TANDRAGEE GREENS TO GET SMOOTHER, FASTER!

The Tandragee 400 Club Committee is delighted to announce that a new ‘greens roller’ has been ordered to improve the surface and speed of our greens. It was highlighted in the recent club survey that members wanted to see faster, smoother greens and in support of this the investment in the Tru-Turf roller has been authorised. Testing of the machine took place on a number of the greens last week and the feedback from members who followed it was very positive indeed. This state of the art roller is used at many of the PGA Tour venues in the United States and European Tour courses in Europe. Due with us in early April, we should see an improvement in the greens in as little as a week. The 400 Club Committee would like to thank all those who participated in the scheme, buying and selling tickets – this is what the scheme was designed for and we hope that members and guests alike will continue to support the scheme when it launches in July for 2012. (Pic – Kyle Ellison TGC Greenstaff, testing out the roller).

Congratulations to the 400 Club Winners for March – the £650 cash prize went to Jim Nelson, the £250 prize to Clarke McAllister and the £100 to Charles Lynch. Good luck to all ticketholders in April’s draw!

The results of the recent club survey have been published. While the feedback was generally positive, improvement is required in a number of key areas. Thank you to everyone who completed a form either online or offline, your comments have been collated and forwarded to the relevant convenors who will be looking at the common factors and suggestions as a way forward for the future (see above as example of feedback being acted upon). For anyone who has not seen the results, there are copies posted on the notice board at the gents upstairs and copies are also available in the office for anyone who wants to take a copy away to read.

*** Due to a recent bereavement the Murder Mystery Event scheduled for Saturday 14 April has been postponed.

We will reschedule the event for another time, possibly later in the year. ***

April wines of the month are a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc 2011 and an El Cabello Merlot 2010, available this month at £9 for members and £10 for nonmembers.

A reminder also that the famous Tandragee Sunday Carvery is only £12.95 for adults (4 courses) while kids under 12 eat half price and tots under 4 eat for free!

We are now into summer trading hours in the clubhouse. The top floor remains closed on a Monday while opening Tuesday 12.00-21.30, Wednesday & Thursday 12-23.00, Friday 12.00-23.30, Saturday 11.00-23.30 and Sunday 12.30-22.00. Last orders for food are 8pm on a Tuesday & Sunday and 9pm all other days.

A new ‘Back Bar’ menu has been introduced. These keener priced meals are restricted to the back bar only. They will NOT be available in any other area. Also, an agreement has been reached with the caterer to introduce a selection of light, deli type dishes – i.e. club sandwich/wraps etc. These will be on a separate menu and will be only available up to 6.30pm.

We would like to remind all members that if they have any comments or suggestions on catering issues at TGC to please channel these through to one of the catering committee representatives – Lavern Saunders, George Forde, Colin McKillop or the Vice Captain Rennell Gale who is the Captain’s appointed liaison with the club’s caterer Gary Gamble.

The Ladies Branch has almost completed the long awaited refurbishment of their locker rooms and to date it has been a resounding success. Thanks must go to all the ladies who worked tirelessly to fundraise over recent years. Special thanks to Past Captain Anne Hall, the Ladies Committee and all those involved in applying the finishing touches.

Also a big thanks to Harry Hall and Jim Carson (painting), Maurice & Stephen Whitla (electrics), Matt Laverty (carpentry), Norman McGladdery of Instyle Carpets Banbridge and Captain Malcolm Lynch who all played a significant part in completing the project to a very high standard.

Tandragee hosted the Mid Ulster Alliance Captain’s Day on the 12th March. 54 ladies from 6 different clubs played 16 holes for an array of beautiful prizes put up by the Captain Linda Weir. The worthy winner on the day was Diane Coburn from Portadown. Linda would like to pass on her thanks to the kitchen and bar staff who were great, keeping all fed and watered during the afternoon and beyond!!

New members welcomed to Tandragee this month include – Gary Maxwell, Richard Nummy, Alan Taylor, Ryan Kerr, Michael Anderson, James Anderson, Jordan McKenzie, Johnny Leckey and Kathryn Taylor.

The old ‘Social’ membership category at Tandragee has undergone a facelift. The new ‘Clubhouse’ membership scheme hopes to welcome many new members this year. The annual fee has been reduced to £12 and we would encourage all members to spread the word on the benefits of joining – leaflets promoting the scheme are now available at the club. New Clubhouse members welcome this month include Brian Ball, Nicholas Cardwell, Wilbert McKee, Paul Kid, Bryan McLaughlin and Henry Totten.

The ‘Introduce a Friend’ scheme has been launched this month with members encouraged to bring prospective new members to Tandragee. A £25 bonus (in £5 clubhouse vouchers) is available to anyone who introduces a new full member (19+ upwards) pick up leaflet with all the details!

A new range of society golf deals are now available at Tandragee with golf and meal deals ranging from £19.95 to £34.95. Why not encourage your society or friends to take up our new offers? Again leaflets are available!

Many thanks to those who returned their clubhouse vouchers as a contribution to course improvements. The vouchers have been used to purchase new bunker rakes, divot trowels and bags. More on that next month….

