Captain’s CorneR

Our Association can look back on a successful year, maybe not in matches won but certainly in the camaraderie and spirit of friendship with our fellow golfers, both opponents and team mates. How generous we have been in letting some of our opponents get the better of us.

By the time you read this we shall have completed all our inter-County matches and be looking forward to the AGM. How the time has flown by. I’ve had a great time as your Captain, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself representing you whether to victory or, the more usual, second place. You have made the year a very memorable one for me. Thank you to all who have participated.

We have played some great courses many of them 100 years of age or more, predominantly in good weather and dry to fiery fairways (for those of you to manage to find them). We started with Aspley Guise actually on its hundredth birthday where I played with Lucky Bali for the trophy he donated and which bears his name. It’s “holes up” and we should have been safe being at one time 10 up only to lose by 2 when one pair had a shocker or should I say their opponents had a blinder. Let’s not dwell on that! The two of the next fixtures were marred by us not fielding a full team, no blame on the match organisers and we had plenty of candidates willing to play but having a player each time failing to turn up left us high and dry. It was a close match in Hampshire at the Royal Winchester but the home match at Ellesborough rather got away from us, not a good start to the year, results-wise. Kettering was a long way to go to get washed out by a ferocious storm. We were lucky no one was hurt. We won (at last) away from home against Surrey at Betchworth Park where they treated us an excellent dinner. We managed the keep the trend going by also winning at Chiltern Forest against Warwickshire only to fall again against Oxfordshire at Burnham Beeches. At the time of writing we have three “home” matches to play; let’s hope we have some better results to balance the overall tally.

Steve Rider, Steve Redgrave, John Pettitt and Richard Hills with the Ryder Cup

The year started in fine fashion with the dinner at Harleyford where Sir Steven Redgrave brought the Ryder Cup into the pavilion in front of thousands (well seventy or so), the food was excellent and the Q&A with Richard Hills and Steve Rider was memorable. There were photos taken with the Cup and autographs from Steve and Steve; a triumph for the Association and a great springboard for the year ahead.

Calcot Park looked a picture and treated us well at the Spring meeting which was won by John Hutchins (39 points) and the Ladies Match was held in fine weather at Lambourne and won by David Ball and Jane Burns with 40 points.

The Four Counties South was held at The Broadway which overlooks the Vale of Evesham and was played in wonderful weather. As holders of the Team Event we were hopeful of a good showing but in the end we were edged out into second place by a very strong team from Berkshire. There was a consolation, however, as Roger Gillam and I managed to take the individual prize. We hosted the Four Counties North at Flackwell Heath where we should have been able to bring our local knowledge to bear on a course we all know and which was presented in excellent fashion as usual. Norfolk overcame all and took the majority of prizes and we languished in fourth place. All credit, however, to Peter for his impeccable organisation on the day.

The Tour to Lithuania was a great success. It would have been good to have a few more participating but those that came will remember it for a long time. The Meridien Hotel was very comfortable and they upgraded us to Superior rooms; this may have been because there were not very many other residents. Certainly there were scarcely any other golfers on the (hotel’s own) V Club course which might be the most challenging course any of us have played before. We also travelled to The Capitals Golf Course where they looked after us magnificently. This was a wonderful and very playable course in the middle of nowhere. Once again we were the only players on the course. So we managed to play half the courses in the country!

 

Captain’s Day at Harleyford was played on one of the hottest days of the year and I hope you all enjoyed it and the refreshments (thanks to my other half, Elaine, for her help). You all fell for my (Everyone wins) Bingo – gotcha! – thank you for being good sports, we had a great day. The winner was Paul Graves, a new member and current Captain of Chiltern Forest.

I have, as is customary, been invited to a number of county dinners and golf days and it has been a pleasure to attend and represent you and the Association. Grateful thanks to all the committee members for their help and efforts over the year; Brian Rodgers for looking after clothing, John Hardcastle and Rob Southerden for their ideas, enthusiasm and keenness to get involved, and for Doug Ebdon who has provided great support throughout the year. He also has had to rush to get changed for the dinner every time and listen to my jokes, especially the topical one about Alex Salmond meeting the Queen. Derek Williams continues to look after our finances and always provides sound advice on decisions. Peter, working tirelessly as our Honorary Secretary, has had a very successful year organising us. What would we do without him? Thank you Peter and well done.

I wish Doug all success in the coming year when for a change he will go out first, leading the team. Thank you again for all your support over the year. Have a great winter and come back to do battle again fit and raring to go. It has been a real honour and privilege to represent you and it is a year I shall remember with fondness for ever.

John