Dear members,
March 27, 2023
Your second home
Let's just say it: It's not a given that an association, run by volunteers, funded by its members, located in the middle of a protected park, at the mercy of weather, wind and 2000 grazing, playful deer, can reach its 125th anniversary. But we have done that in KGK, and we are in top shape. That's why we are happy and proud to invite every one of our members to join us in celebrating KGK for a week in August.
The celebration is for everyone. There will be tournaments of almost every kind. For those who want to get up early, for those who only want to play with ladies, gentlemen or only with young people, or only with their own partner, only with old clubs, only with beginners or don't want to play on the course at all, but like to putt. And all of course accompanied by fantastic prizes and lots of good food.
Because we really want you to take part in the party, even though we know that the community is changing.
And therein lies the point. Because we cannot sit back and enjoy what we have achieved, we must stay focused on how we survive the next 125 years with our souls intact.
Here you feel at home
How do we make KGK your second home, as it has been for children and adults for generations, when KGK is so much in your genes that no matter when in life you return, this is where you feel at home? Because we have to face the fact that we have become less united as a club, and more find communities in those we know. That trend will only become clearer in the future, "me" rather than "us".
If the association is to survive, it is therefore so important that we remember to greet each other and that we respect each other on the course. That we use the restaurant, which now has more "rooms within the room" and that our tournaments are more targeted at those who want to play against and with each other. In the same way, we stick to the ball running times, because we get both a smooth process, life around the nice new training facilities and time to greet each other before we rush out to the 1st tee.
The track needs to be even better
Once upon a time, the highest handicap was 36 strokes, and it was best not to go out on the course until you had learned the swing. But if we are to maintain membership, we must get used to the fact that some players will hit the first shot from the markings far out on the fairway, if that is what brings golf joy.
There is no doubt that the course is completely unique in its fantastic surroundings. But it is the game of golf that is at the center. Both members and guests expect a course in top shape, even though it must be able to withstand a lot, both from animals and people. For many years now, we have been yearning for close fairways and greens areas and uniform and even greens. We are still working hard on this and have brought in more talented people. The results are visible.
A more tangible challenge we see in the future is climate change, with the risk of both drought and too much water and the requirement to reduce CO2. That is why we are making plans for both a new irrigation system and geothermal heating at the driving range, if the authorities will give us permission.
In general, we are constantly taking stock of what we see coming. We play more in the mild winters, but since the grass doesn't grow back until spring, we have to accept the mats. We use all the new technology we can see that makes sense, we purchase new machines, we reach you on social media, offer a course guide on the App and have opened up Trackman games in the practice room.
We have to move.
So the future is already here, and all that we sigh for when we read about “the good old days” is not something the board has abolished. It is simply the result of members coming and going and those who don’t move, go backwards. But at the same time, we must hold on to what makes KGK something very special, our second home.
While golfers are getting older and older and continuing to live active lives, we can be happy that KGK has one of Denmark's largest junior departments. This is where our future lies. This is where talents grow, and this is also where the seeds of lifelong love are planted.
A love that does not only apply to the game of golf, but is a love for Copenhagen Golf Club for 125 years. The love that makes us still exist and will continue to do so for the next 125 years.
Congratulations. May you all have a fantastic golf anniversary year.
Birgitte Henrichsen
Chairman
