JUNE / JULY 20203
GM REPORT
Dear Golf Club Members,
I hope this message finds each of you in good health and that you are thoroughly enjoying the summer season of golf.
Firstly, I was deeply saddened to learn about the loss of our beloved club member, Andy Anstee. Throughout his time with us, Andy consistently radiated a cheerful smile, making it a joy to be around him. His presence within the club was truly cherished, and his absence will be profoundly felt by all of us. On behalf of the entire club, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Andy Anstee's friends and family during this difficult time. Andy will be remembered fondly, and his spirit will forever remain in the heart of our club.
As you all know, we've experienced quite a weather shift from one of the hottest Junes on record to one of the wettest Julys. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the rescheduling of numerous competitions and club matches, with social golf and team games being played in wet conditions. Nonetheless, I want to take a moment to acknowledge Club Captain Andrew Davies, who has had the 2nd day of the Captains Prize postponed due to bad weather. The 2nd day of the Captains Prize had to be rescheduled, but I am confident that all members are eagerly looking forward to participating and showing support for Andrew during the 2nd day of the Captains Prize 2023.
At the same time I would like to once again thank all members who gave up their Sunday golf on July 23rd so that we as a club and Lee Price could continue to host the Corey Price and Colin Jones memorial day which was cancelled on the Saturday due to the bad weather. This day has always been an important part of the calendar for Brynhill Golf Club as we remember the life of Corey Price & Colin Jones. Lee Price puts in an extradorinaiy amount of time in making this day possible and 100% of all money raised is generously donated back to the club for a specific project. From Brynhill Golf Club we would also like to say thank you to Lee for all the effort he puts in to organising this special day in memory and celebration of Corey’s life and the generosity in donating the proceeds back into the club.
Following a hot and dry June, the golf course was in dire need of some rain. The combination of rainfall and warm temperatures has resulted in phenomenal growth throughout the entire course. I must commend Richard and his team for their exceptional work in maintaining the course in its current superb condition. Both members and visitors have been full of praise, with many stating that the greens have possibly never been better. Richard has put in significant effort, installing hand watering points around some greens while simultaneously addressing issues with our aging irrigation system. I extend my gratitude to course manager Richard, Both Matthews, Chase, Rob Garn and seasonal staff member Trevor for their tremendous contributions to the course's outstanding appearance. Your hard work certainly doesn't go unnoticed, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from members and visitors speaks volumes. Your efforts have been instrumental in attracting recent new members to the club, who have been thoroughly impressed with the course's condition and layout.
In June and July we have welcomed 8 new members to Brynhill and also 22 ladies on the new to golf scheme. As we know there are multiple golf clubs in the area so whenever anyone decides that they want to join us and play their Golf in Brynhill we should all be very thankful and also very proud. New members wanting to join Brynhill doesn’t happen by accident! It is no good having an effective marketing strategy if we don’t have a golf course presented to a great standard for a longer period of the year. Also there is little point in having a great course if we do not have a good catering facility and a welcome bar service. All of these parts of a golf club need to result in effective administration with the right personnel who are acting as a team working towards the same goal which is to make Brynhill grow as a venue, a business and as a brand. I honestly feel that we have such a strong community of members who all acknowledge how good Brynhill Golf Club is and how good it really can be, I believe there is a really positive vibe in the club with so many people pulling in the same direction and I want to thank all members who engage positively with our social media posts that help drive the right audience to the club. Also thank you to all members who make our visitors and new members feel welcome and quickly integrated into the club. I acknowledge that we also need a more welcoming clubhouse with more modern and upgraded facilities with better kerb appeal, more remedial work on the course and in particular the tee areas. Understanding the issues and working towards solutions to make Brynhill Golf Club a premier golfing venue in South Wales is what we are trying to do. While financial constraints may slow down some of our plans, I am actively pursuing grants and support to help us achieve our goals. Although not all applications may lead to positive outcomes, I remain hopeful that some will prove fruitful, enabling us to implement better services and facilities in the club.
I encourage all members to attend the EGM on the 1st of August regarding the car park sale, where we will provide updates on the development and shed light on the club's financial position.
