BGC – Captain’s Message – 8th August 2023

Good morning

The weather was kind to us for our Finals day on Saturday and it was great to see the day well attended and the clubhouse busy once more. Well done to all those who made it through to a final and congratulations to the winners:-

Turner Trophy – Jim Graham
Cassells Cup – Jim Hannah
Chalmers Cup – Jon Maclean
Senior Handicap Championship – James Conlon
Ladies Bronze – Mairi Tarbet
Nexus Senior Championship – Kenny Allan
Ladies Championship – Kirsty Garrett
Scott Hardie Gents Club Championship – John AJ Brown

Special congratulations to John AJ Brown who won the Club Championship for the third year in a row which is no mean feat!

Results from other competitions earlier in the week:-

Ladies August Medal – 3 Aug
Division 1
C Young – 62
G Hamblen – 67
Division 2
J Kent – 63
M Winter – 67

Ladies 9 hole Stableford – 3 Aug
D Taylor – 20
J Rennie – 19

Our monthly quiz hosted by Andy Tarbet returned on Friday evening, which was another enjoyable and busy night at the club – good to have you back Andy!

The Club will also be hosting a Cocktail evening on Friday 8th September in partnership with the Scottish Gantry – full details to follow this week, so please keep an eye out for that.

Clubhouse Development
Following the last update and members consultation regarding the clubhouse development, we produced an architects brief and invited several architect firms to submit their ideas and proposals for a clubhouse extension and upgrade. We then interviewed each firm and selected an architect whom we would like to use for the detailed planning and construction. We are currently finalising a contract with this architect and will advise the members when this is done.

We hope to hold a members evening in the coming months so we can show you the proposed new clubhouse plans.

Course Development
Work continues on the new course. The following is an update on the current progress.

Hole 9 and Putting Green
1. Greens are now prepared for seeding-out.
2. All banks have been hydro-seeded.
3. Irrigation installed and working.
4. All pre-plant fertilisers and soil amendments applied.
5. Fence erected around the green to stop foxes digging.

Hole 2
1.Greens root zone complete and now ready for grading-out and seeding.
2. Sand Cap areas around green complete.
3. Irrigation installation awaited.
4. Drains installed, top soil for fairways to be added to sub grade with an expectation this week.

Hole 3
1. Greens root-zone complete ready grading-out and seeding.
2. Sand Cap areas around green complete.
3. Irrigation system installation remains outstanding.
4. Drainage on fairways due for completion this Wednesday, weather permitting.

Hole 4
Fairways have been shaped out. Still to complete tees and install the green.

Hole 6
Green shaped-out, drainage installed but not completed.

Hole 7.
Tees shaped but incomplete.

All catch basins have been installed.

Fences around the fields have been installed and the new core pathway is now being fully utilised by Members of Public.

A huge thanks again to David McBride who continues to work tirelessly on the project on our behalf and let’s hope we see some improved weather over the coming weeks to assist the cause!

Best regards

Jon Maclean
Captain