The scores were very close at the top end. The winner of the 0 to 15 handicap visitors’ prize of a bottle of champagne and a 4-Ball at Heythrop Park was Geoff Fisher from Newbury & Crookham GC. Playing off 13, he scored a tidy 37 points. The visitors’ 16 to 24 prize of a bottle of champagne and a 4-Ball at Mill Ride was Steve Dumbleton from Salisbury GC. The home Club prize of a bottle of champagne and 2 dozen golf balls was won by 19-handicapper John Rance with 36 points. A full list of the prize winners can be found by clicking here.

Our thanks go out to all the players who entered and we look forward to welcoming them again to Donnington Grove again for next year’s event. All our visitors are, of course, most welcome any time. Click here to take a look at our website and find an offer that suits you.

Attached is the draw for the event. Would those of you who have submitted entries on behalf of others, please let them know their tee time and ask them to check in at least 30 minutes before they are due to tee off. If for any reason your arrival is delayed, please call the Proshop on 01635 551975 and let us know.

SENIORS DRAW

You will see that each 3-ball includes a member from Donnington Grove. When the number Donnington Grove entrants permit, this is something we try to do and will help those who are unfamiliar with the layout of the course.

Please note that Donnington Grove is a SOFT SPIKE course.

I have also attached the Clubs Dress & Etiquette policy. Please read it and make sure any competitors for whom you submitted an entry is familiar with it.

Those who wish to use a buggy may do so. They can be reserved by calling the Proshop on 01635 551975. The buggy hire charge is £25 for non-members.

Apart from the usual Nearest the Pin & Longest Drive, there will be separate prizes for our visitors and Donnington Grove members. No competitor may win more than one prize.

If you have to withdraw your entry, please let us know as soon as possible by either ringing the Proshop on 01635 551975 or emailing me on dave.allen@donnington-grove.com. Please note that, as stated on the entry form, no refunds will be given once the tee times have been allocated.

We look forward to welcoming you on Friday for an enjoyable day of competitive golf. Let’s hope the weather is kind to us.

Good luck to you all,

Dave Allen
Membership Secretary

01635 581000
dave.allen@donnington-grove.com

The William Hunt Trilby Tour at Donnington Grove
The Berkshire Championship – A Professional Event for Amateurs

After three exciting qualifiers, 120 amateur golfers competed for the Berkshire Championship of the The William Hunt Trilby Tour 2011 at Donnington Grove Country Club. The course, as always, was in excellent condition but the addition of flag poles, banners, uniformed marshals, an on-course hospitality marquee and all competitors wearing the compulsory trilby hat and accompanied by a caddy in white overalls made it a truly impressive sight. For the amateur club golfers that took part, playing in conditions enjoyed by the Pro golfer was a thrilling, although for some a daunting experience. It clearly got to a couple of the four competitors in the “Winner Takes All” 3-hole shoot out.

Ten of the competitors in the Berkshire Championship, comprising local golfers plus many from further afield, qualified for The William Hunt Trilby Tour National Final held at The Buckinghamshire on 11th August. We wish them every success. However, only the top four contested the Shoot Out. They were Nigel Blackford (Kingfisher GC) 36 points, Guy Dawson (Gerrards Cross GC) 34 points, Ross Nairn (Yelverton GC) 34 points and Kenelm Cornwall-Legh (Royal Liverpool GC) 33 points. For those of you who watched the Sky Sports TV coverage of the event earlier this month will have seen the tension that existed amongst these four. Only one could triumph and this was Nigel Blackford, 1 over in the 3-hole play off.

We would like to congratulate the top ten who qualified for the national final as well as all of those who entered the Berkshire Championship and the qualifying rounds. We would also like to thank our local sponsors Herma UK Limited, UBM Limited, Arkell’s Brewery and Bartercard. Their support for the Trilby Tour at Donnington Grove was greatly appreciated. The William Hunt Trilby Tour Berkshire Championship at Donnington Grove Country Club was a truly memorable experience.

If you want to play our championship course click here to see our latest offers.

SAM PuttLab is “the ultimate putting training system”. Using state of the art Ultrasound it is able to give you incredibly accurate measurements which can help greatly with both training and analysis. By tracking 28 of the most important factors in your putting stroke such as rotation, acceleration, impact and swing duration, it is able to give you feedback on the smallest detail of your stroke within seconds; and all in an easy to understand graphical report.

In using Ultrasound technology and certain mathematic algorithms SAM Puttlab is far more accurate than other systems on the market. And would highlight key areas on how to improve your game such as sweetspots or club face angle, to allow for a more effective training session.

The lesson will also include a video of the current putting action and of the changes that are made. You will also receive an email of your lesson with a before and after of your stroke.

This is normally priced at £99 per hour, this will be available to the first 10 people at the special rate of £75. Please contact Matt Woods on mw@golfjy.com for a booking or more details.

