House Matters...
2008 has been another year of restricting House spending to maintenance and repair issues. During most of the year finances were as restricted as they were in 2007. However, we were able to take some modest actions which included refurbishing the Spike bar easy chairs, painting various areas both inside and outside of the Club and refurbishing the Men’s lobby area.
We have also implemented a number of actions to reduce energy costs, which remain a high proportion of our budget. The beer cellar has been reorganized and insulated to reduce the consumption of the chiller units, low energy light bulbs have been installed and timers have been installed on high usage items in the kitchen and elsewhere.
However, there is some good news. One of our cottages has finally been sold. The sale price was £175,000. All of this doesn’t end up in our Bank Account though. To break the access deadlock which had delayed the sale, we had to pay the Liverpool City Council £20,000 for an ‘easement’ allowing vehicle access to both the cottages. We will also be liable for some Capital Gains Tax in 2010 and of course we had to pay Solicitors and Estate Agents fees etc. Net proceeds were approximately £135,000. These proceeds have gone a long way to reducing our end year 2007 overdraft/accrual position of approximately £150k and putting the Club in a position to consider some modest improvement projects for 2009.
House intend to put forward proposals to install a disabled toilet in the existing powder room, and at the same time, refurbish, refresh and redecorate the Hall way, including the entrances to the Prep room, laundry room and kitchen, which are currently an eyesore.
To make the small mixed lounge a more inviting alternative to the Spike Bar, we will redecorate the room and install some new furniture. If funds allow, and there is demand, we may install another television. The intention is to create an environment where members can relax, but which can also be used as a meeting room when required.
The House Committee has received a number of requests from members to remove one of the snooker tables to create more room in the Spike bar, particularly at peak times. This issue will be discussed at the next House meeting in March and I welcome all members’ views before a firm decision is made.
Keith Roberts Chairman- House Committee
Inactive Handicaps Wozzat ? 
This EGU and EWGA initiative will be launched from January 2010 but there will be an impact on the potential status of your handicap derived from your playing record during 2009.
To retain an active handicap you must submit 3 qualifying scores during 2009. Supplementary scores and away scores are acceptable in addition to or in place of competition scores.
Failure to meet this condition will mean a handicap certificate will state your handicap followed by an “ i “e.g. “ 12 i “
Such a handicap will remain inactive until three qualifying scores are submitted for the new year (2010). If less than three are submitted in 2009 then they will not carry over to 2010. The EGU/EWGA will review this procedure during 2010 and may consider increasing the number of scores required for future years.
What is the impact of being assigned an inactive handicap?
This will enable competition organisers to declare possession of an active handicap a condition of entry. This will be particularly helpful to those running Open competitions or Union events.
An inactive handicap may still be used for social golf or for those competitions where an active handicap is not required such as Lee Park non- Majors events. Scores in such competitions will still be used in the calculation of the CSS.
Do you require more information?
Please read the poster on our notice board in the Spike Bar or check out the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org/ for more details.
From The Treasurer 
Despite the credit crunch, our Club goes into 2009 in its healthiest financial position for a few years. This has been achieved with the sale of one of the cottages in 2008 and the tight budget controls imposed by the Finance Committee on all the related spending committees. My thanks go to them for keeping to the agreed budget objectives set out last April.
As you can see from the attached cash flow spreadsheet for 2008, we have turned around the beginning year position of an overdraft bank balance of £99,442 together with an additional £44,777 of unpaid bills. We now go into 2009 with an end year bank balance in a credit position of £9,179 with a significantly reduced £20k of unpaid bills.
Our loan account has reduced in the same period from £245k to £218k. The last payment will be in 2015. The expected sale of the second cottage this year will further reduce our loan account.90% of our total income stream is raised by members subscriptions. I am therefore happy to report that our 2009 membership profile remains strong and healthy, due entirely to the targeted advertising campaign initiated last September which has seen an influx of nearly 40 members. My thanks go to David Globe and the membership committee for prompt interviewing of candidates.
