Fantastic one-on-one training now available at our purpose built bespoke personal training suite here at Stratford Oaks. 

Gyms don’t seem to work, faddy diets come and go but we can guarantee results! All programs are tailored to each of our clients to ensure the results are achieved. So if you want to tone up, maybe lose a bit of weight or perhaps you are recovering from an injury we can help you!

We believe exercise should be a mix of fun and excitement together with genuine care and understanding. Our aim is to make you look good on the outside and feel better on the inside. Our instructors are experienced experts of the highest calibre with a thirst for helping people of all ages.

We would like to offer a free no obligation ‘body MOT’ for everyone who books in April. This will be a private one-on-one consultation we one of our personal trainers were you can discuss any aspects of your well-being and to experience how we can help you make a big difference in your life.

Please feel free to call Lisa on 07545 233525 to arrange a convenient time for you to pop in and see us.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

The Stratford Oaks health and fitness team.

25% discount off your membership when you refer a friend

Introduce a new 5 Day or 7 Day member and you will each receive a 25% discount off your category of membership for 2013. You may introduce more than one member – please contact admin for more details.

This offer is valid for applications for the period 1st April 2013—31 March 2014. Past members of Stratford Oaks do not qualify for this scheme. The selection of members through this scheme shall be at the discretion of the proprietor

Substantial discounts on green fees

Your free County Card entitles you to play over 1,200 courses at specially-discounted green fee rates.

Free direct debit for all members

From 1 April 2013, all membership fees will be collected free of charge by direct debit, and the Oaks will be waiving the 7% service fee currently paid by members on direct debit. You will be able to choose to spread your membership fees across the year via 12 monthly payments (instead of the current 10 monthly payments) or, if you prefer, by one full payment on 1 April 2013. Paying by direct debit is considered to be safest and most efficient, guaranteeing peace of mind and ease of payment, at no extra cost to you.

Free personal liability insurance anywhere in the world

Stratford Oaks takes safety on and off the course seriously. When you renew we will automatically insure you, for the period of your membership, should you injure another person whilst playing golf. This covers you playing at any golf club in the UK and up to 120 days abroad. As a member of Stratford Oaks you may upgrade this to cover your equipment at a preferential rate by contacting Golfguard.

Liability

1) Unlimited in respect of any one occurrence for bodily injury in respect of UK Road Traffic Act Liability arising out of the use of golf buggies whilst playing golf on a recognised golf course.

2) Up to £5,000,000 in respect of legal liability for bodily injury you cause to a third party

New pin position system

Your free card will be sent by post. Pin position cards are now widely used and are a very simple method of calculating where the pin is on the green. The current day’s choice of A, B or C placement is shown on the touch screen in reception. Please check before your game!

Subscriptions 2013

Membership fees will rise slightly this year, with an increase of under £3 per month, depending on the category of membership. Full details of new fees can be seen by clicking here. This small increase is to ensure that the high standards on the golf course and facilities are maintained, in the context of increased running costs.

Finally, as a pre-season thank you to you, we will be sending you a personal invitation, to you and two guests, for 18 holes with complementary lunch in the comfort of the clubhouse. Please see the invitation card for further details and ways to book. We really value you as a member of the Oaks and look forward to continuing to welcome you to our friendly and traditional club.

Thank you for your co-operation.

• talk to other members about your golf
• find other members who want to play at your time of day
• sell your second hand golf equipment
• share swing technique and other golfing tips
• ask questions about the rules of golf

Simply click the forum button and follow the simple steps to register

The season is beginning to get under way now and there is a slight improvement in the weather. So do watch out for the mixed matches and competitions advertised on the board and put your name forward to join in.

Our mixed Away Weekend at Tracey Park was a great success. The weather was dry and cold. The courses were however rather wet under foot which made them play long. Thank you to Rosemary for organising this outing again and for managing to get better weather than we expected.

