There is now information posted on notice boards with regards to 'Life Membership Deal'... starting from £3.5k for a 60+ and scaling up based on age! Subscription letters will hit your floor in next few days, and early payment would be much appreciated in order to offset overdraft charges.

'Night Time Golf list' is now on the noticeboard, and open to visitors so feel free to bring a guest. Friday March 16th at 6.30pm, format will be 2man scramble over 10 holes! £10/per person or £6/per person if you have balls from previous events. £160 1st prize!

You will now notice that we have a New Pool Table! We would like to thank 'Wat Associates' Accountants who have provided the funding. We now save almost £400/per year on rental!

We would also like to express our appreciation to the member who kindly donated £600 last week! This is to be spent on the 4 large glazing panes in the main clubhouse which are currently spoiling our wonderful views, and creating a draught. The funds will also cover costs for decoration. Many thanks!

Team matches start next Saturday with both the Ladies and the Gents involved in Mail on Sunday Competition... please note the tee will be booked from 10.50-12.10.... We look forward to a good run in both sections, about time the Gents matched the Ladies effort in this fixture!!

Adverts will run this week in the Evening Chronicle, which will then be followed by a 10,000 leaflet drop during the first two weeks of March highlighting our special offers.

We can only but try!!!

Chairman.

Been a mad 3 weeks!!! Two board meetings later and we look forward to presenting our marketing strategy in this next week or so. As you are well aware we do have a financial shortfall, although we hasten to add not insurmountable!! In order to get the club back on an even keel we need a hefty cash injection....... we then need to attract a clutch of new members in order to start moving forward with regards to improvements both on and off the course!

In lieu of our aggressive proposals we would ask that our valued membership will both understand and support these suggestions! As a board, we aim not simply to climb out of what is a short term financal predicament, but attempt to move the club forward in the right direction. Be assured, we do not simply want to stand still!! Our aim, if we reach our proposed targets will be to invest a percentage of the funds back into improving both the clubhouse and the course, your input with regards to 'high priority' items would be most welcome. (any ideas please forward to chairman@rytongolfclub.co.uk or secretary@rytongolfclub.co.uk)

Our proposals and ideas will shortly be posted in the 'members area' of this website! There will also be additional information sent out with subscription renewals.

In the meantime, our intention is to re-decorate portions of the clubhouse within the next few weeks. Can we express appreciation to the volunteers who have already stepped up to the plate. Tentative dates for proposed works, Tuesday 6th - Friday 9th March. The more hands the better!

Chairman

We are delighted to add another feature to our website. The aim will be to provide information on an ongoing basis with regards to the latest news and developments within the Golf Club.

The AGM was held on Wednesday evening, a healthy attendance voted in the new board members. Re-elected were Michael Moffitt and Gill Beauchamp, and the new board members George Allison and Nigel Bendelow. A big thanks go to the outgoing members, Keith Pearson and Bob Kelly who have done a sterling job for a number of years both as board members and captain's!

As most people are aware, after a number of years Mr Don Smithson decided it was time to step down as Chairman and take on a new role as Club President. Don's experience is highly regarded within the Club, and as new President we are delighted that he will be around to pass on his vast experience to us 'lesser experienced ones'!! This was reiterated on Wednesday evening during the AGM. On behalf of the board and the members we wholeheartedly thank Don for what has been an outstanding effort on behalf of Ryton Golf Club.

One of the issues that we face within the Golf Club is the ongoing cashflow problem. The members in attendance voted against the motion to reduce fees unaimously, therefore the subscription fees will stay as they were for last year at a competitive £480. The board trust that in lieu of the current financial situation that our members will appreciate and support this decision.

As we enter this new year we find ourselves well into our overdraft facility. As you will appreciate, every day we are in overdraft we are incurring interest which simply compiles the problem. With this in mind the subscription letters will be sent out in the next couple of weeks and we would ask that members give serious consideration to an early payment where possible. We certainly understand and appreciate that this may simply not be possible for many.

The board will meet again next week to discuss what can be done to find new members and indeed bring more visitors into the Golf Club. We would welcome any suggestions that you may have that may help us in this challenge!

One last thing, you can now follow us for all updates, latest information, and competition results on Twitter & Facebook! Click on the links that will appear soon on the website home page.

Thats all for now....

Chairman.