SNOW UPDATE

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!


Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Greetham Valley with Golf, Food and Tunes

It’s no secret that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Taking him out for a slap-up meal and a few drinks is almost certain to put a smile on his face this Valentines’ Day, and Greetham Valley is the perfect place to do so. With a choice of events covering all angles, it is the ideal place for a romantic evening together.

Tranquil surroundings supported by stunning views, fine dining and luxury accommodation are the key ingredients to a fantastic Valentines’ Night. Located near Rutland Water, Greetham Valley Hotel, Golf and Conference Centre provides everything you need for a romantic break with the man in your life.

If golf is his thing, there are 45 holes to be played across the picturesque Rutland countryside. The Lakes Course is the longest, favouring the big hitters but with water hazards that penalize poor stroke play – but there are certainly worse places to end up! A shorter but equally challenging course is the Valley which really tests all areas of your game across this par 68 course, featuring fantastic views across the valley.

Once the golf is over you can partake in a bite to eat in our restaurants. Offering a wide choice of fine foods and breathtaking views across the valley, you really couldn’t ask for more – except maybe the dessert menu!

Your romantic break doesn’t need to end there, with two great events to make your Valentine’s celebration extra special. Take off the golfing gear and grab your dancing shoes on Saturday 11th February for our Valentine’s Party Night. For just £20 per person you can enjoy a two-course meal cooked by our expert chefs followed by a disco.

Alternatively, you can opt for the truly romantic night with our Valentine’s Supper by Candlelight on Valentine’s Night itself. At £45 per couple with a glass of sparkling wine, nibbles and four-course meal you can have the perfect Valentine’s evening together.

You don’t even have to worry about getting home afterwards thanks to the luxury accommodation available at Greetham. For £107 you can attend the Supper by Candlelight and stay over in one of our king-size bedrooms and then come down the next morning for a sumptuous breakfast.

For more information on these Valentine’s ideas and all of our events, contact us anytime and we’ll be happy to help.


Job vacancies at Greetham Valley February 2012

Greetham Valley is currently recruiting for the following positions:

Part time seasonal retail assistant 
to work in our Golf Shop from March 2012 until November 2012

The successful candidate will be required to  work a minimum of 16 hours per week although hours worked will be as required to meet the needs of the business.  Weekend work essential. 

All applicants should apply to Sharon Walpole by Wednesday 29 February 2012.

Temporary Food and Beverage Assistants
to work flexible shifts including evenings and weekends.

Bar experience preferred although not essential as training will be given.

All applicants should apply to Sharon Walpole by Wednesday 29 February 2012.

Greetham Valley Hotel, Golf and Conference Centre
Wood Lane
Greetham
Oakham
Rutland
LE15 7SN

t: (01780) 460444     e: sharon@greethamvalley.co.uk


Celebrate Valentines Night at Greetham Valley

Every man looks for a special way of treating their wife or girlfriend at Valentines Day, whether it’s with flowers, a romantic meal or a weekend away, but after a while the same ideas can seem a bit stale. While they’re still gestures that are likely to get you in the good books for a few weeks, coming up with a different way of surprising your partner will put a real smile on her face.

At Greetham Valley, you have the perfect blend for the ideal Valentines night – stunning location in Rutland, lovely restaurants with amazing food, and stylish accommodation.

While fancy Italian restaurants or country cottage weekends are nice, sometimes it makes sense to try something different, and with Greetham Valley as your base there are plenty of options. For instance, set as we are in the picturesque county of Rutland, you have numerous places to visit, from the county town of Oakham to Rutland’s main tourist attraction, Rutland Water reservoir with all of its leisure facilities, both within a few minutes’ drive.

Alternatively, you can attend one of the two special night’s hosted at Greetham Valley to help your Valentine’s Night go with a bang. On Saturday 11th February, you can both get your glad rags on and attend our Valentines Party Night. Tickets for the event are priced at £20 per person, and include a delicious two-course meal, cooked by our brilliant chefs, and a disco. Why not stay the night in our Hotel in a superb king-size room and get your two Party Night tickets for just £102 per couple?

