COURSE COMMITTEE
Course Committee Members:
Alan Wood - Course Director
Keith Birmingham, Peter Longson & Malcolm Barley - Elected Members
Barbara Powell & Rupert Thorp - Co-opted Members
Jack Makinson - Captain
Ruth Aitkenhead - Lady Captain
Bill Tye - Professional
Gavin Clarke - Head Greenkeeper
Kerry Brown - Secretary
The course is maintained on a day to day basis by a team of 5 greenkeepers. They are led by Gavin Clarke, the Head Greenkeeper, who has been at Eaton since the new course opened in 1993. He was promoted to his present role in 2001. He is assisted by Tony Wellings, the longest serving assistant, who has been at Eaton since 1994. Chris Baker, Bryn Roberts and Iwan Pugh-Jones complete the team,
The management of the course is detailed in the ‘Course Management Policy' document. This policy was last reviewed in 2006 and is available for inspection by members in the club office.
This document sets out 4 mission statements
• To present the course to a consistently high standard
• To retain the natural characteristics of the course
• To provide a challenge commensurate with the modern game
• To provide an experience that is enjoyable to golfers of all abilities
Whilst the Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the management of the club, the Course Director, as Chairman of the Course Committee, has responsibility to the Board for the course. Garry Hudson currently holds that position.
The Course Committee meets on a monthly basis. It has three elected members, Rupert Thorp, Keith Birmingham and Malcolm Barley, along with one co-opted member, Ian Graves. Permanent members of the committee are the Head Greenkeeper, the Secretary / Manager and the Professional. The Captain and Lady Captain are also in attendance at the meetings.
The role of the Course Committee as defined in the policy document is as follows
• To prepare an annual budget for the course and monitor annual expenditure
• To regularly review all work done on the course and to plan the future work programme
• To ensure that the required machinery / equipment is available to maintain and improve the playing conditions
• To plan all improvements to the course and any additional facilities
• To advise on selection of Greenstaff
• To act as a forum between Greenstaff, Professional, Competition Committees and Players. To explain how and why jobs are carried out and to bring relevant matters to the attention of the Board in order to overcome problems associated with the playing of the course
• To be involved in the drawing up of the competition calendar to ensure that critical work can be scheduled to avoid conflicting with major events
• To call in expertise in specific areas as required
• To provide a representative for the Health and Safety Committee
• To ensure that all activities follow good environmental practice
• To keep the membership informed of its activities
• To prepare a long term plan for the future development of the course
The minutes of the last two Course Committee meetings can be viewed - minutes
