West Hove Golf Club

Wednesday 22 February 2012	Brighton & Hove Albion FC The Albion bowed out of the FA Cup on Sunday to a superior Liverpool side, but they were grateful for the support of the 6,000 travelling fans. What the team missed out on, however, was the support from West Hove members who watched the game in our Clubhouse. Instead of Karen, Caroline or Hayley manning the bar as usual it was Dave Power and Dan Milligan who somehow managed to book this shift(!). Dave reported "...it was a very busy day, we had 60 plus watching the game, great atmosphere, you could hardly move in the bar! We had to literally kick the stragglers out at 8pm, nobody wanted to go home!" Looking ahead, the Albion and their charity arm 'Albion in the Community', have very kindly agreed to sponsor a special handicap, qualifying, Stableford competition (for all categories of membership), to be played on Saturday 10 March 2012. Further details can be found in the Clubhouse.
Friday 17 February 2012	Funds for Special Projects The Club has established a new fund-raising group to be known as ‘The Friends of West Hove Golf Club’. The objective of the group will be to raise funds to directly support one-off projects that will be of benefit to the Club. This initiative will be independent from the Club’s management structure and Members will be consulted as to how the proceeds are to be best spent. The first fund-raising scheme will be the re-introduction of the ever popular “200 Club” from April 2012. All West Hove GC Members and employees are invited to participate and, for a small regular monthly subscription, members will be given a great chance to win one of the three monthly cash prizes. Good luck!
Wednesday 15 February 2012	West Hove Golf Club's website received its 300,000th 'hit' today The Club's 'new' website isn't quite five years old yet, but there was a significant achievement today when it received its 300,000th visitor. Our first 100,000 visits were achieved in January 2010 after 34 months, our second 100k took just another 14 months and the last 100k has taken less than 11 months (since 24 March 2011). It has now had visits from 123 countries around the world, from Albania to Zimbabwe. The website boasts over 100 pages (check them on the SITE MAP tab above) and they are updated on a regular basis. One of the key pages is the HOME page where, amongst other things, Members can log in to book tee times and also see the latest news headlines. It is to be modified within the next couple of days. If you have any comments about this website, whether good or bad, please refer to the link at the foot of this, or any other, page.
Tuesday 14 February 2012	The Visitors' online tee-time booking system Just under a year ago (23/2/11) the Club's General Manager, Gary Salt, announced the introduction of a new online tee-time booking system for West Hove members. This has proved to work exceedingly well, so the Club has decided to extended the facility to our visitors. Here is an extract from the announcement Gary made today: "From Monday 20February 2012 visitors will be able to book tee times online at West Hove by visiting our website and clicking on the Visitors Online Booking link. They will be able to book weekday tee times three days in advance and weekend tee times seven days in advance with a deposit being taken electronically at the time of the booking. This visitor online booking software will allow visitors to book tee times in accordance with our Club Rules & Bye-Laws and has gained the unanimous support of the Golf Committee and the Board of Directors."
Saturday 11 February 2012 8.30am	SNOW - Course update for Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 February 2012 The access road is perfectly clear and the Clubhouse will be open with full bar and catering facilities. The Pro-shop is open too - so, if you can't get to play your normal full round of golf, why not buy a token and practice on the 18-bay 300 yard driving range which is open to both our Members and the public. With regard to the course, the lower, southern, part is OPEN with play permitted from winter tees to winter greens, but no play is currently permitted on holes 3 to 7 which are still snowbound. It is anticipated that this situation will prevail throughout the weekend. Any change will be reported here. THE COURSE WAS FULLY OPEN FROM TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY.
