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) Algy Grimes (AG)
Apologies: Barry Donovan (BD)
1 Minutes of last meeting and Matters Arising
Minutes were accepted with no matters arising not on the
agenda
2 Captain’s Report
We are really getting towards the half way mark in our
matches, with some indifferent performance from myself, but some creditable
performances from the team, including a decent halved match against St Neot’s
(home), coming on the back of the whitewash, away. It was the same outcome, at home,
to Leighton Buzzard. I suspect that the balance of more wins than losses will
start to change as we play more away matches.
GM recruitment
A shortlist of 3 candidates were interviewed. One candidate
was universally considered to be the best, although the others were also of a
very high standard. If the offer to this individual is accepted, the likely
start date is early October.
Charity Committee
I survived the 54-hole challenge and over £2k was raised,
thank you to all my sponsors. The planning is underway for the Captains’
Charity Day on Friday 11th September. A poster has been circulated to the clubs
we play matches against to drum up some more interest. An auction has been set
up. There will be over 50 four ball vouchers, so well worth having a look.
Golf Committee
Volunteer Course Marshals.
Still positive. One or two concerns about the number of
people actually involved; within a potential pot of 20+ volunteers, there are
really only an active 5-6. Richard Westergreen-Thorne to issue another appeal
for volunteers
PGA Professionals (Members) Entering Club Competitions
The Board have asked the Golf Committee to come forward with
a policy regarding members who are PGA Professionals entering Club
Competitions. Likely outcome is that there will be some competitions where it
will be possible and some (Board Comps) where it will not be allowed. The Board
has asked for a policy on this
Enhancing the JOG Golfing Experience
Several suggestions were tabled and the top 3 (reflectors on
pins, course signage and divot mix on tees) will be raised with Andy Kirton,
Director of Golf, for his consideration.
Tailored Rules Videos
Over the coming months we will prepare the videos, have them
checked by appropriate rules experts and publish them to the membership
Signs will be going up on 1st tee boxes in the coming weeks
to try to stagger tee starts e.g. only tee off when players in the group in
front have exited the green
Putting Green on CART is all progressing well and still due
to open in May 2027. Nigel B happy with the surrounds that have been built up.
Interesting
Did you know that the greens are treated with product to
protect from them from the sun? Sun cream for the grass….
Need / opportunity to educate members about the work that
goes on, possibly by video content or with an open day session where the greens
team can explain products and equipment. A few negative comments
about greens for the County Seniors (JOG).... and a rude comment about the amount
of sand in the bunkers... to be expected, hence the need to educate and explain
the great work that is being done.
Currently looking at cost for the below, as we are at a
point where we need to consider
Water Project.
As we know the sprinklers have been installed on
Carthagena’s 4th fairway. Nigel B is happy with the ‘knit’ of the grass there,
but the really big issue is guaranteeing the water supply
Graham Leith (lead on this project) presented to the Board
meeting to give an update to the Directors. Potential locations are being explored on both courses, including the Carthagena 16th, for some kind of pond / reservoir. This is unlikely to give
us all the water storage we need in one ‘hit’
Worth noting.
The water provision project is not just about storing enough
water to water Carthagena; it is about guaranteeing we can continue to water
JOG in the event of a drought order / hosepipe ban
It’s very early days. We have engaged with a golf course
designer who Nigel B knows well and has worked with him on other projects, + an
expert who understands the practicalities and the legalities of all things
“water”.
House and Social
The (2) boilers that heat the Clubhouse are beyond repair
and service and are being replaced .. at considerable expense.
A graphic solution for the red/orange statement wall in the
downstairs changing room corridor has been agreed. Similar to the Visitors’
changing room
Recoloured photos.
All done and will be framed and deployed around the
Clubhouse.
Guess the year? Answer at the end of the blog
Car park signage.
Ordered and will be with us in a few weeks.
Site Security
The work from Salvus Security has almost been completed .The
broken barrier is now going to be replaced; cheaper than £6k. It was a felt
that we have to have a visible deterrent, even if it is a bit cosmetic. Other
options e.g. an electric gate; too expensive
RFID Bag Tag Update
Very close to be signed. We have the contract to consider
and approve. Likely install, early September. Most of the practicalities around
batteries, chargers and enclosures sorted now. On the tags themselves, will
need to agree on the quality of the visitors’ tag. I favour something they can keep
and take away.
3 Treasurer’s report
Cash position at 30th June is £13,265.57. Tour 27
deposit to be paid next week £3,631.25 reduces our working balance to
£9,634.32. Bank reconciled as of 30/6/26
JOG accounts – both income and expenditure are up to date
with only last week’s events to be posted.
Nottinghamshire Tour 27 is up to 34 players and fully
booked. Anyone else interested will need to go on the reserve list. The deposit
is fully paid by members and I have also paid the Notts Club
Due to time constraints I have not updated the analysis for
June. No material change since last month’s report.
No action yet on new bank account other than a cursory
glance at the Market options. Nothing enticing me yet!
