Announcement of Vice Captain for 2023.
Our new Vice Captain will be announced next Monday 14th November at 19.30 in the club house. This is always a very enjoyable evening for the club.
Lady Club AGM.
Due to the change of date for the Vice Captains announcement, we are now holding our Ladies Club AGM on Wednesday 23rd November at 19.30.
Service for Deceased Members.
Our annual ecumenical service will be held on Tuesday 22nd of November at 20.00 in the club house.
Last Wednesday 9th I have the pleasure of playing with Louie Melia in our 12 Hole competition. On joining the club in 2000 I played my very first competition with Louie.
I glad to say that Louie has not lost her sharp eye for chipping and putting.
Lady Captain Gillian
Lady Captain Gillian and Louie Mela
Now winter is almost here, our course staff will turn their attention to some winter work.
Below is an outline of the work.
Winter Programme 2022-23
Winter Work
The winter work will include strimming back of long rough, cutting dead or obstructing trees/gorse, Seeding or turfing worn or damaged areas, tee box levelling, maintenance to the Ritter pathways, machinery maintenance and the general upkeep of playing surfaces. There are also some jobs to tackle around the clubhouse, uneven paving etc. Strimming
As the growing season comes to an end the strimming back of tee box banks has to start, this includes the meadow areas and the wildflowers. We are getting a machine in to cut the meadow which can scarify them to encourage next seasons growth to be thin and wispy. The wildflower areas get cut back after they drop their seeds for next year. Cutting dead or obstructing trees/ gorse
With the harsh weather we experience on the hill, it takes its toll on the trees. Branches break and hang down and some trees die altogether. So, we go in and cut the obstructing or dead trees down and remove the stumps left behind. The gorse grows very fast so needs yearly maintenance to keep the course open and playable. Seeding or turfing damaged areas
Areas on the course can become damaged or worn out from play or the dry and hot summer we had. Some of the spots on the fairways will be seeded. The spots on drains or around bunkers will be turfed. Tee box levelling
The tee boxes are a growing issue and need levelling and expanding. There have been a few tees highlighted that we can do in house. We will be starting on the 2nd white tee and 2nd ladies tee and after that’s completed, we will move onto the 10th white. We won't get all the highlighted tees done in one winter season as we are at the mercy of the weather, but this work will continue year on year. Maintenance of Ritter pathways
The Ritter pathways are showing their age. They have become uneven and slippery. We are going to do a trial area from the back of the 16th green to the 17th tee. This will be made up of a hardcore base and path sand across the top. This surface will give a lot more grip. Maintenance of machinery
All the winter servicing of the machinery is done in house. This is very important to have the machinery in good working order for the coming season, to limit the amount of break down time and to keep a high standard of playing surfaces. General upkeep of playing surface
As the growing season comes to an end, the high intense cutting slows done. This does not mean that the Maintenance work slows down. We still have a lot of cultural practices to limit the disease pressure on the greens and work to make sure we have good surfaces for the falling year. Around the club house
Some the paving around the club house has become uneven and dangerous, areas that can be repaired will be, but some areas will need to be lifted and redone.
Additional Winter Programme2022/23 agreed by the Green’s committee
Gorse encroachment on ladies 9th tee shots – gorse at 2nd hole pathway – cut back
General maintenance of gorse to prevent encroachment on course.
Righthand side of 6th path – cut back gorse (ladies)
Rough (Hay) on right of 6th - near 5th elbow – to be cut and scarified during winter to encourage a wispier growth pattern.
Tees – in-house programme – in priority order
2nd men’s back tee & Ladies tee (level, square, enlarge & raise)
10th men’s back tee - level and raise and provide for two club lengths behind the white stone marker.
16th ladies tee – (level, raise, enlarge and square)
6th ladies tee – enlarge, raise and level – expect more men to play off this tee in future
Sprinkler heads in middle of tee at 9th and 18th tees – advise staff about placement of tee markers.
15th – right of green – wildflower bed – not working – look at options
Sow grass seed and maintain as cut rough
Heather Mounds at the 13th – cut once or twice a year.
