Notes from Senior Section committee meeting Aug 6 2026

 

Present: David Barlow (DB), Terry Domagala (TD),  Jonathan Lean (JL), Tony Lloyd (TL), Nigel Underwood (NU), Steve Mathers (SM)  Algy Grimes (AG)  Barry Donovan (BD)

Apologies: Warren Churms (WC) Dave Wood (DW)

 

1 Minutes of last meeting were accepted with no Matters Arising

2 Captain’s Report (DB)

A mixed set of match results, a very creditable draw, away, at Cambridge Country Club, but heavy defeats at Leighton Buzzard (A) and Gog Magog (A). My personal performances remain, similarly, mixed.

A few moments of note.

·       I’ve met with the new GM, James Parker. Starting 12^th October.

·       I’ve attended disciplinary training with Mark Ives. I would encourage others to do so.

·       I certainly enjoyed the Member & Guest Day which seemed to be a success.

House & Social

“Tea-gate”

I had opposed the new arrangement and spoke against its introduction. Thankfully, the decision has been reversed. The long-term issue is the size, design and layout of the bar and options to improve matters will be considered with the new General Manager.

Car Park signage is on order… still. delayed by supplier’s work for The Open
Barrier has been replaced / repaired.

The red/orange statement wall in the changing room corridor will have a graphic wrap solution similar to the visitor’s changing room.
Alarm Upgrade. Work is complete.

We need to extend CCTV coverage, internally and externally. Have engaged with John Cherry and I am in the process of setting up a site visit.

Charity.

Focus is upon The Captains’ Charity Day on Friday 11^th September.

Finance Update

The key figures:

• £30k ahead of budget overall
• £15k up on subscriptions/other income
• £15k up on visiting fees
• Capital spend to date: £175k
• £25k fencing, £9k halfway house, £64k mower blade grinder (second hand)
• £40k workman vehicle, £16k tank liner, £20k putting green.
• £93k fairway mower ordered, not yet paid
• Upcoming: £30k boiler/heating system repair (two boilers + fluid system)
• New sewer pump delivered; installation imminent

Golf and Course.

Marshals and Starters:
We are now becoming heavily reliant on 3-4 volunteers; one new volunteer from recent recruitment drive and the consensus is building toward a paid starter model. A hybrid model is also being considered with volunteers for marshalling and a paid starter for tee times. Winter coverage is the critical pressure point for starters once the clocks move and we get shorter days
Suggested that a physical infrastructure: starter hut/shelter needed if paid route adopted

Course and Greenkeeping:
Consideration of bunker redesign shelved as Nigel Broadwith satisfied with current improvement work and the cost would be up to £20,000 per bunker
Member suggestion for seed bags to be carried by members has been considered but not taken forward due to the problems this can cause to the programmed work of the green staff
Two tees (7th and 11th) flagged as too small; enlargement in winter programme
Visitors/guests: proposal to restrict to yellow tees discussed
Agreed to keep red/white/yellow flag system and purchase reflectors as a simple add-on to aid range finders
Signage (first tee and course): delayed due to supplier prioritising The Open – chasing
Extra sign planned between 1st green and 2nd tee (people straying to 16th)
Oak processionary moth found in car park tree; environment agency attending; being monitored

Dress Code
Dress code draft has been circulated; to be handed to incoming GM to offer their thoughts with a view to getting agreed in time for 2027 subscription renewals.

Bag Tag
The contract has been signed.
Soft launch this year; hard enforcement from 1st January: no bag tag, no play

Website
Quotes for updating the website from IG at £2.5k–£3.5k

Memorabilia
Preferred approach is digital preservation plus bring items down to be displayed in the cabinets in the clubhouse for major events rather than fitting out a  display room upstairs.

3 Treasurer’s report (BD)

Cash position at 9th June is £12,629 up from £11,293 this due mainly to deposits for the Away and Tour 27. See analysis

I have reconciled our account with JOG and await confirmation from Wendy on the agreement. Our account is pretty neutral at this stage.

Nottinghamshire Tour deposit has been paid . All monies from Seniors has also been received
Member and Guest day was a success. Financially we had Income of £2420 from fees , a further £590 from Raffle . Food costs were £1984. Raffle prizes and Competition prizes are not yet  accounted for overall the Raffle money was our surplus
No action yet on New Bank account other than a cursory glance at the Market options. Not enticing me yet !
I haven’t checked the Captains Honararium recently. Hopefully this is being spent !!
The Sum Up machines were successfully used for the M&G day with £260 collected. Fees were negligible

 

Editor's note: If you can't read this chart and would like more information, please contact Barry directly.

4 Secretary’s Report (TL)

The  most exciting thing to occur since our last meeting was of course “Teagate” It will no doubt be discussed elsewhere on the agenda but it goes to show the power of the Senior Section lobby. Mess with a Senior’s Cuppa at your peril!

I thought long and hard about mentioning it in the newsletter as it was so controversial but the end result was that over 40 emails were sent to the Chair of the House and Social Committee and a compromise solution was quickly put in place. All’s well that ends well!

One new member signed up this month. Steve Wakefield, HI16.2, an existing club member.

We also welcomed back Adrian Boyd who is on his annual visit from Australia. It got me thinking that we may need to come up with exemptions for the new qualifying cards rule as Adrian, for instance, could not qualify under the new rule as it is written.

I have now completed the 2027 calendar which has gone to Nigel Tarn and Paul Hitchcock for their approval.

