Fresh from the Fairways: May Edition

Introduction

By James Green, General Manager

Hello everyone,

We’re kicking off this edition of Fresh from the Fairways by celebrating Aaron Rai’s historic PGA Championship victory – defying 150-1 odds to become the first English player to lift the Wanamaker Trophy in over a century!

Closer to home, the relentless rain from January through March tried its best to dampen our 2026 season, but we are officially back with a bang! Despite a very tight window to recover from a particularly punishing winter, our greenkeeping team has done an exceptional job returning Portsmouth Golf Course to the peak season condition you expect.

With Rory’s back to back Masters win in April, the buzz heading into The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale this July is unlike anything we’ve seen. Since we get a true taste of those same coastal breezes right here on our hillside fairways overlooking the Solent, the excitement for the Claret Jug feels even closer to home. Who is your pick to lift it?

Whether you are sharpening your game or taking on the sweeping views and challenging layout of the course, we are thrilled to welcome you back to a venue that is looking sharper by the day.

Here’s what we’ll be covering in this edition of Fresh from the Fairways:

2026 Loyaltee Golf® Customer Survey Results
Golf Course Update
Claim your free copy of the 2026 Golf Society Playbook.
The Sunchaser Deal is Back
Clubhouse & Catering
Team Update
Community News

You Spoke, We Listened!

By James Green, General Manager

Thank you to everyone who completed our Loyaltee Golf® 2026 Customer Survey! We are thrilled that you continue to rate the unique, undulating challenge of Portsmouth Golf Course and consistently rate us highly for fantastic value for money. We also loved reading your glowing praise for the incredible turnaround our new greenkeeping team has achieved on the greens this past year.

While there are many positives to celebrate, we are turning your feedback into an exciting action plan for 2026 and beyond. Here is our focus based on your top requests:

Buggies: We know how important buggies are on our hills, so expanding our fleet was a constant request. We acted on this and increased our fleet by 35% to ensure more availability.
Pace of Play: You requested more active Starters and Course Marshals to speed up play. We now have more friendly marshals who assist with the operation of our busy golf course.
Tee Time Availability: We are looking at ways to reduce no-shows to ensure weekend morning slots are fully utilised.
Clubhouse & Refreshments: We are exploring options to revamp our clubhouse catering including a mobile catering service for mid-round drinks and snacks.
Practice Facilities: We hear your desire for better warm-up areas, so we are exploring upgrade options.

Huge thanks to our friends at The Masters Golf Company for supporting our survey and providing a fantastic iCart Evo Trolley for the prize draw! ️‍Congratulations to the winner, Lori P (a regular at Richmond Park Golf Course)!

Golf Course Update

By Robert Rogers, Head Greenkeeper

Following a challenging start to the year, we are thrilled to report that the golf course is now playing excellently. Here is a breakdown of recent improvements and what’s happening around the club:

Greens & Fairways: Our greens responded brilliantly to March maintenance and have since received fertiliser and wetting agent applications to strengthen the leaf ahead of the summer season. Additionally, fairways and green surrounds have been treated to control weeds and encourage our finer grasses to flourish.
Sustainability Boost: Recent investment into new hand-watering points will significantly improve our water efficiency, helping us become a more sustainable club.
Course Enhancements: The 4th tee is officially back in play following a successful re-turfing. Over on the back nine, our course team has lowered the unwanted tree stumps to the left of the 17th hole and cleared intruding limbs on the right of the 18th, subtly opening up the final tee shot.
From Above: Keep an eye on our website and social media platforms over the coming weeks! We will be sharing breathtaking new drone footage that showcases the course in all its glory and provides a truly immersive viewing experience.

Special Offers & Events

By Blake Docherty, Operations Manager

Chasing the Sun? Half-Price Buggies are here!

There’s a certain magic to twilight golf at Portsmouth Golf Course – quieter fairways, long shadows, and the perfect coastal breeze. Now, you can upgrade that experience for just £20.

With our Sunchaser Deal, add an EZGO Electric Buggy to any midweek twoball round for just £20 (Regularly £30). Check out golf’s hottest deal here.

Planning a Society or Golf Day?