We are holding £1,340 deposits for the away day to Rutland
Water.
The sum up machines have yet to be used. However everyone
should now have been set up as an employee for future use. This ensures that
all money is directed to the JOG sum up
account and once we start to gain deposits I can then transfer balances to JOG
Seniors Lloyds account.
Bill Walker handed over £22 and change from unclaimed roll
up winnings. I still have this in cash – just in case we need some!
4 Secretary’s Report
I have signed up six new seniors.
All are now on the mailing list for the newsletter which is reaching 323 people each week.
I have sent out invitations for the Past Senior Captains’ lunch on Sept 23 and am pleased to
say that we are currently 10 strong.
One competition has taken place since the last meeting,
the Rex Cleaver Championship Trophy. Many of you will know that the weather was
less than ideal; a cloudburst plus intense thunder and lightning at 6.50a.m.
flooded some greens and stopped course preparation. A delay of one hour was
agreed with pro shop and greens staff. An email was issued just after 7am but
due to the delay through the club server this did not go out until about 20
minutes later. Much of the lost hour was made up such that the last match
started only 20 minutes late. Most of the players completed the round, although
there were several withdrawals and no returns. The overall winner of both nett
and scratch prizes was Paul Conibear, 79 gross, 69 nett, with Peter Harvey
second and Andrew Brookman third. Paul Hammond, Keith Howlett and Terry Domagala
won the divisional prizes.
Upcoming events are:
* The Annual Stableford on 07 July. One place is
currently available.
* The Reg Batson on 14 July. All 42 places are currently
filled. Only 11 players, who completed both qualifying competitions do not
currently have a place.
* Member and Guest Day, 28 July. This is fully booked
with 44 pairs and one reserve pair. Two tee start, JoG. There will be
tea/coffee and a bacon roll before play, and a rolling, one course lunch of
chicken wrapped in bacon, mash and vegetables. Nearest the pins at 4,10,16, nearest
in 2 at 1 and 12. Voucher prizes and wine for n/p.
* Senior Captains Day on 04 August. Shotgun start. 80 signed up as of now, 20 places available. No halfway house. Light lunch of assorted wraps, chips and salad. This is going to be a bit tight financially as lunch is costing £10 and entry is only £12. I would expect the remaining places to fill and to make a small surplus but not guaranteed.
Since my last report back in May a lot of matches have been played, my apologies for no report last month while I was away.
Now having played 15 matches and we have moved up the table a bit, W6 D4 L4 with one match abandoned due to lightning. We are halfway through the fixtures with more away matches than at home. Our away match at Northampton was postponed due to the hot weather and has been rearranged for 13th August, unfortunately not a good date for some of the original selection.
We now have 63 members signed up, which is just an extra
two from May.
Again, withdrawals are having an effect on team planning, a few holidays have got in the way. Thanks to all who are stepping up to play following withdrawals, some are late replacements.
All matches have healthy numbers for Tranche 4. Gog Magog away is 25 with 10 jokers, Letchworth away 25 with 4 jokers, Luffenham Heath 27 with 6 jokers,
Northampton home 25, Saffron Walden home 26 and Wellingborough away 22 with 4 jokers. The selections have been made and all organisers have been notified accordingly.
Tranche 5 is now open and will close at the end of July.
Trophies.
All trophies not yet contested for in 2026 are stored
securely in the Trophy Store. We will continue to allow winners of our trophies
to take them home if they wish as I believe that they will be safer if they are
kept separated and away from the club house. I am away on trips for the Annual
Stableford Comp on 7th July and the Reg Batson Medal Comp on 14th July, so need
to ask a fellow member of the committee to deal with the trophies on those
dates.
Swap day 2026 – Stoke Rochford Golf Club 5th October 2026. The opening date for entries is set to be Monday 24th August 2026 at 0800.
I ask that Tony Lloyd Hons Sec includes this in his next
newsletter.
Arrangements for future swap days are on-going. I will report on progress at the next meeting.
DB offered to provide a trophy in time for the 2027 Tour.
9 Away Days
WC gave an update on potential venues for the 2027 Away Day
including Oundle, Buckingham and Ely. WC and SM to firm up proposals for next
meeting.
10 Captain’s Day
Terry gave update on Captain’s Day
arrangements. Looking for volunteers to sell raffle tickets. Also, TL to
include a plea in the newsletter asking people to donate nice raffle prizes.
11 AOB
Bunker rakes
TL had been asked by a senior section member to raise the matter of
placing bunker rakes outside the bunkers which he felt was not working. DB to
discuss the matter with the golf committee chair.
Guess the year answer: the photo of the clubhouse in the
Captain’s report was taken in 1983.
Dates of future meetings
Thurs Aug 6
Thurs Sep 10
Thurs Oct 8
Thurs Nov 5
Thurs Dec 3
Tues Jan 5
Tues Feb 2 AGM tbc
No comments:
Post a Comment