Finishing a Client propsal for a business review with a fellow Member

By Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Limited

England Rugby International Mark Cueto To Open New Playgolf Academy

Meet rugby star at Playgolf Academy press launch this Monday night from 18:00
Prizes and free gifts for all journalists who attend.

Please join us for a special sports event this Monday night, when Sale Sharks and England international rugby union star Mark Cueto will formally open the new Playgolf Academy.

Playgolf Manchester (www.playgolfmanchester.com), the North West’s busiest golf centre, has invested £50,000 in updating the Playgolf Academy, its PGA European Tour standard teaching facility, which is now one of Europe’s most advanced golf schools.

Altrincham resident Mark Cueto plays on the wing for Sale Sharks and England. He has been capped 39 times for his country, scoring 14 tries to date. He has scored 340 points in 139 appearances for Sale Sharks. Mark is a pupil at the Playgolf Academy, and plays golf off a 12 handicap (having been 18 handicap when he first attended the Playgolf Academy). Mark will be available for photographs and brief interviews, and will leave at 19:30.

• FREE GIFT – all journalists who attend will receive a voucher for a One Hour Golf Assessment Lesson at The Playgolf Academy, worth £35. This gift is transferable to a friend

• MERCEDES PRIZE DRAW – all journalists who attend will be entered into a Prize Draw, to win a Mercedes for a weekend.

• MINI GOLF TOURNAMENT – At approx 19:00 we will hold the Manchester Media Mini Golf Masters, a fun 9-hole event on the spectacular Championship Miniature Golf Course, rated as one of the UK’s finest. Non-golfers welcome. Prizes for top 5 finishers.

SCHEDULE
18:00 – 18:30  Champagne Reception with Canapes
18:30 – 19:00  Official Opening with Mark Cueto, Tour of Facilities
19:00 – 19:45  Manchester Media Mini Golf Masters
19:45 – 20:00  Prizes and Finish

RSVP to: Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Limited, 07795 360112/ andy@hiseman.com

By Howard Swan, Swan Golf Designs

After Northern Europe’s unusually long, cold winter the golf courses of the British Isles have at last come to life once more. Gone are the blanket of snow and sodden ground conditions, replaced by warmth, sunshine and, at last, good growth.

SGD’s numerous renovation projects across the UK and Ireland did not escape the harsh conditions, with project programmes being disrupted throughout the winter,. New bunkers filled with water before drainage could be installed, frozen ground prevented turf from being laid on time, whilst tree and shrub planting had to be delayed until the frosts had thawed. However, despite our project management being tested to the extreme, all our projects reached successful conclusions with all renovated holes now back in play.

Kingswood G&CC (pictured) saw the conclusion of its two-year bunker renovation programme, with this year’s work including the redesign of the 16th green surrounds and extensive planting on the par three 17th, as well as the installation of 56 new or refurbished bunkers.
At East Berkshire GC six more holes have been upgraded in phase two of the renovation project whilst the peninsula green of the 18th hole at Silvermere is now back in play following it’s winter transformation.

Elsewhere, spring 2010 sees Ripon City GC enjoying the new playing strategy on their 4th hole, Donagadhee GC’s members are trying to negotiate new bunkering on the 2nd, 3rd, 12th, 14th and 15th, and Old Conna GC have an entirely reconstructed 9th hole in addition to revised bunkering on the 7th and 8th.

By Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Limited

Crown Golf, the UK’s largest golf course owner/operator, has reached an agreement to transfer its lease on Trent Park Golf Centre, located in Enfield, London N14.

Trent Park Golf Centre, a popular 18-hole pay-and-play public golf course with large club house and driving range, is reputed to be the best-conditioned public golf course in London.

Crown Golf has traded the property since December 2004 following the acquisition of the former American Golf Corporation group of clubs.  American Golf had taken the lease on Trent Park in 2000.

On 6th May 2010, following agreement, the property reverts back to the landlord, Jeremy Sturgess, who traded the business between 1992 and 2000 and who is standing as a Parliamentary Candidate for Enfield Southgate constituency on behalf of the Better Britain Party (www.betterbritainparty.org.uk). Jeremy Sturgess currently lives in Egypt where he is developing Ancient Sands Golf Resort, a $500 million resort development in El Gouna on Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera (www.ancientsandsgolfresort.com).

Stephen Lewis, CEO of Crown Golf, said, “We are continuing to consolidate our estate, focussing on the clubs which the business wishes to retain for the long term – either for operational reasons, or as a result of their development potential.”

Jeremy Sturgess said: “The ten years of leasing Trent Park to American Golf and then Crown Golf has seen an enormous improvement in the condition of the golf course, which we intend to continue.  However, as the recession bites, the Government’s scandalous refusal to deal with the VAT, Rating and Corporation Tax distortions in the golf market places commercial clubs at a huge disadvantage to so-called Private and “Not for Profit” golf clubs, most of which are in reality now operating as commercial businesses with aggressive marketing campaigns for Membership, Society and Green Fee business.”

As Trent Park leaves the group, Crown Golf opened a brand new 9-hole pay-and-play golf centre in Rickmansworth, North West London, further strengthening its portfolio. Its new ‘Nine of Herts’ facility (www.9ofherts.co.uk) opened on 29th April 2010, and features a 9-hole golf course, driving range and clubhouse.

Company Contacts: Stephen Lewis, CEO, Crown Golf
   Tel: 01344 383975, email: s.lewis@crown-golf.co.uk

   Matthew Lynwood, Property Director, Crown Golf
   Tel:  07977 503015

Media :  Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Limited
   Tel: 01780 757461. Email: andy@hiseman.com 

Jeremy Sturgess: Jeremy@gmail.com  Te: +20 100 730 020

Helping a client from Ireland with his long term marketing plan

Interestng chat with a potential new GCA client

Back at work in the sunny North East