Club News

From General Manager David Harris,

It’s been a challenging time since over the past year but we are now starting to see things improve in all areas. Richard and the team have been working hard on the course and with the various weather conditions from cold and no rain into a spell of rain and now beginning to warm up, we are starting  

The clubhouse and patio work is nearly complete and it’s nice seeing people sit inside during the colder and wetter days and socialise as we know it has been tough on everyone. We are here to help and provide a beautiful place for you to visit on and off the course and you will see we have lots planned as we go into the summer time. 

Course News

Well, what a contrast May has been compared to April, the heavy showers have certainly added the moisture the soil so desperately needed. The knock-on effect this has on the rough always brings a smile to my face. As the golf course starts to transform into its early summer phase. It’s been a while since the rough truly made an appearance. Several years of dry springs which over the past three years has led to long hot dry summers. This has in turn allowed the golf course to not really show itself, resulting in buggies and trollies being able to freely go where they wished. When combined with the dry springs and hot summers, the result has been a golf course that appears wide open.  This is about to change.

Whilst the constant heavy rain showers were annoying at time the fairways have benefitted enormously.  The fairway irrigation is yet to be really used, its only a matter of time though. The purpose of having fairway irrigation is to highlight that its viable to irrigate with minimal impact on the surrounding grasses in the rough. The aim is to keep the grass alive and water in a sustainable way. To help us achieve this we will be using wetting agents, feeds and seaweed to retain the moisture. Only the 1^st and 18^th holes are currently irrigated, once we have successfully showed what is possible, there are plans to irrigate the rest of the fairways. As the quality of the turf improves, which it already has we will be in a better position to establish the bent and fescue seed required to help establish fairways more suited to the conditions found at Hampton Court. We have already started this process and were out last week overseeding the 1^st and 18^th fairways. We then had enough seed in stock to overseed the 9^th, 14^th 15^th and 16^th fairways as well.

One of the great benefits of seeing staff numbers increase since Get Golfing have taken over is the amount of fairway divoting we have been able to do. This is something that will be continued indefinitely.  The greenkeeping team is now fully staffed with Carl the new Deputy starting on June 14^th, closely followed by Max who will be starting on the 21^st June. Max will be Josh’s replacement as first assistant. Josh is heading to Royal Mid Surrey and we wish him all the best in his new position. Once Carl starts the greenkeeping team will consist of 7 full time staff and several part time staff. Get Golfing are looking after the staff providing plenty of opportunity to gain qualifications and training when required. They have even established an internship program were greenkeepers across all of the sites will be eligible to spend some time at The Pelican Golf Course in Florida during the winter months. Get Golfing will be picking up the expense of the trip for those selected. It really is good to have staff and bodies to help us get the golf course into the best condition possible and that Get Golfing are looking after the staff we are now employing.

The driving range is now open and whilst its still bedding in and we will be dressing the entire range every fortnight. This will help level the range so can we tighten up the surface. Allowing us to then eventually get the surface cut and prepared as if it were a tee box. The amount of man hours and work required to look after the range will mean that at times we will be working on the range whilst golfers are trying to use it. We intend to carry most of the work out first thing in the morning. So please be patient with if you find yourself practicing with greenkeeper’s present it won’t be for long and we will endeavour to keep disruption minimal.

There will be a pin sheet available for both rounds of the upcoming club championships the weekend on the 5^th and 6^th June. As the rough starts to rise we will be getting out the rough marker posts on the 13^th, 14^th, 16^th and 18^th. We will also be putting out the flag sticks at the back of the 14^th and 16^th tees, on competition days to keep play moving along. We will also be monitoring the daily wear on certain white tees as we are planning on keeping them off the backs. These holes are the 6^th 12^th, 14^th, 15^th, 16^th. The others we will rotating them in so that course plays as close to its full length as possible. The white tees that will be getting rotated are the 1^st, 5^th, 7^th, 13^th and 17^th. This is mainly due to the size of the tee and the strength of the turf, so that they can withstand the wear.

