In attendance: Tony Lloyd (TL), Algy Grimes (AG) Richard Westergreen – Thorne (RWT)
Barry Donovan (BD) Jonathan Lean (JL), Nigel Underwood (NU)
Apologies: Dave Wood (DW) David Barlow (DB)
Minutes previous
Agreed
Matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda
None
Captain's report (TL)
The highlight of the past month was undoubtedly my
Captain’s Day which was an overwhelming success. My thanks go to David Barlow
for organising the day, to Nigel Underwood for running the competition and to
everyone who helped make the day so special.
I know it was greatly appreciated by the 100
entrants, many of whom stopped me to pass on their thanks.
The free drink on my honorarium went down well and
the food choice of wraps and chips seemed popular.
I’m not sure if we have analysed the final figures
yet but I am confident that it will have raised a handsome amount for my
charity.
Since we last met, I have attended a number of
committees on behalf of the Seniors:
House and Social: discussed among other things were
refurbishing of the Burgoyne Suite chairs.
Golf Committee: discussion included success of the
new practice facilities, concerns around inclement weather safety provision
(shelters and klaxons). No progress on course marshals.
Charity Committee: discussion around the One
Charity policy and Longest Day Challenge.
Captains Committee: wide ranging debate around
subjects such as the Carol Service, One Charity policy, future nature of the
Club Championships, weather shelters and klaxons, clubhouse furniture etc.
Finally, this job does have its perks. I had the
pleasure of being invited to Richmond Golf Club to play in the JOG team versus
The Stage Golf Society when I played with Ladies Vice Captain Jean Cobb against
a stage and TV actor and world famous conductor. Nice work if you can get it!
Treasurer's report (BD)
The financials position as at 14/8 is a bank
balance of £8.5k up from £7.3k last month.
There are a number of recent transactions that need
to be processed. Once this has been complete I will finalise the accounts for
the ½ year.
The Finance processes are working well under the
new regime. A meeting with the Outsource provider took place in July and a
good understanding of each sides issues were discussed. Wendy is providing an
excellent service – we will continue to meet monthly to keep on top of things.
Clarity over non reciprocals is needed as
organisers and myself are unaware of contact details for each club. Northampton is Non
Reciprocal. Cambridge is no longer. Luffenham needs to be resolved.
Progress on 2026 tour has been made and a new
WhatsApp has been set up for those interested. It would be useful if the
promotion of this in the newsletter could continue for a while. We have been advised
that September is the best time to book.
Bank Account. No further action on this. Not
currently the priority. Costs are £4.25 per month.
From a personal point of view, I will be undergoing
knee surgery in October which may impact my availability for a while.
Shouldn’t impact things too much but I may need some help for the Christmas Fayre.
2026 suggestion – Committee Golf Day
Action Point: A proposal for a Committee Golf Day in 2026 to be on the agenda for the
next meeting.
Vice Captain's report (DB)
Nothing to report this month.
IPC report (RWT)
Nothing to report.
Secretary’s report (RWT)
Not a great deal to report this month.
One new member has joined the mailing list, an
existing club member seeking to join in with us and another club member is now
receiving the newsletter and will be in his 60 th year on Jan 1 st 2026. One member is
moving away and has been taken off the mailing list. The total receiving the
Newsletter now stands at 308 a week.
We await the club review of all competitions and
events for 2026 for confirmation of our fixtures for next year. No other amendments to
report in our draft calendar.
Little in the way of member contact in the past
month but a couple of suggestions regarding roll up arrangements have been considered
by Bill Walker and any changes will be circulated via the Newsletter.
I have circulated the date and menu for the Past
Captains Lunch, but I have had some responses unable to attend plus several others
I will need to chase. It may be that we need to put back the date to one more
people can attend. (see below)
Competition Secretary's report (NU)
There have been two major events since our last
meeting, Member and Guest Day on July 29th and Senior Captains Day on August 5th.
Both seemed to pass without any major issues.
For Member and Guest Day there were 48 pairs, a
full field, with a two tee start. Other than some very minor issues over the
halfway house, caused by a lack of staff that morning, and a (paying) fourball
being given a start time in the middle of the comp (this is an issue with IG
booking, which I think can be resolved), all went well.
Kevin Barbour and Kevin Flynn were 3rd with 43
points
Chris Dennis and Dave Charteriss 2nd with 44.
In first place Jonathan Lean and Luke Sansby with
44 points.
Senior Captains Day saw another full field of 100
and a shotgun start on JoG. Lightning fast greens and a blustery wind resulted
in generally low scoring, so great praise to;
Colin Norman, 3rd with 37 points,
Len Greaves 2nd with 38
And Bill Walker, Winner with an excellent 40
points.
