Cheltenham Gold Cup Day – Friday 16th March 2012

You don’t want to miss one of our highlights of the year, so come along and enjoy a game of golf around our magnificent champion course.

Afterwards, relax with a drink at the trough, munch on some hay and watch the races. And who knows, you might become our Cheltenham Gold Cup Champion.

If you can’t join us for the Gold Cup on Friday 16th March, take a look at our other feature events by visiting our competitions page on our website. Click here.

Play at Bigbury Golf Club in South Devon FREE

We have agreed reciprocal playing privileges with Bigbury Golf Club for our members, increasing the number of courses you can play free of charge to 13. Bigbury G.C. is located on the South Devon coastline and offers stunning views. Take a look at their website at http://bigburygolfclub.com/index.html for more information about the club.

The reciprocal arrangement is for one four-ball per week commencing 1st January 2011, subject to availability. All bookings must be made through our Proshop and not directly with the reciprocal club. Any guestsaccompanying our members, will pay Bigbury’s member’s guest rate green fee. We hope you make the most of this benefit of being a member at Donnington Grove County Club.

We continue to look to add to the list of Reciprocal Clubs – for the full list click here.

Oktoberfest 2010

The Oktoberfest, one of our special themed golfing events, was a great success with 11 teams competiting for top honours. Whilst the skies were overcast, we all stayed dry and the course was in its customary excellent condition. The winning team with 82 points, winning the Schnapps, beer and golf balls were Paul Slatter, Damien Carville, Mark Seymour & Ray Ross just 2 points ahead of Kevin Goodchild, Peter Hurwood, Nathan Still & Derek Ailes. The golf was followed by a traditional German 3-course meal and the presentations of prizes.

The teams represented a good mix of members, their guests and golfers who had held golf days here at Donnington Grove Country Club. Judging by the feedback, everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable day and we look forward to them entering our Beaujolais Day in November and the Christmas Cracker in December. We invite you too to enter these events that are great fun and offer exceptional value.

For more details and to download entry forms for any of our featured events click here.

New Reciprocal Golf Course for Members

Caversham Heath Golf Club

Nestling on the borders of Berkshire and Oxfordshire 3 miles from Reading, in the grounds of the historic Mapledurham Estate, lies Caversham Heath Golf Club.  Boasting a truly challenging Championship Length course of 7,151 yards, superb clubhouse and function facilities, Caversham Heath welcomes you.

The 18-hole golf course, designed by David Williams, affords excellent year round play to Members and visitors alike. The course, built to exacting USGA standards, is unusually dry in winter whilst fully irrigated in summer, and therefore offers dependable year round play.

The course has matured well, and rewards golfers of all levels, who enjoy golf in a breathtakingly beautiful heathland setting.

Dave Allen

Reciprocal Clubs

Donnington Grove members have always had access to 9 other reciprocal courses to play on for free. This is part of the benefits Donnington Grove offers its members. However we are delighted to announce that Haythrop Park Resort in Oxfordshire will now be added on to our list of reciprocal clubs totalling the number of courses to 10.

Heythrop Park is a beautiful location near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, and offers great facilities to its visitors. The new 7,008 yard par 72 golf course has been designed by renowned golf course architects Mackenzie & Ebert.

The stunning course meanders through ancient woodland, lakes and streams. The course is supported by a sophisticated new clubhouse built beside the original family home. You can view more information on Heythrop Park Resort on their website here.

Reciprocal Golf Courses are just one of the benefits Donnington Grove offers its members. Too see a full list of benefits as well a membership prices please click here.

Father’s Day

Father’s Day is approaching fast and takes place on the 20th June. We at Donnington Grove love to celebrate these special events and just like Mothers Day we have have launched a brand new Fathers Day Menu.

The Menu has been created by our Head Chef Nico Kiel and includes a three course meal for only £20. There is no better way to treat your father then to take him for a one of special meal at the Donnington grove River Restaurant.

The recently opened River Restaurant at Donnington Grove Country Club rests peacefully behind the imposing 18th Century Gothic House. The new development has been sympathetically built to reflect the charm of the estate whilst showcasing the surrounding grounds.