As we enter August and September, I wish you all enjoyable rounds of golf, and let's keep our fingers crossed for some pleasant weather ahead.
Thank you all for being an integral part of the Brynhill Golf Club community. Together, we will continue to work towards a bright and successful future for our beloved club.
Kind Regards
Scott Warne
MEMBER SERVICES
Club Sytems machines due for upgade. Thank you to Richard Pierce for sorting this
On-Course Automated Emergency Defibrillator - Corey’s Corner
Update On Coreys Corner
GOLF COURSE
SOCIETIES BOOKED: 11
In my opening statement, I want to reiterate my appreciation for the exceptional presentation of our golf course during June and July. The green staff deserves commendation for their hard work and dedication in maintaining the course to a high standard.
Of course, unforeseen events are a part of any endeavor, and we did face some minor challenges, such as machinery breakdowns. I would like to extend my gratitude to Richard for promptly communicating these issues to our members. These machinery hiccups have, at times, prevented us from presenting the course at its full potential, and it is clear that both the Executive Management Committee (EMC) and Richard's team share in our collective frustration regarding these matters.
We are well aware of the concerns surrounding our aging machinery and recognise that addressing this issue is a priority for the EMC. Acquiring new machinery is not without financial implications, and some suppliers have lengthy lead times, with quotations extending up to 18 months. Nevertheless, we are working diligently with the resources we have, while understanding and appreciating the patience shown by our course manager and team as we strive to find viable solutions.
Additionally, we acknowledge that there is substantial work to be done, particularly concerning the tee areas. Many of the tees, including the red tees, are in need of reconstruction with new turf. I, alongside Greens Chairman Mike Moore and Cael Penberthy, will meet with Richard and the team to develop a tee project plan to address this issue effectively. Implementing such a plan will not be an overnight fix. We understand that the cost of reconstructing all the tees surpasses our current budget as a club, but that doesn't mean it is unattainable. We need a solid plan and a clear goal to work towards, and step by step, we will chip away at this objective to ensure consistent progress.
Thank you all for your continued support and understanding as we navigate these challenges together. Our determination and collaborative efforts will lead us to overcome these obstacles and ensure the continued success of our golf course.
NEW COURSE TEAM STAFF MEMBER
Our new addition to the Greens Team Danny Davies will be joining us in a few weeks. Danny had to delay his start date which was unavoidable and we look forward to Danny starting with us in due course.
CLUBHOUSE
ROOM HIRE / EVENTS: 21
The work that Sam Pascoe has done in the lounge area and West wing of the clubhouse is paying dividends. The frequency of the room hire is on the increase which means subsequently the bar spend is also on the increase. At present a lot of this increased revenue is eaten up by an increase in costs and its a challenge for the club to really get ahead financially however we all feel we are going in the right direction. It is essential that we continue to attract outside bookings for events, wakes and parties as the profits can really help to feed the rest of the club and course whilst with a view to really improve and update the facilities when possible.
I would like to also give a shout out to our caterer Neil and his team as the standard and quality of food has also been fantastic with some great feedback from members and visiting teams. Neil continues to provide the breakfast service on Friday and Saturdays and please come and support this when you can. Thank you also to Bar Manager Barrie and his team who have also done a brilliant job in servicing members and visitors during July especially with so many room bookings and private functions taking place in the clubhouse which is in growth v last year. I want to end this with a big thank you to the office manager Nicky who is has been relied upon to effectively run this club for the past several years. Having sat in the office next to Nicky I can honestly say that her job is much more than an office manager and as members we should be thankful that we have someone like Nicky who keeps the ship afloat and wants the club to prosper and thrive just as much as members do.
Thank you to Mr. Robert Garn who continues to do some tremendous project work on the course. A lot of members have commented on the clearing of the foliage behind the 10th green and how much better this section looks. Although this isn’t part of the course from a golf point of view it shows how important it is to make areas more aesthetically pleasing. Also there are always other reasons behind some of the project work including digging out and establishing effective drainage channels and solutions which will help the course dry out quicker in the wet conditions and winter months.
