Latest News from The London Golf Club

Thru the Green - Summer 2006

2006-08-11

Available for download as a PDF file. Click here to view.

In this edition: Cali wins in exciting London Seniors Masters play-off, Atos Origin Olympic Classic Skins Golf event
held at London Golf Club, 3rd May 2006 along with course news and more.

Corporate demand for London Seniors Masters Golf forces change to 2006 Dates

2006-02-10

Following from Sam Torrance's victory in the inaugural 2005 tournament we are delighted to confirm that The 2006 London Seniors Masters will be staged from the 29th June – 1st July with three days of Pro Ams on the 26th, 27th and 28th June preceding the tournament.

Members are asked to please put these dates in their diary and to notify the Club if they wish to partake in the ProAm packages and Corporate Hospitality which will be available in marquees around the 18th green.

In a change to the normal Seniors Tour format, the event will be played over Thursday, Friday and Saturday, concluding on Saturday 1st July. Due to The London Golf Club’s close proximity to Canary Wharf and the City, the requirement for Corporate Hospitality from this sector has forced the tournament organisers to amend the dates in an effort to accommodate Corporate golfers mid-week.

London Seniors Masters 2006 The inaugural tournament was the first to played over the Heritage in ten years and was voted by the Seniors Tour players as the Best Tournament they played in 2005 with particular mention being made of the condition and length of the course.

Order of Merit contender, Carl Mason, described the Heritage Course as "the best conditioned tournament course" he had played this season. Sam Torrance was equally generous in his praise of The London Club when he described it as being as worthy a tournament venue as Wentworth.

The London Golf Club are enormously grateful to The Bendinat Group and Sporting Class for their generous financial support of the inaugural event. We are now actively seeking a main tournament sponsor in anticipation of the 2006 London Seniors Masters.

Colin Montgomerie Golf Day

2006-02-17

The London Club were delighted to welcome Colin Montgomerie on the Lexus Golf day in October. A week shy of claiming his eighth Order of Merit title, Monty joined a select group of Lexus clients putting-on a clinic which was followed by a round of golf and a gourmet dinner in the Club Room.

Montgomerie's previous order of merit title was in 2000. This season past has seen him do battle with World No. 1, Tiger Woods during the final round of the Open in which he finished runner-up in the process. He also won the Dunhill Links Championship to crown his long-awaited return to the World’s Top 10.

Golf Course Improvements

2006-02-17
Peter Todd, Course Manager

Ron Kirby and Course Management staff Work across the courses continues with a busy programme of improvements over the winter months. International Course architect, Ron Kirby, has been visiting the Club to consult on some course enhancements and alterations in particular the green complex on the International 9th hole. NB as of the 1st April we will be reversing the nines back to the original layout on the International course.

Elsewhere on the courses we will be building a new Championship tee on the Heritage 16th hole which will not only lengthen the hole but also add a slight 'dog-leg' . An additional bunker will also be constructed on the right hand side of the fairway. The tree and gorse planting has commenced with 700 whips planted so far on the 14th hole of the Heritage Course and a further 1400 on order to be planted before the end of January. Certain bunkers have been identified for renovation and the resultant works will improve their playability. Likewise, in the semi-rough, key areas are receiving slit-drainage which will improve conditions underfoot and away from the fairways.

"...winter greens maintenance will be bought forward showing a marked improvement in winter playing surfaces."

So as to avoid disturbing play in the approaching season , the lake works are approaching completion for this year. The 2 acre lake adjacent to the 10th and 17th holes of the International Course is nearing completion. Aquatic planting has been incorporated into the lake edge to enhance Ron Kirby Drawing the environment for wildlife as well as to give a more natural appearance. Plants include Yellow Irises, sedges, reeds and rushes. The last lake to be addressed before the spring is the irrigation lake to the left of the 9th hole on the Heritage Course. This is an integral part of our irrigation scheme and work has commenced already with a completion date of early March.

Contractors have been employed to cut down the rough which should produce a more consistent, flowing and less matted looking rough come this summer. At the same time we have continued the overseeding program which has resulted in an instant improvement in fairway conditions and will continue to show results through spring and into summer.

With The London Seniors Masters taking place at the end of September last year we took the decision to undertake greens maintenance later in autumn , in doing so, allowing Members the opportunity to enjoy the tournament conditions for an extra month. With the 2006 tournament dates being June / July the winter greens maintenance will be bought forward showing a marked improvement in winter playing surfaces.

The Professional Shop

2006-02-17
Alasdair Robertson, Director of Golf

Director of Golf, Alasdair Robertson assisting on a
recent GolfPunk photo shoot at The London Club A big thank you to all of our Members for your kind and loyal support of the shop over this Summer past. There is more to look forward to with the approach of Spring and we will be introducing new ranges of Italian cashmere garments which will be made for The London Club by Sportivo. This new range of clothing is made especially for golf use and will be available in only a few select golf clubs in the UK. For the Ladies section the exciting Peak Performance range of ladies golf wear will be lining our shelves. Peak Performance is a new Swedish company and their range of sleek and colourful golf attire is something to look forward to.

Before the season gets underway, why not allow our repairs workshop to carry out a spring m a keover on your clubs with a reshaft or regrip. It is very important to keep grips in good condition and make sure they are the correct size, ensuring proper contact between you and the club. There are many reasons why a golf club may need reshafting, it may be to change the feel of a club, to improve your performance, or because your game has already advanced beyond the existing performance of the shaft.

