Match Secretary Report

During 2024 we played fifteen County matches, the Spring and Autumn meetings, Captain’s Day, a mixed invitation, a Past Captains match and the Captain’s Tour and I am please to say that we managed to get a full attendance for all of the events with 38 members attending the last event of the year, The Autumn Meeting which was held at Gerrards Cross Golf Club. Only one match was called off mid round due to thunder and lightning although we did have a number of other matches that were played in very wet conditions. For those of you that played in the away matches I think that you experienced some great courses that you wouldn’t have normally played and this coming year will be the same.

In 2025 we will have the same twenty-one events with the list going out in early December. Please send your match preferences back to me as soon as possible and the Captain and I will endeavour to include as many of your choices as possible. Ideally, the more matches you choose, the greater the chance of getting picked for the majority of your choices and confirmation of the matches you are picked for will be sent to you in March.

I would also ask that if you are sometimes available to play at short notice please tick the box on the form. This is not a commitment to play but it does mean that I will include you in the email that goes out when we need a last minute replacement and you can then say if you are available or not. This worked well for the Association this year and helped us to fill some last minute gaps at very short notice.

I would also ask you to consider volunteering for being a match manager. This means that you become the contact point for our team and the match manager for the County we are playing. You will only be assigned one match and will be a member of our team. The duties of Match Management will involve you in about three hours of activity after the team invites have been sent out and is great way to get to know other team members and members of the opposition as well as understanding the workings of the Association. I have produced a step by step plan for the activities involved and am happy to send it to anyone who is interested. It does involve access to email, a tablet/computer and the internet. Again, please tick the box on the invite form.

One last point is to let you know that the committee has decided to continue with the ball sweeps in 2025 for the Spring and Autumn meetings and Captains Day and rather than asking you to bring cash, we will add the £5 cost to the match fee.

Rod Jones
Match Secretary