Fresh from the Fairways: August Edition

Introduction

By Bradley Wellmen, General Manager

Hello everyone,

Summer has a way of slipping by while you’re busy watching history happen.

Since our last issue, it’s been nonstop drama, from Shiho Kuwaki’s ice-cold playoff win at Royal Lytham to Spain taking the World Cup in New Jersey. But over at Royal Birkdale, Ryan Fox didn’t just win the Claret Jug; he demonstrated that if the world’s best can play the biggest tournament of the year on golden brown turf, it’s good enough for your Sunday medal.

And honestly? It looked fantastic.

Back home at Castle Point, the heat has been relentless, but the course has held up well.

You feel it out there in the coastal breeze – the turf is crisp, firm, and playing fast. Our greenkeeping team has done incredible work keeping the greens rolling true through the peak sun. Whether you’re working through a bucket on the range, riding the wind on the back nine, or cooling off in the clubhouse, it’s a great time to be here.

Inside this August edition:

50 Shades of Beige
See It Before You Tee It!
Calling all Fairweather Golfers
On the Menu
Team News
Clubhouse & Community

50 Shades of Beige: Why Brown Fairways Are Golf’s Best Look Yet.

By Jay Clark, Course Manager

If you caught The Open at Royal Birkdale, you saw the world’s best players firing tee shots onto fairways that looked less like Augusta and a lot more like a freshly toasted slice of sourdough.

For years, we’ve been conditioned to expect pristine, emerald-green carpets as the norm. But with record-breaking dry spells becoming the standard, expecting hyper-irrigated grass during a drought isn’t just unrealistic – it puts an unsustainable burden on the land and the people who care for it.

A sunburnt fairway isn’t dying. It’s resilient turf doing what it was built to do. If the world’s best can play the biggest tournament of the year on golden brown grass, it’s good enough for your Sunday medal.

Out here on our own course, that same dry spell has taken hold, and the land is playing fast. While the fairways are embracing that golden, baked-out roll, our greens have held up exceptionally well. That’s down to some quiet, tireless work behind the scenes.

The irrigation system has been working overtime, keeping the putting surfaces resilient. Earlier this season, we ran a program of verti-cutting and overseeding, introducing fresh seed straight into the greens. That investment is paying off now when the turf needs it most.

Behind the curtain, the greenkeeping machinery just came off its annual summer service, ensuring everything is tuned up for the rest of the season. Looking ahead, our main greens maintenance is scheduled for mid-September to set us up for the autumn shift.

So next time you stand on the tee and see more beige than green, enjoy the extra thirty yards of run, trust the firm bounce, and go high-five your greenkeeper.

After all, fortune favours the firm.

See It Before You Tee It!

By Jon Dummett, Head of Golf

There’s a quiet confidence that comes from knowing a course before you even lace up your shoes.

Understanding how the 18 holes loop through the land, seeing where the range is located, or simply taking in the stunning coastal views – it changes how you prepare for the day. Especially if it’s your first time here.

We’ve just launched our new 360º Virtual Tour at Castle Point, designed to give you a front-row seat to the entire venue right from your screen.

Whether you’re getting your bearings, or mapping out a new strategy for your next round, you can now explore every corner of the course and facilities before you set foot on the tee.

Take a look around and discover what’s waiting for you:

Interactive 18-Hole Tour: Map out every hole, including yardages.
The Toptracer® Range: Get a feel for our floodlit bays and practice facilities.
Local Landmarks: Take in the surrounding setting, including nearby Hadleigh Castle.

Don’t guess the course. Get to know it.

Take a Virtual Tour and Book your Next Round

Special Offers & Events

By Bradley Wellmen, General Manager

NAPGC Qualifying Event

Competition has a way of bringing out the very best in a golf course.

On July 30th, we hosted our NAPGC qualifying event. It was one of those standout days where the weather was glorious, the competition was sharp, and the energy around the club was high from the first group off the tee to the final putt on the 18th.

A massive congratulations to our three winners. They aren’t just taking home a local victory – they’re heading off to play at St Andrews. There’s something special about earning a spot on the home of golf, and we couldn’t be prouder to have them representing us on those historic fairways.

Club Championships

That competitive pulse isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Early September brings our main event: the Club Championships. It’s the weekend everyone marks on the calendar early in the season—the ultimate test of focus, course management, and playing the shots the land gives you. Whether you’re vying for the trophy or just looking to post your best two rounds of the summer, it’s time to start dialing in your game.

Keep an eye out for entry details and tee times coming soon.

Pure Summer Golf. Zero Long-Term Strings.

Let’s be honest: not everyone plays the game the same way year-round. When the sun is out, the evenings stretch long, and the fairways are baked fast, you want to be out here as much as possible. But maybe you’re not ready to lock yourself into a twelve-month commitment when winter rolls around.

We get it. That’s why we built the Loyaltee 1-Month Plan.

It’s our most popular flexible option for a reason. You get complete member access, full perks, member discounts, and unlimited rounds for 30 days right when the course is playing at its absolute best.

No year-long contracts. No hidden catch. Just a full month of squeezing every last drop out of peak season golf.