Thursday 2 February 2012	"GET INTO GOLF" On Saturday 11th February at Midday West Hove's Pro, Graeme Crompton, will be running an hour long taster session for complete beginners and people who are returning to the game after a lengthy time away from it. It’s your chance to see what is on offer and to find out about professional coaching and our Club. The massively subsidised charge is just £4 Spaces are limited, so to book your place please telephone Graeme Crompton, our Head Professional, on 01273 413494 or, alternatively, email him at GC@sussexgolfcentre.fsnet.co.uk Do you know anyone that fits these criteria? Let them know ASAP. You can attend more than one taster session, if needed, but hopefully will want to take up one of the various follow-on opportunities. please click here for details
Monday 30 January 2012	Important 2012 Diary Amendment The 2012 Club Championship and Nick O’Byrne Trophy competitions were due to be held on 22 July but they clash with the last day's play in 'The Open' from Royal Lytham & St. Annes GC. The Golf Committee has therefore decided to postpone the Club's Championship and it will now take place on Sunday 12 August 2012. The President's Salver (3 clubs and a putter) that was to take place on 12 August will now be played on Sunday 22 July. Please note your diaries.
Wednesday 18 January 2012	Entry Forms are now available for the 2012 West Hove Junior "Open" This SCGU 'Junior County Order of Merit' competition has become increasingly popular amongst junior golfers in Sussex - and even beyond. For example, last year's event attracted 45 players from 18 golf clubs from as far away as South Herts GC (home of the Vardon grip). This year's event takes place on Sunday 15 July and comprises an 18-hole medal competition. All junior golfers (under the age of 18 on 1 January 2012) with a handicap of up to 28 for boys, and 36 for girls, are invited to participate. Early booking is advisable. Full details, together with an Entry Form can be downloaded by clicking here and a Junior Parental Consent Form can be obtained by clicking here.
Monday 16 January 2012	Roll Up 'On Course' Golf Tuition for just £10 At 2.00pm on Saturday 28th January our Head Professional, Graeme Crompton, is organising an 'On-Course' roll-up for anyone who has received coaching and is new to the game. It is specifically designed for non-members who have had tuition and who would now like to play up to 9 holes over our golf course, under the supervision and guidance of Graeme. The theme for this week's roll-up is, as you might expect, "Course Management". There is no need to pre-register, simply report to our Pro-Shop by 1.45pm on the day and refer to this news story. This is your chance to play 9 holes over West Hove's golf course for about two hours - and for just £10.
Wednesday 11 January 2012	Read Stacey Rodger's report from La Manga 10.30pm - Stacey finished 65th, at 19-over par, in her group of the the Ladies European Tour Pre-Qualifying at La Manga today. She should be very proud of her achievements particularly bearing in mind that 80% of her competitors were professional golfers and only six competitors out of a field of 204 beat par during the tournament. For the record, one professional golfer from Switzerland returned a score of 79-over par. After a poor first round, Stacey played well for two days and at the end of the third day was only three shots off of the qualifying score. The Club has spoken with Stacey this evening and she summarised her past four days as follows: "I enjoyed every moment in Spain. My golf was good enough but I just struggled under the pressure. I started to think too much about my score in the back nine of my first round. After that round I thought I had blown it. I then had the two good rounds that put me back into the competition. I knew I had to shoot level par in my final round and that was all I could think about. I started bad and, from then on, I was forcing everything trying to chase my score. This is the biggest competition I have played in. Now I know what to expect next time and I also know what I need to work on". Stacey has acquitted herself very well and everybody at the Club hopes that this experience will help her progress in the months and years ahead.
Wednesday 11 January 2012	LET Pre-Qualifying latest 11.45am - Stacey started poorly in today's final round with a 'double bogey' and 'bogey' on the first two holes. She finished with a disappointing 7-over par 78 which left her (currently) in 76th position. This means she has failed to reach the Final Qualifying for the Ladies European Tour.
Tuesday 10 January 2012	LET Pre-Qualifying latest 4.30pm - Stacey Rodger was back on the South Course today and shot a very creditable level-par 73 which included six birdies and, unfortunately, four bogies and a 'double'. She started the day tied for 70th place (at 12-over) but has now moved up to 44th place - but this could change as other competitors have yet to finish their round. The best two rounds of the tournament were recorded today. On the North Course Esther Choe (USA) scored a 5-under par 66 which remarkably included eleven 3s and, on the South Course, Hannah Burke (Mid Herts GC) shot a faultless 6-under par 67 to take the tournament lead on seven-under par. Stacey is first off tomorrow, at 8.15am, on the North Course and needs to be at her best if she is to get into the top 35 and qualify for the Final Qualifying rounds which start on 15 January.
