News of Golf Holidays Spain

Following on from its introduction during 2009, Desert Springs has secured the continuation of the reciprocal agreement over green fees with the Golf Clubs of Almeria. Valid from today through to 31st December 2010, Members of Desert Springs Golf Club will benefit from the following discounted green fee rates: -Alboran Golf Club 35€, Mundo Aguilón Golf Club 35€, Playa Serena Golf Club 35€, Valle del Este Golf Club 35€, Almerimar Golf Club 34€, Marina Golf Club 35€, La Envía Golf Club 30€, Playa Macenas Golf Club 35€ & El Cortijo Grande Golf Club 27€.

These privileged rates will always be subject to availability on the golf courses, and are strictly available on the basis that our members provide proof of membership at the time of registration at the respective Golf Clubs Golf Administration.

This proof must be in the form of the presentation of your Desert Springs Golf Club membership card accompanied by photographic evidence in the form of either a passport, residencia or driving license.

Further information on the Golf Clubs of Almeria can be found in the “Official Guide of Golf Clubs”, published by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation available in the Clubhouse.

Our golf reception staff will be happy to contact any of the golf clubs on your behalf and organise reservations for you.

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

Desert Springs is holding its sixth elections amongst members to choose a Vice-Captain and two members for each of the Club’s Handicap and Competitions Committees, for the period 1st April 2010 through to 31st March 2011. The closing date for all completed ‘Club Officials Election Nomination’ forms to be returned to the Club was 18.00 hrs, February 28th.

José Ignacio Olea, Golf Operations Manager commented,

“In accepting their nomination, these Nominees confirm their willingness to represent fellow members and to build upon the foundations created by previous Club Officials for the benefit of all. We would take this opportunity to encourage all members to show their confidence in them.”

Where a person has been nominated more than once, we have only listed one of the nominations.

The following persons have accepted their nomination and secondment to be put forward for election to the office of:

A ‘Desert Springs Golf Club Officials Vote Form’ identifying all those persons put forward for election to each position has been sent to all members. They are also available at the Clubhouse reception and an e-mail vote form has been posted on our website in the Owners section.

The qualification for voting is that all persons wishing to vote must be current members of the Desert Springs Golf Club. All completed voting forms must be returned to the Clubhouse reception at Desert Springs by 18.00 hrs on March 31st by hand, e-mail or fax, but preferably not by post in view of the vagaries experienced. Once validated, the votes submitted will be counted and the names of the successful candidates elected for office by the membership along with the number of votes received will be announced.

For further information contact: José Ignacio Olea
Email: jioz@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  670 613 900

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
‘NEWS LETTER’
MARCH 2010

Dear Member / Property Owner,

Following on from the ‘The Golf Course Superintendents News Letter’ sent to you in January which was designed to keep you up to date with all of the important maintenance procedures which were scheduled to take place on The Indiana course in February, we are pleased to be able to give you an update on the works carried out and to inform you of the schedule of works which shall take place in March 2010.

FEBRUARY COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE

4th Tee Complex - Irrigation Changes

The new irrigation system to the Men’s tee has been completed. The ice plants that surround the tees had spread their roots into the tee surface. These plants have been cut back and root pruned.

Solid Tining Greens

The greens were solid tined as per the maintenance schedule.

Verti Draining Fairways

The programme of fairway verti draining of hole numbers 1, 5, 6, 16, and 18 has been completed.

MARCH COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

4th Tee Complex - Irrigation Changes

The irrigation work to the Ladies tee will be completed in March. Where turfgrass has been lost due to root encroachment from the surrounding ice plants, new turf defining the tee surround and tee surface will be introduced.

Solid Tining Greens

The greens will be solid tined with 5 mm pencil tines. These holes are only open (noticeable) for the first 2 days. This program will continue during the growing season. There is hardly any noticeable effect to the playing quality of the greens surface.

Verti Draining Fairways

The program of verti-draining the remaining fairways will continue throughout March. This particular aspect of course maintenance is both extremely necessary and time consuming, so we ask you to please bear with us until its completion.

Cactus Removal Hole 7

The Agave americana which have, over time, grown to such an extent whereby they have encroached upon the playability of the hole on the right hand side of the 7th fairway, will be removed and strategically replanted. During this time there will be machinery working along side the fairway. Disruption to play, as always, will be kept to an absolute minimum.

Greens Hollow Coring Dates For 2010

In the knowledge that all property owners and members need to have as much notice as possible concerning particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily effect the playing conditions of the greens surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays accordingly, please see below the scheduled coring dates for 2010.