Matches against other clubs

Peter Howitt has organised 2 extra fixtures this season – home and away matches against Bromsgrove. We had the away match on 14th April. This was an enjoyable match although Bromsgrove came out the overall winners.

Our next match is on 7th July away against Naunton Downs. Do consider putting your name down to play. These matches are friendly and it is a great way to meet players from other clubs and to play some different courses.

Mixed Away Day

The date for this is 21st September. Keep the date free. I am currently working on the location for the day. So, watch out for more information about this in the next few weeks.

4 Ball Better Ball Stableford on 6th May

Booking for this on-line or in reception is now available. The fee of £23 a couple will include golf prizes and a 1 course meal. Puddings and coffees will be available for you to order on the day at the normal bar cost. (Please bear in mind the sign-up procedures for all mixed competitions as detailed in the January blog. There is also a copy of these on the Mixed Notice Board.)

The Windsor Cup – Mixed Summer League

The draw for this summer’s league should be up on the mixed notice board by 20th April. The entries this year are lower than we have had in recent years, but I am sure the quality of the games will be a good standard.

Mixed Social Golf

The social golf on Friday evenings (known colloquially as Friday Nighters) will start on 19th April. This will continue each Friday until the clocks change in October, or until we cannot see to complete 9 holes. Do think about joining in, it is always a friendly group of players so you will soon fit in. The sign-up notice for each week is on the mixed notice board in the entrance to the changing rooms. You do not need a partner for these evenings, just sign-up and come along to the bar area about 4.15pm to find out who you will be playing with.

Are you looking for a partner for mixed competitions and matches?

Let me know, I may be able find someone for you. Or, do you know anyone who might like to play? It would be lovely to be able to include more people in our activities.

I hope we have a good season of mixed golf.

Mary

After all of the snow and rain thankfully we are managing get out and to play golf. Due to the adverse weather conditions over several months Andy Mason and his Team have had great difficulty maintaining the course however I am sure that now you can all see a vast improvement. Our thanks to them for their hard work. 

We have now played all of our April competitions although our first Charity event of the season, the SODS Challenge, had to be cancelled due to closure of the course following heavy rain. 

The SODS Challenge (the Young Oldies against the Older Oldies) is one of the Charity Events we hold and the Committee has decided to reschedule it and incorporate it into the Captain v Vice Captain’s match on the 8th October. Please support this event, the proceeds of which will go to my Charity for the year – Prostate Cancer Research.

Winter League

At long last after delays due to the weather the final has now been played. Congratulations to the winners Nick Adams and Robin Singleton who prevailed over John Knightbridge and Frankie Spencer.

Away Day

Our first Away Day will be held at Nuneaton Golf Club on Thursday 9th May. Nuneaton is a parkland type course that is fairly flat for easy walking. 

Proposed Second Away Day

Many of you have shown interest in having a second Away Day in early September. We are looking at the options and the venue will be confirmed in due course

Seniors Inter Club Matches

The series is well under way with 4 matches having been played. To date we have been outplayed however we now have two home matches which we hope to win. 

The number of SOAKS signing up to play in matches is down on last year. If you would like to play please put your name on the Entry Sheets. Give it a try. I am sure you would have an enjoyable day of friendly competitive golf followed by a meal.

Invitation Day

The information and entry form is on the notice board. The date is TUESDAY 25TH JUNE. You may invite up to three friends to come and play with you. We are very grateful to the Club Management who very kindly give courtesy of the course to our guests.

The fees for the day are to meet the cost of food and prizes – not for the golf. The raffle held at this event is the main income generator for my Charity –Prostate Cancer Research – Your generous support is appreciated.

Best Regards 

Eddie Jones

SOAKS Captain

What a difference a bit of sunshine makes….smiley faces brightly coloured summer golf attired ladies and the run on the ball certainly helping to produce some excellent results on competition days. A special well done to Liz Hay with a nett 59 on the recent Medal Competition and Val Walker with 42 points on the April Stableford Competition. Congratulations also go to Jane Nicholls, Pat Powell and Liz Hay who have all reduced their handicaps. 

