Members Weekly Newsletter 26-11-21

Friday 26th November 2021
As I write this note the weather outside my window has turned rather wintery. The temperature
has dropped and the skies are dark. The forecast for this evening and the weekend make for grime
reading.
It is with much sadness but grateful thanks that we say goodbye to Elaine Matheson today as she
heads of for a change of career in the education sector. Elaine joined the office team in 2014 and
almost all of you will have spoken to or emailed her at some point in the last 7 years. Her happy,
smiling face and can do attitutde will be missed by us all but we wish her well and much success.
Annual Prize Giving - Saturday 27th November
All the trophies have been engraved and polished and the winners are practicing their smiles. The cocktail mixologists
are ready and our singer, Marilyn Childs Duncan, is warming up so we are all set for a great night out. Remember
everyone is welcome - whether a winner or not so I look forward to seeing you all there.
Live Music - Sat 11th December
As we move into the Christmas Season why not come along and enjoy a bit of dancing and letting your hair down in
the Clubhouse. We have a members private dinner in the backroom and they have paid for Stevie Rebel to play his
great mix of old and new cover versions and everyone is welcome to join in with the party.
Play from Mats
As we move into the softer conditions of Autumn and Winter then the courses are susceptible to wear that will not
repair until next season. Therefore when you see a mat left on a teeing ground then you MUST use this for your tee
shot.
150 Club
The winner of the November draw for £50 was Jim Seatter.
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Property Wanted
A local Dornoch member currently concluding the sale of their home is seeking to purchase a property in town, or
perhaps potentially rent while looking at availability. If you are able to help please contact me on neil@royaldornoch.
com. All correspondence and property details will be considered strictly confidential.
Pizza Nights
Due to have some Christmas party/dinner bookings it is not possible to provide Pizzas every week so they will be
available on the following dates: Saturday 4th December, Friday 17th December, Friday 7th January and then every
fortnight from then on. We will send out an email at the start of each week that the Pizzas will be available.
What’s on in Dornoch
Saturday 4th December is the Dornoch Christmas Festival with Outdoor Christmas Market on the Cathedral Green
from 10am to 2pm, St Andrew’s Fair in the Social Club from 10am to 4pm, a Christmas Fair in the Dornoch Hub and
the Christmas lights go on.
The Open 2022 - Tickets
A member has been fortunate in the ballot for tickets for The Open next year for his son and himself but unfortunately
his son will not now be able to go so he is looking to sell the tickets, preferably to a fellow member.
There is 1 x Adult and 1 x 16-24 year old for Weds, Thurs, Fri & Sat.
If you are interested please contact Chris Stott on chrisastott@gmail.com
Looking for a game?
If you have booked some tee times but don’t have a full 4 ball (or early morning 2 ball) and would be happy for other
members to join you just ensure you only book the places you need and other members will see you have spaces.
These spaces can only be booked via the office so if you want to join up with someone in this scenario just drop the
office team a line on bookings@royaldornoch.com or call them on +44 1862 810219 ext. 1.
Covid 19
Even though we are “Beyond Level 0” of Lockdown you MUST still book a tee time, check in with the Pro Shop and
start from the 1st hole as Track and Trace remains mandatory for everyone.
Signing in is still mandatory in the Clubhouse and you can do this using the NHS Scotland App or by writing your name,
phone number and time of arrival on the sheets provided. Please remember to CHECK OUT/SIGN OUT when you
leave the Clubhouse as failure to do this may result in you being contacted by the NHS for track and trace purposes if a
case is identified on the day you were in the Clubhouse whether you were in the building at that time or not.
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Sunday Roast
The first three Sundays have seen some good turnouts with many people enjoying the food that Brian and his team are
producing. It is also wonderful to have a buzz about the clubhouse which we hope will be the start of things to come as
we move into 2022.
To help Brian plan for Sundays if you are able to book ahead that would be great and the front of house team will be
ready for your arrival. You can still come along on the spur of the moment as there will always be enough to go round.
Course Condition Updates
With the thought of the colder weather approaching and the prospect that the Championship Course may be closed
due to frost or snow, or that buggies may not be allowed, then our team will be posting on the dedicated Twitter channel
to keep you all informed. You can follow us here @RDCourseStatus and you can also see the feed on the Home page
of the website.
Upcoming Club Events
• Sat 27th Nov - Whisky Stableford; Annual Prize Giving
• Sun 28th Nov - Sunday Roast
• Tues 30th Nov - Seniors Roll Up
• Thurs 2nd Dec - Pro’s Stableford
• Sat 4th Dec - Whisky Stableford; Ladies Christmas Event (Struie); Pizza Night
• Sun 5th Dec - Sunday Roast
• Tues 7th Dec - Seniors Christmas Stableford and Lunch
• Thurs 9th Dec - Pro’s Stableford
• Sat 11th Dec - Whisky Stableford; Live Music with Stevie Rebel
• Sun 12th Dec - Sunday Roast
• Tues 14th Dec - Seniors Roll Up
• Thurs 16th Dec - Pro’s Stableford
• Sat 18th Dec - Whisky Stableford
Office Hours
For December the office opening hours will be 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. It is still closed to visitors so please
contact them on 01862 810219 or bookings@royaldornoch.com
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Clubhouse Bar & Catering
Winter Hours of Service:
Bar - 10am to 6pm Sunday to Thursday and 10am to 8pm on Friday and Saturday.
Catering - Closed Monday and Tuesday; 10am to 4pm Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday; 10am to 6pm on Friday and
Saturday.
Please note that the clubhouse may close earlier than these times if there are no customers.
Pro Shop
The pro shop hours for December will be from the first tee time to 4pm 7 days a week but may close earlier due to
weather or playing numbers. Contact them on 01862 811924 or email proshop@royaldornoch.com. The online store is
available for you to make purchases here and to get your members discount you have to register on the site but please
note that verification may take a day or two.
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Golf courses
Another mild start to the week and the mowers are still out with the tees, approaches and greens on both courses all
getting cut. We have also sprayed the Championship Course greens with fungicide to knock back any disease that may
be present due to the milder weather and heavy dews. The forecast for the weekend is not great with temperatures
to fall below zero so please check the Course Status Twitter feed in the mornings. The team have been hard at work
revetting the bunkers on the 10th hole of the Championship course, turfing worn or weak areas on fairways and turfing
around bunker tops. On the Struie Course we continue to turf areas on greens surrounds and have also started to
aerate the greens with the Air2G2.
Please note that the winter greens have been marked on the Struie Course so please treat them as Ground Under
Repair
Bunkers - We have reinstated the Preferred Lie local rule for the time being.
Thanks for reading.
Happy Golfing!
Neil D. Hampton, General Manager
Stay safe. Protect others. Save lives.