NEWSLETTER Season End 16 Captains Words of Wisdom We can look back on a very successful 2016 season which started what seems a long time ago with a win in the Scratch Winter League. This was followed by a stout defence of the Lindsay Shield where St Andrews came out victorious. Successes in the Senior & Junior versions of the Lindsay Shield matches with Carnoustie and St Andrews followed. So far both Handicap and Scratch Winter League teams are undefeated. Well done to Dave Mitchell winner of Fife Order of Merit. Congratulations to all our winners who we look forward to seeing at the Presentation of Prizes. We have also had success in the clubhouse with continued increasing Bar sales along with New member growth where we are now at 460 across all categories. At the Thistle we are keen golfers but the friendly welcome extended to New Members and Visitors is one of the cornerstones of the Thistles values. Keep up the good work. We are fortunate to play a great Links course which this year is playing as well as ever. Following the success of the Lounge refurbishment last winter we are planning the upgrade of the Restaurant to give Denise more seats and space for better table management. We are also redecorating the Function Hall and renovating the bar to give staff more space and allow them to provide a more efficient service. Leven Thistle really is in a great place as we prepare to Celebrate our 150 th year in in 2017. Gouff Dings Aw Alan Lee - Captain [Edition 1, Volume 1] ISocial Friday 18th Nov Presentation of Prizes in the Function Hall. Tickets on sale at 17.50 Xmas Party Nights Fri 9 th Dec Fully Booked Sat 10 th Dec Limited Spaces Fri 16 th Dec Fully Booked Sat 17 th Dec Fully Booked Saturday 31 st Dec Auld Years Night Party Members Lounge Tickets on sale at 5 Monday 2 nd Jan Denise s Disco & Karaoke Buffet 7pm till Late after Golf in Function Hall Saturday 28th Jan Edenmill Gin Tasting Night Tickets 15 Leven Thistle 150 Year Anniversary Celebrations. Sat 25th March 2017 Sportsman s Dinner in the Function Hall Tickets on Sale Now 35 Sat 22nd July 2017 Elizabeth Taylor Day to be used as a Pro / Am Am Day Sat 30th Sept 2017 150 Year Grand Ball Venue St Andrews Bay TBC
Finance Bar income continues to surpass targets and last year s performance. Our uptake of new members continues where our total is now passing 460 with New members now taking advantage of our 15 month deals. We are in the fortunate position that our subscriptions allow Leven Thistle to operate as a value for money All Year Round Golfing Experience. There are Special offers open to New Members See Website Fees till 31/12/17 15 Months Full Member 495 Age 21 to 25 250 Age 19 to 20 165 Age 16 to 18 140 Senior 65+ 375 New Country 375 (Between Forth & Tay Bridges West of M8 ) Junior Under 16 Free Easy Payment Scheme available Request on application Social memberships are available for 30 so encourage friends and relatives to join us and enjoy the facilities and social activities. Denise has an excellent Xmas Menu which is available from 1 st Dec. Booking advisable. Our Function Suite continues to secure advance bookings for Special occasions, catering for up to 120 people. Great value as our Bar prices are much lower than Hotels etc. The Upstairs Function Suite is Free to members, family & friends for Parties etc. Please contact Ian & Denise to check availability, discuss your needs and confirm Booking. Sports Fixtures for 2017 are posted on the Website. The Winter Eclectic in 4 Periods of 4 weeks over the winter has commenced. Playing one day per week from Thurs to Sun. Entries to our Drawn medals showed increased participation during 2016 with an amazing 151 entrants to the Club Championship Qualifiers. 2016 Champions Baird Cup Club Champion Stuart Hill Patrick Cup Hcp Chris Galloway Silverburn Cup Seniors Les Gerrard Dave Walker Cup Juniors Scratch Mackenzie Haggert Congratulations to Dave Mitchell who Won the Fife GA Order of Merit You the Members as ambassadors of the club are our 1st line salesmen to work on increasing our membership, this introduction of New members is healthy for the clubs future prosperity. Catering The cuisine at the Thistle remains arguably the best value eating place around. Treat family any day excluding a Tuesday when Denise has a well deserved day off in the Dining room. Booking advisable. Call Denise 07752 645091 to Book, or Call on your way down to have Breakfast and Tea or coffee waiting on your arrival. The Thistle went down to the local knowledge of the home team in the inaugural match against Ballater. We will return next year keen to get revenge in home and away matches.