Monday 9 January 2012	LET Pre-Qualifying In today's second round, over La Manga's North Course, Stacey Rodger shot a three-over par 74. She had dropped three shots after just seven holes but made a big improvement to shoot level-par over the last eleven holes. At the half-way stage of this Pre-Qualifying event she is 12 over par which places her in 70th position. Remarkably, that is only five shots off from the top 35 (and ties) which would see her progress to the 'Final Qualifying' event, so there is plenty to play for. It is worth noting that only ten of the competitors (or less than 5%) are currently under par, reflecting the difficulty of the two courses.
Sunday 8 January 2012	The Ladies European Tour (LET) Pre-Qualifying 2012 latest Stacey Rodger was in the last group to tee-off today in the 2012 LET Pre-Qualifying first round over La Manga's par 73 South Course. She played the front-nine in a respectable 2-over par 39 but unfortunately fell away on the back-nine dropping six shots in the last six holes. This leaves her tied in 84^th position from a field of 102 so tomorrow, when she tees off at 9.35am over the par 71 North Course, she will need to pull out all the stops. Watch this space.
Saturday 7 January 2012 back to the top	Follow Stacey Rodger's progress at La Manga West Hove's Ladies' Champion, Stacey Rodger, will tomorrow begin her quest to join the elite 2012 Ladies European Tour (LET). She will be competing amongst a field of 204 of the world's best lady golfers at the La Manga Club in Spain. Tomorrow sees the first round of the LET Pre-Qualifying event and Stacey has been drawn to play alongside two professional golfers. One is her name-sake from Canada, Stacey Bieber, and the other is Belgium's Lien Willems who became their national champion as a 13 year old. They tee off at 1.30pm tomorrow on La Manga's South course and follow that up by playing the North course on Monday from 9.35am. Two further rounds follow on Tuesday and Wednesday, but to progress to the next stage Stacey must finish in the top 35 of her Group - a very tough challenge. We hope to be able to follow Stacey's progress on this website.
Sunday 1 January 2012	A full Clubhouse welcomes in 2012 The Clubhouse was packed for last night's New Year's Eve Party where the theme was a Masked Ball for Ladies. All of the partygoers enjoyed a sumptuous four-course dinner before dancing the night away to the bewitching hour with live entertainment provided by "Masquerade". Special thanks must be given to past Club Captain Dennis Baker and the Office for organising the event, Clay Morris and his team for providing a superb meal and lastly to the bar staff of Karen, Caroline and Hayley (who decorated all of the tables) for their service. click here for photos
Saturday 31 December 2011	The management team wishes you a Happy New Year - enjoy your golf in 2012
Friday 30 December 2011 Stacey Rodger photo courtesy of Daisy Kane please click here for more photos of Stacey back to the top	2012 beckons for Stacey Rodger By all accounts, 23 year-old Stacey Rodger has had a good 2011. As the year ends we review her early golfing years, and her past year’s achievements, before looking forward to the future. Stacey joined West Hove GC at the tender age of 12 having taken part in a taster session at the Club. She showed a natural talent for the game and with encouragement from her family – father Stuart, uncles Pete & Richard and brother Carl all being West Hove members – she made quick progress. Her handicap tumbled from 45 to scratch and in her teens she became the Sussex Girls Under-18 and Sussex Ladies champion. She also now holds several course records in Sussex and has won the Ladies’ Championships at West Hove (7 times), East Sussex National GC (4 times) and once at West Sussex GC. She has also won the Brighton & District Golfing Society’s (BDGS) Ladies’ Championship in the last six years she has competed! This pedigree enabled her to take up a 4-year golf based scholarship at the Missouri State University in America where she graduated in 2010 with a degree in Exercise and Movement Science. She is also now a fully certified health and fitness specialist. Competing under the West Hove banner at a national level, 2011 proved to be a particularly successful year for Stacey. She finished in a very creditable sixteenth place in the EWGA 2011 Order of Merit thanks to an eighteenth place in the Welsh Ladies Open Amateur