St Thomas’s Golf Club has seen continued success during the 2009/10 season with virtually every area of the golf club experiencing increased activity and trade alongside widespread improvements in the course and facilities, over the 12 months up to February 2011.
The club’s director of golf Phil Gibson told members at the annual general meeting the season had seen an increase in members, golf played and the completion of an extensive programme of improvements on the course.
The coming season would see the work continuing with the aim of everyone at club to exceed the expectations of St Thomas’s members and visitors, he said.
The year had seen a healthy rise in the number of members which compared favourably with neighbouring clubs, many of whom had lost members, he said.
There was increased activity at the club with the total number of rounds of golf played by members increasing by a third and rounds by member’s guests slightly up on the previous year.
A total of 23,500 rounds were played by members and guests, up by more 4,500 on the year before, which was nearly double the total of 2008/9. The increase was also seen throughout other areas of the club with the club house Bar 19 being busier, turnover in retail at the bar and at the driving range was up by more than a third. There was a more than a 10% increase in the number of green fee paying visitors, including casual players and corporate or society golfers – despite the weather severely shortening the season.
There was also a very strong performance in number of events staged at the Parkland Suite at the golf club and Lister Suite at Hawkesyard Hall. There were more than 100 events and conferences during the year, the number of weddings remained about the same as last year but there was a near 50% rise in other functions such as christenings and funerals.
Extensive work, costing more than £100,000, had been carried out to improve the golf course and other amenities during the year, he explained. The work on the course included the building of new green on the 10th hole, a new pool hazard on the 14th, improvements to the pool on the 18th, a new tee on the 16th hole and substantial expenditure on new equipment to maintain the standard of the course.
The programme of improvements would continue throughout the coming season with a comprehensive programme to improve fairways, tees and greens. The programme of work this winter had already seen substantial improvements the third fairway and across the course 60 trees have already been moved into more prominent positions after being allowed to mature. Further work is also set to be undertaken to fill in bunkers on the 1st and 10th, create a new bunker by the new green on the 10th as well as extending the 9th tee and possibly the tees on the 7th and 13th holes.
Other improvements to the facilities for members have included the launch of a new look website in January, improving communications with members, along with the setting up of the club’s blog and Facebook page, the 100th member to join the St Thomas’s Facebook page will receive six months free membership.
In addition two midweek competitions have been added to the calendar and members only times have been extended on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Phil Gibson said: “The last season has been a very strong one for the golf club, despite very challenging economic conditions. We’ve seen in a rise in the numbers of members, the amount of golf played and increased revenue in other areas of the club.
“We remain committed to making the course and the club even better for members and visitors. Everyone at the club is working hard on all fronts to continue the improvements we’ve seen in every aspect of the club with the aim to exceed the expectations of members and guests visiting St Thomas’s,” he said.
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