Crown Golf Management Conference a Swinging Success!

The annual Crown Golf Management Conference reaches its conclusion today at St Mellion International Resort in Cornwall.  Nearly 80 delegates made up of General Managers, Course Managers and the senior team from the Club Support (aka Head Office) team made the trip for the 3-day event.

The purpose has been to discuss the road ahead for 2010 and reflect and reward performance for 2009.  The conference als0 aimed t0 tackle some of the big issues that face Crown Golf’s management teams.  Whilst there is always an annual conference for club management (GMs + Head Office), this year the event has also attracted the 31 Course Managers and recognises their big contribution to the success of the business. 

Kicked off with a welcome from CEO Stephen Lewis and a highly engaging and motivating session from Lt Colonel Mike Tanner from the Royal Marine Commandos, the groups have engaged in many workshops tackling issues such as service and standards, membership sales and retention, localisation vs centralisation etc.  All workshops have yielded much debate from the floor!  

The 3 days event has not all been about delegate workshops as a team building session at the nearby Kelly College Adventure session will testify!  High Ropes, Trapeze, Tree Climbing, ‘Tarzan Like’ Rope Swings, Brain Teasers and Interlectual Challenges galore.  Not for the faint hearted! Congratulations to the winning team lead by Martin Hucklesby with a score of almost 600 points from 8 different activities.

The annual Crown Golf Manangement Awards (7 in total) plus 3 Health and Safetey Compliance Awards endorsed by the British Safety Council were presented at a gala dinner expertly served by the St Mellion team and won by…

Retail Team of the Year:  Eccleston Park Golf Club

Food and Beverage Team of the Year: St Mellion International Resort

Sales Team of the Year:  The Bristol

Greenkeeping Team of the Year: Wickham Park

Course Manager of the Year:  Chris Cumbes, Eccleston Park

General Manager of the Year: Tom Brooke, South Essex

Club of the Year 2009:  The Bristol Golf Club (represented by GM -Ben Laing and Course Manager-  David Nichols)

We finish today with a Question Time session as per the famous BBC1 tv show.  A great event – bring on 2010!

St Mellion Makes Debut at World’s Largest Golf Travel Event

St Mellion International Resort will be featured on the international stage next week. The resort’s brand new 4-star hotel, Jack Nicklaus Signature Course and newly-refurbished Kernow championship golf courses, and first-class facilities will be on display in Spain at the world’s largest golf travel event.

St Mellion will represent the best of golf in south west England alongside Bovey Castle and England’s Atlantic Links at the 2009 International Golf Travel Market on 16-19 November.

International Golf Travel Market has been running for 11 years and has grown in size to become the largest meeting of buyers and suppliers of golf-related products in the golfing calendar. The 2009 event is being held in Malaga, Spain.

Over 450 golf tour operator representatives will be attending the event and Regan Bailey, golf business development manager at St Mellion, says she is looking forward to representing the resort’s world-class courses and facilities. “With our refurbishment complete we can now offer the International Golf Travel Market a world-class facility as a must-visit resort for their clients. The Nicklaus Signature Course, having been recently been acknowledged as the toughest golf course in England by Today’s Golfer magazine, gives me an unrivalled product to present to the market.

“There are 55 million golfers in the world – so an event like IGTM is our opportunity to put the new St Mellion International Resort on the map as a top-class European golf venue.”

The St Mellion International Resort (http://www.st-mellion.co.uk/ recently underwent a £20 million re-development project, transforming it into a world-class golf and leisure resort based around the brand new four-star 80-bedroom hotel complex at its heart. The work also saw a major refurbishment of the existing clubhouse and improvements to both golf courses – including The Nicklaus Signature Course, which was the first to be designed in the UK by legendary American golfer Jack Nicklaus.

The complex is part of the Crown Golf group, the UK’s largest golf club owner/operator with 31 properties and 54 golf courses in its portfolio. With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide an outstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made to suit the lifestyles and needs of a wide range of golfers.

Corks Pop at Cottesmore as Crawley Golfers Enjoy French Connections

Cottesmore Golf and Country Club has held its first ever Champagne Golf Day in partnership with the Reims Tourist Board and Le Golf de Reims – and it was a cork-popping success.

Members at the popular Crawley golf club now pay lower rates at many golf clubs across France, after the club’s owners Crown Golf secured a two-way deal with Les Nouveaux Golfs de France (NGF), which owns 17 golf clubs across France.

The reciprocal relationship gave staff at Cottesmore Golf and Country Club the idea of running a Champagne Golf Day, and invited club officials from Le Golf de Reims to attend. 

