Hi everyone,

Well, I know that it isn’t a week, but there is so much to tell you. Things have been happening in the last few days, and I wanted to share them with you, so let’s get cracking.

First off, it would be great to hear from you. So, we have set up an email address for members to contact me directly, instead of going through the office. If you have any thoughts, or suggestions (please keep them clean!), then please send them to me on: nbdirector@leekgolfclub.co.uk and I will do my best to reply. If you are asking a question for which I do not have an answer, I will attempt to forward your query to someone who would know.

I would love your feedback anyway, and the first blog seems to have proved useful and a bit of a laugh for you. The next ones will probably be a bit of a mixture of business and pleasure, so please bear with me. In the main, they will be weekly, but whilst we are setting up, they may come a bit more often.

Right, to business….

Mark Shea has come up with a brilliant idea. If there are any members who have difficulty getting out now, and cannot shop for their groceries or their prescriptions, then we could set up a list of volunteers who could help. If you feel that you could do this, then please contact me with an area which you would be prepared to cover, and we will start to make a list. Mark has already put his name on the list – what a star! If you are a member who could do with some help, then again, please contact me with your home address and post code and we will attempt to pair you up with someone who lives close to you. I have no idea if this will work, but if we can look after each other, that would be just brilliant.

On another subject, BRS is still available, but the course is closed, and will be for the foreseeable future. As soon as we have the go ahead to open, you will be the first to know, so please bear with us. There are photos of the course, and it is looking really good. Now don’t get withdrawal symptoms, just think how fabulous it will be when we can play again We want to make sure that we will be hitting the ground running when lockdown is lifted, and we will use any method available to let you know, so please keep an eye on the blog, the website, as well as Greg’s facebook page on: Leek Golf Club Pro Shop and the Club facebook page on: Leek Golf Club in order to keep you informed.

Regarding competitions and events, we will try to keep you informed of what is happening and what has hit the buffers. Some of these will be blatantly obvious as we may still be in lockdown, but we will do out best to keep you all up to date.

By the way, have you looked at Greg’s facebook? It is fantastic, and very funny. Please watch the video about chipping on Leek Golf Club Pro Shop. It really is worth a look and is totally hilarious. Thanks to Greg for brightening my day. I know that one member has already cleaned and sorted out his bag and is ready for the off. Have you done yours yet? How long has that banana been in there? Is there anything else l lurking in the depths?

Talking about finding things you hadn’t seen for ages, our Chair, Trevor, has been cleaning out his garage, and has found some family photographs which had been missing for a couple of years. Has anybody else found lost possessions? How many bin bags are you accumulating? Can’t wait to see the queue at the tip! Where are you keeping them? At what point will the world be overwhelmed by bin bags? Don’t forget to secure your rubbish and think of the people who will be collecting it.

STAY SAFE everyone, and so many thanks to our magnificent NHS.

Will be back with another instalment, commonly known as a blog in the next few days. Get in touch, would be great to hear from you.

Look after each other, don’t forget that everyone is special.

Nel

Hi Everyone,

Does this make me a blogger? Well, I think that is quite cool. But I am only a blogger if someone reads it, so there you go, humour me please!

I am going to attempt to write something each week for all Club members. Just to keep in touch, just to say thinking about you, just to say are you alright and just to say anything else you can think of. Is that O.K?

Week 1, and I already don’t know what day of the week it is. My routine used to let me know that, you know: walk on Monday, Golf Tuesday, Spanish Wednesday, Pilates Thursday, and crash out on Friday.Now everything is merging, but in quite a nice way.

Are you keeping busy? How many of you have already: cleared out the shed, bathed the dog, had a birthday which has come and gone without any razzmatazz? Very strange.

Don’t do everything in the first week, just take your time. Do you think that this is going to be over quickly? I would dearly like to think it will be, but I have my doubts.

I am currently steam cleaning the whole house. If it moves, in fact, if it doesn’t move, it gets steam cleaned. I suppose that this is the opportunity to do the spring cleaning. I feel as though I am turning back into my mum and grandmother. I am beginning to think that the old ways are the best.

I have been talking to my mate Georgie, and we reckon that Mother Nature is giving us a bit of a kick. She (when it comes to common sense, it must be a woman!!!) is saying, ‘I have given you every chance to put things right, and you have continued to abuse me. Right!! Now will you listen?’

