Summer Newsletter 2026

Our woodland management programme also continues, with further work scheduled for August. The priority within this phase will be the removal of dead and weak trees. If time allows, further work will be carried out between the 1st and 18th fairways. Selective management will help improve turf quality, air movement and the overall golfing environment.

Bunker consistency, whilst still not where we ultimately want it to be, has improved. Several bunkers remain in need of more significant refurbishment, particularly on the 2nd, 10th and 16th holes. These upgrades will be incorporated into the work programme over the next two winter seasons.

The steps to the 13th yellow tee have been reworked with good results, improving both access and presentation. Following this success, some minor alterations will be made to the steps serving the 13th red tee during August. Looking ahead, it remains our objective to complete the masterplan improvements to the 4th hole this winter.

Water security

Strategically, our most crucial topic is water security. The Club would like to safeguard against future availability issues with the mains cold water supply, increase available daily volumes of water, allow for future increases in water use, increase sustainability and reduce the cost of sourcing water. Having appointed The Environment Partnership (TEP) and the R&A to conduct a high-level review of the Club’s current water sourcing and storage infrastructure and identify potential future options for water supply and storage, the immediate next step is to apply for an abstraction licence, allowing a greater volume to be taken from either the existing borehole or additional boreholes. TEP do not believe this is likely to be granted; however, it is the most appropriate next step. In any event, members will be updated on the broader project at an appropriate time.

Responsible buggy and trolley use

I would also like to reiterate the importance of responsible buggy and trolley use, particularly during periods of extreme heat. When grass is subjected to prolonged hot and dry conditions, growth slows significantly as the plant enters survival mode. Traffic from buggies on stressed turf can crush leaf tissue, damage root systems and leave visible tyre marks that can take weeks to recover.

As has been communicated previously, buggies and trolleys should be kept clear of tees, greens and green approaches at all times of the year. As an example, there should be no need for a buggy to travel close to the 8th green or 9th tees. The route that should be followed is between the end of the stream and the right-hand bunker adjacent to the 8th green, before turning the buggy immediately towards the 9th green (not towards the 9th tees). From this point, golfers should walk the short distance to the 8th green and the 9th white and yellow tees. Travelling closer to these sensitive areas often requires turning or reversing manoeuvres, creating unnecessary wear and stress on the turf.

Bunkers and pitch marks

Finally, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of bunker raking and pitch mark repair. Ben and members of your Green Committee have produced simple instructional videos covering both topics. If every member followed the guidance provided, the consistency and presentation of the course would improve significantly for everyone’s benefit.

I hope you will agree that the new bunker rakes are a considerable improvement. Ben’s recent video demonstrates how sand distribution can be enhanced by using the back of the rake when exiting the bunker, helping to leave a more consistent surface for the next player. If you have not yet viewed these videos, I would encourage you to do so. They have been attached here.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and cooperation in helping us maintain and improve the course.

Membership at Blackwell Golf Club continues to remain strong, with sustained interest from prospective new members and a healthy pipeline of applications.

In addition, we have a number of prospective members currently progressing through our membership process. Each application is carefully considered by the Membership Committee, ensuring that every applicant has the opportunity to experience the club and learn more about what makes Blackwell such a special place.

Welcome to Our New Members

We are delighted to welcome the following members who have joined Blackwell since our last newsletter:

Full Members: Callum Garry, Neil Woolley, Paul Hutton, Simon Marks, Anthony Brierley and Richard Day.

Country Members: Patrick Foster, Philip Mitchell and Andrew Setchell.

Student/Associate Members: Freddie O’Rourke, Euan Vaughan-Hawkins, Henry Merton and Ben Boulter.

We hope you enjoy everything Blackwell has to offer and look forward to seeing you around the club.

Thank you, as always, to those members who continue to introduce friends and acquaintances to Blackwell. Personal recommendations remain an important part of preserving the character and quality of our membership.

Whilst the club continues to operate close to capacity, we remain pleased to receive enquiries from prospective members who share our appreciation for the traditions and values of Blackwell Golf Club. Interest in membership remains encouraging, and we look forward to welcoming further new members as they progress through the application process.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Summer Knockout Competitions

Reminder: Matches are to be played off the White Alternate Course “Back Marker Stones” (this includes the lower tee on the 6th and the very back 238-yard tee on the 11th).

First Tee Congestion

As you will know, we have considered several options to reduce occasional congestion on the first tee on competition days at peak times between 9:30 and 11:30. Feedback since the introduction of the “Bar Sheet” during this time has been very positive, and it will therefore continue.

If members wish to have certainty over a tee time, please use the booking facility between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., which has not changed.

Saturday Competition Starting Times

You will have already noticed that we have been trialling starting times at 10-minute intervals rather than eight minutes.

We hope this will reduce congestion and help speed up play, and we will be gathering feedback to see whether the trial has been successful.

We will also be trialling the Dixon Cup/Bob Wright Salvers in three-balls and moving the date to July. The additional sunlight and move to three-balls will allow more players to enter the event, which historically has been heavily oversubscribed.

Figs v Braves

We have agreed to move the date from November to Saturday 29th August. The format of the event is to be finalised shortly.

The year has started positively, with green fee and society income tracking in line with our ambitious budget and financial plan for 2026 (£247k). This represents a significant increase on previous targets and has been achieved primarily through our revised pricing strategy, rather than an increase in visitor numbers.

For 2026, our headline green fee has increased to £140, while maintaining the same level of discounting for larger groups and society bookings as in previous years. This reflects the continued improvement in the quality of our golf course and the growing demand from golfers across the UK to experience Blackwell.

Whilst we are encouraged by this performance, we cannot afford to become complacent. Continuing to attract visitors remains an important part of the club’s long-term financial strategy.

Some members have, however, commented on the number of visiting golfers they have seen around the club in recent months. It is worth reassuring everyone that visitor footfall remains broadly consistent with previous years and has not increased significantly. The difference is that those visitors are contributing more revenue through improved pricing, allowing us to generate greater income without placing additional pressure on the golf course.

I am also pleased to report that we recently launched our new website. The refreshed design is cleaner, easier to navigate and, we believe, does a much better job of presenting Blackwell to prospective visitors and members alike. Alongside the improved functionality, we have updated the photography throughout to better reflect the outstanding condition and presentation of the course today.

Course rankings continue to play an important role in attracting visiting golfers. We will therefore continue to engage constructively with ranking panels, ensuring they understand both the rich history of Blackwell and the significant course restoration work that has taken place in recent years. Our view remains that Blackwell is undervalued in several national rankings, and we will continue telling that story to those responsible for assessing courses.

While rankings and visitor marketing have little bearing on the day-to-day enjoyment of the club for members, they are increasingly important in generating visitor revenue. That income allows us to continue investing in both the course and clubhouse while helping to reduce pressure on members’ subscriptions, ensuring Blackwell continues to strengthen both on and off the course.