From   :-   Larry Macartney 
(Club Manager)

I have to start this week on a sad note, by reporting the sudden death of one of our Senior Stalwarts,  Fred Marx,   who suffered a stroke Thursday week ago.   True to form he had just completed his regular Thursday Morning round with his mates,   so it was a great shock to learn of his sudden death.    All our thoughts and prayers go out to Fred’s wife and family at this time.

On a more positive note,  you will shortly be seeing the continuation of “Bunker Repairs”,   as the Ladies Section have kindly contributed to this programme by donating R12,000 from their recent Fund Raising Golf Day.  Thank You to Lorraine and her Team for their generosity which will be enjoyed by all our Golfing Members and Guests.

Whilst on Golf Course matters, Rob will shortly be starting his programme to scarify the fairways,  level many of the tee’s and plant additional trees.   All of this prior to his hollow-tyning of the greens which is planned for the first week in October,   so Rob’s going to be a busy boy over the next six weeks or so  !!

However,  even though there are good things happening,  we are still having to manage our Cash Flow very tightly,  and thus we are not able to complete some of the important projects,  such as up-grading security by means of Trellidors in the bar, additional camera’s and perimeter beams.   It is for this reason that I have once again printed the important letter from our President,   which you will see below.   This is a very unusual step which is being taken in an attempt to avoid imposing a “Levy”,   so please consider the request as not one cent has been received from the appeal.

Last week we suffered the theft of a car from the parking area.   The modus operandi was that the keys were taken from a tog bag in the locker room and the car driven out.   Fortunately the vehicle tracking device found the car abandoned, but it has once again raised the issue of security, and what we can do to become more conscious of the threats.   The same thing happened at Glenvista last week,   so it would appear that there is a syndicate working amongst Golf Clubs.

We would suggest that you do not leave valuables,  or car keys,   in your tog bags or for that matter in your golf bag.   Also,  we will shortly be issuing parking cards to people when entering the premises and will be collected when exiting.    However,  the key here is to not leave the card in the car,   as that defeats the object entirely.

Whilst talking about parking,  we are attempting to direct Visitors away from the Members parking,  especially at weekends,  so please collect a parking sticker from Roz,  if you do not already have one.   Also,  please remember that Security are only doing their job when directing vehicles,  so do not get confrontational with them,   if you do not have a sticker.   There have been three serious arguments from Members at the gate with one actually threatening to resign if he cannot park in Members Parking  -  all three only needed to get a sticker and these ugly scenes would have been avoided. 

Until next week    !!!

The main message this week comes from our President,   as it is an issue which affects each of us at “Reading”.   (Please see the “President’s Request” -  below).

President’s Request 

Our Golf Course is in the best condition it has been in years. The Greens are running true and have good cover for the summer.

This is due to the fact that the Committee made some tough and far reaching decisions earlier in the year,  whereby,  we agreed to spend some R200 000-00 on equipment,  sand,  fertilizer and a programme of verti draining every two months.

The insurance companies are now insisting that we increase the security of our Club House. The result of this is that we now faced with an unbudgeted expense of around R65 000-00 to better secure the Club House from a security point of view.

However, these necessary measures have left us with a short term cash flow problem, which we believe can be overcome through the generosity of our Members. We are taking the unique step of asking our Members for a donation, no matter how small, to get us over the next few months.  All donations will be kept confidential.

Piet Mostert   (Club President)

From the Pro Shop
Barry Bothma    -    PGA Professional

Barry is away  -  this week  -  Sorry No News

From the Lady Captain:     Lorraine Cross

 The Ladies Spring Trophy is to be held on 4th September 2010. 
Green Fees will be R160 p.p. including the prize giving lunch.
If you wish to participate please append your name to the list outside the Ladies Locker Room.  Closing date for entries will be 1st September 2010
This year the Ladies Committee have decided to have a number of spot prizes instead of a prize for the Best Dressed Lady or Best Dressed Hat.
The following prizes will also be presented at the Spring Trophy prize giving lunch:

