Whilst Mendip Golf Club has been closed for almost three months, due to the Covid regulations, there has been much going on behind the scenes.

Monday, 29th March saw packed fairways with the members also enjoying some sunshine. The course was presented in pristine condition, having benefited from the lack of play during the very wet weather. Some ash dieback trees have been removed and the view approaching the third green is now quite stunning. The bunker renovation programme has been completed, a new tee has been built for the 8th, a lot of pathways have been improved and some copses have been thinned out. Richard Gregory and his Greens Team have certainly done a great job.

The Business Management Group have kept matters ticking over and have laid their plans for the coming year. When Stuart Disney joined Mendip in 2017, he had been a PGA Professional since 1993 and had recently gained PGA Fellow Professional status. In 2020, his role at Mendip was expanded when he became Director of Golf, adding responsibilities for ‘all things golf’ and also overseeing the Greens Team. This arrangement brought great benefits to all aspects of the club. Stuart’s role has now been further expanded and he now becomes Golf Club Manager with an increased role in the club administration and involvement with the clubhouse function.

Mendip has announced that Alex Todd, aged 28 and PGA qualified, now joins the Professional Team and will head up all aspects of the various coaching programmes at Mendip. Alex is local to the area and represented Somerset Golf at several levels before turning professional eight years ago. The Team is further supplemented by James Taylor, who will take on increased responsibilities in the Pro Shop and by Sam Scriven, who has settled in so well during this past year.

It’s fair to say that one aspect of the club that has not hit the high standards it has been looking for in recent years, not helped of course by the Covid situation, has been the catering. However, the Club are now pleased to announce that a new franchising arrangement for the bar and catering has been completed and this has been awarded to Steve Morris, an existing club member. He has great plans and these will be implemented, on a phased basis, as the relaxing of the Covid rules allow.

The Seniors have held a Zoom AGM at which Alan Edwards was elected as the Seniors’ Captain through to April 2022, with Steve Davis being elected Vice Captain.

The Competitions’ Committee have been hard at work and a full programme of competitive events commences from mid April. As in 2020, weekend competitions will be held over both days with no set tee times. This arrangement worked extremely well last year, with an increased number of competitors and yet plenty of social golf being played as well – a win/win situation.

Tony Williams