June 2012 Golf Day Competition Winner!

Posted by Dee Hinch, Business & Marketing Director on July 3, 2012

Win a day's golf at Greetham ValleyAll golfing visitors to Greetham Valley are invited to enter one of our regular competitions to win a great golf related prize. The most recent winning entry drawn was by Andrew Pearson who wins a day’s golf for 4 people plus complimentary buggies – with a value of up to £198! All Andrew had to do was provide his email address and declare he’d be happy to receive special offers and notifications from Greetham Valley. Now he and 3 friends can look forward to a return visit to Greetham Valley – hopefully they will bring some sun with them!

On YOUR next visit to Greetham Valley, don’t forget to ask for a competition entry form – you could be our next lucky winner!

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Graham ignores weather to win Chris Southwell Salver

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

The Greetham Valley greens staff had presented the Lakes course in excellent condition for the competitors playing in the Chris Southwell Salver on Saturday 30 June, bunkers raked and greens polished. It was set up to be a fair challenge but as over a hundred players took to the course in one of the Golf Club’s major competitions, the howling wind and occasional rain showers made it an even tougher one. 

Graham Smith, who is renowned for his playing ability in high winds, took it all in his stride as usual. Graham, who won the midweek medal a couple of weeks ago with what he described as his best round of the year surpassed that score to win both the Salver and the lowest gross. He parred the first, birdied the second then went on to par the rest of the front nine to sit at one under. A couple of slight errors followed on holes ten and eleven which he bogied, Graham then steadied the ship with two pars and a birdie only to drop a shot on the par five fifteenth. Three more pars followed to give him a gross score of one over seventy three and a net score of sixty eight. 

Graham said that he was delighted to have won in such tough conditions but regretted the slight errors that led to the three bogies and messed up what could have been one of his best rounds ever. He was cut to four point six, and will now look forward to the next big competition, the two day 0-18 Handicap Club Championship starting on 14th July. With two titles to play for, the gross and the net, this will be a very tight competition for all entrants.

Nine handicapper Scottie Stevenson shot a gross seventy eight to claim second place in the Salver with a net sixty nine. Third place went to Ali McNaughton who had a net seventy; Ryan Tarrant, David Blee and Bill Skinner also on seventy were the players to lose out.

Nine handicapper Kay Ropson, fresh from her win in the Mixed Open at Greetham Valley last week, won the June Ladies Qualifier. She came in with thirty seven points; this included a blob on the par three sixth but she managed to get the lost points back with two birdies. Kay was cut to eight and is now looking forward to the next big Ladies competition, the two day medal starting on the fourteenth. Former Ladies Captain Rena Lister was second with thirty four and was cut to nineteen. Rita Knapp was cut to twenty five after taking third spot with thirty two points.

Greetham Valley’s Junior Captain Ryan Tarrant will need to be on a diet of carrots if he is to get through his next challenge. Ryan ,who is seventeen, fifteen year old Dan Carr from Burghley Park and eighteen year old Chris Cooper from Louth Golf Club will attempt to play for twenty four hours on the thirteenth of July. They will be starting on one of the Greetham Valley courses at eight o clock at night until the same time the following evening. They are trying to raise £1000 for Cancer Research on behalf of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation. Ryan, Chris and Greetham Valley staff member Matt Bell, completed a similar charity golf challenge for the Macmillan Challenge longest day last year and raised over £1000. The three hardy competitors would be grateful for any sponsorship and say that if anybody would like to donate to this very worthy cause they can do so by clicking onto http://www.justgiving.com/seve1

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Wet, wet, wet

Posted by Adi Porter, Course Manager on June 27, 2012

Well,  June has turned out to be another very wet month. Total rainfall for this year up until the 21st of June is 350mm, and the total for the whole of last year was 429mm, so at this rate we will have had all of last year’s rain by the end of August 2012, with the wet autumn winter months still to come!! Should be a good test for the new drainage on the 11th.