If you’d rather keep things intimate and romantic, then treat your loved one to a Valentines night candlelit supper. With a glass of sparkling wine on your arrival and some tasty nibbles, you’re sure to wow your partner even before the four-course dinner arrives. Priced at just £45 per couple, you really can’t go wrong. To really cap the night off, why not opt to stay in one of our lovely king-size bedrooms for £107, including Supper by Candlelight for two and a full English breakfast in the morning.

For the truly romantic gift to your partner this Valentines Day, choose Greetham Valley in Rutland. With delicious meals, luxury accommodation and fabulous attractions nearby, you’re sure to impress your wife or girlfriend. To find out more information, contact us anytime and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.


A Christmas winter wedding in Rutland

Winter weddings at Greetham Valley in RutlandThinking of a Winter Wedding later this year? Make the next festive season extra special by arranging your big day at Greetham Valley ‘twixt Christmas and the New Year!

From 2012, for the first time, Greetham Valley is opening for special occasions at this lovely time of year. Phone our friendly wedding co-ordinator Mitch and he can talk you through all the options, from a warming glass off mulled wine on arrival to a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings for your wedding breakfast!

The minimum number of guests for a wedding between Christmas and New Year is 50, to enjoy a full wedding package of £62.50 per person. Dates available for 2012 and 2013 are 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th December. 

We look forward to hearing from you on (01780) 460444 or by email.


A sad weekend for Jazz and Greetham Valley

Beau and Meg the Greetham Valley WeimarenersGreetham Valley’s black labrador Jazz has had a very sad weekend – she and her owners have had to say a final farewell to Beau the Weimaraner who on Saturday went to the big kennel in the sky. In his heart Beau was still young and little Jazz had given him a new lease of life since the summer. But at 14, his body just gave out and we had to say a very sad goodbye.

We are consoled by the fact that he had 10 years longer with us than we ever expected him to – at 4 years old he fell off a 60 foot cliff in a nearby quarry,  breaking 3 legs and popping all his tendons. Miraculously, his spine and insides were fine and, thanks to excellent vet skills  (and accompanying bills), after 2 months he was just about put back together again, complete with pins and plates..

Jazz and we will miss him very much, he was such a part of the family, but we know he’ll now be happily frolicking with Meg, our previous much loved Weimaraner, who passed on 2 years ago.  Life must go on and we have very happy memories of the old boy….. No doubt Jazz will be spoilt rotten for the next few weeks as we try to take her mind off looking for him!


Sarah Outen’s Gulliver sets off on his travels

Sarah OutenThe intrepid, amazing, totally awesome adventurer Sarah Outen is currently in Japan, waiting for the delivery of her next mode of transport – Gulliver, the rowing boat for one! Next Spring, Gulliver and Sarah will cross the North Pacific on the next leg of her ‘London2London via the world’ trip.

And where has Gulliver been waiting while Sarah has cycled and kayaked her way eastwards from London to Japan? He has been quietly and safely coccooned at Greetham Valley! And on Monday 5th we waved farewell and bon voyage to him as he set off on the long trip east to be re-united with Sarah. He was ably assisted on his way by two sterling chaps from Stamford Endowed Schools – Sarah of course is an old girl of Stamford High. And a TV news team for East Midlands Today filmed his departure and interviewed Sarah’s mum Helen, who seems amazingly stoic and level headed about her daughter’s exploits.

Read more about Sarah Outen and her amazing  journeys in aid of charities – she really is an incredible woman.


Take That 2 and Robbie hit Rutland!

The festive season kicked off properly at Greetham Valley last night with the first of our Christmas Party Nights – and what a night it was! With an absolutely fabulous tribute to Take That and Robbie Williams, we couldn’t have asked for a more vibrant evening. This event sold out last May and we are sure that every single partygoer had a brilliant time.

It was very nearly ‘Break That’ earlier on in the afternoon – the band phoned to tell us they had broken down on the A1! Aaaarrrggghhh!!!! Thank goodness for the AA, who got them safely to Rutland in the nick of time. It wouldn’t have happened to the real Take That!! As guests gathered for pre-dinner drinks, they politely ignored the band setting up, then the boys nipped off to relax and transform into their alter-egos ready to give their performance of the year.