The boundary of the rough will not have changed but as we have had several years of minimal rough growth. The perception may be that we have made things narrower, I can assure you we have not. Its one of the positive things I personally think being a member of Hampton Court offers. We essentially get a different golf course 3 to 4 times a year and from year to year this to can be wildly different. We continually monitor and asses what we do and why from season to season and year upon year. Ultimately finding a balance between a fair test of golf, whilst adhering to the stipulations of Homepark’s SSSI status.

We have a lot of things planned to do in June, which will, set up the golf course for the summer months. This mainly involves wetting agents’ seaweeds seed and fertiliser, all on the areas we closely mow. Once the new staff join the team combined with current staff. We will be making an even bigger difference next month and beyond.

Clubhouse News

It’s great to be back inside our newly renovated clubhouse after 7 months of being outside and various lockdowns. We hope you like the new design, layout and furniture along with the bifold doors for easy access to the extended patio. There are still a few finishing touches to be made along with the completion of the Wolsely Room but we are very pleased and proud of our new clubhouse, and we hope you are too. 

Competitions News

From Club Captain Harry McCreanor,

As we are all aware this year has been like no other. That has meant that raising money for my Captains charity has been far more challenging than usual but it’s great to finally get the Captains Charity day in the diary for Saturday June 19th. 

To remind you my charity this year is Children With Special Needs a local Surrey charity that has been close to my heart and I have been supporting over the last decade. 

If you can take a moment please take a look at their site – https://www.childrenwithspecialneeds.co.uk/ 

This year we will be playing a four man team event open to both members and their guests so I hope we can have a full field. The format will be a fun one with – Best 2 scores to count on holes 1-9 / Best 3 scores to count on holes 10 – 15 / All 4 scores to count on holes 16 – 18. 

The entry fee will be £40 per team with 50% going to my charity. Visitors must pay a member’s guest fee in addition to the competition entry (£40 per person) 

This will be a really fun day with great prizes, a fantastic raffle and lots of fun challenges out on the course. 

Entry opens on IG on Wednesday 26th and look forward to seeing as many of you as I can on the day. 

Club Championship will be held on 5th and 6th June and you can enter via IG login plus we are planning a BBQ following each round, please feel free to invite friends and family to join you for food and drink after into the evening.  

Well done to everyone in competing in the Second Round of Race To Le Touquet. 

The final results are in & congratulations to the winner’s below – 

1st – Steve Darlington – £75.00 + 45 Points + 3 Sleeve’s Srixon AD333 Balls + Singha Hat 

2nd Gary Waters – £50.00 + 38 Points + 2 Sleeve’s Srixon AD333 Balls + Singha Hat 

3rd James Sante Marcat – £25.00 + 37 Points + 1 Sleeve Srixon AD333 Balls + Singha Hat 

4th Dan Smith – £15.00 + 36 Points + 1 Sleeve Srixon AD333 Balls 

5th Zia Qureshi – £10.00 + 35 Points + 1 Sleeve Srixon AD333 Balls 

Last Place – Samuel Elliott – Free 30 minute Lesson with Gus Mottershead – Please get in touch to book your lesson. 

Please collect your prize’s from the office. Money will be added to your members card automatically & now can be spent at our new online Pro Shop https://www.golfshop.live/ , if there is something you can’t find on our website please use the contact us page, as our team will be able to deliver. 

Please see below for the top 20 Order Of Merit after rounds 1 & 2: 

Please remember to enter for Race To Le Touquet – Round 3 for the12th June, which is open from tomorrow (18th May). Entry fee is £5.00. Please note points will increase for each event. 

Thanks to Singha for sponsoring The Race To Le Touquet event, they are providing a huge prize to be won for the winners at Le Touquet.  

Announcing Arkley

Charity Get Golfing CIO is excited to announce that it has agreed a 25-year lease with property company, U+I plc to take over the running of Arkley Golf Club, near Barnet in Hertfordshire.

Arkley joins Get Golfing’s stable of clubs including nearby Mill Green, which sits between Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, Warley Park in Essex, Surrey clubs Hampton Court Palace and Pyrford Lakes, Redlibbets in Kent, The Bristol in the West Country and Sherfield Oaks in Hampshire.

