Golf Committee Chair’s Update
Dear Golfers,
I cannot remember a worse start to the golfing year, in terms of weather, than this one. Fortunately, the conditions will improve, and we will eventually get back to playing proper golf with real greens, and when that happens we will be thankful for the decisions made to keep the course closed for its own protection. This time of year is hard for golf courses: damage done in the normal run of things, divots, pitch marks and even heavy footprints, cannot recover until the growing season re-starts, and damage that is exacerbated by poor conditions is even harder to fix. A little patience now will eventually be well rewarded.
One measure that the Golf Committee approved for this winter is the introduction of mats for use on any closely mown area (other than tees and greens). You may have seen the mats for sale at the Sports Shop, they are becomingly widely used at premium golf clubs with some courses making it mandatory to play off mats during the winter (qualifying golf is permitted off the mats as long as their use is mandatory). We have decided to introduce the mats on a voluntary basis for this winter, and to review their use for future years. The advantages of winter mats are clear; in the first place many golfers find they make winter golf more enjoyable (after all preferred lies only work when there is a preferable lie), but of equal importance, they protect the course and allow for a speedy return to optimal conditions in the Spring. Members are asked to buy their own mat (it is worth marking the mat with your name because they do get left behind from time to time) which is a small investment in the course and the pleasure of the game. As noted, the use of mats this year is voluntary, but the Golf Committee does encourage members to use them.
Perhaps the greatest antidote to the weather will be the Indoor Golf Centre. As you know, and after many years, members of the Club voted by a large majority to invest in the Indoor Golf Centre, which will hopefully be ready for use early in 2027. There are many individuals to thank for their efforts in bringing the IGC project to this stage, but in this column I want to acknowledge the far-sighted decision of so many Members of the Club to invest in a facility that will make golf more accessible to the whole membership, dramatically improve our practice facilities and, of course, provide a refuge in weather conditions such as those we have seen this January. The IGC will make a major difference to golf at Roehampton Club and will be a significant contributor to the process of maintaining the Club as a first class sports venue.
The Golf Committee had many other, relatively mundane, matter to consider during 2025. We removed a number of blue GUR stakes from a variety of areas, in all cases these areas were deemed no longer to be under repair and are now integral to the course. Committee members are continuing their review of blue stakes.
The Committee also reviewed and approved a change to the Stroke Index on the ladies’ card and will review some aspects of the men’s card – though we recognise the current Index structure is the result of a recent and major data-driven piece of work.
Approval was given, in collaboration with the greens team and the Board, for drainage works on greens 8,9,11 and 12 during 2026. We realise this is disruptive (it will take place after the 125 celebrations) but the result of the greens drainage work so far has been excellent and it is considered important to keep the momentum going. The greenside bunkers on those four holes will be renovated at the same time, making use of the time the greens are out of play. Meanwhile, some fairway bunkers may be considered for removal and replaced, and reshaped, as grass bunkers as recommended by Course Architect Ken Moodie. It has also been noted that some of our bunkers are quite deep, and consideration is being given to providing entry / exit steps where appropriate.
It has been agreed that blue tee markers will be introduced to the course. These will be forward tees, often referred to as junior tees but frequently used by all ages according to ability, experience and strike distance. The blue markers will be unrated, and may move as the greens staff keep an eye on wear and tear. Meanwhile, a long awaited replacement of existing tee markers and posts is scheduled to happen this winter. After much discussion we have decided to be radical and retain the White/Yellow/Red configuration. As we all know, the WHS course rating system means all tees are effectively gender neutral, so go ahead and use them at will.
Finally, you will all have seen the Tag Marshal in operation during 2025. The system provides detailed information, telling us which groups are slow, which groups are being held up and what the average pace of play is per hole. We now have a reasonable amount of data, and the Golf Committee is going to recommend steps to be taken to deal with slow play and persistent slow players. There will be more on that subject in coming weeks.
In the meantime, try to stay dry, avoid taking divots and do try playing with a mat.