Tag Archive for: Warwickshire
Tiley hangs on to clinch BP3 title
Steven Tiley has won this year’s Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship following a dramatic final day at Nailcote Hall. Tiley scored -6 on the Cromwell Course to clinch victory and the €50,000 prize that comes with it.
The Challenge Tour player, and former European Tour star, went into the final day as the overnight leader following a fantastic opening round in which he scored -3 to put himself in contention.
In the end it came down to a straight shootout between Tiley and EuroPro star Andrew Marshall. There was only one stroke in it with Marshall ruing the double bogey he scored on the 3rd.
European Tour star, Aaron Rai and 2013 Norma C Herd Silver Salver winner, Craig Lawrie, put themselves into contention, and they along with Tiley found themselves on the same score, and the prospect of a play-off, loomed large.
However, Lawrie fell away after bogeying on the 13th eventually finishing on -4 and when it looked like Rai could go on to triumph after scoring a magnificent hole-in-one, his round ended with a double bogey on the final hole in front of the grandstand, a hole he has struggled with all day.
Speaking of his first ever Farmfoods British Par 3 championship victory, he said: “It was great to play out there today, Andrew put in a fantastic performance to keep me on my toes. Also, my playing partner Craig Lawrie put in a great performance. It is always good to go into battle with people who are also playing well. I’d like to thank the event organisers Champions (UK) plc, a lot of things go on behind the scenes at tournaments to make them run smoothly and this event certainly runs smoothly. Also a big thank you to the event host, Tony Jacklin CBE, I’ve read his autobiography before and digged it out again last night for some inspiration. Also a big thank you to Rick and Sue Cressman, Nailcote Hall is a wonderful venue and it is always a wonderful place to play at.”
Italian golfing legend, Costantino Rocca, put in a great final round, and at one stage he looked like he was going to take the lead, before a bogey on the last saw him fall away with a score of -2, but he was pipped to the Super Senior title by Mark McNulty on -3.
Today also saw the event’s first hole-in-one take place courtesy of Staysure Tour star Gary Wolstenholme MBE. He also scored the lowest round of the week so far with a -6 on the day. The Norma C Herd Silver Salver which is awarded to the days best scoring amateur went to David Nelson who ended on +4 finishing ahead of Monday’s junior qualifier Nick Matthews who ended on +10. There was also a team aspect of the day with Marshall and Sverdlow taking victory in this.
Tomorrow sees this year’s event come to its conclusion as the celebrities take to the course once more for the final Celeb-Am. The stars taking to the course tomorrow include BBC news and sport presenter, Dan Walker, Geordie Shore star Gary ‘Gaz’ Beadle, Coronation Street legend William Roache MBE, former Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman and badminton star Gail Emms MBE.
A whole host of sponsors are supporting this year’s event. Once again, the event’s title sponsor is nationwide supermarket Farmfoods, with leading brand agency Champions (UK) plc returning as event organisers. Other event partners include Nailcote Hall, Volvik, The Eagle Tour, Sky Sports Golf, Liberty Industries Group, Total Motion, Inspirational Magazine, Finest Catch, Sub70 Golf, Champions Celebrity Talent Agency, VPAR, Thomas Lyte, Champions After Dinner Speakers and Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People.
Stay up to date with all the latest from Nailcote Hall with our social channels, you can find us @BritishPar3 or stay tuned to the website http://britishpar3.com/
For more information about this year’s Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship, get in touch with Conor Davies at Champions (UK) plc on 08453 31 30 31 or email cdavies@championsukplc.com
Jonny taking Rugby GC up a level
The new Head Greenkeeper at the parkland club just outside the town is making a big impression on the membership and officials and playing a bit part in what has turned out to be a very successful summer for the club. We visited the club last month to grab a chat.
Jonny Peacock is a native to the area and cut his teeth in the trade and passed all of the exams whilst serving as Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Ullesthorpe Court for 12 years. This year he wanted to go up a level and when a role became available at nearby Rugby, he was soon on the telephone.
“I was ready for a step up to the Head Greenkeeper role, was just looking for somewhere local that excited me to be honest. I came up for a walk round two or three times when I applied for the job and saw potential here. I quite like tight little courses anyway being a golfer myself and thought this is something I can really get my teeth into.”
“Here I also knew they had the new irrigation in place and other projects in the pipeline, and they were extremely supportive in letting me get on with things and not restricting any improvement plans that we want to do.”
Already this year Jonny has run campaigns to trim the Rugby trees down a little for easier sighting and now the team are digging out a few of the ditches in the middle of the back nine, on the lower levels of the course (below) where much of the drainage problems of the past once resided. Now Jonny wants to make that area even better still.
On the greens and fairways he’s changed the cut lengths and improved definition too. “It’s a course where you can see everything in front of you, it makes sense to make it prettier to look at as a result. We’ve got 6mm between fairway cut lengths now, so if it’s cut regularly it will give it great definition.”
