Latest News
12th April 2021
Driving range open again
We're pleased to say that the driving range is now open again, with the following hours:
Mon - Fri: 10am - 2pm & 4pm - 8pm
Sat - Sun: 10am - 2pm & 4pm - 6pm
The bar & restaurant are also now serving food and drink (including alcohol), with outside seating only. Hours are as follows:
Mon - Fri: 7.15am - 9pm
Sat - Sun: 7.15am - 6pm
The Pro Shop is also open again, closing at 8pm during the week, and 6pm on weekends.
27th March 2021
World Handicap System & Slope Rating guide
We now have a full guide, with links, to the WHS and Slope Ratings for Cainhoe Wood on the Handicaps & Competition Entry page here.
22nd March 2021
Driving range re-opening on 12th April
We're very excited to re-open the club on Monday 29th March, but want to re-iterate that the range won't re-open until Monday 12th April, while it undergoes some further upgrade work.
2nd March 2021
England Golf guidance
England Golf have published guidance on the road out of lockdown, detailing what we'll be able to do at each stage. They have also shared a poster with general guidance on safe play.
You can find both these infographics on our site here.
24th February 2021
Re-opening after lockdown
It looks likely that the date for re-opening will be the 29th March. We are still waiting on more details and will update you as soon as we know more.
With regards to bookings, members will be able to book two weeks in advance of the opening date and visitors seven days in advance, as per our standard rules.
We will confirm the situation with competitions once we have more information around what can and can't open and how people can mix.
We can’t wait to get everyone back out on the course, but we also have to make sure that we all observe the restrictions that will inevitably be in place.
24th February 2021
Stockwood Park Golf Club
As we're sure some of you will have heard, Stockwood Park Golf Club, near Luton, has announced it potentially faces closure. As well as being a well respected club in the area, they have been instrumental over the years in helping a lot of the talented juniors come through the local and national system. If it were to close it would be a huge loss to the area and we would like to do what we can to help.
If you want to add your support to the cause here are two helpful links:
21st February 2021
A beautiful poem about the game we love
Here's a link to a wonderful video all about our great game, written and read by the excellent Eric Davidson.
It got us so emotional, we almost thought we were actually able to play golf!
14th February 2021
Luke Treasure fundraising
A wonderful little boy Named Luke Treasure, who started playing golf last year at the club, recently started running with his mummy on a Saturday morning.
Luke is 7 and started running 1 mile at a time a few weeks ago, mainly to keep his mum company on the first mile of her run.
When he heard that Captain Tom had passed, he said he wanted to be like him and raise some pennies. Luke decided that he could run miles like Captain Tom walked, before the date of what would have been his next birthday.
This inspirational little man is planning on running 101 miles in 80 days supported by his mum. He has made a great start to this already with several runs already under his belt (and in these temperatures!)
If you can spare any pennies at all it would be hugely appreciated.
You can donate here
4th January 2021
Lockdown update
After tonight’s government announcement we do unfortunately have to close our doors with immediate effect. The golf club, driving range and shop will all be shutting until further notice. We hope it won't be for too long and will keep you advised along the way when further announcements are made.
We will keep maintaining the course and making improvements whilst you’re away. I hope you all are able to stay safe and healthy through this latest test for us all.
I wish you all the best and we will be in touch with more information once we have it.
John O'Leary & the Cainhoe Wood team.
3rd January 2021
Updated range & Clubhouse hours
Whilst we are hand picking balls, the range will now close at 6pm each day - or when we've run out of balls, whichever comes first.
The bar & restaurant will close at 4pm. The shop & reception will close at 6pm.
Please see full hours here.
31st December 2020
New Years message from John O'Leary
Please click here to read an end of year message from John.
29th December 2020
Winter League 2020/21 cancelled
Unfortunately, we have had to cancel the rest of the Winter League season due to the ever changing situation with Covid-19 and complications arranging things around this. We apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment, rest assured that this isn't a decision that has been taken lightly.
29th December 2020
Driving range
We are currently experiencing unprecedented demand on the range. While we're hand picking balls this is meaning we can't stay open for as long as we'd like to.
Please call ahead if you are coming to use the range to check we are stocked up before you travel.
