Senior Section Minutes April 11 2024
Present: Richard Westergreen-Thorne (RWT), Jonathan Lean
(JL), Algy Grimes (AG), Dave Wood (DW), Tony Lloyd (TL), Peter Wade (PW)
Apologies: Nigel Underwood
1 Peter Wade attended his first Seniors Committee
Meeting in his role as Club Vice Captain. There was a discussion on various
topics including:
·
The club’s new structure and pace of change, including
finding the best people to fill the new roles
·
Handicaps, the handicap committee and qualifying
rounds
·
Finance and cash flow between the club and
seniors section
·
A planned code of conduct to address behaviour
by some elements on the course
2 Minutes of the last meeting: accepted
3 Matters arising not on the agenda: none
4 Captain’s Report
April 2024
I have had a busy time since I took over the role of Captain
with much of it away from the golf course given the recent weather and its
impact upon the chances to actually play.
I attended, in Jonathan’s absence, the club’s Presentation
Evening where the Club Captain awarded the trophies for 2023 and then the
Captain’s Swansong near the end of March. Sadly, this has been followed by
attending the funeral of Peter Horlock last week.
A highlight for me so far has been the Captain’s Drive and
opening of the Terrace, as we now need to call it, a couple of weeks ago. It
was a very good evening with well over 200 people in attendance and a packed
clubhouse. I hit a great drive for the photographer an hour before the event
and then did less well, but still got it away, for the drive itself. Thanks to
Algy for stepping in to take the previous Captain’s putt on the 18th.
As the first ever such event it was a good day for the club and I am sure that
it will be repeated in future years.
I have also informed the relevant people such as the General
Manager and Club Captain that we will make the Jock Allan Prostate Project Golf
Day an official senior’s event each year and the feedback I have received has
been very positive.
The first two matches of the year were good fun, and I was
pleased to see two members new to matches taking part and both enjoyed the
experience. Unfortunately, both matches were lost, did I mention how many shots
we were giving away, but played in good spirits which augers well for the year.
I have met with the Club and Ladies Captains about
charities, charity events and prizes since the last of our committee meetings
and have been able to clarify the voucher and prizes distribution to assist the
Prostate Day auction. Justin Thomas is looking to set up a Charity Committee
for the club which will be very helpful when established. I also took the
opportunity to share with them the arrangements for monies to be transferred
after matches this year between us and the club.
Macmillan Cancer Support have a Golf Challenge Day on their
calendar of events for the longest day of the year seeking clubs across the
country to get involved. In the circumstances the Ladies Captain and I agreed
to make this a club event when all 4 club captains do the 54 hole challenge for
Macmillan and get sponsorship from across the club. We also agreed that both my
charity and the Ladies Section charity will get a share of the club Captains
Charity Days in September.
I have also liaised with Bill Walker, Keith Howlett and Tony
Lloyd about the arrangements for the roll up single stablefords where you have
the option to complete a qualifying card. Hopefully, we have set up a good
system and the use of the sign-up feature on IG will make it much easier with
the first such roll up just a week away.
There has not been a meeting of the Golf Committee yet since
the club AGM and this will be re-formed after the first General Committee
Meeting which is in a few days time.
We have a busy period coming up with at least one
competition or match every week so let’s hope that the rains finally stay away
and we do not have further issues with our competitions due to the water on the
courses.
5 Vice Captain’s Report
Nothing to report
6 Immediate Past Captain’s Report
Nothing to report
7 Treasurer's Report
One competition and 2 matches played so far this year.
Additional income has come from the Knockout comps.
·
Bank Balance £2924.02
·
Debtor £384 - Creditor accrual £768 - both
Aspley Guise.
·
Postponement of the 4BBB means budget down £240
- although I gather this is now been played later in the year
·
Costings for 'Other events' to be finalised at
this meeting
·
Member /guest - current net budget £94
·
Captain’s Day - current net budget (£290)
·
Christmas Fayre - current net budget £0
·
Presentation evening - current net budget £166
·
Budget tracker now in place showing variances to
budget per event
8 Honorary Secretary’s report
The main thing to tell you about is the “straw poll”
conducted regarding the future of the roll-up and the proposal to move it to
Monday/Wednesday/Friday. There were 24 responses made up of 9 for, 12 against
and 3 others. The interesting and varied results are attached to the agenda for
your consideration.
The reasons behind those voting for a change are fairly
straightforward and a common theme was the desire to avoid a clash with the Ladies on Thursdays plus the
flexibility afforded by playing on three days a week.
Main reasons for opposing a change included the disruption
to the routine of existing organisers and the risk of clashing with other
established roll-up groups who already play on some of those days.
There were also some other interesting ideas thrown up by
the survey including starting later on Thursdays to avoid a clash with the
ladies and sending early arrivals out first to avoid long waits in the
conservatory.
We can discuss this fully at the meeting.
The 2025 calendar is progressing satisfactorily. I have
agreed with Nigel Tarn a new date for the 4BBB Trophy which was abandoned due
to course closure on March 14. It will now be played on October 15.
The Swap Day at Newmarket has been agreed with Nigel Tarn
and Newmarket for Monday October 27.
I am still awaiting confirmation on 2025 dates from eight of
the clubs we play in matches, although most have agreed “provisionally” so I
have sent out reminders in an attempt to tie up these loose ends.
Admin rights have now been changed for me as Hon Sec and for
Nigel so that he can help with competitions.