Belting out all the favourites, the band packed the dancefloor from start to finish – and the atmosphere was electric, especially when ‘Mr Williams’ himself hit the stage in time for the band’s rendition of ‘Let me entertain you’. Magic…..

Of course, where is a decent camera (or a photographer who knows what she is doing) when you need one? I’ve popped on some of the pics from last night but if any of last night’s guests have any more, please email me and I’ll try to include them here!

We now have a whole raft of Christmas Party Nights ahead, including our second Take That tribute night on 8th December and a tribute to Rod Stewart on the 23rd. Roll on Christmas!


EGU and EWGA merger creates England Golf

English Golf UnionAfter a long period of consultation beginning in 2009,English Womens Golf Associationthe merger of the English Golf Union (EGU) and the English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) has been approved at simultaneous general meetings of both organisations (on 16th November 2011). The merger will come into effect on 1 January 2012 and will create England Golf, one national governing body representing all amateur golfers in England.

At the EGU’s general meeting in Woodhall Spa, 86 per cent of the voting members approved the proposal whilst a full 100 per cent of the voting members of the EWGA, meeting in Solihull, were in favour. The merger had to be approved by both organisations by a majority of at least 75 per cent for it to go through.

From Greetham Valley Golf Club’s point of view, we welcome the creation of one national governing body to represent the interests of all amateur golfers, regardless of gender; it shows a modern, forward thinking and, above all, practical strategy – and not before time. We anticipate improved services and support to the Club and to our members from the governing body but some more traditional members’ clubs may find a requirement to adjust their operating procedures to reflect modern societal expectations.

For more details of the merger, visit the websites of the English Golf Union  or English Women’s Golf Association.


November club competitions & Seniors’ away break

In Division One of the men’s November Medal, Matt Williams had an amazing round. He was just two with a gross 74, this gave him a four under net score of 68. It could have been even better than that but for an unfortunate “slice” (or was it a power pull?) out of bounds on the 3rd hole. After taking a penalty he still managed to make a bogey five, he had his handicap cut to five. His score was more than good enough to take the overall medal win but he had to be content with a share of the lowest gross. 2012 Vice Captain Trevor Smith shot a gross 74 net 70, to equal Matt and take third place. Second place went to ten handicapper Bryan Birchall who had a gross 80, net 70. 

Jeff Challis took the win and the lowest gross in the second division with a gross 93, net 70, he was cut to 22. Second place went to 22 handicapper Chris Brand with a gross 96. Twenty three handicapper Gavin Williams was third, he shot a gross 100. 

In Division One of the Seniors’ Medal, 18 handicapper Derek Palmer took the win and the overall medal with a gross 85, net 67. Six handicapper Neil Harris had to be content with second place and the lowest gross with a storming gross 76, net 70. Neil started off badly when he bogied the first, he also had bogies on the 4th and 5th. After a giving himself a silent talking to, he got to work and the only other shot that he dropped was on the 11th. David Wallace was third with a gross 86, net 71. Andy Fisher won division three and took the runners up spot for the overall medal. He had a gross 94, net 68. Seniors; Captain Mike Guy was second with a gross 92, net 72. Next year’s Vice Captain Rod Wells was third with a gross 98, net 73. 

It is all change after week 5 in the winter Order of Merit. Dave Copley took the overall lead from Bob Beverley. Dave lost out on the prizes when he lost  out yet again on count-back, this may be a blessing in disguise as it meant that he escaped a handicap cut. Graham Smith who had a 39 and Stef Dutton who shot 36, are now second and third respectively. They dumped Neil Harris down to 5th place. The score of the day however came from Mike Watkins with a fantastic 44 points, 5 points better than the second placed Graham Smith.  

The Seniors’ Section took over the Farthingstone Hotel, Golf and Coutry Club in Northamptonshire when they went on their annual winter break. The course was described as very tight and this reflected in the scores which ranged from 33 points to 13 with 9 blobs recorded on the card of one senior who will remain anonymous! The overall winner for the three days was David Aldred, with a total of 99. The Seniors said that while the course was very tight the hotel staff weren’t. Each player received a voucher for for four pints of beer per day or 4 glasses of wine at night. Needless to say, they have already booked for next year!