After the wetest months of April and June since records began, July has started with another deluge and the forward forecast is for a lot more of the same. Golfers everywhere are suffering and all Golf Clubs are missing revenue from green fees. Some courses have been forced to close due to waterlogging, so many club members are no doubt disgruntled by not being able to play and may think twice when their membership is due for renewal.
Three months ago, I read in Golf News an article about hosepipe bans and how the manager of one local Golf Club was unsure of how this would affect them. Water can be an expensive necessity. Last week I heard that the same club was forced to make two members of their staff redundant, due to increasing financial pressures caused by far too much rain.
TSG members have the advantage in that we don't pay 'upfront' for our golf and can choose where to play.
Many clay-based courses around London & the South East have become extremely wet and not much fun to play in these conditions. There ARE alternatives. Free-draining chalk or sand-based courses are largely unaffected, so remain fully open and playable throughout the year.
A visit to either of the 'TSG Preferred' courses East Brighton or Redbourn should not find soggy fairways, although you may still need waterproofs and a brolly......let's hope for some good weather soon!
