00am - 7:00pm

Saturday 11:00am - 9:00pm

Sunday 11:00am - 7:00pm

Catering Hours

Monday 10:00am - 3:00pm

Tuesday 10:00am - 3:00pm

Wednesday 10:00am - 3:00pm

Thursday 10:00am - 3:00pm

Friday 10:00am - 3:00pm

Saturday 8:30am - 5:00pm

Sunday Filled rolls available

Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 21

www.croylandcarmegastore.co.uk

Added Protection But don’t just take our word for
AND PEACE OF MIND it as every car at Croyland Car
FOR ALLCOUUSRTOMERS Megastore now includes as
standard AA Inspect and
When buying a new, used vehicle, Protect cover, which gives you:
you want to know that the car • An independent, unbiased
you’re choosing is both safe and
reliable, here at Croyland Car vehicle inspection and report
Megastore we are dedicated to • 12-months free breakdown
making sure you feel happy and • A free vehicle history check
confident with your purchase. So • Three month’s free warranty
when buying a vehicle from us, Peace of mind from one of the UKs
you can be sure that the car you’re best known motoring organisations.
choosing is the right choice.
Croyland Car Megastore, Northampton Road,
01933 413 415TeiiaotmnxncctfedoaiitmnnisCdnpbbrgeoeoe,aruynnktloeeafmftwniostdotsayarCeeofhrafuvearo,ilbMcpproeflecueuaagtalnlasltdsehtihopsoorewp Rushden, Northants, NN10 6GA

22 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com