A Bonsall on the Boards

Most of you know I am an honorary member of Brighton & Hove which was given to me when I left to come to Piltdown after 17 years. Things are a bit different with the honours Boards - only ways to get on them - Become Captain, win the Club Championship, or win the Gelston Trophy which is open to all members. Last Sunday I signed up with my wife, Kim and another friend of ours, to play in the Gelston Trophy. This was with some trepidation, as Kim has not been playing well for quite some time. However, I am delighted to say there will now be a Bonsall on the Boards - Mrs Kim Bonsall who won the trophy with 43 points. I guarantee I was more nervous than her over the last 6 holes (probably because I didn't tell her the score!)

Point of the story - never give up! She's really struggled with her game for the last year, as we all do from time to time, but Sunday was by far the best round she has ever played - so if your game's not quite there at the moment, keep going, it might be just around the corner. Might be worth booking yourself a lesson with one of our 3 pros - they might just be able to put you back on track.

Course Report

At Piltdown reports back from the course have been very positive, and the course work has all healed over very well. It will keep going from strength to strength now into September, which is always my favourite time to play the course.

The Green Committee (Matt, John Turzynski and I visited Stoneham on Tuesday to look at practice facilities, and to see the progress they are making on a new reservoir - it was interesting to see how dry and bouncy the course was there as well - another heathland based on clay. We came away with some good, fresh ideas.

Competitions Tomorrow

We have an All Day Stableford tomorrow - for both men and women (separate events). Sign up in the pro shop, pay your entry fee, register on the touch screen and go and enjoy it. Any member with a handicap can mark your card, even if they aren't in the competition. Juniors allowed, but must have an adult in the group. Men entry is £5 and you can play from yellow or blue tees, ladies is £3 and you can play from red or blue tees.

	More Junior success Very well done to the dream team of Oscar T, Oscar R, Evie and Sophie, who won the West Sussex Junior Invitation Team Trophy yesterday, beating 10 teams from Sussex and Surrey.

			So close... It wasn't to be for our fabulous Martlets team, who lost to Cowdray Park at Crowborough on Wednesday. It couldn't have been much closer, the game being decided on the last green in the last game. Bad luck, but a superb season!

	Men v Ladies This event has long been plagued by a touch of “creative accounting” from the men, who have traditionally taken charge of the handicap allowances, a process that, by sheer coincidence, always seemed to work spectacularly in their favour. This year, however, the office took one look at Tsol’s suspicious sums and gave them a swift correction. Even so, the men still kept hold of the trophy with ease… or so they tell us.

Shoes: change of policy

We’ve had feedback from some members who, after forgetting to bring a change of shoes, have decided to head straight home rather than join friends for a drink after their round. That’s not the spirit we want here. At Piltdown golf is usually as much about the camaraderie as it is about the scorecard!

There’s also been an ongoing battle with some of our juniors, who sometimes fail to bring alternative footwear and end up leaving their golf shoes in a heap by the door. To be fair this has improved recently (thanks parents) but it is still an issue at times.

Let’s be honest: most modern soft-spike shoes are little different to trainers in terms of the wear and tear they cause indoors. With that in mind, we’re going to trial a new approach: until the end of September, clean, dry golf shoes will be allowed in the clubhouse.

We’ll keep an eye on how things go, and at the end of September we’ll review the policy. In the meantime, we ask that all members use their common sense: please make sure shoes are properly cleaned before coming inside, so we can keep the clubhouse welcoming for everyone.

We hope this slightly more relaxed approach encourages more of you to stay and enjoy the social side of our club.

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15th August 2025 Newsletter

A Bonsall on the Boards

More Junior success

So close...

Men v Ladies

Shoes: change of policy