In attendance: Tony Lloyd (TL), Nigel Underwood (NU) Dave Wood (DW), David Barlow (DB) Algy Grimes (AG) Richard Westergreen – Thorne (RWT) Barry
Donovan (BD)
Apologies: Jonathan Lean (JL),
Minutes previous
Agreed
Matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda
None
Captain's report (TL)
Since our last meeting I have captained matches
against Wellingborough (won 5-3), Cambridge Country Club (drawn 4-4), and Brocket
Hall (won 3.5-2.5) bringing the tally so far to Won 3, Lost 2, Drawn 1. My
thanks to all the organisers for making these events run so smoothly. I need to
pull my socks up though as my personal scores have not mirrored the success of
the rest of the team. Must try harder!
The first Captains' Committee of Peter
Wade’s year took place on Monday April 28. My thanks to Richard for
representing us as both David and myself were busy hosting the Brocket Hall
team for a late lunch following our afternoon match. Incidentally, we were seated
in the conservatory as the Aesopians were dining in the Burgoyne Suits. It
actually made for a very intimate and convivial atmosphere and I think it would
be an idea to repeat this next year even if there is not a clash.
Richard and I held an informal meeting with Paul
Hitchcock, the new Chair of the Golf Committee on April 14 when we discussed a
range of issues affecting our section. It was good to start building a
relationship with Paul and I look forward to working with him.
The first golf committee of the year took place on
Tuesday April 22 when I took the opportunity to seek advice on the handicapping
issue arising from the Prostate Cancer Charity Day. It seems that we are out of
step with the club in making 4BBB competitions non-qualifiers as all club and
ladies 4BBB competitions are qualifiers. The advice, which we can revisit later
on the agenda, was that we can do whatever we choose, although “non qualifying
events should be minimised, where they do exist this should be communicated on invites/promotional
material”
Other issues discussed included the thorny issue of
pace of play, the members’ survey and dress code
A working group chaired by Neil Jarrod has been
established to examine queuing and monitoring options
Starters/Marshals-
Justin Thomas is running a working group on Starters and Marshals with a
current focus on Starters. There is likely to be a pilot study to gain data.
Coming up is a new members’ induction session on
May 17 and a golf committee meeting on May 21 which I will attend and report
back on.
Treasurer's report (BD)
Financial position. At the beginning of May we have £6.4k in the
Bank. This includes a significant amount of 2024 transactions that have
been completed this year that were accounted for in our year end accounts.
Payment made this last period for the Charity and Tour balance.
Tour at Forest Pines is currently showing a surplus of £189.55
before Prizes are purchased. The Tour organiser is also providing a Driver and
Tee Shirt for the prize pool. We are 1 player down and have been unable to
refund the last drop out if this situation remains.
Captain's Honorarium seems to now have been resolved, and Tony’s
kit will be charged against the balance. Thanks to Wendy for her support
Payment / Interface with the Main club . Much noise not a lot of
action ! The payments process with the Outsource company seems to be working
well. Delays remain in charging IG accounts for Matches by the clubhouse team.
See notes on the new accounts processes that are being thrust our way.
Jock Allan costs should be charged to the Main Club – not seniors.
Worth noting for next year.
Bank Account. No action yet on new bank Account. Charges are £4.25
per month.
Vice Captain's report (DB)
DB shared with the committee the contacts he has
made recently with members.
IPC report (RWT)
RWT outlined the conversations that he had held
with members since the last meeting.
Secretary's report (RWT)
Two new members signed up to join the seniors in
April. The latest club Induction session for prospective new members is later in the
month so we may pick up one or two new members then. The club has vacancies for 5
day members but not 7 day nor youth members at the moment.
My recent focus has been on the calendar for 2026
and the first stage is always to arrange the fixtures with other clubs and then fit
our competitions around them. I started by discussing the calendar with Nigel Tarn
and there are no external events on the calendar at present in 2026 to make us
change dates. We agreed that if anything came along later then we would deal with
any repercussions at the time.
In 2026 the usual days for the Member and Guest Day
and Senior Captains Day have Carthagena as the course of the day. I
requested to Nigel that we were able to use JOG for these events as we have been able to do
in the past when the dates did not work in our favour. Nigel kindly agreed and we
also agreed a shotgun start for the Senior Captain Day as long as it was a 9.00am
start. In return, I agreed that we would hold all our home matches on a Tuesday
in future so that all of our calendar of home events is on the same day of the
week. This does make it clearer for both us and Nigel when explaining or
responding to queries about tee closures or courses, etc. to other members. In
fact, there is only one match on a different day which is Brocket Hall on a
Monday which was the day of the week the club requested when we set up the original
fixture.
