In attendance: Tony Lloyd (TL), David Barlow (DB), Algy Grimes (AG), Dave Wood (DW),
Jonathan Lean (JL), Richard Westergreen – Thorne (RWT), Nigel Underwood
(NU)
Apologies: None
Minutes and Matters Arising from previous meeting
All matters arising were covered under other agenda
items.
Captain's Report (TL)
I attended the Golf Committee on Feb 12 and the
following items will be of interest to us as seniors:
A: Handicap Limits: the Handicap Index limit of 36
for people entering club scrambles was lifted following representations from members. There will still be a limit of 28 shots given though which seemed to
have general approval. I was assured that this only affects club scrambles and
we remain free to organise ours as we see fit.
B: Starters and Marshals: Justin Thomas is to chair
a working group to discuss arrangements for starters and marshals at certain
times. He is particularly interested to hear from members who have experience
gained from other clubs where this happens. I said the Senior Section would be
interested in being represented and would invite volunteers to come forward. To
avoid any potential confrontation, those volunteers would need to be carefully selected
for their tact and diplomacy for want of a better phrase. This is particularly
apposite given that a player in the Ladies and Seniors Greensomes received some
verbal abuse for challenging a solo player who had pushed into the competition
and was playing two balls to boot.
JL asked what had happened with the offers from
committee members to help as starters and marshals. TL explained that the
purpose of the working group was to consider the principles and ways of
operating such a scheme, He also reported that David McNair and David Wrench
had come forward offering to join the working group. TL will feed in names of
volunteers as and when appropriate.
C: Course monitoring: Rob Earls is to set up a
course monitoring working group which will analyse numbers of players on the
courses, pace of play etc. More details to follow.
D: Vice Captains Cup: This is open to all members
who have joined since Jan 1 2022 and this year, for the first time, may be open
also to the Club Vice Captain. I am not sure if this extends to the Senior Vice
Captain. It may be a decision for Rob Earl. I will keep you posted. It will be
played on May 10.
E: Members Survey: Rob Earls told me that the
questions were being finalised and the survey would be carried out “soon”.
F: Captains Committee: The item of most importance to us was a discussion around what
proportion of the total Captains’ charity pot should be devoted to what will be
called the Pauline Aubigne Community Fund. The consensus seemed to be one third,
although Peter Wade is keen for this to be ratified by the Executive Board.
It is likely that requests for funding from this
pot will start to be considered shortly.
Finally, I managed to sell the remaining two
pullovers and two polo shirts for the grand total of £30 which I have passed to
Barry for the Captain’s Charity
Vice Captain's Report (DB)
DB gave a brief outline of the members he has been
in contact with regarding their health and circumstances and various names of
members were also put forward for him to contact.
IPC Report(RWT)
Nothing to report
Treasurer's Report
1. Financial position. On 9th March we have a Bank
balance of £17,7774.78. This
is an extraordinary situation and unfortunately
will not last long!! This includes
a. £6590 to be paid to the Charity this week
b. £5711 held for the Forest Pines Tour – due to be
paid in the next week.
2. New Accounting processes
a. I offered help to Gordon in transitioning the
new accounting processes that will be delivered by the Outsource of
Accounting following Sue Bolton’s departure. He was enthusiastic about our
involvement – but so far, no progress beyond a handover meeting with Sue and
Paula
b. I am very concerned that a multitude of new
processes will be introduced without our engagement and that we will be left to
sort a mess. This needs to be escalated to the Executive level.
c. We are about to hit the new season, and I really
should not be feeling this exposed.
3. Forest Pines Tour.
a. Attendee list was circulated to members of the
committee. There has been one further withdrawal is bringing us down to 30.
b. Final payment is due end of next week.
c. Plan is to have 4 teams – drawn from handicap
groupings to even out the proceedings. Prize for best team and best
overall score for each day. Longest Drive and Nearest the pin each day. We
should have funds for prizes making everything self-funding. We
have one special prize – that will be delivered after the event – a
Cobra Driver.
This was discussed and BD will decide on the most
appropriate way for it to be used.
It was also agreed that the winner(s) from the tour
be invited to attend the Presentation Dinner.
