SNOW UPDATE

Posted by Dee Hinch, Business & Marketing Director on February 14, 2012

Tuesday 14th February 8.30am. COURSES ARE OPEN!!! Lakes,Valley and Academy are all open, on temporary greens as the main greens are still frozen. Adi will inspect Wednesday morning and will change to main greens if possible. If not, it’ll be main greens on Thursday. Get your tee time booked, get in the car and we’ll see you at Greetham Valley very soon!

Monday 13th February 9am. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. But Robert and Adi are convinced that, if the Rutland weather forecast  remains accurate (well, reasonably…),the courses will become playable on TUESDAY morning!!!  The greenkeepers have started work today to get the Academy course and Lakes front 9 open first thing tomorrow morning, followed by the rest of the complex as soon as poss. In the meantime, the Driving Range is open - who is getting underfoot at home?

Sunday 12th February 6pm. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. Because it’s night time again. But before it got dark, Robert and I went for a 4×4 trek across the golf courses to check out how the thaw is coming along. Snow bunkers galore still; the fairways are now showing patches of green but what really surprised me was how the greens and tees are holding onto a pristine duvet of snow at least 2 inches thick. Apparantly the sand mix retains the lower temperature for longer. OK. Robert and Adi the course manager will have a good prowl at dawn tomorrow and I will  post my next update as soon as I know the situation.

Sunday 12th February 8am. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. Oh joy – a burst pipe over at the Driving Range. Robert’s been up there since 7am with PJ Plumbing on speed dial! Warmer overnight last night (well, warmer than -15c anyway) and the weather forecast for Rutland is for a thaw to set in. So – how long to melt the 4 inches of snow lying on the courses? We’ll keep you posted!

Saturday 11th February 4pm. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. Been well below freezing all day and had our first burst pipe, quickly sorted by PJ Plumbing – thank you! Hopefully warmer tomorrow. Access fine for tonight’s Valentine’s Party Night – guests are arriving to check into the Hotel now. Have a great time everyone!

Saturday 11th February 9am. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. And at -15c this morning I suspect they’ll stay closed for a few more days….Bright but very cold for the rest of the day, but weather forecast is for warmer temps Sunday and into next week, with no more snow for Rutland. A few frozen pipes about and I’ve seen the first icicles of this cold snap – pretty but I’d prefer to see them dripping with a thaw. The lakes are covered in thin ice, with the ducks skating on Meg’s Lake. Have to keep an eye on Jazz as she’d like to join them. Are there any Golf Clubs in the Golf Club Network open? Some of our members are going stir crazy….

Friday 10th February 4.30pm. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. Although a thaw did set in this morning and it’s been slightly above freezing all day. No more snow forecast and it looks as though the thaw will continue during tomorrow and Sunday. No access problems for Freddie’s birthday party tonight or the Valentines Party tomorrow night!

Friday 10th February 9.30am. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. Because last night we had another 2 inches of snow dumped on top of the last lot. So the only sign of life on Greetham Valley golf courses this morning was Jazz, who thoroughly enjoyed herself dashing through the snow like Rudolph. Robert’s snowplough and the greenkeepers have been hard at work since 6am, the driveway and carpark are clear. The roads were also clear doing the school run from GV to Stamford and back this morning, the gritters have definitely been out and about. And yes, the log burner is glowing merrily away in the Lounge Bar at Greetham Valley - there’s a guest curled up next to it on a sofa with a hot chocolate and a book – might go and join her!

Thursday 9th February 8pm. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. Well of course they are, it’s night time. But on top of it being dark – it’s darned well snowing and has been since 5pm.  Robert has just started up the snowplough and has trundled off to clear GV’s drive. When he comes back it’s also his turn to walk Jazz – again.  I haven’t told him yet that the forecast is for the snow to continue for the next 36 hours. Yay. We’ll keep the lane, drive and car parks clear for easy access on Saturday night for the Valentine’s Party Night, though – fret ye not! And RCC will keep the main road gritted too.

Thursday 9th February 11.30am. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. We’ve been waiting to see how much thaw would occur today – but are now glum – not enough to make playing viable. And the forecast is a 52% probability of snow/sleet overnight tonight, with temps around or below freezing for the next 48 hours. Not good news for golfers or people who have to walk the dog at 6am. But it’s nice and cosy in the Lounge Bar at Greetham Valley!

