Present: David Barlow (DB), Terry Domagala (TD), Algy Grimes
(AG), Jonathan Lean (JL), Tony Lloyd (TL), Nigel Underwood (NU), Warren Churms
(WC)
Apologies: Dave Wood
(DW) Steve Mathers (SM) Barry Donovan
Minutes of the last meeting were accepted with no matters
arising not on the agenda
2 Captain’s Report (DB)
House and Social
Only one meeting.
·
Plans for update of the entrance lobby are
progressing. Likely new doors and some kind of reception desk where Jess Sporle
(Caitlin’s replacement) will sit to welcome members and guests.
·
Some negativity towards the look of the halfway
house, but it’s there as “proof of concept” before we rush into spending lots
of money on something that people don’t use. The look will be softened up with
planting and branding decals.
·
They are looking at a new coffee machine when
the lease expires in July.
·
Various ‘socials’ are planned
27th June. Soul Night with The Soul Man / Captains Day.
26th September. Stacy Wood / Singer
10th October. Race night.
Golf
No meeting since the last one
·
Matches. Off to a winning start:
Beds & County (away). W 6 & 2
Aspley Guise (home) W 5 ½ - 2 ½
·
Surprisingly, I’ve won both my matches …..
·
Both well organised and teams set up well
Charity.
·
A successful handing over to the new Captains at
the Putt Out and Drive.
I managed to get my drive away, left side of the fairway about 180 – 190 yards
·
The senior team didn’t disgrace themselves with
a very creditable 5th place / Nett 57. An outrageous putt (?) from
off the front apron on 9th from Tony dented the flagstick. A nice
moment.
·
A combined £21k raised last year for Alzheimer’s
Society. All activities covered in the Club Round Up issued by RWT 1/04/26. No
need to repeat.
·
This update also covers the Club AGM and
everything that happened there including the bag tag presentation from Mark
Ives
·
Prostate Project Update will form part of the
meeting agenda.
Board
DB gave a short verbal update on what is happening with various
issues and projects including the bag tags
and a successor to Gordon etc.
Treasurer’s report (BD)
1 Cash position at end of March is £6440.52, down from
£17,168 in Feb
Major spend this month has been the Tour Final payment and
the JOG Charity payment
The Club CFO has advised that the accruals held from 2024
are not balances held by the Club. We can therefore release these for future
use by the section (TBD)
Book keeping is
transferred to Spreadsheets from Manual ledgers . This provides more
flexibility in providing ongoing analysis of Income and expenditure-
particularly when Matches and Competitions start. The learning process will
hopefully help the ultimate transition to an online accounting package -
probably in 2027
The first 2 Matches seem to be processed well. Organisers
are however advising Wendy very early of Team selections. This does not need to
be made until the day of the Match
Bank Account
investigations held over
We now own 2 Card
reader machines and a charger
Secretary’s Report
(TL)
I have contacted all 15 clubs we play offering dates for
2027. Six have so far agreed and confirmed.
I had a constructive conversation with Nigel Tarn exploring
the possibilities for our 50th anniversary event in 2027. The best
outcome for the club – which may be for us too – would be a Friday afternoon in
the summer. Golf after 12.30pm followed by barbecue/tapas on the terrace and
some form of entertainment – maybe Stacy Wood
Subsequently I had a chat with Chair of Golf Paul Hitchcock
who was very keen to help us include the club as a whole in our celebrations.
I have signed up two new members since our last meeting – One
is an established club member and friend of Algy (- so he must be OK!) and the other is a recent joiner.
Competition Secretary’s report (NU)
Two competitions have taken place since the last meeting :
4 ball better ball, 10/03/26, won by Graham Berry and Rob
Bage with 44 on countback from Nick Seeley and Peter Imray. Len Greaves and
David Hooper were 3rd with 43. 44 pairs took part.
Rex Bullock Trophy ( st/ford) and Peter Imray (medal)
Jug,07/04/26. The stableford element, part of GOTY, saw Len Greaves win with 39
points, followed by Jim Kerr,36, Cav Kendall, Dave Gabbitas, Michael Greenstein
and Martyn Graham all with 35. Under the one prize, best prize rule, Jim Kerr
won the inaugural Peter Imray competition with Michael Greenstein second and
Michael Graham 3rd.
Next up are;
Jock Allan Prostate Cancer Day, 13/04/26, 92 entered.
Ken Robinson Scramble, 28/04/26, 80/92 entered at time of
writing
Issues that have arisen are largely on the agenda. In
addition I will circulate a very good tool from Mr Newstead using IG to fix
dates for knockouts and we need to decide how to publish Peter Imray Jug
results, bearing in mind that IG does not recognise two competitions running at
the same time !
Knockouts: NU to produce a guide for members on their
responsibilities in organising and completing knockout matches in a timely
manner.
Joint stableford/medal lessons: It was acknowledged that the
Rex Bullock day was long and play slow. Almost inevitable running a medal and
stableford together. Worth sticking with
the concept but perhaps advising players out of contention in the medal to pick
up if they can’t score stableford points.
Imray Medal results: Some had asked how they did in the
Peter Imray Medal. IG cannot express medal and stableford results together. NU
to manually work out the Top 12 for the newsletter.
