Chief Executive’s Message
Dear Member,
As the Government continues to grapple with giving guidelines on whether we can or can’t party at Christmas please see below for the current rules made by the Government which now includes Members’ Clubs from Friday 10th December:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings
At the Club face coverings must be worn in the Clubhouse, Sports Shop, Tulloch Clinic and Health Club (except when exercising), Sports Hall (squash (except when playing) creche and Art Studio), ITC and Airhall One (except when playing), Creche, Security Gatehouse.
Can Members please take every precaution – wearing face coverings, sanitising hands on entry and exit to the Club and social distancing – to respect staff and other Members who want to minimise the risk of catching Covid-19 and any linked variant. Any Member not complying with the new legal requirements, effective from tomorrow, will be reported to the Board’s Disciplinary Panel to explain themselves.
If a Member is exempt from wearing a face covering can they please wear an exemption badge or label to indicate this as that helps all Club staff to identify them. Club staff who are exempt will wear their badge. Staff will be wearing face coverings in all indoor areas where they are in contact with Members. Some staff will be working from home to minimise the risk of any infection spreading but the front line staff will be working their normal shifts so that the Club continues to operate all areas as best we can.
We ask for Members understanding and patience if we have to close areas due to staff shortages due to illness.
Squash Club Championship Finals- Friday 10th December
With your face covering on please come and watch the Club’s top adult and junior squash players vying for a coveted Club Championship title. Finals begin at 6pm tomorrow evening with the Open Mens and Ladies Club Championships taking place from 6.30pm. The standard of all the finals will be high. Click here for the finalists
Golf Course Etiquette
We have noticed that Members are forgetting to rake bunkers and repair pitch marks on the greens. Can every Member please take responsibility to do this on every hole they play. Can they also remind their playing partners to do the same. Our staff are constantly reminding Members on the 1st tee and the Golf Captains are constantly messaging Members to do so. Members are forgetting to do so after the 1st hole they play with the Greenkeepers wincing at the damage they see when they prepare the course in the morning. Unrepaired pitch marks in frosty conditions will kill the grass and our greens in the spring will not be the usual high standard. Please look after your course and ensure your playing partners do so as well.
Harry Fisher – Croquet International
Congratulations to our Croquet Club Champion Harry Fisher (33) who has been selected to play for England in the Croquet World Team Championships in Australia next year. The MacRobertson Shield is awarded to the winning team. Roehampton Club hosted the quarter finals in 2013 and is lined up to do so again in 2025.
Sports Shop Christmas offers
If you are wondering what to buy your nearest and dearest for Christmas look no further than our Sports Shop. There are offers across all our main sports- golf, tennis, squash and padel as well as gift vouchers for golf lessons. Click here to see all the gift ideas and offers …
Roehampton Club 2022 Calendar
To continue to help raise monies for the Staff’s Club Charity – Kingston Hospital’s Laurie Todd Foundation and in memory of Granville Lloyd- please treat yourself to a Club Calendar which has attractive photographs of the Club. Ideal for the kitchen wall reminding you of your weekly class or lesson. Copies on sale at Club Reception – just £5.
Club Committee Drinks
Members of the Club’s various Committees and Forums were thanked in person by Chairman Alan Jenkins on Tuesday evening for all their hard work over the last year enabling the Club to emerge out of the enforced closures in a position of strength. Members present were treated to Christmas carols by the Ladies Choir, ably led by Anna Boucher. There is another opportunity to hear and join them on Thursday 16th December from 6.15pm-7pm around the Christmas tree in the Piazza.
We will publish our final Recorder on 23rd December but I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thank you all for your support during 2021.
Best wishes,
Marc