Being a Society Organiser can be a thankless task – so we’ve made it easier. We’ve just released our FREE 2026 Golf Society Playbook, designed to help you plan a day your group will actually talk about for years.

From choosing the right format to securing the best dates at Portsmouth Golf Course, it’s all inside. Click here to download your free Golf Society Playbook.

Why join for a year when you only play in the summer?

Love the course but not ready for a year-long commitment? Our Loyaltee 1-Month plan is the perfect summer solution. It’s our most popular flexible option, giving you full member access and unlimited golf throughout the peak season.

Whether you want to maximise your game during the long evenings or just enjoy the course at its best, you can enjoy all the perks – including member discounts – for 30 days. No long-term strings, just pure golf.

Click here and sign up today.

Thursday Night Golf is in Full Swing!

We kicked off April with a bang, welcoming over 40 golfers to our first Thursday night session! This weekly summer event is the ultimate way to meet new members and find new playing partners.

The Format: A relaxed, friendly competition over the front 9 holes.
The After-Party: Head over to the 19th hole for well-earned refreshments and a proper chinwag.

Watch the World Cup With Us!

We’re bringing the stadium atmosphere to the clubhouse! Come down to the bar area to watch England’s World Cup group games on the big screen.

Tee off with a quick, fun 9-hole format before the matches, then score big with exclusive food and drink specials after your game.

Full details and fixture dates will be released soon – watch this space!

On The Menu

By Andy Silverman, Group F&B Lead

From the First Tee to the 19th Hole

Whether you’re hunting for birdies or just trying to survive the bunkers, one thing is certain: you’re going to need refuelling. From quick snacks at the turn to celebratory rounds at the bar, we’ve got your cravings covered.

Grab & Go Made Easy

Don’t let hunger ruin your scorecard! Our Grab-and-Go stations are stocked and ready for action. Swing by the Clubhouse Cafe to grab your stash before you tee off.

New Flavours at the Clubhouse

The Clubhouse kitchen has been busy! We’ve launched our new Clubhouse Menu to feature classic favourites and fresh new dishes. The atmosphere is chilled, the views are scenic, and the fries are always crispy. Ready to see what’s cooking – click here and check out our brand new menu.

Brand New Refreshment Buggy!

We’re bringing the clubhouse to you. Over the next few weeks, keep a look out for new new refreshment buggy. Whether you need a quick snack or a refreshing beverage, we’ll be on hand to serve you mid-round.

Team News

By James Green, General Manager

Employees of the Quarter

Let’s hear it for Dan McLoughlin and Ebony Johnson, our latest Employees of the Quarter!

Dan and Ebony have been absolutely crushing it lately. Whether it’s stepping up to tackle big projects, helping out teammates, or just bringing great energy to the team every single day, their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

We are so lucky to have you both on the team. Congratulations on a well-deserved win – enjoy the bragging rights!

Community News

By James Green, General Manager

Portsmouth Golf Club is Turning 100!

A whole century of great rounds, missed putts, and lifelong friendships – our partners at Portsmouth Golf Club are officially celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year!

From their home at Portsmouth Golf Course, the club has built a proud legacy of competitive spirit, operating handicaps and running a packed tournament calendar every single season. Now, it’s time to celebrate that success in style.

Date for the Diary: Saturday 25th July

We’re throwing a massive anniversary bash, and the whole community is invited. Join us for a brilliant day of:

Special anniversary golf formats
Delicious food & refreshing drinks in the bar area
Charity fundraising for the incredible team at Rowans Hospice

Let’s come together to celebrate our history and give back to a charity that does so much for our community. More details on how to book your spot will be coming soon!

And Finally...

The days are getting longer and we’ve reached that glorious stretch of the season where twilight golf is a perfectly valid excuse for being late home.

Our maintenance team has the course in peak condition, but the excitement doesn’t stop at the 18th green. We’re gearing up for a blockbuster summer of sports on the big screens including Wimbledon, followed immediately by the high-stakes drama of the FIFA World Cup. To top it all off, we’ll be watching the world’s best take on the links at The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.

Let’s make it a classic. See you on the fairways!