2010
April 26th & 27th
May 20th & 21st
November 8th & 9th

This particular program is an essential part of golf course maintenance. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social schedule, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much, much more by visiting either our official website www.almanzora.com or alternatively, reading the notice boards in both the Men’s and Ladies locker rooms in the Clubhouse whilst at the Resort.

We and the staff at Desert Springs are looking forward to seeing you on The Indiana course in the near future.

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

As announced on 29th January, Desert Springs is holding its sixth annual election for members to choose a Vice-Captain and two members for each of the Club’s Handicap and Competitions Committees, for the period 1st April 2010 through to 31st March 2011. All members were sent a ‘Desert Springs Golf Club Officials Election Nomination Form’, an e-mail form was posted in the Owners section on our web site and copies have been displayed at the Golf reception in the Club House.

Simon Coaker, Director of Golf commented,
“We are advising the membership of the nominations received to date as we believe that this will assist in the process and remove uncertainty as to whether anyone has been nominated for any particular role already or not.”

In the case where a person has been nominated more than once, we have listed only one of the nominations.

To date the following persons have accepted their nomination and secondment to be put forward for election to the office of:

With only 5 days remaining, please remember that all completed nomination forms must be returned by hand, e-mail, fax or post to the Clubhouse reception to arrive no later than 18.00 hrs on February 28th.

Immediately after this date, each member will be sent a ‘Voting Form’ identifying all those persons going forward for election to each position.

All completed voting forms must then be returned to the Clubhouse at Desert Springs by 18.00 hrs on March 31st, again, by hand, e-mail, fax or post. Following the verification of the validity of the voting forms submitted and their counting, the names of the successful candidates elected for office by the membership will be announced.

For further information contact: Golf Club House Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
‘NEWS LETTER’
FEBRUARY 2010

Dear Member / Property Owner,

Following on from the ‘The Golf Course Superintendents News Letter’ sent to you in December which was designed to keep you up to date with all of the important maintenance procedures which were scheduled to take place on The Indiana course in January, we are pleased to be able to give you an update on the works carried out and to inform you of the schedule of works which shall take place in February 2010.

JANUARY COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE

Edging Bunkers

The bunker edging has been completed according to the schedule.

Irrigation Cable Repair To 13th Fairway

The new irrigation communication cable on the 13th fairway has been completed. The replaced turf will be marked as ‘Ground Under Repair’ until it has tied back in.

FEBRUARY COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

4th Tee Complex - Irrigation Changes

A new irrigation system will be placed around the Men’s and Ladies tees. This will enhance the irrigation uniformity, which in particular will improve the quality of the tee surface during the summer months. Whilst work takes place, the tee markers will be moved to adjacent tees to allow golf and the project work to continue. There will be no disruption to the playing surface of the tee.

Solid Tining Greens

The greens will be solid tined with 5 mm pencil tines. These holes are only open (noticeable) for the first 2 days. This program will continue during the growing season. There is hardly any noticeable effect to the playing quality of the greens surface.

Verti Draining Fairways

The program of verti-draining the fairways will start in February. This particular aspect of course maintenance is both extremely necessary and time consuming, so we ask you to please bear with us until its completion. Disruption to play, as always will be kept to an absolute minimum.

Greens Hollow Coring Dates For 2010

In the knowledge that all property owners and members need to have as much notice as possible concerning particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily effect the playing conditions of the greens surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays accordingly, please see below the scheduled coring dates for 2010.

2010
April 26th & 27th
May 20th & 21st
November 8th & 9th

This particular program is an essential part of golf course maintenance. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social schedule, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much, much more by visiting either our official website www.almanzora.com or alternatively, reading the notice boards in both the Men’s and Ladies locker rooms in the Clubhouse whilst at the Resort.

We and the staff at Desert Springs are looking forward to seeing you on The Indiana course in the near future.

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

Dear Members,

I’m delighted to write and tell you about the arrangements for what promises to be a very special week in the Desert Springs golfing and social calendar.

The week commences with a gentle loosener, the Easter Cup, which takes place on 4th April, Easter Sunday.

This is then followed by the Club Championship and Handicap Salver on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th April for both Men and Ladies. The format of this has been changed this year so that whilst retaining the stroke play element the men will play off the Tee of the day rather than the Championship tees.

A new competition will also take place in a Stableford format on the second day of the tournament. This will be for those not wishing to play in the Club Championship / Handicap Salver at all and those who having played on the 1st day but then decide they would sooner opt out of the 2nd day but still play a competitive round. As usual this will be for Men and Women.