Set among beautiful parkland with the River Lambourn winding through, the River Restaurant encourages members and non-members alike to unwind and enjoy their tranquil surroundings. The large restaurant windows provide the opportunity to capture this glorious vista. On a warm summer’s day, where better to dine then out on the stunning patio overlooking the Donnington Grove estate?

To book a Father’s day table, please call 01635 581000 or complete the Restaurant Booking form here.

Long Backswings Create Shorter Golf Shot

A long backswing is natural for many players to develop. The thought process behind it seems to be that the longer you swing the further you will hit the ball. Unfortunately this simply isn’t true.

Some people will argue that a few pros have long backswings and have no difficulties with distance. If I take John Daly for example he is known for his long backswing. However John can rotate his shoulders back more than 90 degrees. It is because of this rotation that his swing is perceived to be longer.

Some people feel tight and that therefore not capable of rotating their shoulders this far. If you feel tight when you are turning back than this is not a bad thing. The tightness tells you that you have created torque in your swing. Use the imagery of your body being a giant swing, you wind it up tight, then if you were to let go it would want to snap back the other way.

Many people try to avoid this tight feeling by over rotating their hips, by doing this they lose their torque. Tips for next time you are at the range, keep your lower body stable and turn your shoulders back as much as you can, until you feel tight. This tightness tells you that you have created the necessary torque or tight. Also, make sure your wrists are loose enough to allow the club to hinge to at least 90 degrees in your wrists. This will give you maximum power without having to swing back to far.

Top Golf Tips (7)

HOW TO INCREASE DISTANCE

If you are battling with a lack of  distance, one of the first things you should concentrate on is releasing  your hands through the ball correctly. Make sure that your forearms are close together at impact, and after impact, your forearms should form an “X” or be crossed.  This will ensure that you are not blocking the ball, it will help with the slice, and will do wonders for your distance.

Be sure to make a full turn.

Maintain a relaxed body with light grip.

Keep left side firm with left knee bent through
impact.

Swing through the ball, not at it.

Keep arms fully extended through impact.

Fishing at Donnington Grove

Mayfly Madness on the River Lambourn

It is about this time of year that every fly fishermen starts to twitch; the days are getting warmer, the evenings are lighter later and just around the corner is the famous Mayfly period, more commonly known as ‘Duffers Fortnight’. Why ‘Duffers Fortnight’ you may well ask. Well, the answer is that the fishing is said to be so easy that any old duffer will catch a sackful of trout! This is a magical time of year to fish the beautiful River Lambourn that weaves its way through the Donnington Grove Country Club. This is a famous Berkshire chalkstream that is renowned for some of the best dry fly brown trout fishing in southern England. The water is gin-clear, with a good head of wild fish that are supplemented by careful stocking throughout the season.

Over the past four years the Donnington Grove Country Club has embarked on an extensive programme of restoration and conservation to create the perfect river for fly fishing enthusiasts. The banks have been re-aligned, the overhanging trees removed and flow deflectors built in the river to improve the habitat for the trout and grayling. The result is an explosion in the wild trout population and a much better fishing river for the angler. Such is the success of the scheme that Donnington has fishermen who return every year, with regulars making three of four visits in a season.

The fishing is available by the day for one or two fishermen. The beats is over 1000 yards long, double bank the whole way with a great variety of runs, riffles and pools.. For more information or to book on-line click http://www.fishingbreaks.co.uk/chalkstream/lambourn.htm#donnington Our resident Fishing Guide, John Stephens, is available for private or group tuition on request.

Brand New Lake View Rooms are Now Open!

We are delighted to announce that we have just opened 5 more rooms that are certainly comparable to the wonderful rooms in The Summer House. We have had some wonderful feedback from guests staying in the Summer house and we are looking forward to seeing customers great reaction to the Lake View rooms. We started building the rooms in 2009 and are extremely happy they are ready in time for the start of this years Golf season. Having the Lake View rooms means that Donnington Grove can now offer its customers 30 high standard rooms!

Each room has a welcoming feel about it and it’s own patio area outside where our guests can sit and enjoy the wonderful views of the lake. However don’t just take our word for it, have a look at some of the photos below or better yet why not book a visit.