We have also recognized our loyal members and the need to retain a competitive edge by implementing a loyalty bonus and a zero% increase in subscriptions for 2009.
A 2009 working budget has been agreed by the Finance Committee which will see some spending projects undertaken this year, whilst maintaining an end year 2009 credit bank balance.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Ray Townsend Hon. Treasurer |
We're Reviewing The Situation
It is a requirement of the CONGU Unified Handicapping System (Clause 23) that an Annual Review of Handicaps is completed before 1st March.
This review for Lee Park will be completed during January based on scores submitted during 2009 and any handicap adjustments will be posted on the notice board in the Spike Bar.
The process will be facilitated by Club 2000 software which can be used to generate lists of those players who performance is considered significantly better or worse than expected for their allotted handicap. The Handicap Committee will then evaluate the playing records of those individuals to determine if any adjustment is to be made.
Performance in all forms of competition may be taken into account (including Better - Ball and Match –Play.
It is not mandatory to adjust the handicap for all those players on the lists, in fact it is very unlikely that all will require adjustment.
What if you do not play in competitions but think your current handicap is incorrect or needs to be maintained?
Clearly we need data in order to re-assess your handicap.
If you have played less than 7 qualifying competitions within a playing season then you are eligible to submit up to 10 Supplementary scorecards. These should be completed as required by the Rules of Golf and submitted to the Handicap Committee with the scores entered into Club 2000 using the touch screen in the Spike Bar. (We will only accept Supplementary cards if completed during the summer season when the full course is in play and qualifying competitions are being held).
If you require more detail and background relating to Annual Reviews please refer to the CONGU UHS handbook (Clause 23 and Appendix M) or alternatively access the EGU website.
Dave Towell Chairman – Handicap Committee
Green Grow The Grasses - Ohh!!
We are now well into the winter season and the course has held up quite well. Course closures have been kept to a minimum despite a few wet spells. Temporary greens have been utilised more extensively this winter due to a number of prolonged cold periods.
Work on the course is progressing. Following the revisions to a number of bunkers many of the ageing poplars are being removed in line with the recommendation by an STRI agronomist. The trees have a short life span, their roots cause damage to drains and leaf drop causes fusarium on tees and greens. Work on felling the identified trees will continue for the next few months and some hole closures may be required during the operation.
The grass in the areas of GUR enclosing the recently planted saplings has been cut back.
Before the start of the playing season the GUR status will be removed.
As in recent winter months we will shortly be dropping off the fairways into the rough which will reduce the damage to the landing areas and ensure a faster recovery time at the end of the winter.
Additionally, during the worst of the winter, certain holes, particularly those on the front nine, may be rested and some of the tees moved forward to lessen the traffic around the medal tees and to vary the landing areas.
We intend to allow the use of trolleys during the winter but members should carry their clubs whenever possible and roped off areas should be observed to reduce damage around green approaches.
Members are reminded that it is important to repair pitch marks, rake bunkers and drop balls off the main greens when temporary greens are in operation.
Plans for the course for this year will depend on the availability of funding when budgets are further reviewed over the next few months. No major course initiatives are planned but as a priority the committee plans to continue the programme of fairway vertidraining in spring and autumn which provides much needed aeration and has proved successful in improving drainage by reducing compaction. Some work is also required on the irrigation system before the start of the season by replacing damaged pop-ups and decoders.
Later in the year we aim to provide more pathways and further improve drainage.
The committee and green staff are committed to maintaining the course to the high standards achieved in recent years and I would like to thank the staff for all their efforts during last year.
John Hughes Chairman - Green Committee
We Won
Lee Park has recently been awarded the English Golf Union Environment Award - the first club on Merseyside. This 2 year action programme was based on recommendations to improve the ecological and environmental quality of the course, increase fauna and wildlife with sustainable greenkeeping practices. Local MP Maria Eagle recently presented the award at a ceremony at the Club.
 
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How far is it? 
Lee Park Golf Club, Childwall Valley Rd, Gateacre, Liverpool L27 3YA 