On the evening of Wednesday 7th April there will be a new introduction to the social calendar - the Desert Springs Honours Dinner - when not only will we recognise the new Club Champions but also all winners from the previous year. It is the intention that the new Club Captain will also be inducted at this dinner.

This will then allow the Captain’s Drive-In (this year on Friday 9th April) to be a more relaxed affair with the emphasis very much on the social side of golf. This year’s competition will again be a team event with a colour theme (yellow) and rather than a formal dinner in the evening, proceedings will carry on after the golf with lunch at the Crocodile Club. This is booked exclusively for us until 7 p.m. (If past experience is anything to go by I suspect we may be there a great deal later!).

I hope these ideas meet with your approval and would urge you all to support what should be a thoroughly enjoyable week.

Best wishes

Phil Lockyer

For further information contact: Vice-Captain Phillip Lockyer
Email: pmlockyer@gmail.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 7768 045066

The winning Team Paul Taylor, Nicky and Bill Illes with Trish Johnson, Kirsty Taylor and Club Captain Barry Carver

The 2010 ‘Golf 4 All’ Pro-Am was played over the Indiana Course at Desert Springs on the 4th and 5th January. Six players from the Ladies European Tour partnered Desert Springs members and guests in a unique two day pro-am tournament.

The first round Texas Scramble was won by Desert Springs member, Paul Taylor, and guests Nicky and Bill Iles playing with tour legend, Trish Johnson. A run of 9 consecutive birdies from the first hole helped them to amass a total of 52 points and a 2 point lead going into the second round.

Trish Johson also captained the winners on day 2, her team of Alan Patterson, Helen Lavis and Sergio Saavedra scored 81 points in the best from 2 scores format, representing a total of 9 under par, a total also good enough to lift them to the runners up slot in the aggregate event.

The winners of the 2010 ‘Golf 4 All Pro-Am’, partnered on the second day by Kirsty Taylor, were the team of Paul Taylor, Bill and Nicky Iles with an aggregate score over the two days of 132 points.

For further information contact: Christine Langford
Email: cl@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  627 484 460

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
‘NEWS LETTER’
JANUARY 2010

Dear Member / Property Owner,

Following on from the ‘The Golf Course Superintendents News Letter’ sent to you in November which was designed to keep you up to date with all of the important maintenance procedures which were scheduled to take place on The Indiana course in December, we are pleased to be able to give you an update on the works carried out and to inform you of the schedule of works which shall take place in January 2010.

DECEMBER COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE

Edging Bunkers

The maintenance teams have edged both the short game and long game practice bunkers at the practice academy and hole 18. This work will continue into January.

Renovation of Golf Academy Green Side Practice Bunkers

This schedule of maintenance has commenced and will continue into December.

Coring Tees

Due to adverse weather conditions, the completion of the scheduled work for the hollow coring of the tees was not possible. The remaining tees were solid tined.

JANUARY COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

Edging Bunkers

The maintenance teams will continue edging the bunkers on the golf course. This will continue to enhance and define the aesthetic appearance of the golf course. Any bunker being worked on will be deemed as ‘Ground Under Repair’ (GUR).

Irrigation Cable Repair To 13th Fairway

A replacement cable for an irrigation sprinkler head on the 13th fairway is required. The work required will involve trenching across the fairway. Once the new cable is introduced, the fairway will be made good, but will be marked as ‘Ground Under Repair’ (GUR) until the turf has tied back in.

Golf Property Boundary Plants

The original Indiana golf course landscaping scheme was designed by Deiv Kilby, the landscape architect, and Peter McEvoy, the designer of the Indiana course.

The purposes of the landscape and planting schemes were the enhancement of the appearance of the resort as a whole, as well as of the vistas for property owners and of the golfing experience for players.

Additional planting on the the golf side of property boundaries was introduced to improve the focus and aim of golfers and to provide an increased measure of protection to property from errant hit golf shots.
 
Proper pruning of all of these plants has to be carried out by the golf course landscaping teams, both in accordance with scheduled maintenance programs as well as in response to individual requests by property owners.
 
However it has been noted that some extreme and unskilled pruning of some of these plants has been carried out by others in various locations, leaving the plants both badly damaged and in an unattractive condition.
 
We wish to take this opportunity to remind all owners that, if they are concerned about the planting on the the golf side of their particular property boundary, they  must contact Golf Course Superintendent Anthony Brooks, to enable him to respond to  their concerns personally and schedule any necessary plant pruning with the desert landscaping team accordingly.

