|
Getting into the swing of things...
As a new member at West Kent, you’ll want to feel at home as quickly as possible so you can relax and start making new friends.
Although your proposer should have told you a bit about the Club and the way we do things, the following information will help you become familiar with some of the unwritten rules (and little foibles!) that make West Kent a uniquely pleasant and civilised place to play golf. It also contains useful tips on dress code, entering competitions and joining in social events.
In and around the clubhouse
There are 2 club bars, plus a sun lounge and the Jubilee Hut by the 12th green (often referred to as the Wendy House):
is used for lunches & dinners, social events, AGMs etc. There is a food counter from which you can order tea, coffee, meals & snacks between 10am and 5 pm (6 pm in Summer) each day.
This the Club's main bar which also features a vending machine for hot refreshements. Smart casual or clean golfing wear are acceptable, and soft spikes may be worn.
This is open to women during social functions and during major televised sporting events. In addition to a bar, it features a satellite TV and gaming machine. While golf shoes are allowed it is prefered that they be clean.
is a sitting room used exclusively by the ladies for committee meetings, coffee mornings and bridge.
are well equipped with showers, toiletries and towels for use by members and their guests. If you would like to put your name down for a locker, please speak to the Club Secretary.
Commercial vehicles (vans, trucks, etc) are not permitted. Members, guests and visitors must not change their shoes here.
contains notice boards, competition entry books for men’s and mixed competitions and details of social events. There is also a slot for entry money and completed scorecards. There are separate competition books and scorecard/entry money boxes for women’s competitions in the ladies’ lounge.
If you bring your mobile to the club, it must remain switched off in the clubhouse, on the patio. On the course it can only be used to make emergency calls. Otherwise if you need to make a call, please go to the car park areas or use the payphone in the entrance hall.
The West Kent Members’ card
This swipe card has a dual purpose. It addition to allowing members to gain access to locker rooms, it allows you to buy drinks from the bar at a 10% discount. It can also be used to purchase tea, coffee and food but not for advance payment for social functions. The card costs £100 per year (renewable each April) and can be topped up at any time by the bar staff or Club Secretary. At the end of the year, any unused credit can be exchanged for bottles of wine from the bar. The card is not compulsory for juniors.
Dress Code
Smart casual or clean golf clothes. After 7pm (summer) and 6pm (winter) gentlemen are required to wear a jacket, plus tie, cravat or roll neck sweater.For the time being, smart casual wear is also allowed for Sunday lunches and some sociasl events.However members will be notified in advance of the dress code for each function. Ladies should wear smart/ smart casual clothes.
Golf clothes and clean golf shoes but no hats.
Golf clothes or smart casual wear, soft spikes if necessary but no hats.
Clean, smart golf clothes and golf shoes. Men may wear tailored shorts with short, plain white socks during summer. Ladies may wear tailored shorts (maximum 4” above knee) but not collarless tee-shirts or sun tops. No track/shellsuits, denim jeans, tee shirts without collars or sleeves, trainers or sneakers. Shirts should be tucked into trousers. Long trousers must not be tucked into socks.
Posters give details of the dress code for the event. These range from casual (open neck shirts, sweaters and slacks but not jeans) for quiz nights to ‘black tie’ (dinner jacket) for formal functions.
Social events
West Kent enjoys a busy and varied social calender. We very much hope you will support as many functions as possible and bring your family and friends along. Full details (including the cost) will be advertised on posters well in advance.
Booking your place As many of our major functions (Captain’s, President’s and Anniversary Balls, Christmas and New Year parties and the Burn’s Lunch) are always over-subscribed, bookings are accepted on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. You should be at the clubhouse at midday on the Saturday 3 weeks before the event, collect a raffle ticket and wait for your number to be called. You then add your name (plus those of up to 4 guests or fellow members) to the list. Most events require advance payment and you should take your cheque to the Secretary’s office or place it in the ‘entry money’ slot in the entrance hall.