At the time of writing, I have agreement from 12 of
the 15 clubs as to dates and awaiting confirmation from two clubs. I have also
managed to marginally improve the Home - Away fixture balance through the season.
I have recently contacted Brocket Hall to offer
dates but needed to get most of the other fixtures in place to see what dates were free
for the switch to be made to a Tuesday. I have a few queries regarding calendar
events that are either on the agenda or I will raise at the meeting.
I have dealt with the usual queries and questions
from members and matters that warrant the attention of the committee are on the
agenda.
RWT updated the meeting on calendar matters and the
item will be returned to when further progress has been made.
Competition Secretary's report (NU)
Since the last meeting we have had the highly
successful Prostate Cancer Charity Day results of which have been widely
publicised. A brilliant day.
Tuesday April 29th saw the Ken Robinson Scramble,
again played in excellent conditions. The winners were Andy Brown, Peter
Salmon, Chris Roy and Bill Conway. So tight was this competition result that
just three strokes covered the top thirteen teams ! There was one late(ish)
withdrawal but three reserves had made themselves available so no problem.
Tuesday May 6th saw the Annual Medal Trophy and
Jubilee Trophy played in dry but chilly conditions on the Carthagena. 91
competitors took part and overall scoring was very low. Third place in the Medal
and Trophy winner was Bob Isaacson with a score of 64, Peter Imray was second
with 63 including an astonishing eagle 2
at the 16th !) but the winner coming through at the 11 th hour was Dave Wrench
with a 62.
Next up are:
Rex Cleaver Championship Trophy on June 3rd , a
GOTY qualifier. Entry currently stands at 79 and closes on 26th May.
The Annual Stableford on July 8th , again a GOTY,
entry opens on June 1st .
Reg Batson Trophy on July 15th (entry by
qualification)
The Member and Guest Day on July 29th .
The issue of managing and specifically finalising
competitions remains; on Tuesday I arrived at 7.20 to make sure all was well,
played at 8.30 and left at 5.10 An unusual situation here because 2
competitions run alongside each other, but it was a VERY long day ! There is a
bit of a pause now until the Rex Cleaver……suggestions welcome !
The oversight of the competitions on long days was
discussed. It was agreed that the committee members would help reduce the
burden on NU. It was agreed that there does not need to be a presence at the
start of the day as the pro shop are very good at dealing with any issues that
arise. NU to look at playing himself a little later in the day. AG will be
available to enter cards, chase cards and players near the end. Other committee
members also offered to assist.
Action Point: NU to discuss again at the next meeting.
NU to look to train one or two other committee
members in the use of the card printer so that we have back up was a action
point from the last meeting. It appears that this requires software uploading
onto computers and so NU will return to it. Nigel Tarn will help if we need it
and TL can print off cards ‘the old way’ if we need to do so.
NU brought a draft competition
abandonment/cancellation policy to the meeting that was discussed. NU was
thanked for the draft and, after discussion, NU will bring a final draft to the
next meeting for approval.
Action Point: NU agreed to bring back to the next meeting with a few tweaks. Almost
there.
Match Secretary's Report (AG)
We now have 67 players signed up with matches in
Tranche 2 well covered for players.
We have played four matches since the last meeting.
A couple of good home wins against Brocket Hall and Wellingborough, a draw at
home to Cambridge Country Club and a rather heavy defeat away to Aspley Guise.
Tranche 2 selections were made after meeting with
our Captain and most are having a fair selection rate.
Tranche 3 is now open and many have signed up. The
matches involved and numbers currently signed up are;
Gog Magog – h – 24
Brocket Hall – a – 21 (priority being given to
those that played in the home match)
Letchworth – h – 16
Northampton – a – 18
St Neots – h – 16
Leighton Buzzard – a – 15
I am confident the numbers will be sufficient for
each match.
Trophy Custodian's Report
DW gave a brief update on the current status and
whereabouts of senior section trophies.
Seniors Member and Guest Day, July 29th 2025
NU presented the following initial draft of the
arrangements:
Format: 4 ball bb stableford, JoG course, yellow
tees (ALL), 2 tee start from 9.00
Scorecards.
