facilities to attract a new group of members to the club. The gym is available to both gym members and golf members alike, with the added benefit that some of those who joined for the gym are now being bitten by the golf bug! Improvements to the exterior of the clubhouse should not be forgotten. 2021 saw a significant upgrade to the Halfway Hut known as B:EATS and the creation of a new lower terrace overlooking the 18th green. Together with improvements to the club entrance and car park, these provide a grander sense of presence for the club. The club also benefits from eight beautifully appointed bedrooms that allow visitors to come and enjoy everything Badgemore Park and Henley-on-Thames has to offer. Practice facilities Not blessed with an enormous amount of spare land, the club has had to make clever use of the space it has available to develop its practice facilities. With no room for a driving range, the decision was made in 2019 to create a short-game practice area of academy standard. The 800sqm short-game area that the club has created has rapidly been recognised as one of the best short-game practice facilities in the locality. Bunker practice and a variety of chipping and pitching areas means the team of golf professionals can cover all aspects of short- game instruction. County coaching and lady and junior academies are now a regular feature throughout the season. In addition, a new undulating putting green, a mini version of the famous Himalayas green at St Andrews, has been created out of the old bunker practice area. For those wishing to warm up before their round, four warm-up nets have been located close by the first tee. Most recently, a new dual undercover bay has been constructed on the teaching area, allowing the golf
professionals to continue to give coaching whenever the weather is inclement. During 2022, club management will be creating the next five-year plan and high on the agenda is the creation of a first-class indoor swing room to enhance the teaching and club-fitting services at the club. The plan is that this will have state-of-the-art technology, including swing analysis through the Trackman launch monitor and a course simulator allowing for fun member events playing on any course in the world! Staff training and team development Badgemore Park aims to provide excellent careers in an exciting, positive, and safe working environment. Management recognises that the member and visitor experience at Badgemore is critical to success and that this must be built on sound service standards and staff practices.
LEFT: JON CONNELL, JOHN GRACE, KIM
HAWKINS AND MARTIN WOODBRIDGE OPENING THE NEW 5TH GREEN ON 4 JULY 2020, COVID TIMES!
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