Starting out in April, looking at my diary for the weeks ahead brought it home to me what a very time consuming role being a Captain is. I have to say though, I’m enjoying every minute !!

 

My golf hasn’t been great with a card in my hand though. Consistently getting into good positions only to ruin a really good score with one or two bad holes – nothing unusual there you say !! My Easter Bogey score was 1 down, another .1 back ! However, my first round match in the Victory Cup was successful, managing to beat Vice President Rod Rawson by 4&2, winning 6 holes on the trot from the turn.

 

18^th April saw our first league match in the South Lincs Golf League, a home game versus Boston. I partnered Paul Knapp winning 2&1 and the team had a good win 5-1. Good start to the campaign. The B team also won at Blankney.

 

The next day I played in the Wright Cup and a Gross 77, net 72 – just failed to qualify for the Read Carlton Scratch Cup and yet another .1 back !

 

Of all the Captain’s duties, I’ve really looked forward to playing with our Professional Angus Dow in the Captain / Pro Challenge matches. Nine dates have been offered for members to pair up and challenge us, donating £20 to charity. All pairs that beat us play off at the end of the season for a trophy.

 

In the first match of the series, we played Simon Glencross and his wily partner Bob Griffin. In a very competitive game, they beat us 3&2 and issued their instructions for the rest of the season – that we shouldn’t lose again for the rest of the year !!

 

The following night, the foursomes team of Roger Rawson, Paul Knapp, Craig Hallam, Nick Watson, Jamie Collinson and Steve Greenfield made the short trip (for me at least !!) to Sudbrook Moor for the First Round tie in the County Elsham Trophy. At one time the game was quite tight but a strong finish saw the lads home by a score of 9 up.

 

A weeks holiday in Ireland was very enjoyable with Cate and I was very lucky to receive courtesy of the course playing with an old friend of hers, Father Brendan O’Callaghan who used to be a member at Belton Park a few years ago. He is now retired and lives very close to Ballybunion where he is a member. Saved me Euro 180 !!!!! I played reasonably well and managed a gross 77 !

 

A couple of days in Dublin tasting the Black Nectar went down well and we came back to the May Captains Presentation Evening that was again well attended. I managed again to waffle through the proceedings ably supported by Vice John Booth.

 

The following day …… the pace is relentless ………….. we had our second SLGL match away at Burghley Park. Always a difficult fixture, we did really well to come away with a draw 3-3, a useful point away from home that will hopefully come in handy at the end of the season. Knappy and I managed a half on this occasion.

 

Bank Holiday Monday afternoon and I partnered Tony Andrews in the Hibbert Smith first round match v Neil Rogers & Neil Pidgeon – we lost 1 down in a very enjoyable game. Best of luck to you both in the next round.

 

The next day the A team entertained Belton Woods in the first round of the County Bramley Trophy, comprising three matchplay singles matches. I know their Captain well, Ged O’Reilly an old football acquaintance and it was good to see him again. The team played well to win 3-0 – solid performance from Jamie Collinson, Craig Hallam & Steve Greenfield.

 

Back at Stoke a couple of days later for the second Captain / Pro Challenge match versus Paul Dexter and Tosh Broughton, last years winners. We struggled to win 2&1 despite me having 6 birdies and an eagle – shows how well they played !!

 

Saturday 9^th May and a game I had looked forward to from the beginning of the season – social match away at Seacroft. The team lost 3.5 – 2.5. I played with Simon Glencross and we got stuffed 4&3 by their Vice Captain and partner who knew how to play in a 50mph gale !! A great day out including Brian Stubley driving the 6^th (360 yards) and sinking the putt for an eagle !! It wasn’t that long a shot Brian – most of us went out the back !!!!!

 

Despite the late return from Skeggie, I rolled out the next day in the May Monthly Medal. I played with Simon Glencross & Mick Andrews – net 74 and handicap still going up !

 

I attended a Development Committee meeting on the Tuesday evening where we had a very long debate about reserved starting times & tee bookings after numerous requests to consider the subject in the Suggestion Book. Many options were considered, the pros and cons were discussed and agreement reached on the way forward including a “ball chute” idea to be introduced for the winter season. More news soon in the next Members Newsletter.

 

Another Captain / Pro Challenge match on the Thursday afternoon against Vice Captain John Booth and Farmer (Chris) Smith. Angus is getting into his stride now – this was his fourth game of the year after all – as he sank yards & yards of putts and we won 4&3 in the end in what was a tighter game than the result sounds. Great company and lots of banter made it a very enjoyable afternoon, a least for 2 of us !! Bob and Simon were smiling in the clubhouse afterwards as well.

 

The next day I played in the annual trip to the Coxmoor AmAm with Butch, Tony Andrews and Belton Woods member Mark Maclachlan. A very wet day and to be fair after a good start we played poor golf, but to be fair the lightening did make your bum cheeks twitch a bit !! Three Stoke members (Robin Harris, Mick Bailey and Paul Knapp) claimed first prize – well played lads !

 

Next day back at Stoke for the third SLGL game v Spalding. Played again with Paul Knapp, we secured a solid win by 4 & 3 and the team continued its good form with a very useful win 5 – 1. The B Team won at Greetham as well. A good day all round !!

 

As I’ve said before, the pace is non-stop and the following day brought on the club’s Spring Open. The weather forecast wasn’t promising for the day and so it turned out – a rain soaked day – but everyone seemed to enjoy the course that was at its best. A great job done by Gareth Austin and his staff in getting it in such good condition. For once I played reasonably well scoring a net 69 in the morning – pipped for a prize on the back nine – and 1 down in the afternoon foursomes bogey with Vice JB. There was a good turnout for the evening presentation and yet another great day organised as usual in impeccable manner by David Cartwright.

 

A busy midweek schedule followed with a Management Committee meeting on the Tuesday evening, and attending the Seniors Open presentation on the Wednesday night. There were 161 entrants on the day, a great turnout - well done Keith, Tim and everyone involved and thanks for inviting me along. There was a good selection of Stoke winners including overall winner John Wright, the Seniors Secretary.

 

Yet another Capt / Pro Challenge match on the Thursday versus Charlie Scott and Steve Major. We kept our winning run going by winning 2&1 – a very tight game. Bob & Simon now starting to look out for us wanting to know the results – they’ll be offering to caddy for us soon !!

 

The busy week continued on the Friday as I watched the second round match in the County Elsham Foursomes and another home game v Lincoln GC (Torksey). Not a great evening weather wise but the same 6 players managed to beat a strong Torksey side by 2 up. 2 enormous putts holed on 17 by Craig and 18 by Knappy did a lot to secure the win at the business end of the game ! Another home match in the next round v either Market Rasen or Kenwick Park.

 

I actually managed a day with Cate on the Saturday – few brownie points spent shopping, the cinema and a meal – before back to the course on the Sunday to play in the Pheasant Cup. Another decent round played, a net 71 that would have been a lot better without 4 putting the 12^th for a six !!

 

Bank Holiday Monday comp saw a 37 point score so things are getting a bit more consistent on the course and to conclude what has been a very hectic few weeks I went with Handicap Chairman DC to a seminar at Spalding GC on the Tuesday evening to learn about the proposals for the national Unified Handicapping System due to come in next year. It was very interesting and DC even thought it was useful as it looks like saving him a bit of work overall.

 

That’s all for now then – hope my ramblings are a little bit interesting otherwise I’ve wasted a couple of hours typing it all up !! Sat here looking at the diary for June and July it may take twice as long next time ….. !