City Bunker

2006-02-17

A 5-minute walk from central Canary Wharf, City Bunker is a golf school containing State-of-the-art golf simulators (featuring 40 of the World’s top courses),the only fully stocked Pro-Shop in Canary Wharf and a fantastic place to grab a golf lesson from a PGA Professional.

City Bunker has a relaxing bar and lounge area which doubleup as a unique space for corporate events and private functions from 10-200+ people.

To receive a 25% discount on lessons and functions please mention you are a London Club Member.

Open from 10am until 8pm Monday to Friday.

Latest News from the Club

The Investment Continues...

Latest News The investment in the Club's infrastructure continues unabated with expenditure of £600,000 recently approved for further lake and course improvements. To date we have invested £600,000 in golf course machinery and £150,000 repairing the two lakes on the Heritage Course with a further £450,000 being spent on another four lakes over the months ahead.

The primary reason behind this expenditure is so as to be able to 'harvest' water through the winter months. As dry winters become common and Kent is usually the first county to have hosepipe bans implemented, so too has it become vital to be able to collect and store valuable irrigation water over the winter months in preparation for hot, dry summers.

The Club's management are also negotiating with the local water company and the environment agency to introduce a bore hole and reduce our costs by using raw water rather than the potable water which we have been purchasing to date.

Reciprocal golf in Mallorca

Members are reminded that as members of The London Golf Club, they are entitled to full reciprocal playing rights at Real Golf de Bendinat in Mallorca. If you are heading to this beautiful island refuge of the rich and famous and would like to play whilst there, please touch base with us before you leave and we will ensure that you are put in contact with Golf Operations Director at Real Bendinat, Jorge Pando.

Conferencing and Banqueting at The London Golf Club

The London Club has recently undergone a major internal refurbishment of its function rooms due to the increasing desire of members to utilise them for meetings and the like. Now equipped with wireless internet access, new audio visual equipment including plasma screens and wireless internet access, they also offer a seated break-out area on the adjacent terrace where delegates can enjoy coffee breaks, take mobile calls or just a breath of fresh air.

There are 6 different meeting rooms, including the Club Room, all with natural daylight available to hire for all types of meetings, presentations, conferences or private dinners. So, if you need a meeting room, a private dinner, or maybe one of your offspring is going to be tying the knot and you are seeking a fabulous wedding venue, then do contact Debbie.

Meeting Rooms Available:

Heritage Suites 1 & 2
These suites are ideal for all types of functions, including meetings and private dinners with access to the outside terrace. Recently refurbished these rooms can be booked individually or combined.
International Suites 1 & 2
Slightly smaller than the Heritage, the International Suite is ideal for that director's meeting or private lunch with access to the outside terrace for coffee breaks. Recently refurbished, these rooms can be booked individually or together.
Restaurant
The air-conditioned restaurant is ideal for lunches, dinners, cocktail receptions in addition to business meetings and presentations. With stunning views of the lakes and manicured fairways, the backdrop of our two Championship Golf Courses makes a fantastic location for any type of function.
Club Room
A stunning room for smaller, intimate meetings, the fireplace in this room is the focal point and creates an ambience ideal for private dinners or boardroom meetings throughout the year.

Latest fashions and equipment in the Professional-Shop

Golf Shop It is now some 3 months since I joined the team here at The London and I trust you are all pleased with the way that we have transformed our professional's shop facility.

On the apparel side we are stocking some of the very best names in golf clothing and in particular we have some new William Hunt stock arriving shortly. For those of you not too familiar with this name, William Hunt is the designer who dresses Ian Poulter and we will be one of only 4 shops in the south of England granted an agency for this designer wear.

If William Hunt is not your preferred style, then you can select from other top notch lines by J Lindberg (think Jesper Parnevik), Polo Ralph Lauren, Fairway & Green, Marbas, Pringle, Oscar Jacobson and many others too.

Some people have mentioned that our shop is not packed to the rafters with clubs, but please don't let this put you off in any way. We are able to supply any make at very competitive prices and unlike many off-course golf shops, we have the in-house professional expertise to ensure that the equipment is right for you. Of course it may well be that you are happy and comfortable with your current 'sticks', but equipment does need maintenance and slippery grips can prove costly to your performance. Re-gripping and loft & lie checks are all part of the service that we can offer, so the rule of thumb is that if you don't see it, just ask and one of our team will be pleased to help.

William Hunt There's an old saying in golf that it isn't the arrows, it's the Indians too - i.e. the best equipment needs to be used properly to obtain the best results. Paul Stuart our Head Professional, together with myself and senior assistant professional Steve Salter are all available to help you hone your game by way of lessons, both playing and on the practice ground. Just call the shop and one of our teaching staff will be pleased to book you in for a lesson,we can't promise to make you a scratch player overnight, but we can certainly guide you in the right direction! Alasdair Robertson Director of Golf

Car Valet Service

Our on-site Professional Car Valet commenced in July and has been well received by Members and guests alike. Members requiring this service need only notify the security guard on the main gate who will arrange for you to be met at the front of the clubhouse by the car valeter. What nicer way to finish your round of golf than to return to an immaculately clean car. There are a range of services on offer with prices starting from £12.50 upwards.

Click here for Archived News Stories >>