I have signed up one new member this month – Mike Etwaroo,
who is an established club member recently retired and looking to play more
midweek golf.
9 Competition Secretary’s report
Once again I have to extend
thanks to Tony Lloyd for handling all issues while I have been
on holiday. Tony will no doubt be
pleased to hear that I have no more holidays booked until
November.
In anticipation of the Rex
Bullock which is the first GotY competition of the year, I have now
set up the Senior Section Golfer
of the Year 2024 Order of Merit. This should start to
automatically update after each
qualifying competition.
The Rex Bullock was held
successfully with 105 eventually taking part. Just a few late
withdrawals. The winner was Keith
Howlett with 41 points just edging out Paul Jones on
countback. Third was Rob
Anderson. The GotY has updated successfully.
Thanks to Nigel Underwood for
rounding up the early starters’ cards. Very helpful.
I have also set up the new 4BBB
for 15th October.
The first Seniors Qualifying Roll
up is on 18th April but so far nobody has entered in advance.
I guess that everyone is waiting
to see what the weather will do!
The Rules Seminar is nearly full
with 49 attendees out of a maximum of 50.
There are 79 entrants for the Ken
Robinson scramble at the time of writing. Maximum is 92.
There are 82 entrants for the
Annual Medal and Jubilee Cup out of a maximum of 120.
Brief but succinct!
10 Match Secretary’s Report
We are two matches down with 28 to go, but unfortunately we
are yet to record a win, having lost the first match away to Bedfordshire &
County 4 – 2, this being the first year as a 12 a side match. Hopefully it will
revert to 16 a side or we may need to have a discussion about that.
The second match was at home to Aspley Guise & Woburn
Sands and again it was a loss 6 – 2. A point to note was that JOG had 86 shots
to Aspley Guise having 157! Thanks go to the organisers for two well run
events. I also wish to thank Keith Howlett for creating new team sheets that
take account of the new handicap calculations.
Matches continue next week (16th April) at home to
Wellingborough followed by Cambridge Country Club a week later and two days
after that it is Aspley Guise away.
We have a total of 66 members signed up, but there are some
that only signed up for one match.
The selections have been made for tranche 2 and after a few
minor issues, I have managed to now publish the teams on the Match Dropdown
file which everyone can access but must remember to log out after viewing their
own selections.
For the Saffron Walden match away, I took the decision to
limit the number of Jokers to be played, as it is there are 10, Tony standing
in as the Captain plus the Organiser, this was to help make it fair for others
with only 4 other places.
The sign up for tranche 3 is open, currently we have a good
response for all matches, Northampton away, seems the most popular with 24
signed up including 7 Jokers.
Unfortunately due to medical advice we have our first
withdrawal from a match, Terry Sweeney for Cambridge Country Club. Graham
Gadsden who was the only reserve has stepped up to play, that leaves no
reserves so I may need to call on my ‘back pocket’ team if anyone else drops
out.
Given the shot difference we have faced recently I am
encouraging the organisers of away matches to wait for the opponent’s team
before choosing our teams.
11 Costings
Member and Guest Day
EXPENDITURE;
88 x tea/coffee and (slightly smaller) bacon roll 506.00
88 x halfway house (tea/coffee + snack ) 352.00
88 x lunch (trio of
sausages, mash, veg)
968.00
Main prize vouchers (2x50,2x30,2x20) 200.00
Nearest pin etc
40.00
Gratuities
40.00
Total outgoings
£2106.00
INCOME;
44 pairs @ £50.00 per pair = £2200 = net surplus of £94.00
44 pairs @ £48.00 = £2112 = net surplus of £6.00
44 pairs @ £45.00 = £1980 = deficit of £126.00
Halfway house will be the buggy near the first tee for 10th
tee starters, staffed throughout, and the “café” at the 10th also
hopefully staffed.
Action point: further discussion at our next meeting
Senior Captain’s Day
Expenditure
Halfway House £400
(from Captain’s Honorarium)
Sandwiches and chips £770
Prize money £90
Nearest pin prizes £24
Income
£1,000
Christmas Fayre
Barry Donovan to organise and detail expenditure with an £11
entry fee and estimated £825 on prizes
Presentation Dinner
Dave Wood to bring menu suggestions to the next meeting. It
was also decided to hold a raffle
12 Staggered Start update
A discussion was held on the best way to advance our
ambitions for a staggered start for seniors matches.
13 Qualifying roll-up update
It was decided to abandon the qualifying roll-up due to take
place on April 18 as there is a competition on Carthagena and JoG is not yet
fully open
14 Changing roll-up days
Results of the recent straw poll were discussed. The survey
elicited 24 responses made up of 9 for, 12 against and 3 others. As there was a
majority against change it was decided to leave things as they are.
15 Honours Boards
Algy reported on progress with the four new honours boards
which are nearing completion at a cost of £250. The boards, to be installed in
the clubhouse opposite the bar, will be for the Annual Singles Stableford, the
Golfer of the Year, the Reg Batson and the Rex Cleaver. It was decided to mark
the unveiling with an informal ceremony, the date to be decided.
16 Rules Session
Although there is no charge for the presentation by Joan
Cocksedge it was decided to invite attendees to make a charitable donation to
be divided equally between the Seniors and Ladies charities.
Any other business
There had been two requests for seniors ties even though our
stock is now exhausted. It was decided to seek advice from the Aesopians on
where best to source a new supply.
Dates of future meeting
May 3, July 18, August 22, October 3, November 5, January 14