CLUB NEWS / UPDATES
2023 LEAVERS & STARTERS - CARDIFF CITY
LEAVERS: 43
STARTERS: 79
Across June and July we welcomed 30 new members to Brynhill Golf Club. A special thanks to Glynis Gould, Jen Pugh and Jo Kirkpatrick who have been instrumental in driving the ladies new to golf scheme bringing in 22 new ladies, also thank you to Paul Evans who has supported so many aspects of the club despite only joining the club this year himself. Thank you to Paul Evans and Lloyd Evans who have made new members feel welcome by arranging games on the GOLF MATES whatsApp group and to all the new members on the Golf Mates WhatsApp group thank you for all supporting one another while you get to know other members within the club.
A massive thanks from all of us at Brynhill to Joel Hutton and Tom Wilcox who have put in a massive amount of work to reignite the famous Brynhill Junior Section. Thank you to Jordan and Lily also for the fantastic coaching and to office manager Nicky and handicap secretary Richard Pierce for all the admin work. The Junior section in growing rapidly thank you to Club Professional Jordan Taylor who has shown great knowledge and enthusiasm coaching the Juniors and ladies on the new to golf scheme. These people are helping secure the future of Brynhill Golf club and all deserve our thanks and support.
NEW MEMBERS ON-BOARDING PROCESS
Myself and Nicky have worked together to put in place a streamlined joining process where we take the new member on a journey to being "golf ready” - This has been put in place so new members always have a point of contact and fully understand what is available to them and how to do it.
1) The customer can have a 1-1 presentation before joining if they wish where we take them through what Brynhill can offer.
2) Once the membership subscription is paid Nicky will send them a receipt and will also set them up on the relevant apps and systems.
3) Nicky will also send them a final on-line link to a “New Members” page where we include top line information such as website password, health and safety, dress code, club culture, competition entries and more.
4) This concludes with a checklist form where the new member checks off and agrees that they have received their access fobs, password information and an invite to the WhatsApp Golf Mates group where new members can arrange games etc and are ready to go. New members have been very receptive to the process and I believe this is how the beginning of their Brynhill Golf journey should be.
CAR PARK DEVELOPMENT
The sale of the car park is still in progress. As you are hopefully aware an EGM has been called by members regarding the car park development and this will be hosted in the Golf Club on Tuesday 1st August. I really urge all members to attend if you can so you can have a view of exactly what is happening with the car park and the resulting financials.
PRACTICE AREA / RESIDENTS ISSUE
In June, a meeting was arranged with myself, our course manager Richard, and Darren Shepherd, who serves as the H&S consultant for Brynhill Golf Club. Two executives from Vale Health and Safety also joined us at the club. The purpose of their visit was to assess the practice area and the 17th and 18th holes in response to alleged claims from local residents about golf balls damaging surrounding properties.
We began with a productive discussion in the clubhouse, during which we elaborated on the communication initiatives we've put in place to inform our members about the practice area. Emphasising the importance of hitting balls away from the houses, we also highlighted our plan to use the 5-bay warm-up area strictly for non-hitting purposes until we can install netting after receiving planning permission.
After the clubhouse discussion, we took them to inspect the practice area, 17th fairway, and 18th tee, allowing them to witness firsthand the measures we've taken to minimise the risk of errant shots. The Vale Health and Safety executives expressed satisfaction with our proactive approach and commended our comprehensive complaints procedure, which ensures we are fully compliant with protocols for addressing any property or personal damages.
Their visit was a significant benefit to our club, as it now allows us to confidently assert that we have implemented all necessary measures to prevent incidents. In the event of future complaints, we can reference the fact that Health and Safety executives from VOG have confirmed our compliance.
A report from the Health and Safety team at the Vale Council is forthcoming, and we anticipate it will be positive from our perspective. The only other matter discussed during their visit pertained to large fur trees near the 17th hole, encroaching on the bus stop and street lighting in Highlight Park. The highways authorities have requested that we address this issue by trimming the trees to meet set standards. Course Manager Richard and the team will undertake this task, and we have agreed to commence the trimming program in September once the birds have finished nesting.