BD thanked NU for offering to help with setting up
the competitions.
4. Bank Account. Lloyds have advised that with
pretty much immediate effect our account will attract charges. Not penal but
there are principles at stake! I will continue to research other options and advise
the committee at a future meeting. My intention is to look for an
interest-bearing account – currently not offered by Lloyds.
Action Point: It was agreed that the financial transactions with the club, in the
light of the outsourcing of some finance functions, should be a separate agenda
item at the next meeting.
Honorary Secretary's Report (RWT)
The start of the new year for the committee means
contacting all of the clubs that we play to share with them our new list of
contacts. This has been completed, and it elicited a few changes at their end
and Algy now has the updated list of contacts at other clubs.
I am aware that the Senior Section Noticeboard near the
changing rooms is something that has fallen out of use with the advent of
emails and IG sign-ups, etc. So that it is not left empty I have put a copy of
our contact details and our 2025 calendar on the board and a note inviting
people to join us.
Thinking of our matches with other clubs I raised at the
last Captains Committee meeting I attended that the Visitors Changing Room is
certainly fit for purpose but could be made a little more welcoming for our
guests. Tony and I have recently had a look at the room together and will be
following up a few options and suggestions with the club.
By the time that we meet we will have been able to hand
over the cheque to the British Heart Foundation for the money we raised for
them in 2024. It was an excellent effort for us to raise such a sum.
I have signed up 11 new members to the seniors in the past
four weeks. One is a Lady Member who is going to participate in a some of our
events, five are current club members who have been encouraged to come forward
by other existing members, one is a current club member who I spotted had
entered the Green Tilley and three are new to the club. Paul Fletcher, who is
Peter Wade’s pick for Vice Captain this year, has also joined us and Paul has
expressed an interest in playing in some of our events during 2025. This means
that we are edging ever closer to 300 members and it currently stands at 297. I
gather from Tony that there may be a few more coming forward from new members
to the club that he and David met at a recent club Induction session.
Around the time we next meet I will contact all the clubs
we play to offer dates for our matches for 2026 so that we can start to build
up our calendar in plenty of time. As
Tony found out last year there will always be unexpected things that come along
but having the foundation in place early really helps navigate them when they
arise.
Competition Secretary's Report (NU)
The season is underway without, as yet, any great
problems. Knockout competitions are underway and two others have taken place,
the Mixed Greensomes with the Ladies, on March 4th , won by Paul Hammond and
Penny Staveley Smith who scored 43 points on the Carthagena and the 4 Ball
Better Ball Trophy, played on
March 11th on the JoG and won by Chris Saunders and
Bob Isaacson with an excellent 46 points.
(There was no 2’s club for this event, mea culpa.)
Both were to some extent affected by late
withdrawals, but those problems were resolved. (Note; a pool of reserves can
dry up very quickly !)
Next up are;
-
Rex Bullock Trophy, April 8 th ,
95 signed up (max 120)
- Jock Allan Prostate Cancer Charity Day, April 14th
, 83 entries ( 41 x 2 , 1 x 1) max 100
-
Ken Robinson Scramble, April 29
th , entry opens March 22nd . (Newsletter reminder to enter via SINGLE ENTRY
ONLY portal)
The support and help from all and sundry has been
much appreciated. Jonathan is proving an outstanding and very patient
teacher…I think within a year or two I will be on top of this job!
Action Point: the arrangements in inclement weather for cancelling or curtailing a
competition that is already underway to be added as an agenda item for the next
meeting.
Match Secretary's Report (AG)
We had around 52 players signed up early on, it is
now up to 64 players when we suspended the sign up to Tranche 2.
The selections were made for Tranche 1 matches but
unfortunately, we have already had 4 withdrawals but these have been covered by
reserves. For our first match away to Bedford & County on 18th March, the
organiser has matched the handicaps well so there isn’t an imbalance in the
shot allowance as has been seen in previous years.