Two friendly match results :- 

A win for Stratford Oaks against The Vale 2 1/2 to 1 ½

A loss for Stratford Oaks against Stratford 1 1/2 to 2 ½

Well done to all those who played and if you are interesting in playing in future matches please check the noticeboard and sign up. 

The recent Special General Meeting held on April17th to discuss playing every competition in groups of three was well attended and well discussed with the decision taken that medal competitions would remain to be played in 2s and Stableford competitions would be in groups of 3. The result of this is you may find yourself playing at a later time than in previous years due to increased number of ladies playing on Wednesdays and 10 minute tee-times. 

The “At Home” held on a beautiful sunny day at the Lady Captain’s home was really well supported raising nearly £700 for the Alzheimer’s Society. Sue wishes to thank all those who helped to run the event and all the ladies who attended or donated a contribution to her fund raising “At Home”.

Reminders

To avoid having your card disqualified for a competition the Ladies Committee wishes to remind you of the procedure on competition days; 

Sign in on the computer or in the book if the computer is not in use, BEFORE commencing play. 

Record the following on their card: players’ names, handicap, date and competition name. 

Sign the card on completion along with the card marker, enter the results on the computer and place the card in the score box. 

Failure to do so means players will be deemed not to have taken part in the competition. 

Please also remember that for all club competitions players are required to play within the allotted times which must be strictly adhered to. 

Away Day

A reminder from the Lady Captain Sue to check the details of this event and sign up if you wish to join her at Rye Hill Golf Club, Banbury on Monday June 17th. The cost is £40, the same as last year, which includes coffee and bacon bap on arrival, a round of 18 holes golf, a 2 course meal and prizes. These are really enjoyable days so come along and enjoy golf on a different course in lovely surroundings. Everyone with a handicap is welcome and payment is due by May 22nd. 

Stratford Oaks Ladies Open FBBB Stableford Friday August 16th

Sarah Cunningham and Jill Cross are organising this event which is open to ladies from Stratford Oaks and any other club.

The cost is £18.00 to include a meal and prizes with tee times from 8.00am to 11.00am or 11.00am to 2.00pm.depending on your preference.

Stratford Oaks Ladies must include a member from another club in their team of 4.

An active handicap certificate must be produced on the day.

If you wish to enter there are Open entry forms in the Ladies changing room or ask at the desk. 

Sue Howitt Vice Captain 

Ps Ladies Contact Number booklets for 2013 are now available from reception. Also there are some spare ladies lockers available. If anyone is interested please contact Nigel

Whilst on the subject of Winter, congratulations go to Henry Einseidler and Pete Hill who won the Winter League played this year in difficult conditions and over a reduced number of competitions. 

In anticipation of better weather to come our midweek competitions have begun and the monthly weekend competitions kick off with a stableford on the 13th.

The men’s team played their first match at Naunton Downs on 7th April and were narrowly defeated (if only I had got that put on the 18th!). If you are interested in playing in these matches please put your name on the list posted by Jim Francis in the changing room. 

Now, a couple of dates for your diary. The first is Captain’s Day on the 25th May. This will take the form of a shotgun start and there will be a variety of opportunities to win prizes. I will also be running a raffle so any donations will be gratefully received!  Second is my away day on the 11th July at Worcester Golf and Country Club. For those of you who haven’t played Worcester the club is over 100years old and the course is set in beautiful mature parkland and is very well maintained. More details will be posted in the changing room in due course.

My charity bunkers are both greenside bunkers on the 17th. If you end up in either of these please donate £1  (or £10 for a season ticket) in the tin on the bar. My charity is Myton Hospice.

Finally a warm welcome to all our new members.  Please do not hesitate to join in the competitions and events during the year. You will I am sure receive a welcoming and friendly reception. I will be inviting  you to meet with me and other members of the committee in the near future.

Robin Penson 

Men’s Captain.