All this rain has meant that the grass hasn’t stopped growing since mid April. We had a nice flush of growth in the spring that we have missed out on the last couple of years and then it has grown and grown and then grown some more. So it has been a struggle to keep the grass at a manageable height and keep all areas playable, which hasn’t been easy as many of the days over the last few weeks have been wet.

All this extra cutting has made a big hole in my annual fuel budget!! As an example…. just one of our rough mowers is using £60 of fuel per day, so with that as a guide, I have estimated that to cut Greens, Tees, Fairways, and rough, costs us…(look away now Robert) £600 per week, and this has been constant since mid April.

Many people have been commenting that the rough is so punishing this year and have we raised the height? Well, I can assure you all that the height is the same as previous year’s (60mm), its just that we have had so much growth that it is really thick and lush. As soon as it dries up a little and dead grass is not an issue, I will lower the height to 50mm to compensate for now not cutting a perimeter cut at 35mm.

That’s it for now, so can everyone please pray that we actually get a warm, dry summer? As I write this the longest day has come and gone and I can already notice that when I walk the dog early morning, it is getting ever so slightly darker!!!!!   Enjoy your golf    Adi

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Fishermen’s tales and wedding hats at Greetham Valley

Posted by Helen Peaple, Greetham Valley Reception Manager on June 18, 2012


How big???
I always thought fishermen were telling tall tales about the one that got away, but judging by the whoppers I have been asked by our Hotel and Lodge guests to put in the Hotel fridge over night I’m now not so sure.

It has been really great to see our trout fishermen returning for another year of pleasure and competition fishing on Rutland Water,  many of whom have booked accommodation for the rest of 2012 season, as we are only a few minutes’ drive away from this fabulous fishing venue. It would also appear that Palm Springs Salmon Fishing are landing some giants this year.  Our resident salmon fishermen are also helping with the Receptionists’ weight lifting program as we are asked to store their catch in the fridge. 

 

Spring has finally sprung and the wedding season is now upon us.  Oh the dresses, the hats!!! (slightly different to those of our fishing friends!!). Even on a grey day the smiling faces of the wedding party are enough to cheer us all up.

I was asked the other day by a bride’s father how we all keep up the enthusiasm on a 2, 3 or 4 wedding weekend, well – how can you not? A hotel full of happy smiling wedding party faces, it really is contagious.  As the Reception shift goes on, if the enthusiasm starts to wane we just open the door at the back of Reception and enjoy the entertainment that is the bride’s dad dancing the funky chicken after too much champagne….

And then there’s the bright and breezy breakfast parade……enough said!  The morning after can be just as entertaining as the night before….

 Well, that’s a small slice of the variety of customer that brightens up our day on Reception – when are you coming to visit? We look forward to welcoming you!

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Posted by Dee Hinch, Business & Marketing Director on May 21, 2012

Greetham Valley will again be exporting the taste of the fabulous Greetham Valley Black Rock Grill to local shows and events this summer, starting with the Rutland County Show at Burley on the Hill near Oakham on Sunday 3rd June. Our ringside stand will be sizzling prime cuts of steak to tempt the tastebuds of everyone meandering by at this superb local show. At last year’s show, the queue was six deep at times, with many coming back an hour later for more free bite size tastes!

We are then at the Stamford Feast on Stamford Meadows the following day, Monday 4th June, doing exactly the same at The Big Lunch! Last year’s inaugural Feast saw over 8,000 people browsing all the foodie exhibitor stands, so all bodes well for 2012, with even more exhibitors.

The third event of the summer season is the Rutland Food Festival on Saturday 15th September, which is part of the Rutland Day celebrations at Rutland Water’s Sykes Lane, Empingham site. Last year, it was great seeing many of the same people who had visited our stand at the 2011 Rutland Show and Stamford Feast make a beeline for their free Black Rock Grill bite size samples. By this visit, they even knew to ask for the ‘Cajun one’ if they fancied a bit of spice!

