John O'Gaunt Golf Club Seniors Section: Senior Captain's Day August 5 2025

Senior Captain Tony Lloyd presents Bill Walker with the winner's trophy

Senior Section Captain Tony Lloyd reports on Senior Captain's Day

I woke up at around 6am wondering what the day would bring.

I knew everything was in place for a great day as David Barlow and the rest of the Seniors Committee had pulled out all the stops for me. And the weather forecast was good too. What could possibly go wrong?

All I had to do was stay calm and focused for every Captain's nightmare - the drive on the John O'Gaunt first tee. More of that later.

First, the flood of entrants - 100 in all - collecting their score cards from my glamorous assistants Pat Lloyd and Jean Peacock before being relieved of their money for raffle tickets and Guess the Captain's Drive Competition.

Then a mad dash to the starting tees for a 9am shotgun start. I had been at the club for two hours yet still found myself rushing to meet my playing partners Club Captain Peter Wade, Club Vice Captain Paul Fletcher and Seniors Vice Captain David Barlow.

Then the serious stuff: coping with a blustery John O'Gaunt and lightning fast greens which tested everyone.

The conditions were reflected in the scoring with only three players scoring 36 points or more. But those three players were all in the prizes.

The clubhouse was full to capacity after play with everyone enjoying tasty wraps and chips washed down with a free drink! Cheers everyone!

But there was still time to take part in the putting competition run by Sam Barlow and the Virtual Nearest the Pin competition in the Pro Shop run by Dave Gauge.

While everyone was relaxing Nigel Underwood and his wife Sabrina were beavering away processing the scores: thanks both for a fantastic job.

Then the presentation followed by the moment I had been dreading. The Captain's Drive.

My wife was clearly hedging her bets, betting on 250 yards middle of the fairway, plus 50 yards in the left rough. I know which I would have put my money on!

Algy Grimes set off in a buggy with a rangefinder ( a little too far I thought!). All I had to do was hit two practice shots followed by the real one.

The practice shots went well right into the rough. Aim left, someone in the assembled crowd shouted. So I did. The result? 175 yards on the right of the fairway and a happy Ian Simpson who had guessed exactly that.

I don't know where that shot came from but I will sleep well tonight!

Thanks everyone for a fantastic day. I hope you had as much fun as me

Tony

PS We're still totting up the proceeds but it is looking like we have raised approaching £500 for my charity, the Alzheimer's Society. Thanks again for your generosity

The results

Bill Walker: overall winner with 40 points.

Len Greaves runner up with 38 points.

Colin Norman in third place with 37 points.

Next up the skills prizes:

Nearest the Pin on the 4th: Paul Beck

Nearest the Pin on the 10th: Chris Saunders

Nearest the Pin on the 16th: Phil Armstrong

Nearest the Pin in 2 on the 12th: Graham Gadsden

Putting competition winners: Michael Newstead and Dave Wood

Virtual Nearest the Pin: Rob Bage

Captains vs Vice Captains Shield: Winners the Captains