New Faces

Pictured right, the dream team of misfits that will be representing members as part of the 2012 Club Council! L-R back row Eddie Harbinson, Colin McKillop, Alan Hewitt, Michael Lyons, James Magee & Jim Carson. L-R Front row Rennell Gale (Vice-Captain), Malcolm Lynch (Captain), Leo McRory (President) & Leslie Warren. (Missing in action were Sam Curran and Billy Robinson – get well soon Billy).

Council is committed to delivering again this year and hopes to add to the success achieved last year. As Malcolm noted in his AGM Captain’s address the priorities for 2012 are further financial consolidation along with improvements on the golf course and in the restaurant/bar. Malcolm believes we must strive to make these valuable improvements with modest and sensible investment in these crucial areas. Thanks also to outgoing members of council who have served the club well in recent years – John Leckey, Garfield Grimley, Richard Cunningham and Geoff Gray.

Following the recent AGM and the Honorary Treasurers comments on the intention to issue members with ‘Reward Vouchers’ by way of thanks for supporting the club over the last 12 months, Council have met and discussed the mechanics of such a scheme. It has been decided to apportion vouchers on the basis of membership category in increments of £15, £10 & £5 issued in units of £5.

These will be distributed to members in receipt of 2012 subscriptions and will include your name and GUI card number. The vouchers are valid for use in the bar only and can only be redeemed for cash sales when produced with a matching GUI card as proof of identity. Vouchers are not transferrable or (GUI) bar card creditable, retain no cash value and must be used on or before 31st May 2012.

As has subsequently been suggested by a club member, anyone wishing to donate their vouchers back to the club can do so. The vouchers will be set aside and used for planned course improvement projects. Anyone wishing to do so is asked to pass their vouchers back through the pro-shop or the office.

Also at the recent AGM, outgoing Captain Leslie Warren made a special presentation on behalf of the club to Paul Topley. Paul is in his 32nd consecutive year representing the club at senior cup level playing at a handicap of 2 or better over this period. This is a remarkable achievement, testimony to his golfing ability and consistent play. Leslie presented Paul with a specially engraved watch. Congratulations, well done Paul!

Pictured this week on-course with chainsaw in hand is Kyle Ellison part of the club’s greens team. You can’t fail to notice the progress being made in the removal of the trees to the right of the 4th tee box. As noted in the last edition, this work is to improve light, wind-flow and in turn drainage on the 4th fairway, one of our wettest in this record-breaking period of rainfall. Some of the trees will remain, providing the 5th green with valuable shelter from those teeing off on number 6!

A unique tribute to the music of the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac comes to Tandragee on Sat 25th February. Experience the extraordinary effect these 2 bands had on the music of their day. In their hey-day of the 1970s these 2 giants of rock were the pioneers of the American West Coast Sound. Forty years later and the Illegals are paying tribute to that enduring sound. A brilliant night of vocal harmony, ringing acoustics and rockin’ guitars featuring timeless classics from Poco, Linda Rondstadt, Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd as well as favourites from the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. The band features the vocal talents of Ireland’s Eurovision winner from 1993, Niamh Kavanagh.

Tickets are now available from the Club Office and Bar priced £10. There’s a special West Coast menu available for the evening. To book tickets or a table call 02838 841 272 or check in with the bar/catering team in person.

A special menu has been crafted for Valentines this Saturday 11th and the day itself, Tuesday 14th February. The 4 course special including a glass of wine is priced at £30 for 2 people making it a great value night out for you and your loved one! Again booking is essential on 02838 841 272.

This month we welcome the following new members to Tandragee. Liam Conlon, Niall Savage, Jill Hymers, Lee Whitten, Jamie Crymble, James Pollock, Andrew Marks, David Herron, Richard White, Christopher Judge, David Vogan and Chris Kelly. Welcome one and all!

£650 Willie Nummy, £250, Mrs McConway & £100 Mrs McKillop. The February draw for the Springtime in Paris weekend will take place at the Illegal’s event on the 25th.

Many of you will now have received a copy of the 2011 Tandragee Golf Club Survey. The 19 point questionnaire covers all aspects of club life and we would encourage as many members as possible to complete and return it. Those of you registered to receive the electronic version of the Tandragee Telegraph will have received it to be completed and submitted online. Copies of the survey have also been distributed via post along with the 2012 subscription notices. If you have completed it online, there’s no need to complete a hard copy version and if you are completing it by hand, please pop it back to the pro-shop or office on or before the closing date for returns Saturday 18th February.

A big shout out to some volunteers who helped with the mammoth tasks of preparing the distribution of the survey, annual report and subscription mailouts. Brian Fyffe, George Forde, Bob Saunders, Alan Jones, Sam Paul, Richard Dillon, Richard Cunningham, Leo McRory and Maurice Whitla. Thanks to everyone who put in the hours to help organise these. Availability is one thing; turning up to help is another!

We are still short a few team captains for 2012. Anyone interested in helping out please contact Jim Carson on 07740 60 56 51.