Latest News - 15th April 2025
Captain's Drive-In Report, Ladies Results, AGM Minutes
Captain's Drive-In Report - by Ian Stoneham
I wanted to say a few words of gratitude to all those of you who made my Drive In such a very special day.
My day started with a glass or 3 of champagne with my close golfing friends at Kevin and Nicola Holton’s house where Nicola provided some delicious canapés and my transport to the club awaited. With a little Dutch courage inside I was transported in Vic Vincent’s beautiful 1966 Corvette Stingray. As a bit of a car nerd this was a great treat (the car and I are the same age).
With the drive in being pushed back an hour from previous year’s events everything seemed so much calmer and we were able to enjoy a lovely breakfast (and a few more tipples as an aid to keeping my swing nice and loose!).
Having enjoyed breakfast it was then off to the changing rooms to find out what my golfing mates had in store for me. It was quite a relief to find the guys all dressed as masters caddies and my outfit resembled something designed for Sergio Garcia, Payne Stewart, Ian Poulter and Mr Tumble. All dressed up and ready to be humiliated it was off to the first tee, chauffeured by Vic in his stunning Corvette.
Having arrived on the tee the assembled masses were treated to a history lesson from my brother, Peter, who managed the first 20 years of my golfing achievements before being moved on by my vice captain, Kevin Holton, as we were in danger of not being in before sunset had he continued.
Having hit a few balls with clubs from the 1920's, of which it may have been sensible to use as my longest drive, bearing in mind we could at least see where they went, it was back to the main tee for the formal drive in. With the obligatory exploding golf ball dispatched it was on to the main event. With my hands shaking and a deep breath I hit what I thought could have been an absolute cracker only to look up and realise very few people knew what direction it had gone in and may well have ended up in Downview School. For a drive to be measured the ball must be found so it was determined I must hit another. With the law of averages still firmly stacked against me (there’s a reason I hit long irons off the tee) my second attempt was probably the best drive I’ve hit off the first this decade. A beautiful high draw into the breeze, past the tree on the left, middle of the fairway measuring 252 yards was a thing of dreams to me. Congratulations to George Bingham with a very optimistic guess of 249 yards, winning half the sweep money.
With members then off to their appropriate tees it was time for the shotgun 4BBB to begin. The sun was shining, the fairways running and receptive greens allowed for some amazing scoring. With yours truly having the round of the decade with his vice, and the club pro 4 under with a few holes to go, there was some thought that it would be a little awkward to win your own prize so we agreed we’d not speak about our score and allow others to win the prizes. Little did we know that our score of 45 points would bearly make the top 10. With a massive 55 points congratulations to the Cashman's. Theresa in particular is enjoying a purple patch and had playing handicaps not been restricted they may have got a few more points.
For all those pairs with 42 points or more who appeared on the card 9 times or more, congratulations on your handicap reduction! A bit of a shock to some, no more so than me with a reduction from 9.3 to 7.1, coming equal 10th. Don’t you just love the new handicap system and new course rating?
Finally, to all who helped out, took part, competed and made it such a fantastic day, thank you. The catering was excellent as usual, the course played better than I think many expected and my ‘organising’ committee made it a very special day.
So, with the first event now under my belt and a few pennies raised for the Golf Foundation, I’d like to wish you all a very successful golfing summer and look forward to representing the club as your ambassador during 2025.
Ian Stoneham
Club Captain
Ladies Stableford Results
Apologies for not sending these results out last week.
58 ladies played in the Stableford competition last Tuesday. Congratulations to Theresa Cashman for winning the competition with 43 points. Jenny Phillmore came second with 40 points with Barbara Stevens in third, beating Heather Tidy on countback, with 38 points. The full results are attached with today's latest news email.
AGM Minutes
The minutes from the Club AGM, which took place last Wednesday, are attached with today's latest news email. The minutes include the reports given by the Chairman and Captain, as well as the speeches given by the new Captain and the new President. The Finance Directors report was given via powerpoint slideshow and that is also attached.
