Greens Finally Get a Trim!

Eugene Weir and the greens team finally managed to get the greens cut last Monday 9th January for the first time since before Christmas! You won’t be surprised to hear that the Met Office has stated that this autumn has been the wettest since 1910! Credit to Eugene and his team for their efforts in dealing with this and keeping the course playable under these conditions.

Out on the course, work-in-progress includes tree removal behind the 5th green adjacent to the 6th tee-box. It has been a long term objective to address the problem of excessive wetness on the 4th fairway and this project is key to addressing this problem. Greenstaff are taking advantage of the reduction of fairway grass cutting and the unusual dry and humid weather by cutting, felling and removing all of these laylandii trees. A substantial number of these trees have been identified for removal which will improve sunlight access and wind-flow. It is hoped that this will along with other proposed work– i.e. examination of the drainage systems down by the pond, improve the underfoot ground conditions on the 4th fairway.

This work is expected to take 6-8 weeks and is therefore a major winter 2012 project. This work utilises Kyle Ellison’s particular expertise in tree felling and regeneration. Due to the location of these trees work can go ahead on without additional damage to the course and disruption to those wishing to play the winter 18 holes. This will in due course prove to be beneficial to all members.

The resultant timber will be sold to offset associated club costs and anyone interested in acquiring the timber should contact the office to enquire about availability. Removal of such will be as and when ground conditions are suitable. A number of valuable deciduous trees and Castlewellan Golds will be retained in this area.

This course work is being carried out ahead of our green staff in-house servicing programme for course machinery which is essential and as undertaken in-house, results in significant financial savings to the club as reflected in the accounts. This is evidenced when comparing this year’s costs against those from previous years.

Winter improvement projects completed to date include the removal of the dead hedge by the putting green and making good this area for season 2012. The removal of trees and improvements to drainage by the putting green has also been completed. Re-turfing projects by the tree at the 2nd green and alongside the path leading to the 6th tee-box have also been completed.

Please note that practice is not permitted on the course. Some members have been observed practising on the 1st and 2nd fairways and we would remind everyone that practice is only permitted in the designated practice area. This is especially important at this time of year when the course is vulnerable.

Pitchmark and divot repairing effects the very presentation of the course and it is in every golfers interest to help in this area. Winter golfers are asked to avoid the approach to all greens with carts and keep off the green aprons where possible. We are attempting to reduce wear and tear and compliance is in all members’ interests and would be gratefully appreciated by the green staff.

Ropes are in place to protect some particularly vulnerable areas of the course and again it is in members’ interest to comply with all guided routes and pathways for the winter.

We have many examples of how members are volunteering to help Tandragee Golf Club, saving money and improving the facilities. We acknowledge George Forde’s help in locking the clubhouse on Mondays. He was also seen recently checking the performance of clubs buggies which have been out of action for some weeks. Gareth Hunter continues to work behind the scenes on keeping the clubs website relevant and up-to-date. Matt Laverty continues to provide a professional input and help in a range of areas while James Magee recently donated use of his small digger which along with green staffs assistance contributed greatly to the completion of some of the above mentioned winter improvement projects. James’ digger was also used to realign the step on the 17th tee-box along with a helping hand from Tom Uprichard and Brian Fyffe who were on hand to help sand and level this area. Billy Robinson continues to lock up on Tuesdays after bowls practice with Bar & Catering closing at 6pm during the winter, again saving on staffing costs occurred in previous years.

The above are just a few examples of how people are helping out. We have a multitude of talent and expertise amongst our membership; in fact everyone is an expert in something. Do you have an area of expertise or a talent that could help the club? And would you be willing to join the others in lending a hand from time to time? If so, please let us know. The evidence is that such volunteering, however small, improves the facilities and saves us money. Again we all benefit. As an example, until such times as we can refurbish the clubhouse, we need to mend and make do. There is some cloth and seating repairs required – anyone with such skills that can lend some time to this, again greatly appreciated.

The Ladies would like to thank Mayfair Business Centre for sponsoring their winter league.
Prize winners were as follows:

1st. V. Brady, 2nd. L.Saunders (Hon Sec), 3rd. J. McCarten (Lady Vice), 4th. A. Hall (Lady Past Capt.) 5th. S. Denison (Lady Capt)

The winning team was ‘Ulster Majors’ captained by Lady Vice Captain Julie McCarten, while the runners up were ‘Tin Cup’ captained by Lady Captain Shirley Dennison.

We would like to acknowledge the sponsorship support from 2 local Jewellers. Firstly Garry McWhirter of McWhirter the Jeweller from Market Street Newry (www.diamondsofdistinction.co.uk) who became our latest on-course banner sponsor at the winter 3rd tee and who also managed to grab an exclusive positioning deal on the driveway into the club!

A big thanks also to David Van Scoy from Portadown firm (www.jewellerybyvanscoy.co.uk) who kindly sponsored this year’s Winter League.

Friday 20th January – Monthly Charity Quiz Night 7.30pm
Saturday 25th February – The Illegals (The Eagles & Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band) Tickets now available £10

Congratulations to Judith Latimer from Waringstown who won the big £10,000 prize at the Tandragee New Years Eve extravaganza. Judith’s ticket was sold to her by Derek Poole and we hope Derek struck a good deal on commission back then! Almost half of this year’s 400 Cub tickets were sold to people outside the club, bringing in much needed revenue that otherwise we wouldn’t have had. Over £4,000 of cash prizes and 2 holidays (Paris & Barcelona) still remain to be distributed between now and the end of this year’s scheme in June.

Please note that all green fee voucher tickets associated with 400 Club Ticket purchases are now valid for use until 29th June 2012. This has been extended from 31st March as printed on the tickets. Vouchers will not be valid for use after this date.

