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
New Reciprocal Golf Course for Members
Donnington Grove is delighted to announce that we have added another reciprocal golf course on to our ever growing list. Members of Donnington Grove have always had access to many reciprocal courses and The Springs golf Course is the latest to be added to our list making a grand total of 11 reciprocal courses.
Flanking the River Thames, the course at The Springs is situated in 133 acres of magnificent parkland that are designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Mature trees, 3 lakes, strategic use of bunkers and wetlands make it both picturesque and challenging. Measuring 6,470 yards at its fullest length, the course was laid out by noted professional and former Ryder Cup player, Brian Huggett, MBE.
The course is a successful blend of both traditional British and American styles of architecture and includes the use of sleepers around the edges of the bunkers and lakes. On the front nine there are lots of interesting features like a double green shared by the 1st and 6th holes; the long par four 4th with out of bounds to the right; while the striking par-3 8th, is the signature hole that has the green surrounded by water and bunkers.
On the back nine the 10th is a testing and beautiful par-3, protected by water and sand, that runs adjacent to The Ridgeway Path, possibly the oldest green road in the country. The long par five 15th, is the highlight of the back nine as it runs along the pristine banks of the River Thames, where you can enjoy the sight of majestic swans and other wildlife as you play. The short par four 17th is a classic risk reward shot that offers longer hitters a chance to drive the green, protected by water and wetlands if they fail. While the 18th offers a spectacular, dogleg finish framed by mature oaks, there is a listed copse of trees that splits the fairway.
The course is kept in top condition all year round and unlike most courses challenges you to use every club in the bag. By the end of your round, you will be impressed with the beauty and layout of the course. At the same time you will wonder where the shots ebbed away and will be eager to go back out again and find ways to play the course better. When you do, you will find that like a fine wine, each round at The Springs provides you with a different experience.
To compliment your day the charming clubhouse blends harmoniously with the Tudor styling of The Springs Hotel, and welcomes golfers warmly upon completion of their round with an excellent selection of fresh local food and beverages.
To view our other reciprocal Golf Courses as well as other benefits our members receive then please click here.
Top Golf Tips – Putting
Five things to remember when putting
After a smashing tee of shot and a great chip onto the green, you need to be able to have a great finish in order to keep your score down. Here are my top five things to remember when putting to help improve your final swings.
• Keep the wrists out of the stroke. Shoulders, arms and hands move together as a unit in a good putting stroke.
• Keep your head still. Just like in pool or snooker you must keep the head still during the stroke. Listen for the ball to go in the holes; don’t look up to watch it.
• Keep the rhythm of your stroke like a metronome. Count ‘one-two’ to yourself to keep the stroke smooth. Rhythm in a putting stroke
is just as important as rhythm in a full swing.
• Make sure you get the golf ball up to the hole. All putts from inside twenty feet should end up past the hole. Make sure you read the green to end up eighteen inches past and not lamely to lag into the hole at dead weight
• To read a green correctly you must look at the hole from both sides. If you really want to putt well from distance you must take time and look from the other side of the hole. The break often looks different from behind the hole.
Donnington Grove Course Guides
As a recent addition to our website we have added an area where golfers can view our course guide.
The area is designed so that Golfers can see all the hole plans and information such as distance and par before they play on the course. The plan also includes several top tips for each hole to help you with your game. The course guides include a bird’s eye plan of the hole and its layout, as well as a photo of the course from the tee looking towards the flag. Golfers should be able to use this to plan their shots as well as seeing where they have gone wrong in the past.
Donnington Grove is also offering businesses the chance to sponsor one of its 18 holes. Donnington Grove Country club has one of the best courses in the area; a historic hotel; a great clubhouse, with a friendly environment; and really good practice facilities. Theses, together with its thriving membership, make it one of the busiest corporate and society gold venues in the area attracting over 15,000 visitors each year.
We would like to offer you the opportunity to promote your company to this wider market by inviting you to join the Donnington Grove Business Executive Club. This will entitle your company to 8, 12 or 16 rounds of golf each month, A full colour advertisement on each golf buggy’s GPS system, a hyperlink to your website from ours and discounts on buggy hire, corporate golf days, hotel accommodation, functions & conferences.
If you would like to know more information about how to sponsor one of our holes then please click here. Alternatively you can contact Dave Alan by email or by phone on 01635 581000
Top Golf Tips – Backspin
In order to play a great game any golfer needs to think about the shot ahead. In order to play one step ahead you need to command a great deal of command over the ball, in many situations this means applying backspin to your shot. The principle of backspin is to cause the back of the ball to mover at a higher rate than the front restricting the balls momentum when it lands. This is prevent the ball from rolling forwards when it hits the green or the fairway.
How to apply Backspin
the grooves incorporated on the club face are what you need to focus on to apply backspin. As the face makes contact with the ball, the grooves grip is, pulling it backwards and therby imparting the spin. For optimum performance from both the ball and the club, it goes without saying the both should be wiped prior to taking the stroke in order to remove any soil or sand an ensure clean contact.
Discounted Chauffeur Services for Members
We have agreed with Gin & Tonic, located in Newbury, for a discount on chauffeur driven cars for our members. So, for example, if you heading for the sun and need to be driven to an airport, Gin & Tonic can provide you with a “Meet & Greet” service and transport you in the comfort of one of their fleet of Mercedes Benz cars.
Here are their prices for their most popular transfers:
To London Heathrow £69 From London Heathrow £74
To London Gatwick £105 From London Gatwick £109
Take a look at their website at www.ginandtonic.biz.
We continue to look to add to the Benefits of membership for members. For a full list, click here.
FANTASTIC SUMMER OFFER ON CONFERENCES
This is a short seasonal offer so please take advantage while it lasts!
Half a day delegate rate – £25per person (discounted from £30 pp)
Day delegate rate – £32 per person (discounted from £60pp)
24hour delegate rate – £120 per person (discounted from £150pp)
We now have thirty beautifully appointed bedrooms.
Six new rooms built in The Summer House. These rooms have private car parking spaces, offer fantastic views across the lake and of the golf course, and they are modern and very spacious with walk – in showers and heated flooring.
We have also just opened 5 more rooms- Lake View rooms that are certainly comparable to the wonderful rooms in The Summer House. Our guests have been extremely complimentary.
We would also like to offer you a chance to stay in The Summer House for a special introduction price of £50 for one night stay bed and breakfast.
To reserve your event please email: Katarina Hlavata or telephone 01635 581000
Offer ends on 31st August 2010
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.
