Thursday, 25 June 2026

Committee meeting notes from June 11 meeting


Present: David Barlow (DB), Terry Domagala (TD),  Jonathan Lean (JL), Tony Lloyd (TL), Nigel Underwood (NU), Warren Churms (WC) Dave Wood (DW) Steve Mathers (SM) Barry Donovan

Apologies: Algy Grimes (AG)

 

1 Minutes of last meeting accepted with no matters arising

2 Captain’s Report

Personally, a bit of a mixed bag of personal performances and results. Great trip to The Nottinghamshire. Match results are on the positive side still in spite of the St Neots whitewashing and the forced abandonment of the Brocket Match

 

(A discussion took place on the abandonment of matches and competitions, retunding of fees and effect on handicaps etc. which concluded that, under the circumstances, abandoning the Brocket Hall match was the correct decision. Action: DB to seek advice from Nigel Tarn, TL to suggest 11.30am  start against Brocket next year as 1.30pm tee off was seen as a contributing factor to the problem.)

 

In other news from the Committees and The Board.

Charity Committee.

Lorna is working hard with the hospices with numerous projects on the go, the 54-hole challenge is the next big one on the horizon. Sunday 21st June.

Golf Committee.

A new ball collection and marshal’s buggy are on order and should be delivered within the next few weeks. The ball collection buggy (enclosed and protected) will help minimise range closures which is becoming an issue due to its popularity, especially during weekend competitions. It was always our intention to acquire a dedicated marshal’s buggy to replace the old and broken club buggy. Favourable rental terms were agreed by renting both vehicles from the same supplier.

Club competitions continue to thrive with full participation in most events.

Water Project.
As we know sprinklers have been installed on Carthagena’s 4th fairway.
Nigel B told me that to water to a depth of 3mm they use 6m3 of water. They’ve done this 8 times so far.

Illustratively
£1.15 per cubic metre to take water from the mains (£55)

Graham Leith (lead on this project) will attend the next Board meeting to give an update to the Directors. A preference for some kind of pond / reservoir was emerging. Test drainage trenches are being dug and a topographical study using an aerial drone is going to map exactly where the aviation pipeline is!

House and Social
Half way house is taking money and has now been put in the hands of F&B to staff & talk with Karen (Dave Wilsher’s wife) when there is a large society or event.

Visitor's changing room.
Almost complete. A few finishing touches need doing still. e.g. pictures to be put up, deep clean of tiles etc.
New carpet was considered, but the existing carpet tiles have been cleaned and is fine.
Redecoration. New ceiling tiles Made good / better, existing coat hanger benches. Kevin Diss provided graphics solution (£800)
 
Great work by Richard H again, just in time for the peak society and visitor period.

I have contacted Kevin to look at other areas around the Club House e.g. the red/orange statement wall in the changing room corridor.
I am repurposing photos and pictures from the archive project. Some are fit for immediate use around the clubhouse, some are only fit for the bin. There are a number of aerial shots of the club which are badly sunlight faded. Kevin Diss has been engaged to recolour these with a view to reframing by Phil Gow.

Car park signage.
Agreed by the Board. Approximately £1850 + VAT.

1) Outside the steps to the changing room.
2) Outside the Pro Shop.
3) The raised flower bed in the middle of the car park.

We will have to instate

The main entrance signage (from the main road) has been cleaned and paint work has been touched up.
Site Security
As per the Club update. Salvus Security (John Cherry_ - Steve M’s recommendation has been engaged to conduct a thorough review and update of current security arrangements across the Clubhouse, Pro Shop and Compound.
The barrier is broken and will not be repaired because it is going to cost £6k. Other exit solutions are being looked at.

RFID Bag Tag Update

Still progressing. Getting closer to signing. Discussing the pros and cons of battery power on both courses, costs involved, likely disruption etc.

3 Treasurer’s report

Cash position at 9th June is £11,293 up from £6,727. This is due mainly to deposits for the Away and Tour 27. See analysis

I have completed a full reconciliation of matches , events and competition entries and agreed this fully with Wendy. This is good news and it shows our new processes are working. We owe a net £785 to JOG as of today - NOT reflected in these accounts

Nottinghamshire Tour 26 was a very enjoyable event and a great venue. The overall net cost was £26 for additional prizes purchased. Tour 27 has already been booked and we have 30 paid deposits and a couple more due. We can go up to 34 . Deposits are £4350

This month’s report includes a second level analysis of transactions. This is manually cranked using Excel - however what I'm trying to develop is an effective analysis that we can add to the list for Accounting package needs for later this year. I will take you through the approach at the meeting

No action yet on New Bank account other than a cursory glance at the Market options. Not enticing me yet !

The Past Captains day shows a slight profit of £45. We are holding £1205 deposits for the Swap Day to Stoke Rochford

The Sum Up machines have yet to used - hopefully we can get some value from these in H2 of 2026.

 

Please note: if you can't read this table above and are interested, please ask Barry and he will send you the excel spreadsheet.

 DB thanked Barry for his hard work behind the success of the 2026 Tour and planning the 2027 Tour

 

4  Use of sum-up machines – committee members were given a short tutorial on how to use sum up machines for selling raffle tickets etc.