Diary Dates to note…

Saturday 10th December – Winter League Dinner
Thursday 15th December – Ladies Winter League Dinner
Friday 16th December – Free Christmas Party Night Open to All
Wednesday 21st December – Children’s Christmas Party
Saturday 31st December – New Year’s Eve Extravaganza and 400 Club £10,000 prize draw

More on these events later and via special Telegraph messages online. If you currently do not receive the Tandragee Telegraph to your e-mail address, please send a message to michael@redheadni.co.uk

The interview with Dympna and Olivia Mehaffey is being broadcast on Radio Ulster this Saturday morning (10th December) between 8 am and 9am. Please tune in to hear what’s being discussed!

2011 has been a fantastic year on and off the course for Tandragee. We have met very challenging economic conditions head on and I’m delighted to announce that in the annual report due to be published in January, we will be posting positive news on the financial position of the club. While we accept that we will continue to face tough economic times ahead, we are able now to move forward and look into the future with an altogether more positive view. I would like to thank all our members, staff and Council who have helped to contribute to this success and I look forward to continuing to work with you all next year in my role as outgoing Captain. I wish our incoming Captain Malcolm Lynch every success for 2012 and I know you will all give him your full support. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Regards, Leslie Warren, Captain.

We would to acknowledge the support of former Captain James Magee who through his landscaping business donated a considerable quantity of surplus rolls of grassed turf. These have been utilised to make good several well worn areas in particular the pathway towards the 6th tee box. This necessitated the digging out of the clay base, re-soiling and turfing to make good this area.

The season for turfing would normally have passed but with the unnatural mild conditions we have been able to use this time to our benefit. The unseasonal weather conditions have resulted in unprecedented grass cutting in addition to leaf removal and greenstaff have also been spraying and slitting the greens to facilitate aeration and drainage.

The putting green area has also been receiving greenstaff attention. Trenches have been dug to assist drainage and chainsaw work is being undertaken to cut down and remove the tall conifer trees in this area. It is considered the presence and height of these trees are increasing shade and restricting sunlight and it is hoped their removal will prove beneficial to the health of the putting green. It may be that the practice net can be relocated to the space made available by the removal of the aforementioned trees and that will help put this reclaimed area to good use. The installation of yellow drainage piping and stone dressing has taken place to facilitate better drainage in this area. The adjoining hedge at the rear of the putting green has been removed, it was largely dead as a result of last year’s big freeze. The roots have yet to be dug out but when we make good this area we will do so with some of the reminder rolls of turf that James kindly supplied.

The unprecedented volume of rainfall has caused considerable problems to fairways and greens aprons and all efforts have been employed to make winter play possible.

It seems incredible that at the end of November, beginning of December, due to unseasonable weather (damp and humid), most of the greens have required repeated spraying to prevent ANTHRACNOSE. This is a disease that kills off meadow grass leaving bare patches; evidence of this condition is visible on a number of putting green surfaces.

We thank you for your support this year and look forward to keeping winter golf alive for as long as possible and indeed to preparing the course for the 2012 season ahead. On behalf of all members we’d like to acknowledge the work undertaken by Eugene (Head Greenkeeper) and his team who work hard on our behalf and deal superbly with ever increasing adverse weather conditions.

This month we welcome the following new members to Tandragee – Christopher and Jeanette Gordon, Gary and Mark Upton, David Hooks and Scott Cowan. We hope you enjoy your time at Tandragee!

The Monthly payment scheme has been extended to facilitate all current Fairway Credit members. The new interest free scheme will provide 10 interest free monthly payments from January to October 2012. Please contact Alan Hewitt in the office or ring 02838 841 272 for forms and details. Anyone else who missed the launch of the scheme back in October is welcome to join in January as well.

Members who in the past have paid their membership fees early, around this time of year, are advised that the club continues to welcome your support with this and again Alan in the office will facilitate you with that.

The club would like to congratulate Geraldine McCann from our catering team who has been selected to carry the Olympic Torch for London 2012. She was nominated to carry the torch in recognition of her tireless work on behalf of cancer charities and we wish her every success in the lead up to her big day on 3rd June next year!

Wednesday 21st December at 6pm sees the arrival of Santa to Tandragee for the Children’s Christmas Party. Open to all members’ children and grandchildren the event will have face-painting, a magician and a disco. Parents should provide a wrapped gift (maximum value £10) and add the kids names to the sheets available at the bar. A goodie bag will be supplied and it should be great evening for all who come along.

Takes place on Friday 16th December and is free of charge and all members and their guests are welcome to attend. We will have great entertainment on offer to get you into the festive spirit!

Saturday 10th December is the winter league dinner and prize giving. A special menu choice is on offer at £7.50 and all are welcome to attend. A free draw will take place for a 16lb turkey for all in attendance.

The Ladies Winter League dinner and prize giving will take place on Thursday 15th December at 7.30pm with a 4 course meal priced at £15.95 For further information please contact Shirley Dennison on 07912 749443.

As you know the Captain Leslie Warren has invited all members and their guests to come and help celebrate a great year on and off the course for Tandragee Golf Club. The NYE event has lots on offer – a superb 5 course meal, entertainment from 60’s/70’s/80’s pop band ‘Dreemz’ not to mention the prospect of one lucky 400 Club member seeing in the New Year with the big £10,000 cash prize! We will also have a genuine Scottish piper on hand as well as a courtesy bus to help get you home on the night (£5 fee applies). Ticket sales have been strong to date with over 130 bookings received so far – so if you fancy it, get your booking in now as capacity for this event is around 150 guests. The ticket price is £25, call 02838 841 272 to reserve your table.