One of the issues of great concern to both members and visitors to the Golf Club is the number of accidents which frequently occur at the main entrance to the Golf Club from the A17.  For some time now (a number of years) we have been corresponding with Nottinghamshire County Council and the head of Nottinghamshire Highways.  We did have a little success with the introduction of some better signage and road markings but these have not resulted in a reduction of the reported numbers of incidents.
More recently we enlisted the help of Patrick Mercer OBE MP and as a result of this and some active work by the Club Chairman, Mr Colin Horner,  I recently had a site meeting with our Vice Chairman, Mr Lewis White, Councillor Dobson and Mr C Charnley, Head of Services NCC Highways North.  I will update you on the details of that meeting. 

All parties agreed how dangerous the junction is and that a right turn would be the ideal solution.  Unfortunately Mr Charnley indicated that there would be no funding available for this in the foreseeable future.  We asked for a reduction in the speed limit and the introduction of a speed camera, double white lines and no overtaking signs. He said there was no funding available for a speed camera and  indicated that double white lines and no overtaking signs could not be introduced.  A reduction in the statutory speed limit could not be considered either until a review had been completed by a cabinet member at some point in the future.
He has agreed that hedge growth which currently part conceals the current signage will be removed, that road markings will be renewed and further signage indicating queuing will be introduced.

We hope these measures will result in a safer access to the Golf Club but we fear they may not.  We will be closely monitoring the situation over the coming months.   I would ask all members to report any incidents which take place in order for me to keep up the pressure for change.  Mr Patrick Mercer has been informed of the details of the meeting and has been asked to continue to press our case before a very serious accident occurs.

This year Clyde Scothern is organising the event and has drawn up a program for our visitors.  They arrive in Newark on Monday 20th September and there will be a welcome breakfast at the Club on Tuesday 21st.  That afternoon Clyde has organised an afternoon of mixed golf at Rufford Park.  Wednesday 22nd is a free day when our guests will be playing a practice round at Newark, the tee is reserved from 9am to 11am, prior to dinner at the golf club.  Thursday is the first competition day, the tee is reserved again from 9am to 11am, and Friday from 9am to 11.30am for the singles.  Friday evening will see the prize presentation followed by a barbecue.  This is an important occasion for Newark Golf Club and I'm sure all members will make our visitors feel welcome.

Once again, London Pride, the official beer of the EGU, is sponsoring this flagship event to find England's handicap Golfer of the year.  The Hambling Trophy on Sunday 2nd May has been nominated as our qualifying competition.  The winning card will be submitted to the EGU and the best scores will qualify for the 81 places in the Final to be played on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa 0n August 14th and 15th.
All 81 finalists will receive the following: 3 rounds of golf over the Hotchkin Course **  Cocktail party and welcome dinner ** 2 nights hotel accomodation ** Finalists Gold Medal ** Case of London Pride.  The overall winner also receives a weekend break at a Fullers London Hotel and a year's supply of London Pride (age conditions apply).
All Club winners will receive a Club Winners Medal and a case of London Pride.

Entry to the NUGC Centenary Quaich is only open to Nottinghamshire Clubs who have reached their Centenary year.  The 2010 event will be held at Retford Golf Club on Saturday 24th July.  Each qualifing club sends a team of 2 players.  Our qualifying medal is the Saturday Medal on the 19th June.  The leading handicap player and the leading scratch player form the team.  The winners of the Centenary Quaich Competition will be determined by taking the lowest aggregate scratch score and handicap score of the two nominated players.
This year the Ladies have also been invited to submit a team consisting of one lady from the Silver Division and one lady from the Bronze Division.  On the day each lady will play off respective handicaps and the lowest aggregate handicap score will win.

The cards are now available in the office for anyone who would like one; priced at £10.  There are now 29 Counties taking part in tyhe scheme and a total of 1004 Golf Clubs.