The golf day, which combined golf and fine champagnes from the Reims area, saw Cottesmore members play with several members from other clubs owned by Crown Golf.

Also present on the day were Dennis Michaud, Director of the Reims Tourist Board, Kate Marechal from NGF, and Eric Censier, General Manager of the Le Golf de Reims – Reims Golf Club.

The day kicked off with bucks fizz on arrival, with champagne tasting on offer all day. Some 80 competitors took part in a stableford competition, organised by Crown Golf’s Club Captains.

After some competitive golf, there was a buffet lunch, and a raffle. Generous donations from the Reims Tourist Board and champagne houses in the Reims area meant that a great deal of money was raised. The top raffle prize was a fabulous Jeroboam of champagne, and a fantastic £1,200 was raised, to be split between the Captains’ three chosen charities – Help for Heroes, Dreams Come True and Action Aid.

Callum Callan, Director of Golf at Cottesmore G&CC, said: “We had a great day, despite the terrible weather, and are delighted to have had the opportunity to provide the venue for such an unusual event.

“We are really proud of our link with the NGF network of clubs and the value it adds to membership of a Crown Golf club. We hope to develop an even closer link with Le Golf de Reims in the coming months.”

Cottesmore Golf and Country Club General Manager Nathan Miller added: “The day was a great success and I’d like to thank all those involved in its organisation.  We were bowled over by the generosity of the Reims Tourist Board and the champagne houses in the area.

“We are planning a similar event for next year, and hope to see some of our members go to France in the next few months to cement the relationship with Le Golf de Reims.”

Cottesmore Golf & Country Club boasts two challenging 18-hole courses, excellent practice facilities and tuition and equipment hire in addition to a 21-room hotel,  bar and restaurant, fitness centre and pool, and four function rooms perfect for social functions and conferences.

The complex is part of the Crown Golf group, the UK’s largest golf club owner/operator with 31 properties and 54 golf courses in its portfolio. With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide an outstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made to suit the lifestyles and needs of a wide range of golfers.

Blue Mountain to Host Asian Wedding Fair

Marriages may be made in heaven, but brides often seek professional help to make a wedding happen in style. So a prominent local golf club is holding the area’s first Asian wedding fair next month – and it’s free.

On Sunday15th November, Binfield-based Blue Mountain Golf Centre will throw open its doors to the general public and invite them in to browse the stalls and attractions in its glitzy Asian Wedding Fair for free.

With skilled henna and beauty artists and beautiful mandaps on show, alongside many other traditional Asian and non-Asian exhibits, all you need to know to plan a perfect wedding will be found at Blue Mountain on the day.

Over 30 businesses will be exhibiting, with caterers, DJs, photographers and jewellers showcasing their goods. There will also be designers from all over the UK showing off their latest fashions. The popular local golf club is hoping to attract around 500 visitors to the event, which is the first of its kind in the Bracknell area.

“An Asian wedding fair is more than just a show – it’s an experience,” said Blue Mountain’s general manager, James Elster. “We’re really looking forward to the 15^th; we have a fantastic wedding suite which can hold up to 400 guests, and it will look fabulous on the day. We hope to attract both Asian and non-Asian visitors to our first ever Asian Wedding Fair!”

Blue Mountain Golf Centre boasts a superb 18-hole 6,097-yard course, excellent teaching and practice facilities, a driving range, a golf shop and clubhouse with bar and restaurant.

The complex is part of the Crown Golf group, the UK’s largest golf club owner/operator with 31 properties and 54 golf courses in its portfolio. With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide an outstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made to suit the lifestyles and needs of a wide range of golfers.

Busy Juniors at Chesfield Downs Golf and Country Club Finish on Season High

There were trophies aplenty at a local golf club, after the Junior section celebrated the end of the summer with a series of championship tournaments.

Chesfield Downs Golf and Country Club, near Stevenage, well-known for its commitment to bringing on young players, held a series of junior championships at the beginning of the month.

The youngsters were split into three age categories: the Cubs for 5-8 year olds, the Lions for 9-13 year olds, and the Juniors section for 13-18 year olds. The Cubs and Lions competed in the Par 3 Championship, and the Juniors competed for the main Junior Cup.

Keith Bond, PGA Head Coaching Professional at Chesfield Downs Golf and Country Club, and a nationally renowned Junior coach, coordinated the events, which saw more children entering than ever before. The Par 3 Championships were particularly well attended.