I wanted to say a few words of gratitude to all those of you who made my Drive In such a very special day.
My day started with a glass or 3 of champagne with my close golfing friends at Kevin and Nicola Holton’s house where Nicola provided some delicious canapés and my transport to the club awaited. With a little Dutch courage inside I was transported in Vic Vincent’s beautiful 1966 Corvette Stingray. As a bit of a car nerd this was a great treat (the car and I are the same age).
With the drive in being pushed back an hour from previous year’s events everything seemed so much calmer and we were able to enjoy a lovely breakfast (and a few more tipples as an aid to keeping my swing nice and loose!).
Having enjoyed breakfast it was then off to the changing rooms to find out what my golfing mates had in store for me. It was quite a relief to find the guys all dressed as masters caddies and my outfit resembled something designed for Sergio Garcia, Payne Stewart, Ian Poulter and Mr Tumble. All dressed up and ready to be humiliated it was off to the first tee, chauffeured by Vic in his stunning Corvette.
Having arrived on the tee the assembled masses were treated to a history lesson from my brother, Peter, who managed the first 20 years of my golfing achievements before being moved on by my vice captain, Kevin Holton, as we were in danger of not being in before sunset had he continued.
Having hit a few balls with clubs from the 1920's, of which it may have been sensible to use as my longest drive, bearing in mind we could at least see where they went, it was back to the main tee for the formal drive in. With the obligatory exploding golf ball dispatched it was on to the main event. With my hands shaking and a deep breath I hit what I thought could have been an absolute cracker only to look up and realise very few people knew what direction it had gone in and may well have ended up in Downview School. For a drive to be measured the ball must be found so it was determined I must hit another. With the law of averages still firmly stacked against me (there’s a reason I hit long irons off the tee) my second attempt was probably the best drive I’ve hit off the first this decade. A beautiful high draw into the breeze, past the tree on the left, middle of the fairway measuring 252 yards was a thing of dreams to me. Congratulations to George Bingham with a very optimistic guess of 249 yards, winning half the sweep money.
With members then off to their appropriate tees it was time for the shotgun 4BBB to begin. The sun was shining, the fairways running and receptive greens allowed for some amazing scoring. With yours truly having the round of the decade with his vice, and the club pro 4 under with a few holes to go, there was some thought that it would be a little awkward to win your own prize so we agreed we’d not speak about our score and allow others to win the prizes. Little did we know that our score of 45 points would bearly make the top 10. With a massive 55 points congratulations to the Cashman's. Theresa in particular is enjoying a purple patch and had playing handicaps not been restricted they may have got a few more points.
For all those pairs with 42 points or more who appeared on the card 9 times or more, congratulations on your handicap reduction! A bit of a shock to some, no more so than me with a reduction from 9.3 to 7.1, coming equal 10th. Don’t you just love the new handicap system and new course rating?
Finally, to all who helped out, took part, competed and made it such a fantastic day, thank you. The catering was excellent as usual, the course played better than I think many expected and my ‘organising’ committee made it a very special day.
So, with the first event now under my belt and a few pennies raised for the Golf Foundation, I’d like to wish you all a very successful golfing summer and look forward to representing the club as your ambassador during 2025.
Ian Stoneham
Club Captain
Ladies Stableford Results
Apologies for not sending these results out last week.
58 ladies played in the Stableford competition last Tuesday. Congratulations to Theresa Cashman for winning the competition with 43 points. Jenny Phillmore came second with 40 points with Barbara Stevens in third, beating Heather Tidy on countback, with 38 points. The full results are attached with today's latest news email.
AGM Minutes
The minutes from the Club AGM, which took place last Wednesday, are attached with today's latest news email. The minutes include the reports given by the Chairman and Captain, as well as the speeches given by the new Captain and the new President. The Finance Directors report was given via powerpoint slideshow and that is also attached.