Trees at 2nd tee box – remove all stakes
Fringe around new bunkers – should be cut to fairway height or greenside fringe height for 2023
Ritter Paths
Path from 16th green to 17th tee (Ben Moore will trial replacing the ritter with crushed stone during the coming winter programme.)
Path at 9th (depending on the success of above, Ben will do this one in the following winter programme)
Path at 6th (ditto)
Path at 8th (ditto)
Tees – External contractor
1st tee – all tees (requires external contractor) – get quote
3rd tee (external contractor) – yellow & red (possible inclusion of white at this location)
12th tee (external contractor)
Bunkers – greenside bunkers – require external contractor and propose using the artificial revetting type as used at holes 4 and 14. Quotes required.
12th greenside bunkers
13th Greenside bunker
8th greenside bunker
6th Greenside bunker
THE BIG WINTER SALE
Motocaddy M3 GPS Electric Trolley
RRP €1049
Now Only €799
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Cleveland Ladies
Launcher HB Irons 5-PW
ONLY ONE SET AVAILABLE
RRP €699
Now Only €449
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Cleveland Ladies Bloom Starter Set
Driver, fairway wood 2 hybrids, 7-SW, putter and Bag
RRP €799
Now Only €699
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Callaway Epic Drivers
Available in men's & ladies
RRP €529
Now Only €349
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Callaway Rogue Irons 5-PW
ONLY ONE SET AVAILABLE
RRP €899
Now Only €499
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Taylormade Spider GT Putters
RRP €379
Now Only €289
Plus a Dozen Tour Response FREE with each purchase
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Taylormade Sim 2 Max
Available in right-hand ladies & right-hand and left-hand men’s
Drivers RRP €499 Now Only €349 SOLD OUT
Fairway Woods RRP €299 Now Only €219
Hybrids RRP €239 Now Only €179
Irons:
Men’s 5-SW Steel (right/left hand) RRP €999 Now Only €699
Ladies 6-SW RRP €999 Now Only €699 SOLD OUT
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Ping G425
Drivers RRP €499 Now Only €379
Fairway Woods RRP €329 Now Only €259
Hybrids RRP €279 Now Only €219
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Cleveland RTX Zipcore Wedges
RRP €169
Now Only €129
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Motocaddy Hydroflex Waterproof Stand Bag
RRP €269
Now Only €219
Limited stock available so call in to the Pro-shop to pick up a bargain before they’re sold out
Course Conditions Phone Line
Now winter is almost here, don't forget our course conditions phone line.
It's updated every morning letting you know if the course is open and also if buggies are permitted
01 832 6170
Bar Opening times
Please note, after the clocks change at 2am this Sunday morning, the bar will close at 6pm daily.
If there is bad weather and or the course is closed, the closing time could be earlier.
With the price of utilities I am very conscious of our ever increasing energy bills.
Thank you
Simon
GM
WINTER GOLF 2022/2023
The Men’s and Ladies’ Committees in conjunction with Council have agreed to trial the following timesheet arrangements from Monday, October 24th 2022 to Friday, 26th February 2023:
1. Both 9’s will be available to all members for booking on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. The timesheets for both 9’s will, as usual, open 9 days in advance at 9am. (If you wish to play 18 holes on these days, you need book both 9’s separately with the appropriate gap.)
2. Tuesdays will be a 12 Holes Men’s Competition Day.
Run by the Men’s committee
3. Wednesdays will be a Ladies 12 Holes Competition Day.
Run by the Ladies Committee
4. On Tuesday and Wednesdays the inner 6 holes (10th ,11th ,12th, 7th ,8th and 9th) will be available for all members to play.
Note: if within 24 hours of a tee-time not being used on Tuesday or Wednesday, any Member is entitled to book the 1st Tee for the 12 Hole Course of the Day.
5. Saturday and Sundays will run as per the published Diary.
Don't forget to follow us on Social Media
For those of you who don't follow our social media pages, which I strongly recommend you do,
below are some of the measures we are taking to prepare for reopening, hopefully soon, also there are some nice course visuals.
You can see these type of things posted on social media daily: Click - Facebook
Disclaimer. The views and opinions expressed by members and authors in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, views, or position of Howth Golf Club. Any content provided by our members or authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone. Each author is responsible for his or her content and liable for any such issue that may arise.