Next up is the Bailiff Shield next Tuesday, another
full field of 102 participants at time of writing. We need to decide on whether
this competition (and perhaps others this calendar year) should have Divisional
prizes or not. There is then a bit of a break until the Gordon Percival
(individual and hidden teams) on Sept 30th, entry opens on 18/08, the Autumn Singles
Stapleford on Oct 7th (opens 30/08) and 3 clubs and a Putter on Oct 14th (opens
02/09.
I am pleased to report that the greatly improved
handing in of cards continues….the message is getting through….without any
disqualifications…….yet.
I was aware of at least one very large gap caused
by slow play on Captain's Day, hard to understand with a shotgun start. I intend
to investigate further as soon as the opportunity arises.
We also have fixtures against the juniors and with
the ladies. I will touch base with their organisers and start the respective
balls rolling.
Match Secretary's Report (AG)
Since our last committee meeting, the Seniors’ team
has played only four matches with another one tomorrow, securing two wins and
two defeats. Following our 5.5 to 2.5 win at Northampton last month, we did it
again in that County, winning 5.5 to 2.5 at Wellingborough this week. We won
against Gog Magog 5 to 3 but the usual defeat came at Cambridge CC by 7 to 1.
At home on Tuesday against Saffron Walden the result was another win.
The running totals now stand at Won 10, Lost 10, and Drawn One. Let’s see what the final six matches bring! Come on Tony!!
Tranche 5 selections have been provisionally
selected and we have full teams, although one or two matches are close to the
required player numbers. I hope to discuss the final teams with Tony after this
meeting. (Although one fixture may already have been decided by a keen
organiser),
As I said last month let’s hope we can continue the
results that have brought us good results lately, at least with the five away
matches at the end we receive their team first, so I will ask the organisers to
try to match handicaps where possible to try and even up the shots.
Hopefully I will meet with Alban before next season
to work on the Sign-up process, I feel as long as we do not get duplicate
sign-ups we will be fine. So as soon as the fixtures can be confirmed we could
make a start and clean up any gremlins. Do we have to wait for the Club before
proceeding with what we have?
Trophy Custodian's Report (DW)
Swap Days:
I have been in contact with the organisers Robert
at Newmarket and Darell at Stoke Rochford. We agree regarding the reciprocal payment
of the meals.
John O’Gaunt: 2025
The date and Tee times are booked in the Club Diary
and confirmed by Nigel Tarn. Buggies have been reserved with the Pro Shop.
Newmarket will advise me of their requirements before the day.
I have asked Club Captain Peter Wade if he can
arrange for himself or his Vice Captain to welcome the Newmarket players to John
O’Gaunt on the day at 9.am. I await confirmation from them.
Newmarket are loading their bar cards with the cost
of the meal, golf, prizes. They are also allowing for £2.00 pp for staff
gratuities.
Newmarket: 2025
The Date and tee times are booked at Newmarket from
10 am to 12.10am. I have advised Newmarket that our choice of meal is
Cottage Pie followed by Sticky Toffee pudding.
I appreciate that we have advertised the cost of
the swap day to our members as £28.00 including the cost of prizes. I suggest that
we follow the example of Newmarket and also add £2.00 pp for staff
gratuities.
We currently have a full contingent of players (40)
and a reserve list of seven players (Including myself) should any players withdraw
before the day. My thanks to Nigel Underwood for creating the competition entry and
reserve lists.
The golf will be a first tee start. 4BBB.
No “Gimmees”
Play off yellow tees
85% of Course handicap
Prize for winning team.
Prize for nearest the pin x 2
Stoke Rochford: 2026
Provisionally in the Club Diary for 5th October
2026.
Richard has previously invited the club Captain and
their swap day organiser to a round of golf at John O Gaunt to set things in
motion and to discuss arrangements. I have asked Darrel and Steven Major for their
availability. I will arrange the round when I have their response.
Following this meeting I will commence with the
finer details of the swap day. I will send a reminder of our invitation this
week.
Presentation Dinner 2025
The Presentation Dinner evening is drawing close,
so I will be commencing the preparations and sending out the preliminary
invitations soon.
Meal choice for the evening will be returning to
the festive menu (details of menu to be arranged with Marcus). I will try to keep the
cost to our members down as far as inflation allows.
Following the successful introduction of a raffle
last year I propose to repeat this onthe evening.
Trophies:
All trophies are accounted for and are either in
the trophy cabinet or residing with their respective competition winners.
Seniors Member and Guest Day Review
Covered in Competition Secretary's report
Senior Captain's Day Review
In the absence of DB this was deferred until next
time although the view of the committee was that it had gone well.
Tour 2026
A WhatsApp group has been publicised in the Newsletter so that BD has a
number of fellow seniors who attended in 2025 to bounce ideas off for the 2026
arrangements.