20th December 2020
Driving range closed Boxing day
The driving range will now be shut on Boxing Day, it will re-open on the 27th. Please see here for full list of opening hours over the festive period.
Happy Christmas everybody, see you all soon!
20th December 2020
Tier 4 restrictions
We're pleased to be able to remain open within the new tier 4 measures.
In terms of opening: the main implications are that the pro shop and clubhouse will be closed, apart from check in and use of toilet facilities.
In terms of golf: we are only able to allow two balls. Threes and fours are no longer allowed and if you have any existing bookings to that affect, please call the pro shop to re-arrange. If you have a single four ball booking, its not the case we can just let you out in two twos, we will need you to pre-arrange tee times accordingly.
Whilst this situation is far from ideal, we will make the best of it and our aim as always is to still offer you a pleasant day at the club. We are lucky that golf is one of the few things that can be done in a socially distanced manner, so I hope you can all enjoy and make the best of a very unusual circumstance!
As always we will keep you updated to any adjustments or changes we have to make, following government advice.
15th December 2020
Pavenham Park Christmas Open
Some of the ladies section attended the Pavenham Park Christmas Open on the 11th December. It was a very different event to previous years, however the ladies of PPGC made it a wonderful day. There were decorations on each tee, breakfast and lunch were served out side and a goodie bag for each entrant. The PP team also managed to raise a substantial amount for their chosen charity, Bedford Hospital and friends, from the raffle.
Once again the Cainhoe Wood ladies didn’t disappoint, even though conditions weren’t the best.
Tina Ansell-Carter and Lesley Harris came 3rd overall in the back 9 competition and Nicky Croft and I came in 4th.
The overall winners were a home team coming in with 43 points, however Nicky Croft I and came in second with 41 and came first in the guest competition.
Congratulations to all the competitors, a great day had by all, and nice to feel a bit of normality in a very crazy year!
Roll on 2021...
Best wishes
Lecy Robinson
Ladies Vice Captain
14th December 2020
Handicaps & Competition Entry
Our new Intelligent Golf Handicapping and Competition system is now available to all members. The system is available through the app which you can download to your phone, or the website here (Handicaps and Competitions in the Member's Section).
The system lets you enter club competitions as well as view your new WHS handicap which is actively updated on there. You can still submit scorecards at the club, but the app gives you the ability to log your own scores and have your handicap adjusted automatically. It also keeps records of your scorecards as it asks you take a picture at the end of each round.
We will soon be adding a payment portal to the app, this will allow you to enter paid competitions and all the money and pay-outs are conducted through the system, making it safer and completely transparent. All data is reviewed by the handicap/competition secretaries so again acting as a double check system.
3rd December 2020
Winter League
The Winter League page - here - has now been updated with the new schedule for rest of the competition, and includes tee times for round two, this Sunday 6th December.
1st December 2020
Website updates
We're very excited about welcoming you all back tomorrow, with all facilities at the club open, including the restaurant and driving range.
With an ever evolving situation around Covid-19 restrictions, we have added a couple of new pages to the website to help make everything as clear as possible for you moving forwards.
In the 'Club Information' tab on the menu, you can now see all the latest Covid-19 Restrictions at the club here, including an in-depth infographic from England Golf.
And in the same section there is now a dedicated Opening Hours page here. Restrictions on mixing and drinking alcohol mean we are operating shortened hours in the bar & restaurant. The current need to hand pick balls in the range means we also have reduced hours there.
Whenever hours and restrictions change, they will be reflected on these pages, so please use these as your bible for all the latest info!
19th November 2020
Christmas opening hours
Subject to re-opening and any Covid-19 related restrictions, these will be our Christmas opening hours for the club and driving range:
Christmas Eve - Close 4pm, last tee 1pm
Christmas Day - Closed
Boxing Day - Close 4pm, last Tee time 1pm
New Years Eve - Close 4pm, last tee time 1pm
New Years Day - Open 9am, Close 4pm, last tee 1pm
5th November 2020
Skins competition winner
This year of lockdown inspired a new club competition. While the normal mens knockout competitions would never reasonably be completed, we created a new competition open to all adult members of the club, ladies, men and seniors alike. Each entrant had to play against every competitor in their group so that each had to play 4 matches. The top two of each group went through into the knockout stage.
