Golf Monthly - September 2026!
Welcome to September's Edition of The Hurlston Hall Hub
Inside this month's Hub
🏌️ How we're managing the course through the recent drought
🏆 Congratulations to three recent Hole-in-One members
⛳ September & October competitions
đź‘Ą New ÂŁ750 joining fee & ÂŁ250 member referral reward
🎄 Christmas events are now live
Members Achievements THREE HOLE-IN-ONES IN AUGUST
A huge congratulations to Jason Williams
who recorded a Hole-in-One on the 7th hole on 16th August with his 7-iron.
Congratulations also to Andy Cadley and Les Snowdon, who both achieved Hole-in-Ones on the course on 8th and 12th August respectively.
And congratulations to Neil Sheridan/Martin Isherwood & Keith Ellis/Peter Dobson, who finished 1st and 2nd respectively in a recent Seniors' Open at Crewe Golf Club.
Paul Macdonald is taking part of the Big Golf Race for Prostate Cancer UK.
Paul is doing 2 rounds of golf in a day on Thursday 3rd September. If you would like to support Paul you can, click the link below
Golf Course Updates
This summer has presented golf clubs across the country with some of the most challenging weather conditions in recent years. While we know our members understandably want to see Hurlston Hall looking its best, it is important to understand the conditions that our greenkeeping team along with golf clubs across the country have been working to manage. This isn't simply a case of a dry summer. The prolonged lack of rainfall, combined with high temperatures and increasing pressure on water supplies, is creating significant challenges for golf courses across the UK.
It's not just Hurlston Hall
England has experienced an exceptional period of hot and dry weather.
71% of England was classified as being in drought
62.6% of England's reservoir storage remained at this level on 18 August
29 million people were subject to water-use restrictions
1,500+ abstraction restrictions were in place across England
The Environment Agency has described the situation as placing increasing pressure on public water supplies, agriculture, rivers, groundwater and the environment.
July was particularly extreme. England recorded just 5.6mm of rainfall during July, around 8% of the long-term average, while Southern England experienced its driest month since records began in 1836.
So what does this mean for golf courses?
Golf courses are living environments. The grass, trees, soil and wider landscape all respond to the weather conditions. During prolonged periods of heat and drought, turf becomes stressed and the ground can become extremely hard. At the same time, the amount of water available to maintain playing surfaces becomes increasingly limited.
And simply watering everything as much as possible isn't the solution.
Golf clubs are having to carefully prioritise where water is used, when it is used and how much is applied. This is why you may see areas of the course looking different from normal during periods of extreme weather.
A dry area does not necessarily mean an area has been neglected.
In many cases, allowing areas to naturally dry while protecting the most important playing surfaces is part of responsible course management.
Water is becoming one of golf's biggest challenges
This isn't just an issue for Hurlston Hall.
England Golf has recently highlighted water as one of the defining sustainability challenges facing golf in England, with clubs being encouraged to manage water carefully and consider how they can become less reliant on mains water.
At Hurlston Hall, we are fortunate to have ponds across the course which provide an important source of water for our irrigation system. However, having access to these water sources does not mean that the supply is unlimited.
Water levels naturally fall during prolonged dry weather, while extracting, storing and distributing water across a golf course also brings its own practical and environmental considerations.
The R&A has also highlighted the importance of long-term water management, encouraging golf clubs across the UK to consider how they can make their courses more resilient to increasingly unpredictable weather.
In some areas of England, clubs are already facing significant restrictions on water use. The Environment Agency's latest drought report lists temporary use bans across areas supplied by Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Essex & Suffolk Water, Southern Water, South East Water, South West Water, Thames Water and Wessex Water.
This means clubs are increasingly looking at alternatives such as:
Rainwater harvesting
Boreholes
Reservoirs & ponds
Improved irrigation efficiency
Better water storage
The challenge is becoming about long-term water resilience, rather than simply getting through one dry summer.
Behind the Scenes: Our Greenkeeping Team
Every day, Michael and the greenkeeping team are assessing the course and adapting their approach to the conditions.
They're continually considering:
Where water is most needed
Turf health and recovery
Irrigation requirements
Mowing and maintenance
Protecting the most important playing surfaces
The priority isn't simply to make every part of the course look green at all times. The priority is to protect the long-term health, quality and playability of the golf course.
A wider look at what's happening in golf
This is an industry-wide issue, and we thought members might find the following articles interesting.
đź”— The R&A Golf courses urged to prepare for the growing challenges of water management
đź”— Met Office The exceptional weather conditions behind this summer's drought
Want to know more?
We've included a couple of useful resources below for anyone interested in the wider issue of water management and golf.
