Wrag Barn Members Evening 2025

A delicious curry and the promise of some new faces drew a gathering of 70 people to our Member’s Evening 2025.

Matt Manners was the first speaker of the evening and introduced the next generation of the Manners family who will be taking Wrag Barn into the future. 

Matt’s background is in Environmental Biology and he is combining his work with the RSPB with a role in Sustainability at Wrag Barn. One of his first projects will be looking into the long-term water security options for the club, another is the possibility of installing Track Man or Top Tracer in the range. Quite a start for Matt, but water security is important and the club needs to stay relevant when it comes to providing alternative golfing experiences. Matt came through the Junior Section and his name can be found on one of the honours boards from Junior Week. His handicap is 12.

Having explained his role, Matt introduced Chris Manners who has been working with the F&B department for the past five years alongside his day job as CEO of the Dodo Pub Co. Chris has a wealth of experience and understands the challenges for the F&B staff having worked in the pub industry in so many different roles. Chris has a handicap of 17 and plays occasionally with friends and brings his two boys to the club for Junior coaching.

Lastly Matt introduced Serena, who is a paediatric physio at GWH and comes to the club with her two boys for lessons or plays with some of the members in the Lady’s section. Her handicap is 21.

After initial introductions, we enjoyed a chicken curry made by Simon and Nobby gave everyone a quiz about Wrag Barn to complete which he’d tested on everyone in the office – and we were rubbish! The actual winner was Dave McGrory – I wonder if he’s been in every bunker and so knows how many there are…..

Nobby went through work done on the course in the previous 12 months and hinted that the work planned for the next 12 months is continuing extension of the paths and upgrading the irrigation system while working on the greens to maintain quality. 

Johnathan spoke about Capital expenditure at the club and concluded that the club will be refurbished when I want a party – I don’t think it’s quite as simple as that, but we have carried out a number of improvements on and off the course on the last few years. Mark spoke about the golf market since the 1980’s and outlined where it might go with some businesses experimenting with shortened courses and the use of technology for the golfing experience. We’re lucky at Wrag Barn that we have the option to play; 9, 13 or 18 holes depending on time and energy.

Lastly, we had a win to celebrate; our Ladies A team won the Wiltshire League. Scott Talbert the Wiltshire County Director of Golf presented the team with trophies and a keepsake to celebrate their victory. Special mention must go to Imogen Miles (aged 10) who won her match to secure the victory. Thank you to everyone who played and Gill Loughery who organised the teams. 

Many thanks to everyone who spoke at the members evening and to everyone who came along to support.

Verity Manners 

2nd December 2025

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