Stroke-Play Championship, a twentieth place in the Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship and by reaching the last sixteen of the English Women's Amateur Championship. For good measure, and amongst other notable achievements in 2011, Stacey also won the BDGS Ladies' Championship, the West Hove Ladies’ Championship and became the Sussex County Ladies' Champion for a second time, the first coming some five years ago before her golf scholarship in the USA. However, all of the above pales into insignificance compared to the challenge now awaiting her in 2012. In just a few days’ time Stacey will be flying to Spain to compete in the Ladies’ European Tour Qualifying (LET Q) School at La Manga GC to seek a European Tour Card. The LET Q School potentially comprises nine rounds of golf between 8 and 19 January. The opposition will be exceedingly tough with a mix of both professional and the best amateur lady golfers from around the world. Indeed, it is reported that five of China’s national team are planning to attend as part of their development programme to prepare for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This will be only the third time golf has featured in the Olympics and the first time since 1904! Stacey is well aware of just how difficult, and costly, it will be at the LET Q School but she goes with great determination and a very strong work ethic. The next few weeks could have a significant effect on Stacey’s future and her family, and everybody at the Club, wishes her every success. Her father, Stuart, will be going out to Spain to support her and we will monitor her progress here. Good luck messages can be emailed to Stacey at staceyrodger84@hotmail.com
Friday 30 December 2011	The Association of James Braid Courses (AOJBC) - an update The AOJBC has announced that a further 50 Golf Clubs have joined the Association since September 2011 including the King's and Queen's Courses at Gleneagles GC. West Hove members are reminded that they can play any AOJBC course at a reduced green-fee and that full details are shown on this website. please click here for the updated list The AOJBC now comprises an amazing 153 courses! They are therefore seeking sponsors so that they can issue a pocket-sized booklet in 2013 which will allow individuals easy reference to the list of all member Clubs. Watch this space.
Friday 30 December 2011	Derek Hodges joins the Golf Committee Club Captain, Richard Daughtrey, has announced that Derek Hodges (Club Captain 1998/99) has been co-opted onto the Golf Committee with responsibility for social activities.
Thursday 29 December 2011	"Get into Golf" at West Hove Golf Club Do you know of any adult that might like to give golf a go or, put another way, 'Get into Golf'? Perhaps somebody who played years ago but who might now like to return to the game or somebody who believes it too costly to get started. Well, starting in January 2012, West Hove Golf Club's Professionals will be providing low-cost £4 taster sessions for such people. 'Get Into Golf' in Sussex is a campaign designed to increase ADULT participation in golf and West Hove is one of only ten Clubs in Sussex to have been selected as a 'Get Into Golf' Centre. We will offer a low-cost, fun, engaging and enjoyable introduction to the sport through regular 'Get Into Golf' sessions throughout 2012. It’s your chance to see what is on offer and to find out about professional coaching and our Club. This is how it works: In January 2012, and running throughout the new year, the Sussex Golf Partnership will be supporting West Hove GC to provide £4 taster sessions to adult beginners on a fortnightly basis. (These sessions, as indicated above, will also be available to anyone who hasn't played golf for many years but who would like to return to the sport). You can attend more than one taster session, if needed, but hopefully will want to take up one of the various follow-on opportunities. please click here for details The first taster session will take place on our Driving Range at 10am on Sunday 8 January 2012. You MUST book in advance to participate in a 'Get into Golf' taster session as group sizes will be limited to ensure maximum opportunity and quality of delivery. To book your place please 'phone our Head Professional, Graeme Crompton, on 01273 413494 or, alternatively, email him at GC@sussexgolfcentre.fsnet.co.uk
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