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) Warren Churms (WC) Dave Wood (DW)
1 Minutes of last meeting were accepted with no matters
arising
2 Captain’s Report (DB)
My own golf is suffering as those who have to partner me
recently will testify. I am starting to struggle a bit. Match results have been
a bit mixed with 4 wins: Wellingborough (A), Saffron Walden (H) and Northampton
(A & H)) followed by defeats at Letchworth (A) and Millbrook (A) + the abandonment at Luffenham Heath (A). Just
6 more to go …
Thank you to you all, especially Terry, for a successful and
enjoyable Captain’s Day. Thanks also to Steve (M) for an excellent and well
organised Away Day at Rutland Water.
The Executive
We recently held a review meeting of the Strategic Plan and
met with the new GM, James Parker. I was impressed with James and his view of
what service and hospitality should be in a premier venue. I am sure he has the
experience and vision to modernise and take the Club forward. James starts on
12th October.
Disciplinary
Training.
Thank you to those who attended the disciplinary training
given by Mark Ives, Hopefully you found it useful and interesting. Recent
events (including a number of thefts of golf i.e. visitors not being signed in
and not paying) have demonstrated the value of Mark’s role as Compliance and
Integrity Director and the Club’s commitment to dealing with disciplinary
issues. Your involvement and willingness to sit on disciplinary hearings is an
invaluable part of ensuring the fairness of the disciplinary process.
Bag Tags
No real progress from the Club update. We are awaiting the
shipment of the “brains” i.e. the tech. from Australia and the delivery of
batteries (nationwide shortages) and enclosures. We are working out the best
way of distributing the tag. The actual tag will have no personal data on it,
only your name. This is a mock up.
Water Conservation
& Provision.
DB gave a verbal update on where we are currently ‘at’ with
plans to create a new reservoir and what the current thinking is.
CCTV.
The Board has just agreed the introduction of modern CCTV
coverage across the entire estate. Modern camera technology, including an ANPR
one for the exit barrier, will give us over 90% coverage of all areas including
most of the car park, the clubhouse front and rear (including the terrace),
inside the club house, the compound and the warm up area. We are still
experiencing a worrying number of balls landing on the 18th fairway
from the warm up area. I had this 18th hole experience myself on
Saturday.
Marcus/ F&B.
DB outlined discussions he has held with Marcus about menu
options for next year including introducing bacon rolls to match days and
dropping dessert which would be more or less cost neutral.
Match against Gog Magog
DB expressed his disappointment at the state of the
Carthagena course which was being scarified on the day Gog Magog visited us for
a home match. It was agreed that he would raise the matter at the Golf
Committee
3 Treasurer’s report (BD)
Cash position at 7th September £10,978.42 down from £12,629.
Payment made for the Away Day paid this month
Our Account with JOG was fully up to date last month and our
outstanding balance paid. The process is working well. Last month’s reconciliation
identified 3 duplicate payments made by the club and have now been rectified.
One position vacant on the Nottinghamshire Tour for 2027
following a recent cancellation
Captain’s Day and M&G were a success. Captain’s Day
balances to date are £2271 Income and £1245.54 Costs - net £1025.46. M&G
balances to date are £3005.62 Income and
£2174.27 costs - net £831.35.Prelim Away Day shows £1832 income and £1592.82
costs - net £239.18.
No action yet on New Bank account other than a cursory
glance at the Market options. Not enticing me yet! There have been some
improvements made to Lloyds - but still no mobile payment option. I will
explore this further in November.
Market review has indicated a couple of good accounting
solutions targeted at Club finance. Potentially these will speed up accounting
and allow flexible and insightful reporting , and enable the Treasurer to focus
on what the numbers say rather than what they are. I plan to fully evaluate and
trial run in November with a view of switching over for the new year. Cost is
approx £120pa
The Sum Up machines were successfully used for the M&G
and Captain’s day. Let’s look for wider adoption
4 Secretary’s Report (TL)
Gog Magog have contacted me to discuss changing the date of
our 2027 away match so that we play the
old course for a change. (Four out of the last five matches have been played on
the Wandlebury apparently).
I have agreed 2027 dates with the Ladies Section but we need
to keep an eye on the Greensomes (March 2) which, because of “calendar creep”
will be played in February before too long. The ladies are happy to leave it
for this year but in 2028 I would suggest playing a week later and moving the
4BBB to a free Tuesday in October.
My straw poll in the newsletter to gauge interest in
nine-hole competitions elicited only one response so I am minded to put the
idea on the back burner for the time being.
Action point: After discussing various dates offered
by Gog Magog it was agreed to accept March 18. TL to contact Gog Magog to
confirm.
5 Competition Secretary’s Report (NU)
·
There have not been any competitions completed
since the last committee meeting.
·
Five competitions are currently open for entry;
o
The Gordon Percival Hidden Teams, 29th
Sept. 96 places taken, 6 available. Action point: If the final entry
does not divide by 3 and we end up with a two-ball, the “missing third player”
will be awarded average points.
o
Swap Day at Stoke Rochford, 5th
October. All 40 places taken, 4 names on reserve list.
o
3 clubs and putter, 6th October. 58
entrants so far, 26 places available.
o
Autumn Stableford, 13th October.93
entrants, 9 places available.
o
Scramble with the ladies, 22nd Oct.
