Wednesday 14 November 2018

The Unsung Hero's of Stoneham Golf Club

Hi All,
Hollow right of 18th Opened up to be more of a feature
18th Hollow Before


I just wanted to do a quick blog to thank the Unsung Hero's of the club in my eyes.
Golf clubs up and down the country are run with huge help and time given by volunteers. These volunteers come in all ways, some give their time, professional expertise and advice on committees.

So many at this club have done this throughout the years, some for many, many years like Angus Murray Fisher who we sadly lost this year. Thank you to all of you who have sat on the Management, Captains, Ladies, Seniors and other committees in the past and present for helping to shape the club.

Others will give their time as starters, ball spotters, referees, gardeners, flower arranging, Christmas decorations etc. Others will help repair a leaky roof or plumbing that might need fixing and offer to help quicker than we can get tradesman in. Some have helped make things, bake things or donate things. ALL of YOU have played your part in helping to run the club.

View From 10th January 2018


View after the work by the crew

View From 10th 1980's
 My special group 

There are one group outside of the Committees, who also give so much time to the course. A group I get the pleasure in spending time with and seeing most weeks. The group known to the greenstaff affectionately as the "Bonfire Crew', the reason for this is because generally when they are in, you can see smoke rising up at some point on the course and for those of you who know this group is organised by our president Niall Fitzgerald, know that Niall loves a bonfire!



This small group of volunteers come every week and spend time cutting back bushes, removing dead or small dangerous trees. Sometimes when we have a big competition on they will divot the fairways to help out the greenstaff. Generally though they remove unwanted undergrowth and tidy our woodlands, raking up leaves and protect the future of woodlands by "proper management" - a quote from the Forestry commision on their visit to the club this year. Don't ever think a park, National trust site, RSBP site or even the New Forest isn't being managed because I can assure you they are and I am normally on training courses with them.





The group all so enjoy some amazing home made food (which I can tell is the most talked about thing as group, not how hard they are working) while sat around the fires when the decide they need a break. There have been many who have been part of this small group, a small group who do big work and help me, the greenstaff and the members of this golf club with pride... We thank all of you, past and present!

Matt