John O'Gaunt Golf Club Seniors Section: Seniors’ Section Captain’s Day August 24 2021

Seniors’ Section Captain Bill Walker reports on a memorable day

The day broke with sunshine and the prospect of a day to remember. It was a little before 7:30 and the Seniors’ Section golfing greyhounds, Peter Jarman and Richard Knell, pictured below, were already limbering up on the first tee, keen to get under way. It would be just 1 hour and 20 minutes later that they would be taking refreshments at the half way house tended by our General Manager Gordon MacLeod. Thank you Gordon.

And so the day was under way. Our head green keeper Nigel and his team were astride their array of new equipment putting the finishing touches to a beautifully presented John O’Gaunt course and a steady flow of starters were setting off from the 1st Tee. Quote of the day came from John Hazelwood whose first drive shot straight right, hit a limb of the first fir tree and bounced forward into the middle of the fairway. Without hesitation he looked up and said, “Unless I really concentrate, I miss that branch”. Straight off Les Bolland went for the prize of the shortest drive just getting past the Ladies tee and avoiding the “traditional penalty”

By 11 o’clock more than half the field of 96 golfers were underway. It was then that your Captain was invited into the car park by Club Captain Pauline Aubigne and Seniors’ Vice Captain Algy Grimes on the pretext of carrying a heavy box from her car into the Clubhouse. Standing in front of the Clubhouse she pointed at an empty car parking space with a new sign.

No better gift for a section captain on his Captain’s Day. Thank you Captain Pauline. Afterwards your captain was still asking “So, where is this box?” Gullibility personified

Results: 1st Philip Armstrong with 40 points and winner of the Kethro Trophy

2nd Geoffrey Elcome with 38 points

3rd Rafe Bateson with 38 Points

Winners of the Captains vs Vice-Captains Shield – Vice Captains Rob Bage and Algy Grimes

Skills Prizes: Nearest the Pin prizes:

On the 4th - Paul Hammond.

On the 10th- Michael Newstead

On the 11th in 2 Tony Goodson

On the 16th Andy Shilton

The Pro Shop Simulator - Colin Newbury at 1 ft 11inches Thank you Tom Simm and team for your kind support. The virtual nearest the pin raised £107.

Colin Newbury’s Nearest the Pin on the pro-shop simulator

The Captain’s Drive: Won by Tony Whittaker who won £34 and kindly donated his winnings to the Captain’s charity. Thank you Tony.

Raffle prize winners: Keith Fuller, Andrew Brookman, Graham Court, Rob Bage.

Twos club prizes of £23.33 each went to Brian Bullen (16th), Stephen Collins (4th), Geoffrey Elcome (10th), Michael Newstead (10th), Derek Page (4th), Andy Shilton (16th).

On such an enjoyable day your author is delighted to report that a total of £1120 was raised for your Captain’s nominated charity Macmillan Cancer Support. This sum includes the proceeds from the auction of 2 VIP tickets to watch England vs Tonga at Twickenham later this year donated by Nick Schumann which raised a magnificent £650 from a bidder who asked to remain anonymous. To Nick, Anon and all who contributed on the day a very sincere thank you.

The day drew to a close some 11 hours after it had started and there is no doubt that within a two year stint as captain of the Seniors’ Section, with all its trials and tribulations of the Covid pandemic, this will be the day to remember what it is really all about.