What has been particularly satisfying, and made it all worthwhile, is all the customers who have since visited Greetham Valley’s restaurants to try the Black Rock Grill dining experience for themselves. The concept of grilling your own juicy steak, at your table, on a hot volcanic rock, is clearly appealing to many – theatre in the dining room! We currently have a special offer of just £16 for TWO 60z rump steaks served sizzling to your table on two hot volcanic rocks, with all the accompaniments – why not give it a try? Ask for the Black Rock Grill Duet offer!

Do call at the Greetham Valley stand at one (or more!) of this year’s events – while enjoying your free steak sample, why not take a look at all the events we have on at Greetham Valley for this year? Tribute Nights and Christmas party nights galore! We look forward to seeing you!

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A Christmas winter wedding in Rutland

Posted by Mitch Bardwell, Wedding & Events Co-ordinator on April 11, 2012

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 are 27th and 30th and for 2013 are 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th December. 

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

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Fantastic 20th Anniversary celebration for Greetham Valley

Posted by Dee Hinch, Business & Marketing Director on March 31, 2012

What a fantastic 20th Anniversary celebration for Greetham Valley yesterday! From the arrival at lunchtime of our past captains and other officials and stalwarts of the Golf Club for the Invitation golf competition, to the departure of the last of the 354 guests at the celebration party in the wee small hours this morning, the whole event was absolutely brilliant!

Coffee and bacon rolls in the Lounge Bar greeted the 72 players in the shotgun start, organised by Dennis Millington with minimal interference from yours truly. During the partaking of a glass of ‘celebration punch’ (aimed at improving everyone’s first tee shot), Sir David Davenport-Handley unveiled a lovely clock  presented to the Hinch family as a token of appreciation and to commemorate the 20th Anniversary from Greetham Valley Golf Club’s members. The golf competition was played on the Valley course on a lovely Rutland Spring day as an AM-AM stableford off 3/4 handicap. First place team prizes of crystal icebuckets and bottles of champagne went to last year’s Captain Bob Green, Joe Ritchie, Sue Wiles and Keith Crellin. Second place prizes of a bottle of pink champagne each went to Vice Captains Trevor Smith and Sheila Douty, teamed with two likely lads from the Lincolnshire Golf Union, Trevor Ireland and Harvey Harrison. Third place prizes of a bottle of champagne each went to current Captains Jim Wheeler and Eileen Pare, teamed with Juniors’ Captain Ryan Tarrant and Greetham Valley’s new PGA Advanced professional Gary Constable. Ladies’ Nearest the Pin on the 3rd was won by Hazel Hinch whilst Tony Kvederas won the Gents’ Nearest the Pin on the three tiered 16th.  To top it all off, Sheila Douty was presented with yet another bottle of pink champagne to celebrate her fantastic hole in one on the 18th!

Many of the players then dashed off to don their best bib and tucker for the evening celebration party, which was spread throughout the entire complex – the Rutland Suite, the Lakeview Suite and the Lounge Bar. Greetham Valley’s team of chefs served a delicious two course meal family style direct to the tables – 354 guests tucked into lamb hotpot with seasonal vegetables, followed by a platter of scrumptious finger desserts and a British and continental cheese board. Dancing then followed to the sounds of the JH Roadshow disco and live music from the one and only Crazy Ape, who had the dancefloor filled all night.

To escape the music, guests strolled through to the Lounge Bar where they enjoyed blackjack and roulette tables of the Casino – with the person holding the most chips at the end of the night winning a meal for four dining from Greetham Valley’s new seasonal menu to the value of £100! Derek Ward, one of Greetham Valley’s course marshals, showed hints of his previous career as a professional magician by visiting the dining tables, entertaining guests with amazing sleight of hand card tricks – had to be seen to be believed, incredible!

All in all, a fantastic night, clearly enjoyed by everyone! Thank you from the Hinch family to all who attended throughout the day to help us celebrate Greetham Valley’s 20th Anniversary and a special thank you to all our staff, whose hard work was smoothly carried out, professional, thorough – and who seemed to be really enjoying the atmosphere just as much as the guests they were looking after!