Across the younger age groups, both girls and boys prevailed, with the Cubs’ gross competition being comfortably won by seven year old Dominic Clemons and seven year old Danielle Sey scooping the net title. Dominic becomes the 2009 Cubs Champion.

In the 9-13 year old Lions section, Sydney Young, aged ten, took the title in a closely fought round, beating two others on countback. Eleven year old Joshua Parson shot a fantastic round of three over par to finish on 42 points, three shots clear of his closest rival in the gross score title and takes the 2009 Lions Championship title.

In the Junior section, 16 year old Matt Palin won the Chesfield Downs Junior Club Championship on a roller coaster weekend of golf.

After the first round of the 36-hole competition, Matt was leading by two shots. The following day, he hit a triple bogey at the first hole and was overtaken by his two nearest rivals. In a display of great grit and determination, Matt fought back to finish his round on a respectable score of 81.

The winner of the net competition, for the second consecutive year, was James Canning.

Keith Bond, PGA Head Coaching Professional at the club said: “The Juniors at Chesfield Downs have had a busy and successful year. Numbers in the section are growing, and I am sure that it is because they manage to have a great time while playing a disciplined sport.

“Golf is enjoyable for children, but they have to concentrate. If they do, they can see the benefits almost immediately.

“I’m delighted that we had such an impressive turnout this year, and am hoping to encourage more youngsters to try out golf over the next few months so that we see even more competitors in the 2010 championships.”

Robin Greenwood, General Manager at Chesfield Downs Golf and Country Club commented: “Keith is doing an unparalleled job at the club. With our newly-achieved GolfMark and ClubMark status, parents are sending their children to us to learn golf in increasing numbers.

“The Juniors have a busy schedule here, under the watchful eye of our highly qualified golf professionals, and we look forward to welcoming many new young faces to Chesfield Downs in the future.”

Chesfield Downs Golf and Country Club is home to a superb 18-hole championship golf course and a 9-hole Par 3 course in Hertfordshire. Work was completed last year on a £2m clubhouse and driving range facelift, which includes a state-of-the-art gym, workout studio, sauna and steam room and a whirlpool spa with stunning views of the course.

The complex is part of the Crown Golf group, the UK’s largest golf club owner/operator with 31 properties and 54 golf courses in its portfolio. With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide an outstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made to suit the lifestyles and needs of a wide range of golfers.

Mill Greens Eleven Year Old Ella is Champion Again

Golf-mad local girl Ella Ofstedahl gave herself an early twelfth birthday present by winning a national ladies’ golf tournament.

Ella, a member at Mill Green Golf Club, became Lady Champion in the “Crown Golf Champion of Champions” competition at Cotgrave Place Golf Club, near Nottingham, on Saturday 26^th September – the day before her twelfth birthday.

The tournament, which brings together the club champions from 31 golf clubs across the UK, is an annual event run by the country’s largest golf club operator, Crown Golf.

The Robert Bloomfield Middle School pupil won the Ladies’ Net competition with a net 69; Ella would have also won the Ladies’ Gross event, were it not for the fact that golfers can only win a single prize in the Champion of Champions tournament.

Ofstedahl was also only one point away from winning the overall title of “Champion of Champions”, which is awarded to the player gaining the overall best net score from all categories – from Junior to Senior, both in the men’s and ladies’ events.

Ella first started playing golf at Mill Green Golf Club when she was five years old. Coming from a keen golfing family, she and her two older brothers regularly enjoy a round of golf together at the Welwyn Garden City-based golf club. She has many friends in the busy Junior section at Mill Green GC, and spends as much time as she can there when she’s not at school.

Ella said of her Champion of Champions victory: “It was great fun to play in a competition with grown up golfers who I’d never met before. They were all very kind and I enjoyed it very much. I was really pleased to play so well, and hope I will be back again next year.”

Tim Hudson, General Manager of Mill Green GC, said: “Ella had a fantastic day and played with her usual quiet confidence.

“She holds the Championship record here, which is an impressive feat in itself, and is a great role model for all the other Junior members at the club. She has a bright future in the game and we look forward to one day seeing her compete at international level.”

Mill Green Golf Club boasts both a challenging 18-hole Championship and a nine-hole course, a golf shop, excellent practice and tuition facilities and equipment hire in addition to a bar and restaurant and function rooms perfect for social events and conferences.

The complex is part of the Crown Golf group, the UK’s largest golf club owner/operator with 31 properties and 54 golf courses in its portfolio. With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide an outstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made to suit the lifestyles and needs of a wide range of golfers.