PRACTICE WARM UP AREA / PLANNING GRANTED
We are thrilled to share that we have successfully obtained planning consent for the 5 bay warm-up area project. With this significant milestone achieved, we can now proceed to the final phase, which involves installing the safety and hitting nets. The completed area will closely resemble the image attached, providing Brynhill with an exceptional warm-up facility. Soon, all golfers will be able to enjoy more effective warm-up sessions before their games, ensuring they are fully prepared for a great round. We sincerely appreciate your patience during the planning process, as the hold-up was beyond our control. However, with the necessary approvals now in place, we are eager to move forward and complete the project as swiftly as possible.
Once again, thank you for your understanding and support throughout this endeavor. We are excited about the enhanced warm-up area and look forward to offering an even better golfing experience to our valued members and guests.
THE MACMILLAN LONGEST DAY GOLF CHALLENGE
On behalf of Brad Dodd, Andrew Davies, Ian Clemo and Steve Gould a very big thank you to Brynhill Golf Club and all members for their wonderful support and generous donations .Thats before, during and after The Longest Day Golf Challenge held at Brynhill on the 28th of June.
The guys set a target to raise £1000 for Macmillan Cancer Care. I'm delighted to say they more than doubled that, raising £2300 for this wonderful charity.
The team had an amazing support network consisting of Colin Lewis,Jo and John Kirkpatrick ,clearing the way ,so no holdups and supplying them with snacks and drinks, and not forgetting Andy Hilton cooking breakfast on his barbecue at 7-00 am after the first round.
Brynhill is very proud of you all.
WALES MINI MASTERS
Last Wednesday Brynhill G.C hosted the Wales Mini Masters which seen 40 children from around Wales compete in a medal competition. Some of these youngsters were as young as 6 years of age and it was great to see so many Juniors on the course playing in a competitive and friendly spirit. A lot of clubs in Wales volunteered to host this event however Brynhill was approached by Wales Golf in recognition of the amazing work we are doing with Junior Golf. Once again a big thank you to Joel, Tom and Lilly for once again putting Brynhill on the map with Junior golf.
DIGITAL UPDATE
Our website and social media platforms have proven to be invaluable assets for our club. While I can't provide a Year-to-Date comparison yet, we are pleased to see a healthy number of unique visits to the website, totaling 3.2k visits in June and July, with 40% originating from Google searches. The addition of online forms for various purposes, such as membership applications and room hire, has made our website even more user-friendly. Maintaining and optimizing the website, along with SEO efforts, demands significant work, but given the current times, it serves as our essential shop window.
When I first assumed this role, our Facebook page was relatively stagnant, with just over 700 followers. However, I am actively working to post engaging content daily, not only for our members but also to reach out to the local community. As a result, our followers have increased by over 200, and we now have 915 followers. Facebook is a powerful marketing tool, and when utilized effectively, it can significantly impact our club's growth in the future. I extend my gratitude to all who have shared and liked our posts, as each action serves as free advertising for us. Additionally, if you have the opportunity, kindly visit our club's Facebook page and leave us a review, as this greatly benefits the Facebook algorithm and brings our page to the attention of more golf enthusiasts.
Moreover, I'm excited to announce the establishment of the Brynhill Golf Club YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@BrynhillGolfClub. While it is still a work in progress, we plan to upload various content, including a course flyover, hole-by-hole analysis, video reviews, and more. This YouTube channel will undoubtedly become another valuable marketing platform for us in the future. Please subscribe to the channel.
Your continued support in engaging with our online platforms and spreading the word about Brynhill Golf Club is sincerely appreciated. Together, we can ensure that our website and social media presence remain effective tools for promoting and growing our club.
915 FOLLOWERS (+203)
FEEDBACK FORM
I am very approachable around the club and will meet with you at any time to discuss any concerns or ideas you have. Brynhill is your club and when I cam into this role I wanted to be completely transparent with members regarding the club and how we progress going forward. I welcome your feedback about your experience at Brynhill Golf Club. Whether it's a complaint, constructive criticism, or praise for our team or facilities, we value your input. If you'd like to share your thoughts with us, please submit the form below.