5 Competition Secretary’s Report (NU)

 Four competitions have taken place since our last meeting, the Annual Stapleford, the Reg Batson, Member and Guest Day and Senior Captains Day. All seem to have passed without major incident. The heatwaves and actual or threatened storms, plus injuries, illnesses etc have resulted in a bit of a spike in withdrawals, but nearly every gap which resulted has been filled, either from reserve lists or from “walk ups”, including 3 people new to Senior’s competitions. As such, each competition has had a full, or very nearly full, field. Issues have arisen over people playing in weather conditions (and other factors) beyond their capabilities (see later agenda item) and inability to complete cards properly and/or legibly. Very few cases as yet so manageable.

Entries opening soon are:

Gordon Percival team trophy,  7.30, 22^nd August

Swap Day, 8.00, 24^th August *

3 clubs and a putter and Autumn Stapleford, both 7.00, 1^st September.

Advance notice that I will not be able to administer the Mixed Scramble on Oct 22^nd. Tony has indicated he can step in. I will alter the information on the competition site accordingly if that is confirmed.

6 Match Secretary’s Report (AG)

Since my last report back in July three matches have been played, all away, and resulted in two losses and one draw!

Now having played 18 matches the current scores are fairly even at W6 D5 L6 with one match abandoned due to lightning.

We now have 64 members signed up, one has just signed up for one match, Harpenden Common away.

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 upcoming matches have mixed numbers for Tranche 5. The lowest signed up is Luffenham Heath home on 15^th September with only 15, (2 came forward this week), Harpenden Common (a) only has 17, Bedford & County (h) 18, Millbrook (a)  19, South Beds (a) 19 and Gog Magog (h) 20.

Hopefully we will be able to find at least one for Luffenham Heath and more reserves for others and go on to win as many as we can to end the year on a high!

7 Cost of matches

A discussion was held on the subject of catering after home matches and the possibility of introducing a bacon roll and dropping dessert from next year’s match menus. DB had discussed options with Marcus and doing this was more or less cost neutral.. It was decided to introduce this from 2027. DB to talk to Marcus re 2027 prices

The possibility of introducing two-tier pricing for home and away matches to reduce the cost of home matches was discussed but rejected for the time being.

The committee takes seriously its commitment to maintain adequate cash reserves while aiming to break even over the year..

8 Trophy Custodian’s report (DW)

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.

Swap Days

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

The opening date for entries is set to be Monday 24^th August 2026 at 08.00.

I ask that Tony Lloyd Hons Sec includes this information in his next few newsletters.

I have been in contact with Darrel Knight, Stoke Rochford organiser, who passes on his thanks to Terry and Warren for hosting him at JOG on 21^st July. As a result of the meeting Darrell confirmed the meal for the day, which has been costed at £23.60 per person. I will be liaising with Marcus (chef) on my return from holiday to ask him to either add to the meal or supply coffee afterwards to round the cost up to £25.00 to facilitate reciprocal payment.

On checking the club diary, I noticed that the swap day had been set up to play on Carthagena. After liaising with Nigel Tarn, the day is now booked with tee times between 10.00 and 12.10 on John O Gaunt Course. He has also set up IG to collect the reciprocal payment from our players.

Swap day 2027 – Essendon Golf Club Monday 11^th October 2027

I have been in contact with Simon Harding, Essendon Golf Club organiser. He confirms that the swap day is fixed in their 2027 diary. I have given him a brief run-down on costs, possible increases in 2027, reciprocal payment, and the numbers of players from each club (40). I will be arranging a meeting with him once this years’ swap day is concluded.

Swap day 2028 – Brickenden Grange Golf Club – date to be arranged

Brickenden Grange GC

I have been in contact with both the General Manager and Swap Day Organiser at Brickenden Grange Golf Club, explaining that we have 2027 already booked but that I wish to confirm their interest in a swap day in 2028.

I gave them a brief run-down on what the swap day entails, current costs and player numbers. I await their reply.

I have today 03.07.2026 received a reply from General Manager Stephen Bryan confirming that BGGC wish to arrange a swap day with us in early October 2028. He mentions that cost of the day may need to be increased to £35.00 per head. I believe this to be a sensible prediction. Simon has agreed to be the BGGC contact for the arrangements.

The Bedfordshire GC

I have written to Peter Wilson, organiser for The Bedfordshire Golf Club swap days and informed him that we can no longer offer him a swap day in 2028 because of a previous promise to another club. I have asked him to let me know if they wish to be considered for 2029. I await his reply.

10 Away Days update

SM gave a brief update on Away Days.

Rutland Water Sept 3.  All entrants have paid the Senior Section directly. Tee times to be confirmed by SM. From 2027 payments would be taken through IG.

2027: SM and WC still looking at possible venues including Buckingham, Oundle and Ely. WC to come to the next meeting with firmer proposals. It was decided to move the date back to Sept 6  to achieve a cheaper green fee. Estimated price for the day between £48 and £60.

11 Nine hole competitions

A discussion was held on the merits of introducing nine-hole competitions for those seniors struggling to complete 18 holes. TL to mention this in the newsletter in an attempt to determine whether there is a demand for this.

12 Captain’s Day wash-up

DB thanked TD and the team for making it such a successful day which raised £570 for the Captain’s Charity. BD provided the financials below

13 Qualifying cards

A discussion was held on the club’s new rules on entrance requirements for Board Competitions from 2027 which the Senior Section is adopting. For clarity, the requirement for six qualifying cards will only apply to Board competitions. Exemptions to be made at the committee’s discretion.

14 AOB

Past Captains Away Day

A suggestion for invitations to the Past Captains Away Day to be extended to seniors who are past Captains of other clubs was considered. It was decided to maintain the status quo with invitations going out to past Captains of John O’Gaunt plus committee members and roll up organisers.

 

Dates of future meetings

Thurs Sep 10

Thurs Oct 8

Thurs Nov 12

Thurs Dec 3

Thurs Jan 5

Tues Feb 2 AGM tbc