The DG lady members provided a huge array of home made cakes and biscuits, which were consumed very quickly both by the lady players and gentlemen visiting the course.

Apart from the golf, £510 was raised for the Captain’s Charities from the sale of raffle tickets, donations for homemade cakes and commission from the sale of ladies golf attire which were sold by Renee’s Golf Wear.

To view photographs from the day please visit our photo gallery.

There are still places left in the DG Ladies Open which is taking place on the 22nd June 2011.  Please visit the Donnington Grove Main web site to Download an Entry form.

Our next big event will be the Men’s Open on Tuesday 14th June 2011. This annual event is one of our most exciting golf days with players from all over Berkshire fighting hard to get their hands on the coveted Winner’s Trophy.

The Men’s Open is an 18-Hole Scratch & Handicap Medal Competition with a maximum handicap of 24. There are prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (Gross & Nett), for longest drive and for nearest the pin.

It’s not just about the golf; entrants will also be presented with a coffee and famous Donnington Grove bacon roll upon arrival. Then after the competition you will enjoy a well earned hot buffet prepared by our River Restaurant Chefs.

As one of our most popular competitions, the Men’s Open always fills up quickly so make sure you reserve your place soon to avoid disappointment.

For more information on the event please contact Dave Allen on 01635 581 000 or email dave.allen@donnington-grove.com. Alternatively download and complete an entry form. Please note the deadline for entry is Monday 6th June 2011.

The three qualifying rounds were played in bright sunshine but very windy conditions. Despite this the winning scores, played off ¾ handicaps were creditable. Aran Hayashi, a 4 handicapper from Burhill GC, won the first qualifier with 34 points; Paul Morrisey, a 6 handicapper from Wisley GC, won the second on count-back with 36 points; and Jonathan Laycock, a 10 handicapper from Ealing GC, won the last qualifier with 37 points.

Congratulations to all three and we wish them luck in the Championship on Thursday, 12th May.

The qualifiers for the Championship will not only have to cope with the pressure of Sky’s TV cameras but they will get a taste of what the professionals experience – caddies, rules officials, no measuring devices, a “nearest the pin” shoot out for ties and a 3-hole play-off for the top four scores to decide the William Hunt Trilby Tour Berkshire Champion 2011.

Spectators are welcome at no charge so why not come along and watch some really competitive golf and experience the picturesque environment at Donnington Grove Country Club.

Only 10 places remain on each for our Pre-Championship Qualifiers on 26th & 28th April, so if you want to be part of the Trilby Tour you’ll need to sign-up fast. The official deadline for entry is the 20th April but we expect to be at capacity before then so, enter now to avoid disappointment.

Pre-Championship Qualifier Rewards

• Winners of our Pre-Championship Qualifiers will gain automatic entry into the Trilby Tour Berkshire Championship (which would normally cost £250)
• Winners will also receive £450 worth of William Hunt clothing & a Trilby Tour Golf Bag from Callaway
• Plus Donnington Grove Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place

Pre-Championship Qualifier Format

• Individual Stableford with ¾ handicaps
• Includes Coffee & Bacon Rolls & a Light Lunch

For more information about our pre-championship qualifiers click here or email barry.wray@donnington-grove.com. Alternatively you can ring us on 01635 581 000. Remember the closing date for entry in April 20th but be quick as those spaces won’t last long!

The Trilby Tour will be broadcast as part of a summer series on Sky Sports to viewers across the nation. Banners from all of the sponsoring companies will be displayed around the course for the Regional Championship of Berkshire and the qualifying rounds, including the Corporate Day that precedes the main event on 12th May.

Donnington Grove is offering three different sponsorship packages (silver, gold and platinum) that will entitle sponsors to a place in the Corporate Day Qualifier where they can compete for a place in the Berkshire Regional Championship. Gold and platinum sponsors will be automatically guaranteed a place in the qualifier as well as additional advertising on the play off holes.

All sponsors will receive a year’s Executive Membership at the club and all of the benefits that this includes. Donnington Groves’ General Manager, Christopher Strong said, “We look forward to welcoming new Executive members to the club and are very excited about the Trilby Tour. Executive membership is fantastic for businesses looking to reward their customers and employees and we make sure that they get the most out of all of the Executive perks.”

The Corporate Day will be held on Wednesday 11th May 2011 with the qualifiers being invited to play in the regional final, the Trilby Tour Championship of Berkshire, the following day.

To find out more information about sponsoring the event visit http://www.donnington-grove.com/pages/Sponsor-The-Trilby-Tour.html

OR contact
Donnington Grove Country Club,
Grove Road,
Newbury,
RG14 2LA
Tel: 01635 581000
Fax: 01635 552259
Email: Dave.Allen@donnington-grove.com
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