We have now registered all members, Ladies and Gents, with the EGU Central Handicapping Database.  Each member with a handicap, active or inactive, has been allocated a unique number.  Unless you are entering County Tournaments, or leaving Newark Golf Club to join a different golf club, you will not need to know the number but it is available to you from the Golf Shop or Office.  If you would like to know more about it follow this link   Central Handicaps

2010 sees the introduction by the EGU and EWGU of Active anfd Inactive handicaps.  If you did not return 3 qualifying scores during 2009 your handicap will be Inactive.  This means that  you will be unable to play in Open Competitions and are prevented from winning a prize in Club Competitions (Medals excluded).   If you find yourself in this position what can you do?  Participation in qualifying competitions, even though you cannot win a prize, will count towards re-activating your handicap.  Competition Rules of Entry.
(Members with inactive handicaps may enter club competitions but cannot win a prize.  In qualifying competitions participation will count towards the required number of qualifying competitions to return the handicap to active.  In non-qualifying competitions participation will not count towards the required number of qualifying competitions to return the handicap to active.  Any team which includes a player with an inactive handicap cannot win a prize.) 
Also, supplementary cards will come to your rescue (except for category 1 players); follow the Supplementary Scores Rules, submit the number of cards you require and restore your handicap to Active.  If you've got any queries call into the Golf Shop or follow the links for more information.  Questions and Answers.

Inter County Cards will be available to members again from the 1st April 2010; if members wish to purchase a card you can let me know by email or call into the office.  Cheshire have now joined the scheme with an additional 85 clubs, including Royal Liverpool; this brings the total number to 823.  Hampshire have also agreed to mcome into the scheme and their details will be received shortly.  The price of the card will remain the same - £15 reduced to £10 it 20 or more members apply.  If you would like more information or see a list of participating clubs follow this link to the NUGC

It seems very likely that for the first time for many years we will be able to take in a small number of new members in 2010, as and when they apply.  All prospective members currently on the waiting list have been contacted; those who wish to join the club in April of next year will almost certainly be able to do so, those who have put off joining have been asked to apply again when they are ready.  The waiting list may well re-establish but for the time being a window of opportunity has opened and I'm confident we will have a small number of vacancies in 2010. 
Members may well have friends, colleagues or relatives who are considering applying for membership; please follow the link for more detials.  Membership.

One of the most regularly discussed topics at Green Committee meetings is the repairing of pitch marks; it is not only IF they are repaired it is often HOW they are repaired.  Stuart Hutchinson has sourced two items on youtube which every member should watch....
how to repair a pitch mark correctly1.       
how to repair a pitch mark correctly2.

There are some excellent social occasions planned.  We start with the Xmas Draw Night on the 11th December featuring The Harmony Lincs Barbershop Ensemble which is followed by the Christmas a la Carte night on the 19th and of course New Years Eve Party night on the 31st.  Moving into the new year there are excellent Ladies and Gents Dinner nights arranged, followed by the Cabaret Evening on the 6th March and the quiz night on the 26th March. 
Following the Annual Dinner Dance I received an email from Bryan Spilsbury, who kindly agreed this mention: "David, Just to say how much Judy and I enjoyed the Dinner Dance on Friday night.  We thought the entertainment was superb and the general atmosphere excellent. Regards Bryan."  There were only 80 or so people in attendance which begs the question why the socials are not better supported.  Perhaps you would like to air your views on the Members Forum?? 

At the Company AGM held on the 5th November several members expressed the view that discounts given to members of long standing should be brought to an end.  The Board of Directors have discussed this issue many times and have done so again.  It is part of the Membership Committee's remit, and subsequently the Board,  to ensure we are able to sustain our membership numbers.  The feeling is that the discount arrangements help in a small way to encourage members to be loyal to our Club but also in return are a small reward for the loyalty they have shown.  As a percentage against subscription income the cost equates to approx 2.25%.  If you have any views on this subject why not go to the Members Forum where your opinions can be aired.

This coming year the diary will not include visitor details; it has become increasingly difficult to finalise dates before the diary goes to print and invariably there have been many additions and cancellations.  This has caused problems when members are arranging their social golf.  The Board of Directors have taken the decision not to include visiting societies in the printed diary for 2010.  We will review it this time next year.  The web diary is as far as possible always up to date and of course this displays on the electronic diary in the foyer.