Charging players for the matches quickly was an
issue last year for whatever reason. I have asked all organisers to do the
following to try to speed things up. “Please inform Clubhouse Manager, Match
Secretary and Treasurer by email, of those who played for JOG so the match fee
can be deducted from their account – team sheet is best.” Paula wanted to be
told the team before each match I have resisted this because of late changes
that happen which may mean other errors in charging the correct person.
Selection system - As you know we have had a severe
issue with the sign-up process for Tranche 2. Having said that most matches
have a good number already signed up, including 10 Jokers for Saffron Walden
Away, I think we should limit any further Jokers for that match when it
reopens.
The main reason for the outage was due to players
not following the correct procedure and signing up twice. I understand that
there is a message on the Google Sheets platform that confused people, this is
something that has been added by Google that doesn’t help us. In one instance a
player signing up for a second time, somehow overwrote another players name
etc, how we don’t know! That player has been reinstated and the person that was
signing up a second time had both entries deleted and was asked to sign up
again as new, which worked.
Alban Macdonald has been working on a solution and
has made some progress that seems to be working but needs further trials,
hopefully all will be working by the weekend. Subject to what solution Alban
achieves, I may send everyone their own actual link as I did last year to try
and ensure no more duplication when we get to selections for Tranche 3.
Trophy Custodian's Report (DW)
Presentation Evening Menu:
Previous discussions with Clubhouse Manageress and
Chef Marcus have led me to the conclusion that it will not be practicable to
have a Carvery meal at the presentation Dinner. Serving each diner with their
choices will take too much time and prolong the evening. I suggest that we
return to the Christmas meal menu, with a fish dish alternative. Marcus will
cater for anyone with dietary needs as usual.
Bas Backhouse Trophy
I would like to personally thank Jonathan Lean for
his work on the trophy during his convalescence away from the course. The Trophy is
now repaired, and the wooden base is now an integral part, making the trophy
taller, but less likely to topple and break again. It may pose some problems
with storage in the trophy cabinet, but I am sure this is not insurmountable. I
will ensure that Andy Wellings the 2024 winner is given a chance to display the
trophy at home for a few months.
Three Clubs and Putter Trophy
Following an unsuccessful attempt to source a
suitable miniature golf club ( I am advised by our engraver that these are no
longer being manufactured anywhere and are now as rare as residue from a
rocking horse). Attempts to have a 3D printed club made have proved impossible
as any product would not be detailed enough.
Algy has saved the day! He recalled a distant past
birthday cake that included a small golf club in its decoration. Miraculously
he found it and gave it to me. It is almost a perfect match and has now been
added to the trophy after receiving 7 coats of gold paint. Thank you Algy. The
Trophy title plate has now been replaced with one which reads “Three Clubs and
a Putter”
All trophies are accounted for and now in a good
state of repair.
Seniors Section Honours Boards
I am pleased to report that all Seniors Section
Honours Boards are up to date with 2024 winners. The spelling mistake is
rectified and the Board headings are now highlighted in Gold and stand out
similar to the Club Boards.
Entry requirements for Scrambles and Jubilee Trophy
The entry requirements for both these competitions
have been looked at in the light of changes for 2025 in the entry requirements
for club competitions. Both competitions entry requirements are consistent with
those of the club competitions and will remain the same for 2025 as in previous
years.
Club Executive Board
It was noted that DB and RWT
have put themselves forward for roles on the club executive committee. The
committee wished both DB and RWT well in their applications.
Matters from Members
None were received
AOB
- It was agreed that Bill Walker
be invited to attend the next meeting as Item 1 to cover the arrangements for
the upcoming Prostate Day with the committee
- RWT will send a note to Wendy Ashcroft to ask for
JL to be added to those with access to competition administration on IG.
-
It was confirmed that we have a
staggered start for all matches that begin up to 9.30am at home. AG will
produce a crib sheet for participants in home matches to cover procedures such
as approaching the 17th on JOG by the side of the pro shop and
arrangements for those in groups 5 and 6 on both courses
Dates of Future Meetings
Thurs April 10
Thurs May 8
Thurs June 12
Thurs July 17
Thurs Aug 14
Tues Sep 16
Thurs Oct 16
Thurs Nov 13
Thurs Jan 13 2026
Tues Feb 3 2026 (AGM)