2010 Putting Trophy
2010 Medal Winner and Runner Up
2010 Bogey Winner and Runner Up
Ringer Book Winner and Runner Up

 05 August 2010  

Temporary Suspension of the 72 Hour Late Score Entry Penalty  

Dear Sir/Madam, Handicaps Network Africa advised all clubs in the communication sent out on the 20th July, that as from 1st August, the 72 hour late score penalty would be invoked. Unfortunately many clubs did not inform their members. Therefore the SAGA have decided to suspend the penalty calculation, and to reverse the penalty scores in the handicap calculations in August. We would like to re-iterate to all golfers that the penalty calculation is also triggered by late entries of any rounds, not just those that remain open on the handicap system. This includes rounds entered by club managers and their staff. Reversing the penalty scores on the handicap system is a complicated task and will take at least 1 week to implement. In the meantime Clubs should advise any affected golfers to play off their handicaps as calculated at the end of July, and not the recalculated handicap as reflected on the internet or terminal. Clubs will be advised a month in advance of the re-introduction of the late score entry penalty system.  
Kindest Regards, Handicaps Network Africa

Reading Up Coming Events:

Ladies Spring Trophy                                            04 September 2010

Senior  Golf

The “Reading Senior’s”  have just returned from their week’s tour of the Bushveld,  and what a tour it has been.   Arranged by Stan “the Man” Ingram and Dawn it ran like a well oiled clock with special rates being paid on accommodation and golf fees.

Some 20 people feasted on the food and weather that varied from cold to misty.  Throw in a couple of magic days and you have a full house.   Everyone is already lining up for next year’s bash.

Later in the report is a “Roll of Honour” of some of the more hilarious events recorded by your scribe.

For the fundi’s  -   best player of the series went to Sid du Toit who averaged 34 Stableford  points with Jimmy Wood placed a close second.

However,   the week got off to a sad start with the news of the untimely passing of Fred Marx.   Due homage in silence and the pushing out of the boat was held in Sabi.   The “Senior’s” extend their sincere condolences to his wife and family.   He will be missed.

And now the “Honour List”

Roll of Honour

•   “Geek of the Week”  -   must surely go to Bob Barker who left his suitcase at Jimmy Wood’s place only to discover at breakfast in Belfast his dilemma, of not having any change of clothing.   He borrowed kit much to the ribbing of fellow players,   but recovered somewhat when his pilot son Adam flew the missing case to Skukuza.
•     “No Brainer” -   goes to frustrated Bud Campbell who casually tossed his beloved Cobra Driver into the air on a Kruger Lodge tee only to see it bounce off the marker and shatter the shaft.    A spitting Cobra man borrowed drivers for three days with little success
• “Bird Brain”  -   is our “Pied Hairy Wader Peter Wade”.   Peter decided to irrigate a bushveld tree at Sabi in the middle of the steep 13th fairway.   When he looked again his electric hand cart had zipped off into a ditch.
• “Sockless”  -   was Eric Ross who was in such a major hurry to get going at Sabi that he booked into the Pro Shop in sandals and minus socks.   Didn’t register until pointed out to him.
• “Goosed”   -   the same Eric at Kruger Lodge lays a bet with John Dawson he can’t hit one of tens of Egyptian Geese on fairway.   Dawson “gooses it” and the hit man collects.
• “Holed Out”   -   was Jimmy Wood one of our better players.  That was until he plays the very short 5th water hole at Sabi.   First ball into the pong but this doesn’t phase our man who has a liking for a Srixon out of the sleeve.   Perfect drop at Senior’s distance with a new weapon but into a divot.   Bang into same pond,   in same place and not recoverable.   Expensive Drop!
• “Budda Posed”  -  was the Tartan Terror Bob Stewart who has a habit of nodding off after a hard day’s play upright on the couch in prayer mode.   Trained in the British Forces,  he claims he can sleep even on a razor’s edge.   Sharp What  ???
• “Victor Ludorum”  -   is “Little” John van Niekerk who could not see his balls from the trees and loses eight balls in a round.   No one had the courage to ask the little battler how many got away from him in the week.   Maybe wife Sandy could help ??
• “Fertile Brain”   -  goes to Stan “the Man”.   While planning our trip at Reading,  on the veranda,  he’s aced not once but twice by love bird in tree above.   This Stuka trained dove hits Stan plumb centre of his dome.   With all this fertile treatment he doesn’t need conditioner

Pictorial account Mpumalanga   -  Next Week   !!!

Should you have enquiries regarding the “Seniors Golf  Section”
-  please contact one of the following Members   :-

                                   Mr Sid du Toit                      011 827 2035 (H)
                                   Mr Roy McGregor               082 871 7013
                                   Mr Dave Ford                      083 257 8336