Situated in close proximity to the M1, M25 and A1 on the outskirts of Barnet, Arkley Golf Club is a beautiful par-69 course laid out by celebrated golfer and course architect James Braid and further improved by the legendary course designer Harry Colt. The tree-lined, 9-hole course has 18 distinct tee boxes and provides an enjoyable challenge for golfers of every level.

Get Golfing CEO Edward Richardson says, “Arkley is a special golf club with an important place in the development of golf in Britain, so we are delighted to be involved in returning the club and course to its former glory. We would encourage anyone who loves golf to try Arkley, it is a historic course and a very welcoming venue to relax after a game of golf.

“We are also immensely proud that the current operator, U+I Golf Limited, has chosen us to continue their good work. Director John Weir is a hugely respected figure in the golf industry and to get his endorsement means a lot to all the team at Get Golfing.”

The change in management also means that Arkley members will now be able to access other clubs in the Get Golfing group at great rates and will benefit from a range of market-leading discounts on drinks, food and golf equipment. They will also be able to enter some of Get Golfing’s fantastic competitions, such as Get Golfing’s Society Masters and its Order of Merit series for members, called The Race to Le Touquet, which in addition to offering the opportunity to win golf trips, comes with a fantastic array of prizes.

Club Captain Kaz Donald told Arkley members in the club’s April newsletter that the handover was “a real positive” for the club: “President David and I have met Edward Richardson and we were very impressed. His passion for golf, and the future, is palpable… I do believe that the future is bright!”

Staff News

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Carl Sharp as Deputy Course Manager at HCP. Although still in his early twenties, Carl has already packed in a huge amount of experience in his chosen profession. He started his career in greenkeeping as a summer casual at Sunbury Golf Club while also studying for his A‑levels. After leaving school, he got another summer casual job, this time at Royal Mid‑Surrey, working under Master Greenkeeper Gavin Kinsella. This led to a full‑time role as a greenkeeper at the club, where his progress was recognised in 2018 when he became a finalist in the Toro Young Greenkeeper of the Year Award. 

He then switched sports to gain wider turf keeping experience joining Chelsea FC as a match day staff member, helping to prepare the pitch at Stamford Bridge for football matches.  

He says, “My day duties included cutting and marking out the pitch and general keeping of the turf. As a greenkeeper, I thought cutting a pitch would be easy but I was wrong. The slope of the playing surface makes it difficult to keep the mowers straight; you’re always thinking of the next line and fighting against a big Dennis mower.” 

His next target was to work at a Top 10 golf club and so joined Queenwood, working under Steven Richardson. He also worked at several tournaments including the British Masters at Walton Heath and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club. 

After nearly two years at Queenwood, he joined Milford as a Deputy Head Greenkeeper, where he was involved in completing the grow-in of five holes in readiness for the course’s opening in September. Most recently, Carl has been working as Course Manager at Clandon Golf Club, near Guildford in Surrey. HCP Course Manager Richard Hill says Carl’s appointment “further demonstrates Get Golfing’s commitment to building the reputation of Hampton Court Palace as the destination course in the area and to giving the next generation of greenkeepers the opportunity to further their careers”. 

Events News

From Events Manager Clare Twyford,

Charity Coffee Morning Every Monday from 7th June between 9.30am – 11.30am and £1.00 of every coffee purchased will be donated to the charity of the day. Please come along and share dates with others. 

7th – Macmillan Cancer Support – https://www.macmillan.org.uk  

14th – Ronald McDonald House Charities – https://rmhc.org.uk  

21st – Park Lane Stables – https://www.parklanestables.co.uk  

28th – Shooting Star Childrens Hospices – https://www.shootingstar.org.uk  

Fathers Day Lunch – Sunday 20th June  

Treat Dad to an afternoon out and tables now open to two house holds.  