New member engagement: Further efforts required to involve
new members in the section’s activities. Difficulty in identifying existing
club members reaching senior age and contacting them.
Action point: TL to seek advice from Richard
Westergreen-Thorne on how to identify potential seniors. Perhaps a role for
existing senior “ambassadors”?
Match Secretary’s Report (AG)
What a start to the season Played 2 Won 2 couldn’t be
better well done to all players.
We now have 53 entrants signed up for the first two
Tranches.
We continue to have an issue with the match at home to
Cambridge Country Club on 21st April, we did manage to get a team
and one reserve, but a series of withdrawals has left us with only 15 again, I
await a response from the ‘back pocket’ team!
Most matches have healthy numbers for Tranche 2. Saffron
Walden away is again very popular with 5 Jokers already signed up.
Still quite a lot have contacted me because they cannot
locate their original link!
There has been a bit of an issue with entering the
matches on the club system, I have never been involved in doing that in the
past, R W-T did it last year.
Action point: TL to seek advice from Nigel Tarn on
how to do this
As for match fees, one of our players has suggested we
should charge more for away games given that is a cheap day out. He suggested
£30.00 for which you get the game of golf lunch and drinks plus sometimes a
halfway house! Is it worth consideration
for next year?
Action point: Might be a good idea for next year. Agenda
item next month
Action point: TL to ask Nigel Tarn
Trophy Custodian’s
report (DW)
Insurance
Audit Process
All seniors’
trophies are now safely returned to the club and have been placed in the new
trophy room in readiness for the insurance audit process which is due to take
place on Monday and Tuesday 13th & 14th April 2026.
Peter Imray
Medal Jug
The trophy is now
ready for presentation on 7th April 2026. Jim Kerr has kindly
fashioned a wooden plinth which will prolong addition of winners engravings
when the cup area is full. Peter
has paid for the trophy and also the engraving of the title plate.
Bailiff
(Spring Stableford Trophy)
Gordon Goodchild
has paid for the Trophy, which is now engraved ‘Gordon Goodchild Stableford’. It
is now ready for presentation following the competition on 20th
October 2026.
I have offered Gordon the possibility of presenting the trophy following the competition. He informed me that he would be ‘chuffed and honoured to do so’
Baz Backhouse
trophy
Trevor Darrington
returned the trophy to the club on his return from holiday. Mrs Darrington has
kindly repaired it, making it safe for presentation for at least another year.
Jim has examined it and agrees that it seems to be a good repair. I have agreed
with Jim to re-examine the state of the trophy nest year.
Swap Days
Swap day 2026 –
Stoke Rochford Golf Club 5th October 2026
Confirmed at both
clubs and in respective diaries.
Awaiting suitable
dates from Darrell Knight for meeting at JOG to kick off arrangements.
Swap day 2027 –
Essendon Golf Club 11th October 2027
I have established
contact with Simon Harden their organiser, confirming the date and inviting
meetings at both clubs to kick off the arrangements.
Pending clubs for Swap Day
The Bedfordshire
This club would welcome a swap day in 2028. They are suggesting a split
swap with them visiting JOG on a Monday whilst we visit their club on a
Wednesday. I will welcome the committee’s views on this as it presents a move
away from previous swap days.
Brickenden Grange
Awaiting reply from this club with regards to 2028 and beyond
Spalding
Interested in a swap day 2028 and beyond
Wellingborough
Interested in a
swap day 2028 and beyond
Full
Historical record of Seniors Competition and Honours Board winners.
I am now in
possession of three spreadsheet lists of winners dating back to the start of
the recognised Seniors’ Section in 1977. My thanks go to Wendy, and Algy for
sending me their lists. I now have commenced with the task of marrying the
lists into one spreadsheet.
Some of the lists
are incomplete, and listed in differing order which means that I will have to
take care to ensure accuracy. The task is therefore “work in progress”
Away Days (WC)
WC gave an update on the Past Captains’ Away Day at Rutland
Water on June 4. Cost £50 to include bacon roll, golf and two-course meal.
Senior Section Away
Day (same venue) on September 3. Entrance fee needs to be around £45 to cover
green fee, breakfast and prizes.
Action point: Agenda
item at next meeting to discuss with BD best way of collecting fees and setting
up on IG.
Away Days 2027
WC presented a list of possible venues and prices
Action point: WC and SM to fine tune ideas in
May/June
Senior Section’s 50th anniversary
A discussion was held on how best to organise a golf competition
starting after 12.30pm on a Friday which would allow the maximum number of
entrants to attend a social event afterwards. Nine hole competition? What
format?
Action point: TL to speak to Nigel Tarn re possible
summer dates avoiding a clash with other club events.
Roll up - preferred lies
Following a request to extend preferred lies to the rough in
the roll-up it was decided that this was not unreasonable, that the ball should
be dropped in the rough, not placed, but with the better weather approaching this
was an issue for next winter.
Dates of future meetings
Thurs May 7
Thurs June 4
Thurs June 11
Thurs July 2
Thurs Aug 6
Thurs Sep 10
Thurs Oct 8
Thurs Nov 5
Thurs Dec 3
Thurs Jan 7 tbc
Tues Feb 2 AGM tbc
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