Wednesday 8th February 7am. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF.  Bizarre – crispy, crunchy refrozen snow and ice underfoot when Robert was walking Jazz, but no air frost. Completely clear windscreens for the school run this morning. So still no golf I’m afraid; forecast is for a slight thaw again this afternoon but then below freezing temps again overnight, followed by possible sprinkling of snow Thursday and Friday. Bleh. Still, it was nice and busy at lunch yesterday – who says you have to stay bundled up at home? Roads etc still clear to get to Greetham Valley for a ‘Turkey Balls’ winter meal deal!

Tuesday 7th February 12noon. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. Yesterday’s slight thaw helped clear the roads but then the freezing temperatures overnight froze all the meltwater again – now it’s even slippier out there! The roads nearby, Wood Lane, driveway and carparks are all still clear thanks to Robert and his trusty snowplough and the greenkeepers gritting and we’ve got some visitors for lunch - I just saw the ‘Turkey Balls’ hat being passed around! Currently we have a slight thaw again today – but the forecast is for temps of -8 overnight. Great. Not.

Monday 6th February 8am. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF. It rained in the night at GV then froze on top of the lying snow. Black ice about on minor roads but our carparks, lane and beyond are all clear. Unlike the golf courses sadly, which are still covered, although a thaw has set in this afternoon. Forecast is for freezing conditions again tonight, then a thaw again tomorrow. Watch this space! We’ll open the courses as soon as we can. Meanwhile, a number of golfers have been in the Lounge Bar today, drinking coffee and gazing longingly across the valley…..

Sunday 5th February 7.30am. The B668 through Greetham village and to the A1 has been gritted, Wood Lane from the crossroads, Greetham Valley drive and the carparks have all been snowploughed this morning – access no problem for Sunday lunch. COURSES ARE CLOSED FOR GOLF unsurprisingly.

Saturday 4th February 11.30pm. Started snowing at Greetham Valley at 5pm and it hasn’t stopped. Currently about four inches deep – and it’s still coming down but slowing. Check back here for an update Sunday morning – but don’t expect to play golf!Robert is out on the snowplough right now clearing the drive and Wood Lane up to the crossroads for the 3rd time tonight. We have a party of 200 tonight in the Rutland Suite, so we’re aiming to get them all home. But some have booked into the Hotel last minute instead!

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Greetham Valley Seniors’ Winter League week 7

Posted by Fred Aspin, Press Officer on February 8, 2012

Greetham Valley’s Seniors’ Winter League week seven rounds got under way on the Lakes in dry and chilly conditions. The format is stableford off 7/8 handicap with the best five games out of ten to count. Twenty handicapper Peter Morris had a great round and came in with forty points to take the win on the day. Close behind on thirty nine points was seventeen handicapper David Aldred who seems to play better with a suspected torn cartilage than when fully fit. Twenty handicapper Ray Reynolds who has missed two of the rounds was playing only his fifth game and came home in third place scoring thirty eight points.   

Ray has averaged 39.2 per round for his five games, showing remarkable consistency for a twenty handicapper. He leads the overall standings and is twelve points ahead of second placed Charles Guttridge also playing off twenty who has one hundred and eighty points. Twelve handicapper Malcolm Barnes is currently third, he is three points behind on one eighty one. Nine handicapper Neil Lowndes who after six rounds was the overall leader has slipped to fourth place but is just one point behind Malcolm on one hundred and eighty. A further one point behind Neil on one hundred and seventy nine is fifteen handicapper David Wallace. Weather permitting, week eight will take place on Monday 13th February.

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Mail on Sunday Classic 1st round win for Greetham Valley

Posted by Fred Aspin, Press Officer on February 7, 2012

The Mail on Sunday Classic is a knockout competition, with teams of five nominated by their golf club playing against teams from other clubs in a ‘winner takes all’ format. In 2011 over thirty thousand competitors from over three thousand golf clubs took part. The final will be held at the El Rompido Golf and Country Club in Costa De la Luz on the 21st and 22nd of November 2012. However, between now and then, competitors must get through a lot of rounds of golf. The initial games are held in a club’s local area with the first name out of the hat in any match being the host club. Ross Fisher and Becky Brewerton are just two of the famous names to have taken part in the competition over the years.

The Greetham Valley team of George Grant, Dave Morgan, Steff Dutton, Neil Harris and Matt Williams travelled the short distance down the A1 to take on local rivals Burghley Park on Saturday; although it was extremely cold they managed to play the match before the snow and ice that has disrupted golf throughout our region hit.