I am determined to not go completely back to how I was. For a start, I am going to waste far less, particularly food. We may have some odd combinations for tea, but I am not going to throw good food away.

Do you feel differently, and think that perhaps you should change some things? What would you like to change?

Finally, there will be a time when we can get together again on the course. How lovely will that be. So, in order to be ready, why not try a bit of exercise to keep all the joints loose? Have a swing without a club, and get that back going, and why not chip a ball into a bucket down the garden? Greg’s Facebook and Leek Golf Club Facebook page has some ideas. But the clothes are not compulsory!

Hope you have enjoyed this and see you next week. Let me know if you think it is worth doing.

Stay safe you wonderful people.

Nel

Following on from the Prime Minister’s statement tonight (23 March), golf clubs and golf courses in England must now close.

 It is England Golf’s position that this deeply regrettable, but highly necessary and responsible course of action must be implemented with immediate effect and be maintained until further notice.

 The government has identified an urgent need to introduce new restrictions on public life and on non-essential businesses opening their doors.

 This has been done to limit the spread of the coronavirus and relieve the growing pressure on our National Health Service.

 Keeping golf courses open is simply no longer compatible with the updated policy of government which is designed to save lives in a time of national emergency.

 The health and wellbeing of the nation is the only consideration that matters at this moment in our history.

 These are incredibly testing times for the country. The golf industry cannot be shielded from the economic and social ramifications caused by this temporary shutdown of normal life.

 We would like to assure the golfing community that England Golf staff will continue to work remotely with all affiliated golfers, clubs and counties to try and minimise the damage caused by this suspension of regular golf club life.

 We will continue to signpost clubs and counties to the latest government advice and schemes designed to help the economy cope with the disruption caused by coronavirus.

Hi everyone,

This is from one 69 years and 9 months old member of Leek Golf Club. Not much more to go until the first digit changes, and then my chances of a pretty normal life will be changed forever.

This is a bit of a plea to all members. I want to play golf at Leek for a lot of years to come, and the only way I am going to be able to do that is by following the rules the Government has laid down and asking everyone to abide by them too. The Board and Club are doing everything they can to protect everyone, but on this occasion, I am writing just as a member asking you to help.

It does not seem to matter how old you are, this horrible virus can kill anybody, and I don’t want it to be anyone I know and love, including you.

So, I ask that if you visit the Club, that you really do stick to the rules. The Clubhouse is closed, so please do not transfer your socialising to another part of the premises, or even outside. Do not congregate in groups, and if you need the Locker Room, then please go in, but not together, do whatever is necessary and come straight out. It may be a good idea to take your clubs home, so that the number of times you need to go inside is reduced.

The Club is doing everything it can to keep the course open and we can succeed, if we abide by the rules. I would ask that if you see anyone not sticking to the rules, then you say something and don’t leave it to someone else. I know that we as a nation are not good at this, but it could save a life.

Please think of everyone, and the needs not just of the members of Leek Golf Club, but also of those further afield. And, if you feel unwell, then please self-isolate.

Let us look after our world. It may never be the same again, but at least let us take responsibility for not just ourselves, but everyone around us. This is not the end, but a new beginning.

Thank you.

Nel

Dear Member & Visitor,

Despite our best efforts to keep clubhouse facilities open we have now been overtaken by events and directed to close our clubhouse through the Government’s blanket closure of pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants from Friday 20th March.

The situation is to be reviewed monthly and we have arrangements in place to bring back clubhouse facilities if and when the prohibition is lifted.

The golf course and changing rooms are to remain open but with restrictions that enable compliance with Government guidance relating to "Social Distancing", "Gatherings" and Personal Hygiene. DO NOT TREAT ANY INSTRUCTIONS OR GUIDANCE AS OPTIONAL AS NON-COMPLIANCE WILL PUT THE CONTINUED AVAILABILITY OF OUR COURSE AT RISK. Some of the guidance and steps we need to take may appear extraordinary but we will continue to do what it takes to remain open. We trust you are reassured and in agreement with the Board's approach.

Updates will be communicated, via the Club Website, email and clubhouse notice boards. Also, information/advice from the office will be available on Saturday mornings.

Regards

T.C. Eccleston

On behalf of the Board