£14.95 per person and £9.95 for under 11’s 

Please contact [email protected] to book a table 

Christmas Party Night – Friday 3rd  – December  

Plan ahead for your big night out this Christmas
Selected dates in December 
Glass of bubbles on arrival
3 course dinner and entertainment 
£49.50 per person 

Pro News

Free Members’ Clinic with Gus Mottershead 

• June 4th: Short Game 2pm – 3pm 
• June 30th: Long game – 2pm – 3pm 

Free Members’ Clinic with Alex Vezey  

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Saturday 5th June 10.00 – 11.00am 

Improve your driver off the tee.  

Slicing your driver? Hooking off the tee? Not finding enough fairways from the the tee? Then this lessons is perfect for you. Improve your driving accuracy during this lesson.  

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Wednesday 9th June 10.00 – 11.00am 

Improve your driver off the tee.  

Slicing your driver? Hooking off the tee? Not finding enough fairways from the tee? Then this lessons is perfect for you. Improve your driving accuracy during this lesson.  

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Saturday 19th June 10.00 – 11.00 

Full Swing Fault Fixing. 

Come along to this group and improve any issues with your golf swing. Leave with a better understanding of your faults, and how to over come them with an improvement plan. 

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Wednesday 23rd 10.00 – 11.00 June 

Full Swing Fault Fixing. 

Come along to this group and improve any issues with your golf swing. Leave with a better understanding of your faults, and how to over come them with an improvement plan. 

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Real Golf at Hampton 

Our REAL GOLF intensive schools are the perfect way to speed up your progress. 4 students, plus one REAL GOLF professional, times three hours, equals HUGE progress! 

Real Golf sessions at HCP 

• Chipping Masterclass  
• Putting School 

5-star Google review: “I attended the intensive Chipping Masterclass and found it incredibly helpful, very impressed how they zeroed in on what I needed to work on and the explanations were very clear. Thanks for giving me so much more confidence around the greens!” Mr Sung  

Hampton Court Palace special offer: 4 for the price of 3! Get a group of four students together and you will only pay for three! This can be made as a ‘private booking’ at a time to suit your group. Please email [email protected] to book your session. 

For our June schedule at Hampton please visit www.real-golf.org 

Free group coaching sessions with Chris Moss 

Trackman on the 1st Tee at Hampton Court Palace: Tee off on Saturday, June 5th between 10.30am–12.30pm to receive a full Trackman report on your opening tee shot, which includes your swing direction, face angle, angle of attack, swing speed, ball speed, total distance and high- definition video of your swing. All free of charge. 

Let’s play! Group coaching lesson on the course: Ask the Pro, learn how to strike the ball, understand why you hit bad shots and how to hit better ones. Open to all abilities. Saturday, June 12th 3.00-5.00pm  (4-8 players max). 

Please email — [email protected] — or call — 07710532853 — to reserve your slot. 

www.chrismossgolf.co.uk; BOOKINGS: https://bookings.chrismossgolf.co.uk/v2/ 

Proshop News

Demo Days

It brings me great pleasure to announce Demo Days will be coming to Get Golfing sites throughout the summer. With Premium brands including TaylorMade, Callaway, Cobra, Srixon, Wilson; get fitted for the latest and greatest!

Hampton Court Palace has confirmed demo days for the following manufacturers:

• Taylormade: Book your fitting
• Cobra: Book your fitting

Alternatively please contact Nick directly at [email protected] or call 01474 554960 for available slots.

New Brands in the Proshop

• Ecco Golf Shoes – Blending on-course performance with off-course style / Premium comfort and Henrik Stenson representing as their new ambassador.
• Duca Del Cosma Shoes – All new Nappa Leather Golf Shoes. The Belair is an award winning shoe from Golf Monthly Editors Choice for 2020!
• Srixon Golf Clubs – Tee off with the Srixon ZX5 driver that Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters with. All new hardware available now.

June Promotions

• Buy a Cleveland Zipcore Wedge and receive 6 Srixon Z Star Golf Balls completely free!

• Purchase a Wilson Staff Grip Plus glove and receive a 2 Ball Sleeve of Wilson Duo+