Our new green keeping guru Murray Long started this week at East Horton, finding his feet and beginning his long term plan for the courses. He seems like a very pleasant and deeply knowledgeable chap and it will be an exciting year to see what a green keeper at the top of his profession can achieve, all I am at liberty to say is he has a huge budget!

The management and green keeping staff are fired-up and I’m sure you will start to notice some improvements almost immediately.

Murray will initially be analysing the key assets of the golf course organisation, primarily looking at man-power, machinery and budget allocation for maintenance of the golf courses and setting maintenance programmes. Commencing the first week in January he will be fully integrating with his team, setting and analysing standards with complete control given over the green keeping team and setting work programmes. During early Spring we will be establishing the summer maintenance programmes and completing Spring renovations of the golf greens. Refining of cutting programmes for all areas of the golf courses.

You will see a greater presence from Murray in the lead up and throughout the crucial time of Spring as he continues to refine and improve the golf courses. This will continue throughout the summer to further develop and raise the standards across all 45 holes at East Horton.

We will be organising an evening in the Greenwood Room in March where you will be invited to attend a presentation from Murray and hear about the plans we have for the courses over the duration of the year. It will be an excellent opportunity to meet him for yourself and to ask any questions you may have.

At East Horton we thrive to improve on all elements of the business and over the last year you will have noticed many subtle changes that will enhance the East Horton experience. In 2014 there have been cosmetic upgrades to the main building and Greenside Barn as well as the recruitment of a new Head Chef and kitchen team to raise the standards of the food and work towards an AA rosette. This will continue into 2015 alongside the work of Murray and a new website. We are excited for the new year.

As requested by some members here's a photo of James Bastain (General Manager) and Murray Long. If you see him around the course please make him welcome.

We have started a small pre-Xmas SALE with some bargain FootJoy shoes, some at more than HALF PRICE and lots of clothing too. One more offer that might interest you is with every Motocaddy trolley I can offer you any bag from the Motocaddy range at HALF PRICE while bag stocks last.

Just a reminder that we are only officially closed on Christmas day I would start to get times booked in over Christmas holidays as the lack of daylight squeezes the available times but make sure you cancel any times you can't make asap as there are still a few bizarre people booking times that they don't play at, which the manager is monitoring closely.

We would like to clarify the winter golf policy here at East Horton. What we do know is there are low lying areas and a stream that runs straight through the course, along with the fact that there is a sub soil clay layer that doesn't aid drainage but it does give us a lush green course in the summer as a compensation. The ground conditions are constantly changing, almost hourly some days after heavy rain so the decisions are made first thing in the morning.

When the ground conditions allow it there will be trolleys available fitted with winter wheels, and when it's to the point where trolleys are doing too  much damage in the areas around tees and greens we will go to carry only. And only when the weight and volume of people are leaving marks in the greens or when its just not safe for you to out there we will close for the minimum amount of time.

We struggle with peoples expectations sometimes, I presume they don't have a garden or are new to golf but we want you here playing and enjoying your golf.

All we can do is keep you as up to date as much as possible, the phones are answered from 7am and the office staff will update the website as soon as possible. Also we in the shop now have the facility to email all of the players booked in on that day.

My advice is to keep a light bag in the car if your are able to try and carry through the winter and do a small part to minimising the wear on the courses.