If you have any comments or suggestions on current competitions or observations please contact the Sports committee. Out on the Course We have been treated to Links golf on a course that has been in excellent condition throughout the whole of 2016. COURSE CONDITION - GREENS, The greens performed very well throughout this period. Recent Tinning followed by Ironing to smooth the surfaces has them running at 9 ½ on the Stimpmeter APRONS, Playing and looking so much better due to various factors, including verti cutting, more frequent cuts, and slight reduction in height of cut. The aprons now look so much more Links like TEES, Performed reasonably well through this period. More tees were overseeded with Dwarf Perennial Rye Grass to strengthen the sward. The weather did not help with germination and to date no signs of germination has been seen. FAIRWAYS, The past few weeks have seen a continuing North East wind with weather conditions resembling March/April. This has resulted in many high spots on fairways becoming overly dry (hydrophobic). Work has begun to spray these areas with a soil penetrant and heavy watering to rehydrate the affected areas. Overseeding was done at holes 3, 4, and 17. No germination has been seen to date. BUNKERS, Performed poorer this period. After a long hard summer, many of the bunkers have begun to show signs of serious wear and tear. A report on priority works has been compiled and work will begin within the next few weeks. A trip to Stirling G.C. is planned where some of our greenkeeping staff will see how Stirling G.C. under the guidance of Howard Swan (Golf Course Architect) tackled the redesign of their bunkers. ROUGH, The rough to the left of hole 16 was cut down with help from Lundin Golf Club using their Wiedenmann super 500 rough cutter. Another trip to further thin out this piece of rough and to cut down rough at hole 4 is planned for later this year. Our thanks to Lundin G.C. RABBITS Our rabbit controllers worked throughout the year, although hampered by dog walkers at times. Our Practice area has been re designed to encourage a short game theme. The Leven Thistle Seniors continue to tackle divot /rabbit hole filling, which is a great assistance to the Greenkeepers. The BRS Electronic Booking System allows members total visibility of available tee times. If you have space please encourage other members to join you as we endeavor to be a friendly club which is a big factor in our recent recruitment success. If you have any comments or are experiencing difficulties please contact us secretary@leventhistlegolf.org.uk We would be interested to hear your constructive comments on the course please contact us Please do not discuss or raise issues with the Green keeping staff, they are under instruction from the Head Green keeper & The Links Committee. Address comments through the Pro Shop. Tee of Times the On line booking agency have us in 3 rd place for Fife bookings and Visitors are on the increase. We are targeting them at times out with Peak member times to avoid speed of play issues. Introduce friends & workmates to a game on Leven Links where we enjoy the bonus of winter s golf mostly playing on big greens
all year. Bringing Guests is another source of income as we try to find more ways to invest in improving the condition of the course. To protect the smooth Green surfaces members need to help by repairing Pitch Marks. However it is down to us golfer s to mitigate the biggest threat to smooth and true greens. We have Reciprocal agreements with Auchterarder, Aberdour, Balbirnie, Balwearie, Burntisland, Canmore, Crieff, Downfield, Dunfermline, Elmwood, Kinross,Pitreavie and Thornton where members can enjoy a game at Guest rates subject to availability and terms. Seniors The seniors have 17 Matches during the Season which can be found on the Website. We offer Great value to New Senior Member s with Annual Fees of 375 for new members. In the Cowan Quaich which is the Seniors version of the Lindsay Shield the Thistle team came out on top over Carnoustie and St Andrews. Juniors The Winter Junior Golf Lessons last year were successful in teaching our young uns which is noticeable in their enthusiasm, performances and handicap reductions this season. These Free lessons have now commenced and will continue to be run every Tue night throughout the winter. New Juniors are welcome. The Junior team had a great run throughout the year following up a 3 rd in the Fife Championship with Qualification through the Home Nations eventually finishing 5 th at Royal Burgess. Congratulations to Mackenzie Haggart our 2016 Junior Champion who defeated Jonus Summers in the Final. The Junior Lindsay Shield was won by the Thistle with 2 great team efforts where a 4 ½ - 1 ½ Win up at St Andrews was followed by another 4 ½ -1 ½ win in an exciting deciding match against Carnoustie at Leven. Congratulations to all the lads your team spirit was excellent. Joe Gourley Trophy Winners We would like to thank Mark Anderson Auld Hoose Windygates and St Andrews Taxi s & Eric Walker Links Head Pro who kindly contributed to the lads cost. Clubhouse We would also like to thank Jim Rae for all his throughout the year fully deserving his Honorary membership for many years service. Following the success of the Lounge refurbishment last winter we are planning the upgrade of the Restaurant to give Denise more seats and space for better table management. We are also redecorating the Function Hall and renovating the bar to give staff more space and efficient service. Pro Shop The Pro Shop staff recently celebrated their 1 st anniversary. Congratulations to Eric and the team who following the hard work setting up the facility are now giving us an improved service and also raising the
awareness of Leven Links and the visitor experience. Leven Links has not seen so much attention and new golfing activity for many years as its profile is lifted since the appointment of Eric as Head Pro and the Facebook promotion of the Shop and Links increases awareness of the course. Club Merchandise Samples of Clubwear with the Leven Thistle Celebrating 150 Years Logo will be on view in the Pro Shop soon for advance ordering. This will be the standard Logo on All garments through 2017. See the 2016 Autumn Catalogue now posted in the Lounge and on the Website. Orders continue to be taken through Leven Links Pro Eric Walker at competitive prices.