Greens Hollow Coring Dates For 2010

In the knowledge that all property owners and members need to have as much notice as possible with respect to particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily effect the playing conditions of the greens surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays accordingly, please see below the scheduled coring dates for 2010.

2010
April 26th & 27th
May 20th & 21st
November 8th & 9th

This particular program is an essential part of golf course maintenance. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social schedule, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much, much more by visiting either our official website www.almanzora.com or alternatively, reading the notice boards in both the Men’s and Ladies locker rooms in the Clubhouse whilst at the Resort.

We and the staff at Desert Springs are looking forward to seeing you on The Indiana course in the near future.

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
‘NEWS LETTER’
DECEMBER 2009

Dear Member / Property Owner,

Following on from the ‘The Golf Course Superintendents News Letter’ sent to you in October which was designed to keep you up to date with all of the important maintenance procedures which were scheduled to take place on The Indiana course in November, we are pleased to be able to give you an update on the works carried out and to inform you of the schedule of works which shall take place in December 2009.

NOVEMBER COURSE MAINTENANCE UPDATE

Hollow Coring Greens

The greens have been hollow cored as per the schedule. This is an essential part of golf course maintenance that is carried out to both maintain and enhance the playing quality of the putting surfaces with which we are accustomed at The Indiana. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

Hollow Coring Tees

This schedule of maintenance has commenced and will continue into December.

Hollow Coring Green’s Approaches

Each green approach and collar has been hollow cored, top dressed and over seeded. These procedures will help reduce soil compaction, which allows us to maintain the high quality playing surfaces in front of each green.

DECEMBER COURSE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

Edging Bunkers

The maintenance teams will begin edging the bunkers on the golf course. This will continue to enhance and define the aesthetic appearance of the golf course. Any bunker being worked on will be deemed ground under repair.

Renovation of Golf Academy Green Side Practice Bunkers

By its very nature, when practicing bunker shots, sand is deposited outside of the bunker on the grass surround. This continuous loss of sand creates a sand mound where grass cannot thrive. This area will be renovated.

Coring Tees

The hollow coring of the tees will continue into December. During this time tee markers may be moved to adjacent teeing areas so that work can continue during busy golfing periods.

Greens Hollow Coring Dates For 2010

In the knowledge that all property owners and members need to have as much notice as possible with respect to particular aspects of the golf course maintenance schedule that may temporarily effect the playing conditions of the greens surface, thus enabling them to plan particular holidays accordingly, please see below the scheduled coring dates for 2010.

2010
April 26th & 27th
May 20th & 21st
November 8th & 9th

This particular program is an essential part of golf course maintenance. This practice creates the required environment for strong vigorous roots to grow, the very essence of golf course maintenance.

You will be able to keep up to date with the full tournament and social schedule, format and any additions, information of how to enter, and much, much more by visiting either our official website www.almanzora.com or alternatively, reading the notice boards in both the Men’s and Ladies locker rooms in the Clubhouse whilst at the Resort.

We and the staff at Desert Springs are looking forward to seeing you on The Indiana course in the near future.

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34  637 861 591

Club Captain Barry Carver and the members of the Golf Club Committee held the Captain’s Charity Day on Saturday 24th October 2009.

The day started with a Texas Scramble Competition, shotgun start, with 95 Members and Guests competing in perfect weather. Everyone enjoyed the Fun Day.

Prizes were presented to the winners and runners up at a Cava Reception hosted by the Captain in the Patio Andaluz before a Gala Dinner in the Clubhouse, attended by 124 members and guests. During the evening a raffle was held in aid of the Captains’ Charities.

The Captain gave a brief speech welcoming everyone and thanking them for their participation in the day. He welcomed two visiting groups, one from Dunston Hall, Norfolk, England and a team from Aberdeen in Scotland.

The Captain of Dunston Hall thanked all members of Desert Springs for their warm welcome and invited them to a return match in Norfolk sometime in the future.

Dancing was to the ‘Amor Amorfo’ Group, which was much enjoyed.

Special thanks must go to Alfonso Castiñeira, Christine Langford and all the Staff at Desert Springs for helping to make the day such a success, and all the people and businesses that made donations and gave prizes for the raffle.

Barry would also like to thank his Vice-Captain and members of the Committee for their help on the day, not forgetting the brilliant raffle team.

There was a true Club atmosphere throughout the day with several people commenting on the friendly welcome they received from the members of Desert Springs.

Well done everybody!!!

Best regards,

Barry Carver

For further information contact: Club Captain Barry Carver
Email: barrycarver@btinternet.com
Telephone: +34 678 129 749