NU to print labels, prepare cards, NU and Mrs NU
to check players in and distribute cards from foyer.
On completion scores to be entered on IG then
handed to NU in bar for checking,
JoG cards box will be blocked off.
Instructions for this and other details (halfway
house, spot prizes etc) on insert sheet in Welcome booklet.
Welcome booklet:
TL to send greeting message to NU.
NU to sort order of play, produce and print
booklet.
Catering:
Tea/coffee/bacon roll from 8.00
Halfway houses at 1st and 10th from 10.45.
Hot/cold drinks, sweet or savoury biscuits, some chocolate . Fridge will be on
at 10th (hut repaired and refurbished). Buggy at st .
Bar staff will man buggy, we look after 10 th .
Lunch lasagne, chips and salad or veggy
alternative. Dietary needs to be notified
through NU, not direct to catering manager. (RWT to
remind via newsletter)
Raffle:
Provision of tickets.
Prizes, sale.
Draw during play, tickets on prizes.
Discussed and agreed.
Costings:
If entry price stays as last year, £50.00 per pair.
Food per head will be £21.64 ( breakfast 5.75,
halfway house 5.00, lunch 10.89.)
Prizes 2 x £50, 2 x 30, 2 x 20 = £200 plus £36 for
NTPs etc = £236.
Leaves positive balance of approx. £60.00
The draft was discussed along with the possible use
of the Captains Honorarium. It was agreed that the suggested plan and costings
proposed by NU be accepted and the day to proceed on this basis. To be
publicised in the Newsletter and returned to for an update at the next meeting.
Annual Stableford
Following discussion at the previous meeting
regarding opportunities for players of different handicaps to win it was agreed
that the Annual Stableford for 2025 will have three divisional prizes as well
as an overall winner.
NU to work out the best handicap divisions to use
and pass on to RWT to publicise in the Newsletter. Prizes will be given for the
divisional winners, and they will be invited to the Presentation Dinner.
Swap Day
There was a discussion about possible venues for
2026 and RWT will follow up and report back.
Much of the planning with Newmarket Heath for 2025
is already underway. DW and RWT will meet the Captain and Vice Captain of
Newmarket Heath briefly before they start the JOG Seniors Open in early June.
DW and RWT will then meet to discuss the arrangements for the day.
Action Point: Agenda item for the next meeting.
Clothing
Clothing for Senior Section Matches was discussed
and TL will contact Tom Simm and report back at the next meeting.
Financial Transactions with the club
BD outlined the proposed system for transactions
with the club. After consideration it was agreed that the proposed system for
match fee payments appears, as it stands, to be unworkable in practice. DB will
get back to the club to raise and discuss a couple of alternative options and
report back to the committee.
Senior Captain's Day Arrangements
DB has received the notes from TL from last year
and is about to start planning the day. Various options for skills prizes and a
raffle were discussed. DB will also check with the Club captain and Vice
Captain regarding their availability on the day.
Action Point: an agenda item next time.
Qualifying Competitions
A couple of participants in the Prostate Day
contacted TL to request that the competition be changed, after the event, to a
qualifier to allow handicaps to be amended. A couple of people would have been
affected if the change was made. TL took advice and shared thoughts with the
committee prior to the meeting. He decided not to make the change as people had
signed up on the basis that it was not a qualifier.
The committee discussed whether it should be a
qualifier in future, The general consensus was that it should stay as it is but
the point will be discussed at the Prostate Day ‘wash up’ session next week for
a final decision.
AOB
Roll up suggestion
A member had suggested that, when there is a
seniors match or Ladies competition on a roll up day that the course
played by the roll up be switched to the 2/3 ball course of the day. It was
agreed that in reality there are a lot of different scenarios on such days that
make it difficult to have a hard and fast rule. It was decided to share with
the organiser of the roll up, Bill Walker, a suggestion that the organiser on
the day should have the discretion to make such a switch if it appears the
sensible thing to do.
Action Point: RWT to contact Bill Walker and report back.
Handicaps
There was a discussion regarding the current work
of the handicap committee and handicap rules.
Dates of Future Meetings
Thurs June 12
Thurs July 17
Thurs Aug 14
Tues Sep 16
Thurs Oct 16
Thurs Nov 13
Thurs Jan 13 2026
Thurs Feb 3 2026 (AGM)
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