Entry opened on Tuesday 8th Oct. Tony Lloyd running this comp as I
am away quite a lot in the run up.
·
Next to open; Bailiff Shield opens 22nd
September, played on 20th October. This is shown as stableford but
should change to Medal. Action point: Gordon Goodchild Trophy
(stableford) running alongside it with one-prize rule applying.
· We
play a lot of individual comps, mostly stablefords. We have one 4BBB and one
scramble (plus the one with the ladies). Limited research suggests that a
greensomes comp would be welcomed to provide some variety. Action point: Greensomes
comp seen as a good idea. NU and TL to discuss how best to achieve this.
6 Knockout finals and referees
A discussion was held on providing referees for Senior
Knockout finals. This was regarded as a good way to raise the profile of the
knockouts. DB, TD and NU all offered to act as referees. NU to inform all
finalists of the decision and ask them to confirm their finals dates.
7 Match Secretary’s Report
We are now getting towards the end of the fixtures, having
played 26 matches so far, the current scores are now W10 D6 L9 with one match abandoned due to lightning. We have
another match that only lasted a few holes but has been rearranged, Luffenham
Heath is now due to be played away on 19th October.
Sorry to have to report again but 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.
The four remaining matches have just about the right number,
with very few reserves, so hopefully people will not book holidays and will
wrap themselves in cotton wool to stay fit and well!
Action point Agenda item next month to explore ways
of encouraging greater participation in matches.
8 Matches policy
A discussion was held on our current match schedule and aspirations
going forward.
Action point: SM to take the lead on reviewing clubs
we play currently and identifying quality clubs we could approach with a view
to future links
9 Trophy Custodian’s report (DW)
Trophies.
All trophies not
yet contested for in 2026 are stored securely in the Trophy Store.
The trophy for the
Seniors Tour, kindly donated by David Barlow, is now with the engraver. I await
notification that it is ready for collection.
Swap Days
Swap day 2026 – Stoke Rochford Golf Club 5th
October 2026
Entries for the
Swap-day currently stand at 40 players. We have a waiting list of 4 players who
will be notified in date order should a vacancy arise.
The event at John O’Gaunt
will now take place on John O’Gaunt course.
I have liaised with
Jess Sporle regarding her meeting and greeting the Stoke Rochford players on
the day. She is pleased to take on this role. I have supplied her with full
details of the arrangements. I have also asked her to arrange a reserved
parking area for the Stoke Rochford coach.
All is now in place
for what I hope to be a pleasant day’s golf for both clubs.
Swap day 2027 –
Essendon Golf Club Monday 11th 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
year’s swap day is concluded.
Swap day 2028 –
Brickenden Grange Golf Club – date to be arranged
Brickenden
Grange GC
Brickenden Grange
General Manager Stephen Bryan confirms 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.
Annual
Presentation Dinner 2026
I have commenced
preparations for this years’ presentation dinner by preparing invitations for
Captains’ guests, Trophy Winners, Committee members and General Seniors
members. I have agreed with Marcus that we will be taking up the club Christmas
menu (2 courses), which is predicted to be increased to £35.00 this year. This
cost, and the menu content will be available for publication once agreed by the
new General Manager.
Invitations will be
sent out once I have the menu and costs.
There will be no
raffle at this years’ dinner, as administration of it took too long and, I
believe, was one too many raffles. The diners should be spared from yet another
“Tin rattling” experience.
I have received
from Captain David Barlow a proposed list of his guests for the evening, which
I share with the Committee members for any comments.
Action
point: BD and DW to
discuss budget and number of guests to be invited
10 Away Day (WC)
WC’s recommendation of 2027 Away Days at Buckingham GC was
accepted by the committee. The dates will be Mon June 7 for the Past Captains
and Committee Away Day and Mon Sep 6 for the Seniors Away Day for 40 members. Both
events to include full English breakfast but no meal afterwards. Tee times for
both events from 12pm
11 Christmas Fayre
Christmas Fayre to follow the same format as previous years
with BD organising meat prizes and AG sourcing drinks and chocolates.
12 2027 AGM
The date of the 2027 AGM to be Tuesday Feb 16. TL to plan
notice of AGM and invitation to elect officers.
13 AOB
·
WC raised
a request from Paul Beck that prisms be affixed to top of flags to aid range
finders and TL asked whether new flag sticks with narrow steel bases as used
now at many other clubs could be purchased.
Action point: DB to raise both points with Golf
Committee
· DW informed the committee of Gordon Goodchild’s request
to present a crystal glass memento to the inaugural winner of the Gordon
Goodchild Trophy. His kind gesture was accepted with thanks.
·
TD asked if the Captain and Organiser of Swap
Days and Away Days could be automatically entered into the competitions before
sign-up. Unanimously accepted.
Dates of future meetings
Thurs Oct 8
Thurs Nov 12
Thurs Dec 3
Thurs Jan 5
Tues Feb 16 AGM
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