Divisional prizes in senior competitions
It was agreed at the previous meeting that in
principle there would be divisional prizes in those GOTY competitions where
appropriate. For this meeting NU outlined the following options:
There are SIX individual competitions which lend
themselves to the divisional structure. They are:
The Rex Bullock trophy
The Annual Medal Trophy and Jubilee Trophy *
Rex Cleaver Championship Trophy *
Annual Stableford Trophy
Bailiff Shield
Autumn Singles Stableford.
(I have discounted Senior Captain's Day (plenty of
prizes), Reg Batson (restricted field) and 3 Clubs + putter (smaller field
usually))
Competitions marked * have an additional
competition within the main one. Prize for winner only.£40 per competition.
These would be unaffected by any change to divisional prizes.
Average entry of those six competitions over the
last three years has been just over 96. (There is a slight trend for numbers to
increase but marginal).
Taking entry fees at the current £5 per head, gross
income averages £480 per competition. However, £1 per head goes to the charity
pot and 4 x £10 to raffle prizes so that figure is reduced to £344.
With the CURRENT structure, we then pay out 40 +30
+20 = £90 in prizes. Thus net income per competition is an average of approx.
£254.
SOME POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES IF GOING FOR DIVISIONS:
Overall winner and of Div “X” £50, two divs pay
30,20,10, one pays 20,10 (2nd and 3rd in that division) = £200 in prizes. Net
profit approx. £144 per comp.
Overall and div “X” £50, two divs pay 25,15,10,
one pays 15,10 = £175. Net profit approx.£169 per comp.
Overall and div “X” £50, 2 divs pay 25, 15, one
pays 15 =£145. Net profit approx. £199 per comp.
Overall and div “X” £50, winners of other 2
divisions £30 each =£110. Net £234 per comp.
Obviously, all these options will reduce net
income, which is open for discussion. Remember, of course, that this is per
competition and so reductions in ANNUAL income need to be multiplied by the
number of comps to which this would be applied.
In the examples shown, the lower the cost, the
narrower the prize spread, and the greater the chance of people finishing 2nd
and or 3rd overall not receiving anything.
NU was thanked for his work, and it was agreed to
go ahead with divisional prizes for the 6 competitions. This would take the
form of a 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall with three
divisional winners as well (a no two prize rule would be in force). It was also
agreed to invite the divisional winners to the Presentation Evening.
.
SUSPENSION/ABANDONMENT OF PLAY DURING A SENIOR’S
COMPETITION.
NU shared the latest iteration which has been
submitted to the club.
If there is any possibility of extreme weather
during a Senior’s competition, a member or members of the Seniors committee will be
designated as points of contact. This to be publicised by email before play
if weather forecast suggests it may become relevant.
If, during the course of a competition, players
consider play has become impossible, by reason of flooded greens, dangerous
strong winds, hail etc they are asked to contact THE DESIGNATED CONTACT
COMMITTEE MEMBER /S who will adjudicate.
If necessary, play will be suspended by blasts on
a whistle / ringing of a handbell / word of mouth passed from match to match / other
suggestions welcome.
If this occurs, players must mark balls in play
in line with general rules and return to the clubhouse without delay.
Play may be suspended for up to one hour, during
which time information will be provided at least every 20 minutes. If conditions
improve, play will resume when safe/possible. If no improvement has occurred
within one hour, the competition will be deemed to be over. If more than 70% of entrants
have completed their rounds, results will be declared. If less than 70%, the
competition will be abandoned and entry fees will be refunded.
This latest version is amended to include points
made in meeting with Chair of Golf
Committee as follows:
1. No use may be made of the klaxon as this would
be taken to apply to ALL players on both courses.
2. Linked to above, no involvement of pro shop
other than halting ALL play e.g. for lightning danger.
3. Concern from “a source which I cannot identify”
over the point at which a competition can count towards handicap changes.
This is not addressed above, my concern being people’s health and well being rather
than arcane rules affecting handicaps.
4. “You can do what you like with Seniors
Competitions (subject to points 1 and 2)
Calendar 2026
No new changes in fixtures but RWT will now need to
look at the implications of the summer coursework weeks for fixtures and
competitions in 2026.
Action Point: RWT to update the committee at the next meeting.
Fixtures 2027
It was confirmed to review the fixture list for
2027 in the October meeting.
Past Senior Captains Lunch
Given that few of the past captains are able to
attend on the chosen date it was agreed to postpone the lunch.
Action Point: TL and RWT to liaise with the club to
find a new date to circulate to the past captains
AOB
Make the Senior Captain's Day a different Format for
a change – it was agreed to keep the arrangements as they are.
Introduce preferred lies on JOG for the roll up –
it was agreed to continue to follow the guidance of the club as to preferred
lies on either course.
Dates of Future Meetings
Tues Sep 16
Thurs Oct 16
Thurs Nov 13
Thurs Jan 13 2026
Thurs Feb 3 2026 (AGM)
but the next two matches were lost 4&3 and 2&1 with Gerry’s comment whilst shaking his head “we were 4 up after 6”.
