Update March 2008
The planning phase for the refurbishment and improvements to the Clubhouse continue. Pulling the scheme together has been a complicated and drawn out process, but the team, consisting of Derek Whitehead and Helen Gloster, our Architect: Martin Smart, Interior Design Consultant: Peter Grant, Bar Refurbishment: Richard Foster-Hall, together with help and input from Janette George, Hazel Lancashire and Colin Cummins, have been working continuously over the past months to put together the document for tendering to the builders.

Plans are available for any member to see so please ask any of the above members, or anyone on the General Committee, if you have any questions. If all goes according to plan, we would hope to start work sometime in August, with the works completed well in time for the Christmas festivities. The Club is in a secure financial position to embrace these plans, the first serious refurbishment for over 20 years, and we hope that you, as Club members, will appreciate the work involved in achieving the works with as little disruption to your enjoyment of the club as possible. For this reason we feel that the period between September and November, being some of the quieter months of the year, will be the best time to carry out the works.

Whilst our Treasurer has approved the ability to fund this project, it would obviously be advantageous to encourage fund raising in any capacity, and Philip Wade, our Club Captain, would be delighted to hear from any member who would like to assist in this area – from Lottery, Grants, or from our members themselves!

Thanks for reading this, and hopefully we will please most of our Members for the majority of this project, whether they are aged 5 or 85!!

Update August 2007
We have now received Planning Permission for the scheme that your General Committee have put forward. A plan is on display in the clubhouse for your information and any constructive comments that you might have.

It is over 20 years since the clubhouse has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment and these proposals, in various forms, have been in the offing for several years. The Club is in a position to finance approximately 75% of the works, and we shall be investigating various options to finance the balance.

The Brief:

• To provide multi-functional and flexible, social, eating and meeting spaces for all sections of the club membership.

The main objectives are as follows:

• To achieve an Open Plan environment, with the flexibility to provide screened off meeting rooms when needed.
• Extension to the Bar/Lounge area (where the green gazebo is).
• Refurbishment of the Bar, including Bar store extension.
• Natural light to be introduced to the main dining area.
• Improved area for juniors.
• Improvements to the Ladies Changing Room.
• Interior decorations.

Proposed Timescale:

• Deadline for any member feedback on the proposals by 14th September 2007
• Preparation of detailed brief for tender - October
• Appointment of Contractor - November
• Anticipated commencement of works early in 2008
• The plan is to execute the works in two consecutive phases whilst maintaining club facilities and keeping disruption to a minimum.