Welcome everyone to 2020, great golf and social times at HGC this year. Wallace Development Company Hastings Open Congratulations to all involved, organisers, players and winners in the Hastings Open in very hot Hastings conditions. Visitors thoroughly enjoyed the course and experience, especially Len Felik, all the way from British Columbia, Canada who attend for the second year in a row. On Course Smoking The Management Committee wish to bring to members attention our on course smoking policy. We wish to highlight two main issues - the fire risk and discarded cigarette butts around the course. The dry summer conditions, as we all know, heightens the fire risk. There has been one incident already this year in which a fire adjacent to the 6th fairway was started by a discarded cigarette butt on 12th January 2020. The course is our greatest asset and the pride of membership in its presentation is well and truly acknowledged. The presence of cigarette butts on the course is counter-productive to members and visitors enjoyment. In the policy (here) we ask members/smokers to carry an appropriate container on their trundlers, bags or carts in which any rubbish/cigarette butts can be placed until a suitable rubbish bin is found. If members playing with visitors who have similar rubbish/cigarette butt issue please encourage them to dispose of them as per above. The effort in the pest eradication programme and other improvements, can only be complimented by removing rubbish/cigarette butts within the course and enhance all our enjoyment of this special golf course - please do your bit. Irrigation Gordon is progressing the planning countdown for the start of irrigation replacement in April 2020. The first green to be upgraded will be the practice chipping green to allow Gordon and his team to fine tune their systems prior to venturing onto the course proper. Fairways Cafe|Bar New initiative will continue to be offered by our team i.e. Dinner Club currently being promoted and tweaked based on feedback from members. An opportunity has arisen for out-catering over 8 weeks to a local gym. We believe functions and out-catering offers us the best opportunity to increase income to combat the ever increasing wage costs etc. If you know anyone looking for either of the above please notify Michelle or Kieran. New Members Welcome to all our steady flow of new members joining the club. Hopefully we can exceed your expectations with the help of our management team and members. Good golfing Peter Clayton President |