Click here and sign up today

Golden Hour Golf, Made Effortless

There’s a quiet magic to the end of the day on a golf course. The sun drops low, long shadows stretch across the fairways, and the afternoon heat begins to yield to a calm evening breeze. It’s the best time to be out here.

Now, you can make those twilight rounds even better.

Our popular Sunchaser deal has been incredible popular this summer and it’s easy to see why: you can add an EZGO Electric Buggy to any off-peak or twilight tee time for just £15 – half the regular £30 rate! Whether you’re squeezing in eighteen after work or cruising through nine as the sun sets, it’s the easiest way to elevate your round.

Offer Details: Available from 4pm every day
Who it’s for: Open to both members and visitors
The Deal: Pay just £15 (usually £30)

Ready to ride?

Book online and add The Sunchaser to your next round

Birkdale Drama: Did You Pick the Winning Fourball?

What a sensational week of golf at Royal Birkdale. Huge congratulations to Ryan Fox on a dramatic victory to lift the Claret Jug. As an outside bet heading into the week, it’s no surprise he flew under the radar on almost everyone’s fantasy team. And, of course, a massive shoutout to local favorite Tommy Fleetwood, whose stellar performance had the home crowd roaring all weekend long.

Behind the scenes, the competition in our Loyaltee Golf® Open Fantasy Fourball was just as fierce.

Out of hundreds of entries, five mastermind managers assembled the ultimate line-up, tying at the top with an astonishing combined score of -24. Following a tie-breaker random draw, our Grand Prize winner has been selected to receive the ultimate VIP Experience at their local Loyaltee Golf® venue:

18 Holes of Golf for 4 players (including complimentary buggy hire)
Fresh Barrel & Stone® Pizzas on the terrace after the round
A Dozen TaylorMade® Tour Response Golf Balls for every player in the group

Click here to see the final results & league table.

On The Menu

By Joseph Wellmen, Operations Manager

Good Vibes at the Clubhouse

A great day on the golf course doesn’t end on the 18th green. Finish on the patio, with an ice cold to drink and bite to eat, while you talk through what could have been on the back nine.

We’ve recently rolled out a brand-new menu in the clubhouse, and the feedback has been incredible – with the new Chick N’ Peck dishes quickly becoming a firm favourite among golfers coming off the course.

We’ve also loved seeing our new catering buggy out on the fairways. It’s been a game-changer during these hot summer afternoons, and we’re working to keep it out on the course regularly so a cold refreshment or quick snack is never more than a hole away.

Great British Summer Savings

We’ve launched our wallet-friendly Kids’ Clubhouse Menu to give families a hassle-free, affordable way to refuel this summer. No stress, no pre-booking required – just grab a table, order straight from the bar, and enjoy the sunshine.

All Kids’ Meals only £6.99: includes drink
Family Golf & Range: 18-hole courses + 20-bay driving range (no booking needed)
Dog-Friendly: Bring the whole family – pooches included!

Come make some summer memories on the terrace while the savings last!

Click here to view the menu & plan your visit

Team News

By Joseph Wellmen, Operations Manager

New Faces in the Clubhouse

A great golf venue is built on the people who make you feel at home the second you walk off the 18th green.

To keep things running smoothly as the season hits its stride, we’ve expanded our clubhouse team with two fantastic new additions. We’re thrilled to officially welcome Ben Isbell to the team, alongside Angie Staples.

Whether they’re pouring a cold drink after a sun-baked afternoon on the course, serving up food on the terrace, or just sharing a quick laugh about your round, they’re here to make sure your time off the fairways is just as good as your time on them.

Next time you’re passing through the clubhouse, pop by the bar, say hello, and give Ben and Angie a warm Castle Point welcome.

Community News

By Bradley Wellmen, General Manager

Sporting Memories: A Place to Share, Remember, and Connect

Sport has a unique way of bringing us together. Long after the final whistle blows or the last putt drops, it’s the stories, the shared laughter, and the memories that stay with us.

In partnership with Castle Point Active, we’ve spent the past month hosting a weekly “Sporting Memories” meetup – a quiet, welcoming space for anyone in our local community who might be feeling a little isolated, living with dementia, or simply looking for good company and a warm conversation.

Whether it’s re-living iconic sporting moments from decades past or just catching up on life in general over a cup of tea, it’s all about connection.

It’s been running for four weeks now, and seeing the room fill up with stories, smiles, and genuine companionship has made it a huge success.

If you or someone you know would benefit from a friendly afternoon on the terrace, our doors are wide open. Pop down, grab a hot drink, and share a story with us.

And Finally...

There’s a distinct shift in the air as August reaches its peak. The shadows stretch a little longer across the fairways, the evening light turns a deep amber, and every round feels like one to savour.

Now, we’re heading straight into the last Bank Holiday weekender of the summer – the ultimate excuse to leave the routine behind. Whether you’re lining up a long weekend of golf, chasing the late-afternoon light with a Sunchaser buggy, or kicking back on the terrace with a cold drink and the family, this is the stretch of the season we wait all year for.

Let’s make the long weekend count before September arrives with the Club Championships and our autumn course prep.

The fairways are firm, the weather is waiting, and the bank holiday is yours for the taking.

See you on the fairways soon!