“The greens are watered at night but we don’t over water them, we’re happy to hand water hot spots on the course the next morning as and when we need to. The club purchased a moisture reader for us too which has been a big help. We roll them 2 or 3 times a week and hand cut 4 or 5 times per week, and also give the greens one day off a week too.”
The Rugby greens are cut by Jonny at 4mm which is higher than what is normally standard. “ These greens are so small that as long as you get them firm enough with a cut and roll, they are plenty quick enough and most people have been very complimentary.”
Jonny is a two handicapper and plays nine at Rugby at least once a week, “I’m my own biggest critic so I like to think if I’m happy with it when I play, it must be ok!”
Club development officer Adrian Evans added, “The improvement here started with Chris Breen who was here previous to Jonny and did a great job. Jonny is improving even further on what Chris did which is so important for the members to see. The course is in great nick, looks superb and we’re delighted with the appointment we made in the spring.”
Future plans include a long term bunkering improvement plan for the course, working their way through the bunkers, one by one on an ongoing basis. A few tee improvements are in store too and the continued brook and ditch clearing to further improve looks and irrigation.
“I want to get Rugby back to how it began, as a true James Braid course, when we do the bunkers we’ll do it traditionally, back to how they were 130 years ago,” added Jonny.
Adrian, “This year we’ve seen a few past societies returning here again as well as some big new groups. Simply because they’ve heard about how much improved our course is now and their feedback after playing has been so encouraging too. The extra business will help us invest in the golf course even more.”
Rugby has also brought in 50 new members so far in 2018.
The Golden Poppys – Just the Ticket
In 2017 MG helped Gaudet Luce GC promote their 2018 society campaign which included a special prize. They posted out a number of society brochures to local groups; inside one of them was a golden ticket to win a full society day at the club.
The lucky winners were Poppys GS from Bulkington in Warwickshire and on Sunday 2nd September they enjoyed a great day out –
The society was formed in January 2016 after several months of planning and organising. They are based locally from Poppys Venue (formerly the Bulkington War Memorial Club) and play monthly competitions around the area within a 40 mile radius. The competitions comprise of The Society Championship (The Alan Ward Trophy) The Par 3 Cup (The Val Russell Trophy), played over 8 separate venues, the Winter League Pairs Competition, played over 5 separate venues, The Poppys Open (The Shaun Hale Trophy) and of course, The Captains weekend away.
They maintain close ties with the club and raise funds for the Bulkington veterans and Warwickshire and Solihull Blood Bikes, based around their frequent visits to bunkers and water hazards during society rounds!
Each Poppys monthly event has a trophy to compete for, and all trophies are named after fallen soldiers, heroes whose names appear on the war memorial in the churchyard at St James Church in Bulkington.
In a short space of time Poppys numbers have grown to 36 members, with many others entering events as guests. They run mixed format days out, an annual Order of Merit and a winter league, rounds held at North Warwickshire GC.
Poppys welcome new members and guests at their events – contact chairman Simon for further details – poppysgolf@gmail.com or find them on FB/Twitter and Instagram.
Rugby Golf Club hits the mark
Rugby Golf Club in Warwickshire has won a national award from England Golf, in recognition of its drive to grow the game
The club, which is actively recruiting new members and widening its community links, has just received the GolfMark Award for the second time. This is an official seal of approval for clubs which successfully work to develop the game.
Rugby is a private members’ club with an 18 hole golf course in Clifton Road and an established partnership with Leam Valley Golf Centre. It has recently attracted 26 new members – in various categories – by holding an open day for the local community.
The event was so successful that another open day will be held in September and it will become an annual event.
Club Secretary Andrew Leech, who led the club’s push to GolfMark, commented: “We are delighted to receive this prestigious award. It not only recognises our aim to provide challenging golf for golfers of all abilities, but to be an asset within the Rugby community.
“We are doing all we can to encourage juniors and adults to take up or return to golf. This award will help RGC, drawing on all its 127 years of history, to continue to offer a warm, friendly, safe and secure environment for golf, retaining our traditions whilst modernising and adapting our offer to members, visitors and societies.
“We will use this platform, in partnership with Leam Valley Golf Centre, to take golf into schools and the wider community and will do our best to attract under-represented groups into golf.”
The award was presented to club Captain Karl Walker by Hayley Noel, England Golf’s Club Support Officer for Warwickshire (pictured).
Hayley said “I’m delighted that Rugby Golf Club has achieved GolfMark and that its efforts to grow the game can be nationally recognised.”
The GolfMark award was developed by England Golf and also integrates Sport England’s Clubmark award – a national standard for quality sports clubs recognised across the country.
Successful clubs develop the game by:
- Attracting new members and encouraging existing members to play more
- Using practical business planning to develop the club
- Offering coaching and playing opportunities for all golfers
- Ensuring safeguarding policies are in place
GolfMark brings a number of benefits to clubs including raising awareness, access to funding, business and marketing support and training opportunities for staff and volunteers. To find out more visit www.golfmark.org