The semi-final matches were between Rob Dill versus Andrew Norman and Lecy Robinson versus Andy Kemp. Finally, on 24th October, in a match that saw both players at the top of their game, Andy Kemp triumphed against Andrew Norman to win the first ever club-wide Skins competition.
The presentation of the winner’s trophy took place on 31st October when the club captain Richard Fradd handed over the splendid claret jug (devoid of claret unfortunately). Andy receives a prize of £100. Andrew Norman also received a runner-up trophy and £50 prize money, while the two semi-finalists won £25 each.
Neil Shaw
27th October 2020
Winter League round 1 results
Congratulations to Two Plus Two who came out victorious during the first round of Winter League. Playing Again Sam? came in second and Dill's Delight were third.
For a full list of results please click here.
We'll be publishing tee times for round 2 here soon!
7th October 2020
Preferred Lies rule
Following an ongoing review of the course and using England Golf’s advice, we can announce that Cainhoe Wood Golf Club's Preferred Lies period will run from the 1 October 2020 through to 30 April 2021 (unless otherwise advised).
Preferred Lies are for closely-mown areas (fairways and green fringes only).
By following this guidance (whilst also repairing pitch marks and replacing divots) it gives both the greenkeepers and the course the best opportunity to be in tip-top condition for 2021.
6th October 2020
Men’s 2020 Competition Review
As the 2020 season comes to a close, our Vice Captain & Competition Secretary, Rob Kelly, provides a quick review of this season’s competitions:
• King Cup (26/07/20) - won by Alfie Wood (45 points) in his first Cainhoe Wood competition
• Cainhoe Cup (01/08/20) - won by Alfie Woods & Gareth Llewellyn (47 points) which meant two out of two for Alfie
• Caress Trophy (09/08/20) - won by Spencer Hull (net 65) in the first 2020 Strokeplay competition
• Regency Punch Bowl (23/08/20) - won by Paul Hammond & Ciaran Jones (net 57) on count-back from Alfie Woods & Bill Bryce
• Manhattan Trophy (29/08 to 31/08/20) - won by Andy Parfitt (81 point) in the annual August Bank Holiday competition
• Cainhoe Masters (12/09 & 13/09/20) - won by Andy Williamson (80 points) in this two day competition
• Fairway Trophy (20/09/20) - won by James Poulton (net 66)
• Club Championship - Gross (26/09/20 & 27/09/20) - won by Harry Boyle (144) which included a gross 69 on day two
• Club Championship - net (139) which was made up of 2x sub net rounds
• Divisional Championship (11/10/20) - Strokeplay for 0 to 20 handicaps and Stableford for 21+ handicaps
• Laurene Trophy (18/10/20) - 4 Man Team Strokeplay with best two scores to count
I know a lot of people have asked why there are no “drawn” competitions.
The decision was made due to the current “social bubble” requirements that people could choose who they played with and thus who was in their bubble but this will be reconsidered in 2021.
Thanks for supporting the competitions in 2020 and I look forward to sharing the 2021 competition fixtures with you over the next few months.
Best regards
Rob Kelly
Vice Captain & Competition Secretary
28th September 2020
Ben Loveard makes England Golf boy's squad
Our very own Ben Loveard has just been selected as one of eight boys to make up the England Golf boys' squad for 2020/21.
The Cainhoe Wood juniors continue to go from strength to strength and this is a major achievement for Ben, who not only plays at Cainhoe, but also works in the Pro Shop!
If you want to read a bit more about the England squad, and the other members, check out this story here on the England Golf website.
20th August 2020
Ladies Day
This Tuesday 18th August, we had our annual Ladies Day, which was a great success.
To see a gallery of photos from the day as well as a bit more info on what went on, including those all important winners, please click here.
9th July 2020
Key club contacts
Mens Captain: Richard Fradd – richardfradd@hotmail.co.uk
Seniors Captain: Peter Hackett – hackett605@btinternet.com
Ladies Organiser: Nickki Croft - nicki.croft.uk@gmail.com
Mens Competition Secretary: Rob Kelly - robskelly@sky.com
Handicap Secretary: Colin Hare - colinhare1953@gmail.com