Eight handicapper George Grant got proceedings under way in the first match. He was drawn against six handicapper Mark Yareham who, George said, was on fire and played immaculate golf in the cold conditions, George lost five and four. Next up was Dave Morgan against Doug Waterhouse, both players played off six. Dave took the win on the seventeenth by three and one to level the match overall.

Steff Dutton admits that Burghley Park is not one of his favourite courses as he usually doesn’t do very well there. However the six handicapper who was drawn against Dean Vaughan, playing off five had one of his better Burghley days and won two up. Advantage Greetham Valley.

Six handicapper Neil Harris had his hands full with George Beadle off one. George was on great form and brought the overall score to two each after beating Neil four and two. It all now depended upon the last match between Matt Williams for Greetham Valley and James Grant for Burghley Park to see which Club would go forward into the next round. Billed as the battle of the big hitters Matt came out on top with a comfortably five and four victory. 

Greetham Valley Men’s Vice Captain and Daily Mail team Captain Trevor Smith said that he was proud of the team for the way that they fought and supported each other. He went on to say that it is always difficult to win away and praised the Burghley Park team for putting up such stiff opposition. The Greetham team will find out who they play next after the draw later this week.

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Race Night at Greetham Valley

Posted by Dee Hinch, Business & Marketing Director on February 7, 2012

Race Night at Greetham ValleyFriday 9th March
The ever popular Greetham Valley Charity Race Night makes its’ annual appearance on Friday 9th March. Ably hosted by the genial Graeme and Karon Hollick, the event raises funds for the Captains’ charity, which this year is the Evergreen Care Trust.

Tickets are just £6 per person, which includes a fish and chips supper from 7pm.

Frst race at 8pm, don’t forget your Tote money!

Tickets from Greetham Valley Hotel Reception or tel: (01780) 460444

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Forthcoming social events at Greetham Valley

Posted by Fred Aspin, Press Officer on February 3, 2012

Greetham Valley has it’s 20th Anniversary this year and the Anniversary Trophy will be played for on Saturday 31st March. In addition to that, an Anniversary Invitation golf competition will be held on Friday 30th March, followed by a 20th Anniversary Celebration Party. Reserve your tickets early, this will be a big one! Fantastic live band, disco and casino plus scrumptious two course meal dished up by head chef Tony Curry and his team – not to be missed. And all for only £15 per person – might as well stay the night for only £40 per room!

Prior to that is the Charity Quiz Night on Friday 3rd February, with a blinding hot buffet available which runs from 6pm at only £6 a head. This is not only a good night out exercising the grey matter, it could get you lots of brownie points - ”Let me take you out for a meal Darling”!!!!!!!  - whilst doing a bit for the Captains’ charity, which this year is the Evergreen Care Trust. Teams of 4, at least one of whom must be a Greetham Valley member, £2 entry per person (pay on the night).

The ever popular Greetham Valley Charity Race Night makes its’ annual appearance on Friday 9th March. Ably hosted by the genial Graham and Karon Hollick, the event raises funds for the Captains’ charity. Tickets are just £6 per person, which includes a fish and chips supper from 7pm. First race at 8pm, don’t forget your Tote money!  Tickets are available from Greetham Valley Hotel Reception or tel: (01780) 460444

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Greetham Valley’s Winter League matches all on schedule

Posted by Fred Aspin, Press Officer on February 1, 2012

The Sunday Winter League golf competition is played in four divisions, with the top pair in each one going into the hat with the winners from the Saturday Winter League to contest the quarter finals on the 4th of March. After this week’s games all four leaders have the same results, having all won five, lost one, achieving 8 points.

Mick Carnie and Jim Kearny lead Division One,  former Club Captains John Sparks and George Grant lead Division Two, Peter Dickinson and Paul Smith lead Division Three, whilst semi finalist in 2011 Scotty Stevenson and new playing partner Thomas Broom are the leaders in Division Four. 

Thanks to the good weather experienced so far this winter, the League matches are all on schedule: last year one of the games had to be cancelled due to the inclement conditions. With two more rounds to go before the quarter finals, the players in second position in all of the divisions are all hoping that the weather remains good to give themselves a chance to fight for the top spot.

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Unlucky 13 for Bob in Greetham Valley’s Order of Merit

Posted by Fred Aspin, Press Officer on January 31, 2012

Bob Beverley, who has led for all but the first week that the Winter Order of Merit has been running, had to relinquish his top spot and settle for second overall in week thirteen of this 24 week golf competition. Adam Clegg has been steadily climbing the overall standings with consistent scores for the past six weeks and was extremely pleased to top the standings. Adam was happy to get the number one spot but said that with so many good players in the field he knows that it will be tough to stay there;  he was cut to four. Next week could see another change in the top three as Adam will be away and won’t be able to play. 