đź”— England Golf
đź”— Environment Agency / GOV.UK
đź”— The Golf Business
đź”— BIGGA
Looking Ahead
We know how much our members care about the condition of Hurlston Hall and so does the greenkeeping team. Nobody takes more pride in presenting the course in the best possible condition than the people who work on it every day.
We can't control the weather, but we can control how we respond to it. As the weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, the way golf courses are managed will continue to evolve. Water management, sustainability and building greater resilience into the course will become increasingly important, not just at Hurlston Hall, but across the whole of the golf industry.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while the team continue to work hard through what has been an exceptionally challenging summer.
Course Care & Course Manager's Blog
You can read Michael's latest blog, HERE.
Competition Calendar ⛳
Tuesday 8th September | Mid-Week Stableford Competition | Sign up via IG |
Saturday 19th September | Mark Turner Competition | Sign up opens 22-08 |
Friday 23rd October | THE OBG TROPHY⛳ | Sign up opens 28-09 |
Saturday 24th October | Armed Forces Competition | Sign up opens 17-10 |
Saturday 31st October | Hurlston Hall Club Prize Presentation 🏆 | All members who have won a Board Comp in 2026 will be given a tee-time. Sign up opens 18-10 |
Don't miss...
🏆 OBG Trophy – Friday 23rd October
Have you ever wanted to play golf with Liam our Head Chef or Luis our F&B Manager or maybe Steve our Head PGA Professional, what about Jason our Leisure Club Manager or maybe Michael our Course Manager....the list of staff members goes on and on, well now is your chance.
Texas Scramble • 3 Members + 1 Hurlston Staff • Shotgun Start • Breakfast Rolls & 1-Course Meal
Entries open:Â 28th September
Entry Fee: ÂŁ15.00pp
Membership & Club Updates
Refer a Friend & Receive ÂŁ250
We've increased the joining fee for new members to ÂŁ750.
As a thank you to our existing members, anyone who successfully refers a new member will receive ÂŁ250 credit onto their club account.
Know someone who'd love Hurlston Hall?
Speak to the Golf Services Manager to find out more.
GOLF SHOP & DRIVING RANGE
Click below to find out what stunned Chris O'Connor!
Group Coaching – Just £10 Per Lesson!
Looking to improve your game, learn something new or simply enjoy some time on the course with fellow members?
Our Group Coaching sessions are a great way to develop your golf in a relaxed and friendly environment, with sessions available specifically for Juniors, Ladies and Seniors.
And the best part? Just ÂŁ10 per lesson!
Whether you're looking to improve your swing, sharpen up your short game or build confidence on the course, our group sessions are a great opportunity to learn, practise and have fun.
Booking is recommended, click below to book now.
CLUB NOTICE Slow Play Monitoring and Action We're continuing to monitor pace of play across the course. We appreciate everyone's support in ensuring rounds are completed within a reasonable time and that groups maintain their position on the course.
Quick Reminder
🛺 Club Buggies
Please return hired buggies to the Golf Shop promptly after your round so they can be prepared for the next booking.
Membership Benefit Update
If you've recently renewed your membership, your annual benefits (including guest passes, leisure club passes, complimentary lesson vouchers, and any other membership benefits) have now been renewed.
We're currently waiting for a delivery of the physical vouchers to arrive at the club. In the meantime, if you'd like to use any of your membership benefits, simply speak to a member of the Golf Shop or Leisure Club team, who will be happy to book these for you until the booklets arrive.
Tee Time & Course Etiquette
To help everyone enjoy their round and keep play running smoothly, we'd appreciate your support with the following:
Please ensure all players have a booked tee time.
Check in at the Golf Shop before heading to the 1st tee.
If you're bringing guests, please check them in at the Golf Shop before play.
All rounds should begin from the 1st tee unless otherwise directed by the Golf Shop.
If your plans change, please cancel your tee time as early as possible so it can be made available to other members.
Membership Renewals - 1st October
Members whose renewal date is 1st October will have received their renewal notice by email.
If you'd like to change your membership category or payment details, please contact Chris Walton by Friday 25th September.
Thank you to everyone who has already renewed and chosen to continue their membership with us.
Christmas at The View
Christmas events are now LIVE!
Our festive events are always popular, so we recommend booking early.
View the events & book your tickets →
Photos from Captain and Lady Captain's Day
That's all for this month's Hub.
From the course and competitions to the clubhouse and events, there's plenty happening at Hurlston Hall as we head into autumn.
We hope you're enjoying your golf and making the most of being part of the club — and we'll see you around Hurlston over the coming weeks.
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