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Greetham Valley’s 20th Anniversary celebration!

Posted by Dee Hinch, Business & Marketing Director on March 30, 2012

Just finished setting courses up for Greetham Valley’s 20th Anniversary and I do believe that in the 17 years I have been here, the courses are in the best condition for the start of the season than they have ever been. Look forward to a wonderful season! Adi

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Wedding reception guest seating at Greetham Valley

Posted by Mitch Bardwell, Wedding & Events Co-ordinator on March 30, 2012

Mitch BardwellAfter Greetham Valley’s hugely successful Wedding Fayre back in February – 2012 is shaping up to be a bumper wedding year, our busiest yet! We have seen a 13% increase from 2011 with 5 of the weddings for this year being booked since January! In my first full season as Greetham Valley’s wedding co-ordinator I am really looking forward to seeing the culmination of many months of planning with all of my brides.

I am asked constantly for advice and tips about planning various aspects of this very special day – it is easy to offer suggestions but each bride and groom are unique so variations on the theme are very interesting to watch develop! One such aspect is the seating of guests at the wedding reception: many brides choose to name their wedding tables as an alternative to numbering them. It’s a great way for your guests to break the ice, and will save you worrying that Aunty Susan will be upset if she’s on table 12 rather than table 3!

Since starting at Greetham Valley nearly 5 years ago I have seen many different ideas, each as good and as unique as the next. We have had tables named after retro sweets with the favours also being those sweets in a jar on the table; places in New York that the couple were going to visit on their honeymoon; Ibiza clubs (don’t ask!), cartoon characters; the word ‘love’ in different languages; Rutland villages; breeds of sheep (two of the local Rutland farming families joined clans for this wedding!); significant dates or places that the couple first met/dated/lived etc; and even things that the couple had argued about, like putting the bins out! One of my favourites – naming tables after relatives who cannot be there, such as their grandparents. I look forward to seeing what this year’s brides have decided upon for their own wedding day.

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Planning a Holiday this Easter? How About a Hotel Break in the Midlands

Posted by Samuel Goddard on March 30, 2012

Holiday cottages and hotels in the country are the best ways to get away from the stresses and strains of every day life, giving you the opportunity to get some well earned rest and recuperation while enjoying everything that our glorious island nation has to offer.

Greetham Valley is one of the premier hotels in Rutland, offering guests the opportunity to experience endless countryside, scenic landscapes and picturesque local market towns set in a beautiful leisure environment, providing something for everybody.

The unrivalled beauty and tranquil surroundings associated with countryside hotel breaks are encouraging more and more people to stay at home for their well-earned holidays, with families getting the opportunity to spend quality time together doing the things that they wouldn’t normally have done.

Set in the countryside just a few minutes from Rutland Water – one of the major tourist attractions in the area featuring beautiful walks and perfect cycle route – Greetham Valley provides 35 king-sized and double bedrooms in a contemporary AA3* hotel. All of the hotel rooms feature en-suite bathrooms, telephone, television, and glorious views over the golf courses, valley and lakes, giving guests a taste of what Rutland has to offer before they leave their room.

Having spent your day exploring what is beyond the bedroom window in glorious Rutland, guests can return to the hotel to a meal cooked in our restaurants by our expert chefs in one of our three rooms. The Lounge Bar gives guests a light bite option as well as a choice of meals from our a la carte menu with a range of daily specials. The Lakeview restaurant seats up to 70 guests, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a meal from our seasonal menus while looking out over the beautiful countryside, there really couldn’t be a better setting could there?

That would be the case if it wasn’t for the Valley Restaurant. Enjoying the most prime location in Rutland county with views over the tenth and eighteenth tees, fairways, greens and lakes, this 40-seater restaurant will have you racing for your seat.

To book your room this Easter, and beyond, contact us on 01780 460444. Families are welcome and all guests receive a number of complimentary offers!

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