Match Secretary Report

During the golfing year between April and October we have fifteen County matches, the Spring and Autumn meetings, Captain’s Day, a mixed invitation, a Past Captains match and the Captain’s Tour.  Twenty one events in total that need to be organised and managed and we have one hundred members of which approximately two thirds are regularly playing in some of the matches.

So far this year we have managed to field full teams for each of the matches without too many last-minute problems.  To help us with late cancellations we also have an ‘emergency’ email which is sent out to everyone who said that they did not mind being asked to play at the last minute.  Sending this out has worked well a number of times this year.

As Match Secretary I am responsible for sending out the invites for each of these events but the real oiling of the machine for County matches comes from the work done by the match managers.  I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who has acted as match manager this year and we need more volunteers to take on the role for next year, ideally at least another five. 

Being a match manager is not onerous, can be enjoyable and involves around two/three hours work over the six weeks prior to the match and a bit of computer/tablet usage and only involves one match a year.  It is a great way to get involved in the Association, get to know other Association members and get familiar with the County teams we are playing against.  Also, if you are match manager it means that you are also a playing member of the team.  At all times I am around to help if needed and  I’ve put together a short step by step guide to the job.  If you are interested in taking on a match manager role next year please let me know and I will let you have a copy of the guide.

The invite for the Kent match has gone out and this leaves only two more matches in this golfing year followed by the Autumn Meeting which is at Gerrards Cross this year.  Invites will go out for this meeting at the end of August and I would like to ask one more thing which will make my job much easier.  When you get the invite for the Autumn meeting can you please reply even if it is with a thumbs down emoji or a straight NO.  This means I can cross you off the list and not involve you in repeat chase up emails.

Finally, I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who has played this year and supported me in my role.

Rod Jones
Match Secretary