(NB. Some events limit the number of guests you may invite. If in doubt, please ask the Secretary.)
We hold regular ‘restaurant nights’ featuring cuisine from around the world. You can invite as many guests as you wish and book your table by adding your name to the list on the easel in the entrance hall. A hearty, value-for-money carvery lunch is available most Sundays throughout the year. You can invite as many guests as you wish and can book a table simply by speaking to a member of the catering staff at least 24 hours in advance.
Members may book the main hall for family and friends' wedding receptions, anniversaries and other celebrations. Full details can be obtained from the Club Secretary.
Making the most of your golf
There is a full calendar of competitions in a variety of formats for players of all handicaps. Details and entry sheets for men’s summer & winter knockouts and mixed competitions can be found in the entrance hall (women’s competitions are posted on the noticeboard in the ladies’ lounge). The Captain’s and President’s events, in particular, attract a large entry, so we operate an advance booking system similar to that of social events.
Men’s medals are divided into 2 categories. A is for handicaps 14 and below and B is for handicaps 15-28. The start sheet for these competitions are posted in the men’s locker room 2 weeks in advance. Simply add your name to the list if you wish to take part.
There are also Ladies’ Silver and Bronze division medals. Silver is for handicaps 20 and under and Bronze is for handicaps 21-40. Business Ladies who play their medals at weekends have 30 mins of reserved tee-times on a Saturday from 11am (winter) and 11.30am (summer).
Full Members may invite guests up to 6 times a year and can play at any time after 9.00 am, provided the course is not booked for a club competition or a society. You should sign the visitor’s book in the pro shop and pay the appropriate green fee (currently £15 during the week and £20 at weekends). Weekend members may bring up to 3 guests at one time, again subject to the appropriate green fee. No guest may be introduced by the same member more than 6 times in any year. Although an official handicap is not compulsory for visitors, members should be confident that their guests will not hold up play unduly and are fully conversant with the rules & etiquette of golf.
You may play as a two, three or four-ball (single sex or mixed) as long you tee-off at the appropriate place and time. The times at which the tee is booked is clearly displayed on the clubhouse wall and the professional will be pleased to advise you of the quietest times to play. If you wish to check on the condition of the course, especially in the winter months, there is a dedicated telephone number (01689 858693) on which will be a daily update.
If you wish to play in front of a medal or other competition, please use common sense and DON’T tee-off 5 minutes before it is due to begin. Start your game at least 10-15 minutes earlier so there’s no danger of delaying the competition or holding up the whole field.
Slow play aggravates everyone, so please observe golf etiquette at all times by inviting smaller or faster groups to play through if you find you are losing ground.
If the Club Captain, Club President, Ladies’ Captain or Ladies’ President arrives on the tee while you are waiting to play, it is customary to invite his/her group to play ahead of you.
Getting involved
As a Members’ Club, West Kent has both an elected Committee and an elected Council. The Committee (and Ladies’ Committee) is responsible for the day-to-day organisation of golf and social events. The Council, along with the Club Secretary, President and Captain, is responsible for the financial and business management of the club. All full members may offer themselves for election to the Committee or Council, provided they are proposed and seconded by a fellow member.
Suggestion Books are placed in the entrance hall and in the ladies’ lounge. Members may use these to offer constructive comments or to suggest improvements to the club or course.
You may also approach the Club Captain, Ladies’ Captain or members of the committee with a criticism, comment or suggestion that you feel should be formally discussed.
The club’s AGM is held at the end of September each year. All members are encouraged to attend this and any Extraordinary General Meetings that may be held from time to time to discuss and vote on specific issues.
We hope you won’t remain in this category for long! But, in the mean time, please refer to the Conditions of Membership page in your welcome pack. This gives details of specific rules that apply to you.
If you’re unsure about any aspect of membership, need more information or just some friendly advice, our Club Secretary and his staff will be delighted to help.
Finally, we would like to thank you for choosing to join us at West Kent. We wish you many years of enjoyable golf and social interaction.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
|