Although Adam’s 39 points were enough to take him to number one, they were only good enough for second place this week. Fraser Denholm had that honour with a sparkling 41 points and his first win of the series. Fraser who recently returned to Greetham Valley after working away moved up from 15th to 11th position this week and with 137 points and nine weeks to go is targeting a top three position; he was cut to ten. Another player cut to ten this week was Chris Wheatland who was third with 38 points. Paul Jenkinson, in his first outing of the series, took fourth with 37 points, finishing just ahead of Graham Smith and Elliott Clark on 36 points.

 Adam Clegg has 220.5 points but close behind is the limpet-like Bob Beverley on 207, Neil Harris is in third with 191. Graham Smith is less than seven points behind Neil in fourth, he has 184.7 points, Steff Dutton rounds off the top five with 170.8.

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Seniors’ January Medal & Club Winter League

Posted by Dee Hinch, Business & Marketing Director on January 25, 2012

David AldredThe weather for the Seniors’ January Medal was unseasonably glorious:  gone were the wind and clouds to be replaced by lovely Rutland sunshine with just a small breeze.

Beware the injured golfer! In Division One, seventeen handicapper David Aldred, who recently injured his leg, had a great start to 2012 by winning the first medal of the year with a gross 82, net 65. David went round the front nine in 43 but really came to life in the more difficult back nine where he dropped only three shots. Because it is pick, clean and place under winter rules, he won’t have his handicap cut at the moment but it will count when the end of year review takes place in March. 

Nine handicapper Neil Lowndes took the lowest gross prize with a 76 but this was only good enough for second place. Another low handicapper, Ken Porter, who also plays off nine took third place on countback from Colin Avery, they both had a net 71.

In Division Two, Dennis Watts took both the win and the lowest gross with a gross 93, net 72. Dennis Cleggett was second with a gross 96, net 73. Third place had to be settled on countback, 22 handicapper George Cooper just edging it on the back nine over 24 handicapper Peter Palmer, they both had a net 74.

Paul Clegg and Paul Jenkinson lead Group One in the Saturday division of the Club Winter League, they have played three games, won two and lost one, giving them a total of four points. Peter De Kremer and Ray Hughes have the same points in Group Two as do Graham Day and Peter Key. Jason Giblett and Les Kowal are storming their group with three wins and six points.

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Greetham Valley Order of Merit, week 12

Posted by Dee Hinch, Business & Marketing Director on January 24, 2012

In week 12 of Greetham Valley’s Winter Order of Merit golf competition, father and son pair Paul and Adam Clegg showed just what good players they are when confronted with forty miles an hour headwinds.  Paul had a great front nine scoring 20 points and 36 overall but Adam just pipped him to take the win and the bragging rights with a score of 37 points. 

This means that Adam, who missed week eleven, has moved up seven place in his last two games. He is now in third place overall and a mere 5 points behind second placed Neil Harris. Paul has moved from twelfth to eighth and is only 30 points behind Adam. Greetham Valley President and 2011 Winter Order of Merit winner Martin Boughton was third with 35 and moves up from eleventh to ninth. Long time leader Bob Beverley is still holding on to the top spot and after scoring 31 points has opened up his lead over Neil Harris. Steff Dutton retains his 4th place while Dave Copley who didn’t play this week drops to fifth. All eyes, however, are on the Cleggsters!

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Seniors’ Winter League update

Posted by Fred Aspin, Press Officer on January 19, 2012

The delayed Round 6 of the Seniors’ Winter League took place on Monday 16th and was played on winter greens which were frozen solid, making it very difficult for the early birds. They did however thaw out quite quickly and players who teed off a little later really benefited from the “slightly” softer greens. The format for this golf competition is stableford with a 7/8 handicap allowance and nineteen handicapper Radley Wardhaugh and Ray Reynolds who plays off twenty both came in with 43 points. Radley took the win on countback thanks to a better back nine score. Twenty handicapper Bill Ormond was third with 41 points. 

The League consists of ten games, played from October to the end of March, from which a player counts his best five scores. Nine handicapper Neil Lowndes is leading the field with 179 points, closely chased by twelve handicapper Malcome Barnes only two points behind in second with 177 points. Twenty handicapper Charles Guttridge is only one point behind him in third with 176 points. It is all very close and it will be interesting to see what happens if we have any further frosty days. Beware the high handicapper!!!!!!!

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