5 Varying cost of home and away matches.

A discussion was held on the subject of charging more for away matches.

Action point: Stick with current pricing at the moment and discuss again if and when catering prices go up with consideration given to charging more for away matches to keep cost of home matches down.

6 Secretary’s Report

Two members have contacted me as a result of the invitation contained in Richard Westergreen-Thorne’s club round-up for those of senior age to join us.

They are Andy Chappell HI 9.7 and John Evetts HI 16.8. Both are established club members who have reached senior age and are looking forward to joining in our activities.

The number receiving the newsletter currently stands at 318.

All but one of the clubs we play in matches have now agreed 2027 dates with us or pencilled them in “in principal”. Luffenham Heath, who we would expect to visit on August 26 have indicated that they might want to move this match. Not a bad thing as it is only a few weeks from our home match against them on Sept 14.

That leaves South Beds who were last to confirm last year because of the date of their agm so I don’t anticipate a problem.

I have agreed with Nick Church that the Seniors v Juniors match will be on Wed Oct 27 2027.

So the 2027 draft calendar is in good order, barring surprises, and ready to agree with the golf committee whenever they want it.

Note: Since circulating my report all clubs have confirmed match dates and Luffenham Heath have agreed to keep their home match on Aug 26 as we cannot accept their suggested alternative date. I have also signed up a third new senior and friend of NU - Sean Gillard.

Facebook page? TL floated the idea of producing a facebook page for the senior section.

Action point: DB to seek advice from the Club on the merits of this.

 

7 Competition Secretary’s Report

There have been no competitions since the last meeting.

Next up are :

The Rex Cleaver on 23.06  . 102 places all taken . I am keeping a reserve list if people contact me.

The Annual Stableford trophy, 07.07.26. 18 places available at time of writing.

The Reg Batson invitational  medal trophy ( entry decided by placings in the Annual Medal Trophy and the Rex Cleaver) on 14.07  .

Senior Captains Day entries open on 29th June (brought forward one day to avoid clashing with inter club match at Letchworth).

 

NU gave an update on plans for member and guest day

£55 fee (per couple) to be charged to members’ cards

Catering: Tea,coffee, bacon roll before golf. One-course lunch afterwards

It was decided not to run a halfway house

 

8 Match Secretary’s Report

None submitted due to AG holiday

9 Trophy Custodian’s report

Trophies are all accounted for and remain in the new trophy store:

I had a conversation with Peter Imray regarding keepsakes for the Peter Imray Jug

Competition. Peter has purchased 10 keepsakes and was concerned about the

decision made regarding the Gordon Goodchild competition. It was decided that we

do not wish to create precedent – Gordon was advised of this decision.

I informed Peter that we are very grateful for his continued generosity in buying

keepsakes and that we would go ahead with Peter presenting them along with the

trophy for the next 10 years. I agreed to have the keepsakes stored with the main

trophies.

 

Seniors Captain David Barlow asked me to research the possibility of re-purposing

an old trophy for the Tour and having and identifying engraving removed from any cartouches or

bands. My initial enquiries reveal that this is not a service supplied by our engraver,

and is not a service included in the website of local trophy suppliers. It seems to be

a service which is possible, but rarely offered by select jewellers and will require the

jeweller to have sight of the older trophy before a decision can be made as to the

possibility of abrading any engravings and the cost of carrying out the work.

I suggest that we identify a suitable old trophy in order that I may make further

enquiries.

The historic chart of Trophy winners is still on-going.

Action point: tour trophy on agenda for next meeting

 

 

10 Swap Days

Swap day 2026 – Stoke Rochford Golf Club 5 th October 2026

Confirmed at both clubs and in respective diaries.

Following a round of golf at Stoke Rochford, the meeting with their organiser, Darrel

Knight, was very productive and positive with all usual arrangements and

agreements set in stone.

I am awaiting some dates of availability from Darrel for a return visit to JOG. I will

advise the committee when this is set.

Swap day 2027 – Essendon Golf Club 11 th 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. I have not yet

received his reply so will send him a reminder.

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

I will maintain contact with the organisers in order to keep their interest fuelled.

 

11 Away Days

WC gave an update on away day planning and potential venues for 2027 such as Oundle, Spalding, Ely, Girton, Cambridge Bar Hill

Action point: SM and WC to research further ahead of July meeting

 A discussion was held on the best way to collect fees which seems to be I.G.

12 Captain's Day plans

TD gave an update on plans to include virtual nearest the pin in the swing studio, putting competition and a new idea for this year -  captain’s chip “spot the ball” sweepstake. Fourball voucher to be raffled?

Food: wraps and chips. Price to be held at £12

 

13 Committee away day

TD gave an update on the putative committee away day for a maximum of 22 players to include roll up organisers. Suggested price offered by Royston GC £43 for full English breakfast plus golf. £50 per head would also cover cost of prizes

 

14  50th anniversary

Band and disco booked by DB for event in 2027

15 AOB

Past captain lunch booked for Sep 23. TL to send out invitations

 

Dates of future meetings

Thurs July 2

Thurs Aug 6

Thurs Sep 10

Thurs Oct 8

Thurs Nov 5

Thurs Dec 3

Tues Jan 5 

Tues Feb 2 AGM tbc

 

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