Golf is booming at Bognor - meet the team helping it thrive

The club, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2017, moved to its present site in Downview Rd in 1922, and has seen many changes over the years.

Following substantial course development ,particularly a new drainage systems, the course had the honour of hosting the 2018 Sussex Amateur Championship. The feedback from players, caddies, supporters and county officials was overwhelming. Everyone commented on the outstanding condition of the course, in particular our greens.

The club has seen membership grow significantly, numbers up by more than 200 since 2015, and that has led to a substantial rise in competition entries.

The seniors have 60 club competitions a year, as well as large tri- weekly roll ups; the ladies and men also all play that many while the juniors have about 25 competitions.

The club play matches against other local clubs at home and away.

The recent success has led to a growth in staff numbers, with more than 30 now employed.

General manager James Maclean originally joined the club as a junior member. He worked in the pro shop from 2007 and joined the office team in 2012 before becoming GM in 2016.

He was honoured by his peers and elected captain of the Golf Club Managers’ Association, southern region, in 2018. Maclean and his team ensure the club runs smoothly and all members and visitors are looked after.

Assistant manager Michelle Vickers has been at the club for 21 years in various roles in the office and has given valuable support to the past few managers and the thousands of members who have passed through the club since she started.

Richard Hendrick joined as golf and membership co-ordinator to manage the huge growth in membership and golf. His family have been members for well over 50 years with his father Ron being club captain in 1997 and his son Tom the junior vice captain in 2020.

Denise Innes, as receptionist, is the first port of call for members’ enquiries. She joined the office team in 2018 after working in the clubhouse for a number of years.

Chelsey Thomas is front-of-house manager, who together with her staff ensures golfers or visitors are well catered for before or after golf and looks after those just having lunch or attending an evening function.

Providing a full menu for these occasions is head chef Simon Watts and his two assistant chefs. Simon has been head chef since 2011. Chelsey and Chris Hickling provide social events for members ranging from Valentine’s dinners to summer balls, quizzes, tribute nights, Christmas and New Year dinner dances.

Rob Brown is head greenkeeper. With his team of greenkeepers he ensures the course is in tip-top condition. He has been in the greenstaff team since 2004 and his stirling efforts were rewarded with the honour of being the Sussex amateur champion.

PGA head professional is Jonathan Groves, who joined the club in September 2019 and has more than 25 years of experience in the industry.

He manages the pro shop to cater for golfers’ needs for equipment, clothing and refreshments. He has a very busy coaching diary, helping to ensure members are in good shape.

Bognor’s captains for 2020 will be Andrew Field (club captain), Gill Twyford (lady captain), Roy Kempson (seniors’ captain) and Ben Taylor (junior captain).

When the storms abate and decent weather returns, Bognor members will be ready to tackle a busy 2020 programme.

CHICHESTER

The weather has played havoc with the Chichester Golf Club courses so games for the ladies have had to be shortened and sometimes cancelled.

Here are the ladies’ latest results.

Lucky Dip - 1 Jennifer Sherwood, Caroline Hawkes, Hannah Stephens 100; 2 Kathy Donohoe, Fiona Walsh, Viv May-Hearn 96; 3 Mary-Lou Litton, Lisa Mitchelmore, Sue Ward, Vena Lee 88. Four-Ball Better Ball played at Hill Barn - 1 Lynn Plowman and Denise Lansley 34, 2 Nicky Eastland and Lisa Jackson 31, 3 Karen Parks and Jane Buckley 30. Stableford with a twist, Cathedral - 1 Linda Eaton 41, 2 Wendy Jeffery 37; Tower - 1 Hannah Stephens 49, 2 Lesly Hance 47, 3 Viv May-Hearn 42. Front 9/Back 9 - 1 Kathy Donohoe, Yvonne Dunckley, Wendy Jeffery 57; 2 Jennifer Sherwood, Fiona Walsh, Hannah Stephens 55; 3 Caroline Hawkes, Nicky Eastland, Angela Perkins 52. 3 Musketeers (8 Holes) - 1 Fiona Walsh, Lorraine Dunabin, Sue Bond 39; 2 Caroline Hawkes, Yvonne Dunckley, Yvonne Leaver 34; 3 Wendy Jeffery, Treyn Haynes, Secret Partner 25. Stableford minus putts - Div 1 1 Karen Parks 0; 2 Nicky Eastland -3; 3 Marilyn Forward -6; Div 2 -

Hannah Stephens -1; Denise Lansley -5; Sue Bond -6. Bowmaker with a twist - 1 Lisa Mitchelmore, Helen Ball, Lynn Plowman 100; 2 Kathy Donohoe, Nicky Eastland, Hannah Stephens 96; 3 Caroline Hawkes, Val Swain, Denise Lansley 91. Joker (12 Holes) - 1 Nicky Eastland 33; 2 Lisa Jackson 28; 3 Heddie Straw 27.