CAPTAIN’S BLOG 2009 (Feb - March)
Well, it’s been a very hectic two months since the AGM on 4th February bearing in mind that the season really hasn’t started yet !!
The first few days of the Captain’s Year were blighted by heavy snow and no golf. This necessitated cancelling the first round of the Mail on Sunday game v Belton Park and the Lincs PGA Winter Alliance Pro-am.
My first function as Captain was the Valentine’s Disco where only 44 guests and members attended but it was a great evening well organised by House Chair, June Miller.
Since taking over, June and I seem to have been in constant discussions about the organising of the Annual Dinner for later in the year in December. We have looked at trying to get the event back at Stoke Rochford Hall – it’s not been held there since the 2005 fire - but we have been very mindful of the need to control the cost of the evening whilst maintaining the quality we have enjoyed over the last few years. It has therefore been decided to stay at the Greetham Valley Hotel for the 4th December Dinner and I’m looking forward to a really good night already !!
Getting back to actually playing the game, “A” Team Captain Andy Watson asked me to play in the re-arranged Mail on Sunday game v Belton Park on 1st March and the team played well to win 3.5 – 1.5. I unfortunately lost !!
As a result I was dropped for the next fixture – seriously, I had already arranged to play a winter league quarter final match v Rod & Rich Rawson on the same day and we couldn’t re-arrange it. Unfortunately, the lads went to Rutland County on the windiest day imaginable and sadly lost 3-2. There’s always next year !!
Flying the club flag now will have to be the Ladies team who have won 2 games so far, both on the 19th hole !! The last game saw a 2.5 – 2.5 draw with Pam Watson going down the first hole and holding her nerve to win the hole and the match. Well done to all the team for getting there in the first place against a very strong Greetham team.
Saturday 14th March brought on the annual season opener, the A v B Team Trial match. I played with Chris Jones and we managed a 3 & 1 win over Martin Harvey & Rich Rawson. We’ve got a lot of Category One players this season playing well and pushing for team places so Andy and Martin have a difficult job once the South Lincs League starts.
The following day was the Captain’s Drive In. In the morning, I partnered Butch to win our Winter League semi-final v Bob Carvath & Andrew Search 2 & 1 – “Butch” was awesome …. at least that’s what he said !!
Having quaffed a few pints of the Black Stuff to celebrate, I had to walk onto the first tee and sink a very large Jack Daniels before creaming my best drive of the day right down the middle. Fancily dressed Lady Captain Dorne Werner more than matched my effort and we were both very pleased to get back to the safety of the clubhouse to enjoy an excellent buffet with a large number of members who wished us well on our year !! Thanks to everyone for your valued support – and we raised £240 for our two charities as well !!
Tuesday 17th March – back to the club again – when am I going to do a full week at work ?? – and the re-arranged Lincs PGA Winter Alliance Pro-am. Butch, Mick Andrews and I played with Jim Bennett. We tried hard but not to be on the day.
Saturday 21st March and the much awaited Captain v Vice Captain fixture. This resulted in a resounding win for Vice Captain John Booths’ team 466 points to 438 !! Well done John, you mustered your team well to a deserved win. A great turn out of 47 players – thanks again for turning out to all and making it a pleasurable afternoon.
The following week saw the first club team match, a scratch game v Newark at home. This was the first match I shall play this year with club professional Angus Dow as my partner. Considering it was his first game since last August, we combined very nicely and won the game against the Newark Captain & their pro by a healthy dog licence, 7 & 6. I must apologise for picking on Past Captain Steve to collect the money – it was very harsh of me – but everyone else seemed to enjoy it !!!
The team won by 8 - 2. I thoroughly enjoyed Angus’ company and look forward to some keen, competitive golf this year with him.
The next day, Sunday 29th March and I attended the Junior AGM to see young Dan Leahy elected as Junior Captain. Immediate Past Captain, Will Jones, gave a very good account of his year and new organiser James Footitt set out his plans for 2009. Well done James for taking over from Andy Watson who has done a sterling job for the last 5/6 years.
This event was followed by me playing in the Winter League Final with “Butch” against Ancaster rivals Mick Bailey & Robin Harris. They played great on the day and we lost by 4 & 3. We’ll get our own back one of these fine days ………………. maybe !
Friday 3rd April brought on the first Captains Presentation Evening of the year. I thought it went reasonably well with a very good turnout considering the reduced size of the clubhouse. Lady Captain Dorne Werner helped tremendously in presenting the prizes with me and I hope the slightly different format worked and gave the evening a fresh look. The earlier start of 8.00pm seemed to please most that attended as well.
Saturday 4th April saw neighbours Melton Mowbray visit Stoke for a friendly fixture. I partnered team organiser Simon Glencross and we managed to win 3 & 2. The team won comfortably by 4 - 2. Chairman Kevin Dodds escaped collecting the money by the skin of his teeth only because I bottled it – sorry Stub !!
Well done Simon in doing a great job organising the social matches – I look forward to a thoroughly enjoyable season with you in these friendly but still very competitive games at some good courses over the year.
Well, that’s us up to date - what’s coming up in the next two months ???
It starts to get quite busy now as there’s the small matter of the start of the South Lincs League matches, the first series of games with Angus in the Captain / Pro Challenge matches, first round of the Lincolnshire Union Elsham Trophy at Sudbrook Moor, the May Spring Open – it’s not dull is it ? ……… and the first comp I’ve played in this year gets me back to a 5 handicap – the pressure is on me already to maintain a semblance of a game whilst being so busy !!
It’s proven to be so very enjoyable for me so far and I hope you’ve found this “blog” an interesting insight into what goes on and I will try and do it again in a few weeks time.
In the meantime, enjoy your golf …………..!!
Best wishes
Steve Cullington