Hampshire Senior Golfers Win Their ‘Battle Of Waterloo’

Sherfield Oaks Golf Club’s Senior team have won a nationwide tournament with ease – on the club’s Waterloo course.

Twenty one golf clubs from across the UK recently competed in the Chateau Des Vigiers Crown Golf Seniors Interclub Team Challenge. The event featured a ‘shotgun start’, with the three best individual stableford scores counting towards the final score.

The Hook-based golf club’s team of four veterans, headed up by Bill Crosher (Seniors Captain), included Ian Donninson, Domel Grewal and the day’s star player Mike Hobden.

The fantastic four gelled together well to secure a comfortable victory on their home course. In an exceptional round, Mike Hobden scored 47 points for the side, a major factor in his team’s victory.

The team won the enviable prize of a 3-day break to Chateau des Vigiers in Bordeaux – an internationally renowned Hotel, Golf and Country Club set in 450 acres of stunning countryside.

The clement weather and beautifully groomed course meant that all 84 competitors had a fantastic day. Matt Trapnell, General Manager at Sherfield Oaks Golf Club, said: “The Sherfield Oaks Seniors played some great golf, with some truly inspired individual performances on the day.

“I’d like to thank Mike Childs – one of our members – who put a huge effort into organising the day. And of course our thanks also go to our sponsors, Chateau Vigiers.

“Bill Crosher and his team were deserving winners and we are very proud of their efforts. Fingers crossed that they win again next year – when we won’t have home advantage!”

Sherfield Oaks Golf Course offers a choice of two challenging 18-hole courses, tuition, practice areas, equipment hire and a Pro Shop in addition to a welcoming clubhouse with bar, restaurant, and function rooms perfect for social events and conferences.

The golf club is part of the Crown Golf group, the UK’s largest golf club owner/operator with 31 properties and 54 golf courses in its portfolio. With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide an outstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made to suit the lifestyles and needs of a wide range of golfers.

Mill Greens Nicola Beats the Ladies to Herts Golf Title

A thirteen year old local golfer has equalled a record set in 1947, by successfully defending her ladies’ title in the Hertfordshire County Ladies’ Golf Association de Paula Cup.

The tournament is open to Hertfordshire ladies with handicaps between 10 and 20 and consists of five rounds of matchplay golf, played over two and a half days. This year, the competition took place at Letchworth Golf Club, and thirteen year old Nicola, a member of Mill Green Golf Club, played with great poise to win the competition for a second consecutive year.

But the teenager won’t be aiming for the hat-trick in 2010, as her golf is improving so fast that she will almost certainly be ineligible.

10-handicapper Nicola, who already has an impressive golfing CV, was by far the youngest competitor in the field, and beat 31 other golfers to the prestigious regional title.

Amazingly, Nicola also won the competition last year, when aged twelve; she is the first lady golfer to successfully defend a de Paula Cup title since 1947.

Nicola has been playing golf for five years, and joined Mill Green Golf Club three years ago. She comes from a family of keen golfers, and practices around five times a week with both the juniors and seniors at her Welwyn Garden City-based home club.

Not only was Nicola successful in the de Paula Cup, but she also holds the ladies’ course record at Mill Green GC; has won the Vice Captains’ Cup there; represents the county; and has recently been invited to join the EWGA South Super Birdies Squad for 2009-2010 – a development squad for girls who are promising golfers.

Unsurprisingly, the Year 9 golf whizz has ambitions to be a tour professional.

“I had a great time at Letchworth Golf Club, and am really pleased I won again. It was very nerve-wracking and absolutely exhausting,” said Nicola: “I hope that I won’t be defending my title for a second time next year, as the competition is for 10-plus handicaps, and I would really like to make it into single figures over the next 12 months.

“I’d like to thank my family for their support, the Juniors and Ladies at Mill Green for their encouragement, and Ian Parker at Mill Green, who has been a fantastic coach.”

Tim Hudson, General Manager at Mill Green Golf Club, commented: “Nicola is a gifted golfer, and has a very mature attitude for such a young player. She is an inspiration to all the members at Mill Green and we will watch her progress with interest.

“All of us at Mill Green have our fingers crossed that she will go on to great things, be it in the golfing world or elsewhere.”

Mill Green Golf Club boasts both a challenging18-hole Championship and a nine-hole course, a golf shop, excellent practice and tuition facilities and equipment hire in addition to a bar and restaurant and function rooms perfect for social events and conferences.

The complex is part of the Crown Golf group, the UK’s largest golf club owner/operator with 31 properties and 54 golf courses in its portfolio. With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide an outstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made to suit the lifestyles and needs of a wide range of golfers.

