January News from Fynn Valley

Welcome to this month’s update of what is happening at Fynn Valley as well as what is coming up….Golf is a great sport to enjoy with the whole family, so please read on to find out more about how you can encourage everyone to take up the game. Plus, now is a great time to start to learn so you are ready for the warmer weather! New for Fynn Valley is our Google Virtual Tour – have a virtual walk through our beautiful Valley Room set up for a wedding reception. You can also take a tour of each of the holiday lodges too. If you have any celebrations coming up, please do get in touch with us. From children’s golf parties to charity golf days to retirement dinners to birthday celebrations to proms and all in between…..

Sale Continues!In the golf shop. Big savings on big brands! 30% Off all golf bags 50% Off the clothing on the Sale Rail And many more great offers…… PLUS Spend over £50 on golf equipment, clothing, footwear or accessories and receive a voucher for a FREE round on the 18 hole course – value up to £32.00! Shop local!

Saturday Evenings in the Courtyard BarWill and the team continue to provide a delicious menu for Saturday evenings in the Courtyard Bar. Look out for the Tickles offer in the EADT & Ipswich Star starting w/c 3rd February! See the menu here Booking advised on 01473 785267 option 2 or email us And don’t forget Sunday Lunch!

Valentine’s Night Friday 14th FebruaryThe ultimate romantic meal in the beautiful surroundings of our Valley Room…. A real foodie treat! Pink fizz on arrival. Four course meal. A rose for every couple. £29.95 per person. See the menu hereBooking essential on 01473 785267 option 2 or email us

Junior Golf Every Saturday at the Golf Range there are Junior Group lessons for non members for younger children (age 4-9) from 1-2pm and 2-3pm for older ones (age 10-16), costing £3.50. Coaching is from a PGA professional and all equipment is provided. These sessions are very relaxed and informal and a great way to gauge whether golf is something a child will enjoy. There is no need to book in for these sessions, just come along. We are now going into schools to give free taster sessions. If your school would be interested, please encourage them to get in touch with us. New Junior members are very welcome! Two big new developments for Fynn Valley Junior members….. Firstly, Junior Saturday coaching is now only £1 per member for the hour. Secondly, we have signed up for the Golf Foundation’s Junior Passport scheme, which will be available exclusively to Junior Members. This exciting scheme sees Juniors work towards a series of certificates of achievement in a fun structured manner. Find out more about the Passport here. To find out more about Junior Membership, email Jan.

Get Into GolfGet started in golf for only £20! Now is the time to learn, ready for the summer. Four week courses, Tuesday evenings. The next starts next Tuesday 4th February. If you, or someone you know, would like to begin golf, please click here.

Workplace Challenge – Suffolk Companies and organisations across Suffolk are invited to take part in the ‘Workplace Challenge’. The aim of the programme is to promote sport, physical activity and health improvements across England’s workplaces. Sign up to record your sport and physical activity online to receive points – and points make prizes! But it’s not about winning, ‘spot prizes’ are offered as part of a draw simply by taking part and trying to improve your fitness. The Workplace Challenge is being delivered by the County Sports Partnership Network. Fynn Valley are promoting this because golf is a great way for everybody, regardless of age or fitness level, to participate in a sport and stay active.

Ladies – Learn to Play Nominated for awards at National level, find out more about Coaching Director Alastair Spink’s proven method of teaching golf to ladies in a relaxed and informal environment . . .Email him

UNICEF Golf Dayat Fynn Valley Golf Club Friday 2nd May at 1.30pm Teams of four £32.50 per person, all profits from the day go to support UNICEF Entry forms are available from the Golf Shop or email us

Sunday Lunch….. Escape from it all to the peace of Fynn Valley…. Easy parking, friendly service and great food. All our roasts are freshly cooked on the day and carved to order. The meat is sourced locally and of the highest quality. Crisp roast potatoes and fresh seasonal veg. Everything you would expect from Fynn Valley. One course £9.95 Two courses £14.95 Three courses £17.95 Call to book on 01473 785202 option 2 or email us See a sample menu here

Keep Practising! Our golf range is covered and floodlit, range heater also available. Balls are sold until 5.15pm Saturday – Monday and 7.45pm Tuesday – Friday. Happy Hour! Get 90 balls for £3.25! Valid all day Mondays and Tuesday-Friday 12.30pm – 1.30pm and 4pm – 5pm. Open to all ages and abilities, no dress code, no need to be a member and club hire available. Don’t hibernate! Come and see us!

App Offer Download the free Fynn Valley app and, the next time you are at the golf range, you can unlock the offer on range balls: Mega Bucket of balls for the price of a Medium Bucket That’s a saving of £2.00! The app also rewards loyalty, lets you order food in advance, see the local weather and lots more. Follow the link at the bottom of this email to find out how to get the Fynn Valley app on your smart phone or tablet.

Coming Soon!Diary Dates! Valentine’s Dinner Friday 14th February Wedding Fayre Sunday 16th March Mother’s Day Lunch Sunday 30th March Easter Sunday Lunch Sunday 20th April French Night Saturday 10th May Christmas 2014 Dates for our popular Party Nights are already selling out!

If you require any further information on any of these, or have any questions regarding the Club, please call us on 01473 785267, pop in, or email us.Jenny & the FVGC Team

Changing the Way Golf Clubs Are Perceived – “Here Come The Girls”

Since the club originated, twenty years ago this year, there have been a number of core values which may have been surprising to many when we started and sadly are still surprising to some now.

1) There is no dress code in the clubhouse

2) Women have completely equal standing – including being welcome in the clubhouse. Unbelievable to me it was ever otherwise.

3) Children are welcome

We wanted to make golf accessible to all, not sexist, not stuffy and most of all social and fun. Yes, there is a competitive element to aspects of the club, it is a sport after all and yes, on some days, there will not be many women – or children  – in evidence. But it need not be so. It is simply a matter of numbers – less women and children than men play the sport.

For some months the Director of Golf, Alastair Spink, and myself had talked about ways to encourage more women, in particular those below retirement age, to take up golf. I am in my mid-thirties and can think of no  better way than to spend a balmy summer’s evening than a stroll with a friend around nine holes followed by a glass of wine in the bar. But how to get this message across to the masses?

Then Alastair had a brainwave. The club would offer the use of the nine hole course and golf range and Alastair would provide teaching – free of charge. Brand it well, make it free and get it out there on social media so the marketing costs were minimal. “Here Come The Girls” was born.

In return we would ask the ladies to keep a journal, documenting their perceptions of golf prior to starting and how they felt the course went.

The feedback has been phenomenal. So far 130 women have taken us up on the offer, mainly aged between 20 and 50. The journals have given us an insight into how women view the game which we would have struggled to access otherwise. They have said which teaching methods they like, what parts of each session they found useful, how grateful they were that they didn’t pitch up to a hard sell and how much fun they found learning surrounded by like-minded others.

Their initial perception – sadly to me after 17 years in the industry there were no surprises – a stuffy atmosphere filled with older gentlemen with moustaches and plus fours, glaring at them. How wrong they were, and we hope that, in some small way, we are changing the face of golf. In Suffolk anyway!

And the truth? To us it’s not all about promoting Fynn Valley, it’s about growing the game, promoting and expanding a brilliant sport which, if things bowl along as they are, is in danger of becoming endangered.

 

 

Want to know more? Visit http://www.facebook.com/herecomethegirlsatfynnvalley, Fynn Valley’s site http://www.fynn-valley.co.uk or Alastair’s page at http://www.golf4ever.co.uk. You can pop me an email jenny@fynn-valley.co.uk. Or give us a call 01473 785267