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Andy Pearson - Club Captain
I cannot believe it’s been 12 months - who can recall what is said? Well that’s good I can say what i want, but seriously and luckily I kept the speech so will look to recap I what I did say and hoped to achieve in the year.
So much has taken place through the year so look to recall some of the highlights and a potted recap of the year.
Early on we had our quiz nights and a fun games night, where my overall highlight was Jo handing out prizes to only find that she has miss-counted and had run out of prizes for the winner and then went collecting and re-distributing them – you had to be there!
Moving onto the start of the golf calendar, you will have seen in the last newsletter, the list of trophies and it gives you some idea of the number of competitions that we are lucky enough to have available to participate.
It all started on a cold and wet Capt’s drive in March as with the Captains Day in June we had much needed and welcome on course refreshments and two pleasant evenings at the Lime Trees.
My first disappointment of the year was again losing out a 4th time to the ladies in the wooden spoon and then my second the semi pro took us apart in Gents v Seniors.
End of May we had the lads weekend away – 40 of us at Forest Pines, great venue and lucky with the weather. Our very own and first Ryder Cup with ‘The Pearson Pot’ at stake and it all ended very close. A great weekend was had and a new format that I hoped will be carried on.
July brought the Club Championship - the biggest golf event of the year – that we opened up to the whole club and played it over the 2 days. Another new format that was well received and well supported, and it was great to see so many family on the Sunday to support and enjoy the hog roast and thanks to Ged and Oli made for a exciting climax.
With regards the result – it was pleasing to see that Oliver has been challenged after a few years of domination and that it goes to demonstrate that practice and effort does pay off and further shows that Ged has played the best golf of the year. Equally with the ladies championship, Chris Gore has had a great year and played really well and ended with a score that would have placed her 15th overall.
Our Captains Away day in early August was held at Magnolia Park, where we celebrated Phil Godfreys 50th and had 27 holes and an enjoyable day at another good course.
August Bank Holiday we found ourselves at Wokefield park near Reading for the mixed weekend away. A pleasant weekend, nice hotel and good course where some good golf was played. Dave Rolfe went to show us and me in particular what a good year he has had by playing really well and picking up both trophies.
We then had the Solpack Cup , Mixed Greensomes before and the golfing year culminated with the Chairmans Cup, which was followed by fantastic turnout, albeit it was still only about 20% of the members , we had a most enjoyable evening dancing the Ceilh at the Annual Dinner.
Charity – it was at the Annual Dinner we completed our money raising efforts for our charity, the Wooden Spoon, and I was really pleased and hope you appreciated that a representative from the Charity was able to be there to collect our donation, which was a fantastic £2800. A big thank you for all your support and the generosity you showed and the good spirit in our awarding of wooden spoons.
I look back on all these events with fond memories and satisfaction that they were generally well attended and I think / hope that everyone who took part enjoyed them. My one comment on attendance was that it was disappointing at the support and participation of the ladies at a couple of the mixed events as we did not always have full fields of ladies and Jo had to ring around to try and drum up interest, so repeat the request Jo made at the ladies AGM for the ladies to support the events.
Looking back on the Club in more general terms and some of our achievements:
Finances - You have heard reports on our finances for last year, and think it appropriate to say that this year we have been careful with our spending and put ourselves in good shape for next year with a projected sum of £4.5k in our account. Thanks to Chris
Membership – despite a very disappointing 10% increase in fees and our fears, membership has remained fairly consistent at 318which has helped by a 32 new members. A special mention to Paul and Bob for upkeep of the membership data base.
I mentioned last year my hope to include more new members and introduced the Captains Balls Up, which has been good although not as well supported as I had hoped. I know that Bill is intending to continue these and with dates in the diary are confident that this will go from strength to strength.
We cannot however become complacent as we are aging club with many mature members and with the fears at what / if there will be any effect will the new pond may have we need to continue to look for new members and ways of attracting them and making our club events as good as they can be.
Pond - you may well see that works to a new pond adjacent the 9th green have commenced and this is one of my biggest disappointments of the year. Understanding the need for the pond our disappointment is that despite our requests the hospital did not consult with us and when they did were not prepared to listen or take on board our requests. However, we will be looking at how we can make the best of the pond and remain hopeful that we can make it an integral part of the course.
Course – the course has been in great shape all year and we should think ourselves very lucky. We have made improvements with new / enlarged tee grounds at the 2nd and 12th. We introduced new proper yellow tees , removing the yellow boxes improving the experience for general play and hopefully helping to reduce / spreading the wear on the tee. You will have seen the requests that the white tees are only used for official matches and competitions and again request that this is respected. 150 yrd markers and cut a number of trees. Thanks Nigel and his team
League matches – we continued our involvement in the NGU Competitions taking part in the Scratch League, Handicap League and the Hollingsworth. Not a great year from a results perspective and as said at last week’s team dinner, urge that all players and in particular the better players to make themselves available for the matches. We do not have great depth of low handicap players, so it is ever more important that for it remain enjoyable we must remain competitive. A big thank you to all those who did take part and the team captains JN, Bill J, MM
Seniors – this section goes from strength to strength with 26 matches having been played under the watch and organisation of Bob Lewell. A good year I am sure there are many who will want to join me in thanking Bob for all his hard work. (10W; 9L; 7D)
The ladies competed in the Cecil Leitch and continue to improve their results having a good year winning all 4 home games with some narrow defeats away. Well done ladies.
To complete the thanks to the GPC, Eric as Secretary and Ray Draper for being H’cap and Comp. Sec. both very big and demanding jobs, Bill & Julie both Vice Captains for all their support and input.
A couple special thanks are required and goes to Tom for completing his 3 year term as Captain, who will be stepping down from official office tonight and thank him for all his time hard work over the last 3 years. Andi Jenkins for all her work in getting the website up and running and finally Jo, Lady Captain who I know has been a great Lady Captain and has made my job that much easier. Thanks to you all.
Thanks must also go to Jackie for all the catering that she has provided through the year which I think will only be fully appreciated next year when she is not doing as much as she has done this and previous years . Thankyou.
As I come to the end of my speech – and my year, my feelings of the year is one of satisfaction – in that i achieved all that i had hoped for, pleasure – in that i enjoyed it and believe many other did also, and honour – it is a very special and opportunity that not every gets or wants to do . It has been hard works and as i mention above I have a lot of people to thank for all their support in helping making the year and the events as good as I hoped you found them.
But to repeat a theme I have tried to make clear through the year, is that despite all my efforts and the work by others, the real success and making of the Club is by its members and the support of events and competitions – this is you, so thank you and I hope your support continues and that you continue to help us make the Club the special club that I genuinely believe we have.
Moving on and to end, it with pleasure, much hope and belief that I pass this position on to someone that I know has a real desire to do the best job he can for you and the Club. I therefore introduce you and ask that you show your appreciation and ask that you support him as you have supported me. Bill Jenkins – your Captain 2009.
Andy
Outgoing Club Captain 2008l
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