Unprecedented Winning Streak as Pyrford Golf Club Conquers All

A local golf club is celebrating a week of magic – in which its members scored a series of victories in three major golfing events.

“Winning Streak Week” for Pyrford Golf Club – week beginning 21st September – saw the club hit an all-time high with the number of trophies and events won by members.

The first trophy came when the popular Woking golf club was victorious in the Tigers 90’s League – an annual four-ball better ball competition for low-handicap male golfers held between six Surrey golf clubs. Pyrford GC, a founding member of this League, played its final 2009 matches on September 24^th – and some hard-won points earned the golf club the annual title for the first time in their history.

Two days later, on September 26^th, Pyrford GC’s 2009 Men’s Club Champion, John Hennessy, was victorious in the annual Crown Golf “Champion of Champions” tournament at Cotgrave Place Golf Club, near Nottingham. His superb round of net 68, off a 2 handicap, saw him crowned “Champion of Champions 2009”.

Hennessey beat 84 other Club Champions who had travelled to Cotgrave Place from 31 different golf clubs across the UK. Each had won the right to be there by winning their own club championship, at the golf clubs owned by Crown Golf – the UK’s largest owner / operator of golf clubs.

Hennessy also scooped a win on the Gentlemen’s Nearest the Pin competition with a fantastic shot.

But the icing on the cake of Pyrford’s “Winning Streak Week” was the club’s remarkable first-time victory in the Surrey 5’s Knockout tournament, run by the Surrey County Golf Union. In an event normally dominated by big-hitting local clubs, the Pyrford team of six golfers beat Epsom Golf Club to the title in an agonizingly close finish.

Andrew Lawrence, General Manager of Pyrford Golf Club, said: “We had an astonishingly successful week! We have never seen its like before, and there’s a fantastic atmosphere in the clubhouse at the moment.

“To win the Surrey 5’s Knockout for the first time ever is some achievement, but add to that our first ever victory in the Tigers 90’s League AND a champion in the Crown Golf Champion of Champions competition, and you get a very proud golf club – with a full trophy cabinet!

“We’ve got a lot to live up to in 2010, so we’re all heading down to the practice range to prepare for the defence of all these titles next year!”

 Pyrford Golf Club boasts a 6,230-yard, par-72 course designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark which winds its way through sculptured mounds, plus 23 acres of lakes and ancient woodland. In addition the club provides practice facilities, tuition and equipment hire and a golf shop plus a function room for events and parties.

The complex is part of the Crown Golf group, the UK’s largest golf club owner/operator with 31 properties and 54 golf courses in its portfolio. With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide an outstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made to suit the lifestyles and needs of a wide range of golfers.

Cotgrave Golfers Dominate National Event

When Cotgrave Place Golf Club recently hosted the Finals day of a national golf event, four of its club members walked away with prizes.

Saturday 26^th September saw the club hosting the annual “Crown Golf Champion of Champions” golf tournament. On the day, 85 golfers congregated at the popular Stragglethorpe club to compete in Men’s, Ladies’, Seniors’ and Juniors’ categories. Each had won the right to be there by winning their own club championships at 31 different golf clubs across the UK – all owned by Crown Golf, the UK’s largest owner / operator of golf clubs.

Although the overall ‘Champion of Champions’ trophy went to a golfer from Surrey, Cotgrave Place member Emma Howie was crowned the Ladies’ Gross Champion for the second consecutive year.

Other Cotgrave Place GC members to pick up prizes were Danny Alford, who won the Gent’s Gross competition; Colin Brown, who won the Seniors’ Net competition; and Roger Tinsley, who won the Gent’s Net competition.

Nick Leuty, General Manager of Cotgrave Place Golf Club, said: “This was a prestigious event for us to host, and everyone had a great day.

“I’d like to thank the Club Captains and the members who volunteered their help and support at this year’s Champion of Champions tournament. The staff also worked tremendously hard, and the course played very well.

“I’d also like to add that we are very proud of our players here at Cotgrave: they always perform well, and helped us to come out as ‘top club’ on the day.”

Cotgrave Place Golf Club boasts two 18-hole courses: The Open course, and the Peter Alliss-designed The Masters course. The club also has excellent practice facilities, expert tuition, golf shop and clubhouse with bar and function and conference facilities.

The complex is part of the Crown Golf group, the UK’s largest golf club owner/operator with 31 properties and 54 golf courses in its portfolio. With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide an outstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made to suit the lifestyles and needs of a wide