Captains Newsletter September 2019

Clays Golf Club

Captain’s Newsletter : September 2019

Dear Member of Clays Golf Club

In many ways, September marks the end of the season in that the Honours Board Finals weekend takes place during the month. However, looking at the club calendar for the next few weeks and months, there is still a lot of golf to play and a number of social events to attend.

I really enjoyed following the various matches during Finals weekend and seeing how the play developed. There was some great golf played throughout the weekend by all of the finalists and some very close results, which I’ll detail later in the newsletter. It’s a great achievement to reach one of these finals and all participants are to be congratulated, regardless of the final outcome.

We are going to adopt a different approach to the presentation of trophies this year in that we are not going to be having a Presentation Evening. Instead, we will be holding a Presentation Day on Saturday, 9^th November. This will comprise a shotgun start competition in the morning to which all of the finalists will be invited, but of course everyone is welcome to take part. Following completion of the round and having refuelled with some refreshments from Hayley, Phil and Gaynor, we will then announce the results for the morning’s competition and go on to present the Honours Board trophies. The idea behind this is to maximise the number of finalists and other members attending what is one of our most important occasions. I’m aiming for the morning competition to be very low key with some fun prizes – and no entry fee! I very much hope that you’ll take part in the golf and stay to congratulate this season’s champions.

As I mentioned in the previous newsletter, essential course maintenance work will be carried out over the coming weeks and I know that we will all be keen to support our greenkeeping staff at this very busy time. So many people have commented this year on the excellent condition of the course and it really is a credit to Mark and his team and a testament to the fantastic work that they have all done on our course over the past couple of years. I’ve included on the next page an email from the organiser of a society who visited Clays recently. When you consider that the members of the society came from some really top notch clubs, the message is even more heartening. Please note that the Greenkeeping Staff will have full priority whilst they carry out their work on the course.

Following a number of comments that I’ve received recently, I’m going to be putting together a poster which is meant as a gentle reminder of ways in which players’ etiquette whilst playing can help to make everyone’s time on the course safe and enjoyable. I’m sure that all players will see that these are just sensible points to bear in mind whilst playing and receive the suggestions in the spirit in which they’re intended.

Arrangements for the forthcoming Charity Day on Sunday, 13^th October are gathering pace. It is really pleasing to see how many teams have already been entered but there are still a few tee times available and it would be brilliant if we end up with all slots booked. We are collecting entry fees in advance in order to help Hayley’s catering arrangements (please remember that a two course carvery is included in your entry fee) and your payment can either be made by cheque or via bank transfer. Please contact me if you would like more details. If any local business would like to advertise in the event programme that will be given to all players, please let me know as soon as possible. Remember that there’s a £900 prize fund to play for and a new Cryotherapy machine for the Maelor Hospital waiting to be purchased!

Have a good month’s golf.

Nigel Davies                                                                                       nigeldavies78@gmail.com

Club Captain                                                                                      

Email received from Kevin Sobers, Secretary of the Littlewoods Golf Society :

“Josh on behalf of Littlewoods Golf Society can I express our gratitude for the help, excellent service and of course the condition of the course on Friday. We all agreed that we had a superb day.

You should be very proud of everyone connected with the club but a couple of special mentions :-

To Hayley and the rest of the catering and Bar staff – the service and quality of the food was up there with the best we have had anywhere.

To Russ and the guys ferrying us back from the 9th green – thank you for your help in making the turnaround from morning to afternoon much simpler than it could otherwise have been.

To the Green keeping staff – thank you for producing a course in such a wonderful condition – I’m sure you had a little chuckle to yourself with those pin positions!

Thanks again and I hope Reg invites me to play there again next year.

 Kevin”

Club News :

Congratulations to Stewart Poole and Damian Atkin who came 5^th in the Welsh Seniors National Greensomes Final, held at Morlais Castle Golf Club recently, ending up only 3 points short of the winning score. Well done to both.

Best wishes to the Clays Ping Mixed Team (Don Wraight, Christine Evans, Dawn Thompson Byrne, Dave Riley, Jane Evans and Graham Davidson Clarke) for the forthcoming Finals Day of the Ping Wales Knockout Competition at Cotterill Park, Cardiff on 30^th September.

The Blue Tees will be reinstated shortly in order to provide a course that could be used for Juniors, a quick social round, or anyone just getting into golf. Although this will not initially be a measured course, we will be producing a score card for players’ use.

Dave Palferman, our Vice Captain, reports that the Clays DGU League Team unfortunately lost away at Old Colwyn. Therefore, Old Colwyn win League Division 1 having won more individual games.

Clays’ one remaining pair in the DGU Jubilee Plate Knockout Competition, Martin Povey & Tom Pierce, were unfortunately knocked out of the competition by a pair from Denbigh GC, but did very well to reach the quarter final stage.

A “Team Day” was held on Sunday, 15^th September whereby representatives from the DGU, Ladies and Seniors teams competed against each other. The Ladies team (including the Club Captain!!!) emerged victorious and have bragging rights for the year!

Tickets for the forthcoming Social Events can be obtained from Hayley.

First up is the Cheese & Wine evening with Quiz on Saturday, 19^th October, with tickets priced at £12pp.

Congratulations to the Clays Ladies Team who came 2nd in the Challenge Shield.

On Tuesday, 17th September, the Seniors played a Home match against Hawarden Golf Club and won 7-0! Their next match, and final match of the season, is Away to Mold GC on Thursday, 26^th September.

The DGU Autumn Meeting was held at Llangollen GC on Sunday, 22^nd September with success for Clays members as follows :

2^nd overall  Josh Green & Craig Yarwood with 43pts

Birdie 2s were recorded by:

Don Wraight & Martin Povey

Josh Green & Craig Yarwood (Clays)

Tom Pierce & Alan Barnsdale (Clays)

ErnieWilliams & Reg Peacock

Well done to all.

Club Results :

Congratulations to those members listed below on their recent golfing success.

Results as follows  ...

Honours Board Finals Weekend :

Challenge Cup

Paul Lloyd beat Andy Matthews

Aber Shield

Dilly Jones beat Gareth Whitley

Aber Rose Bowl

Dawn Thompson beat Pauline Peacock

Flick Cup

Jason Hill and Paul Wallace Jones beat Mike Jones and Gareth Roberts

Seniors Pairs

Stewart Poole and Damian Atkin beat Dave Palferman and Clive Davies

Mixed Foursomes

Beverley Hood and Nigel Davies beat Dawn Thompson and Paul Wallace Jones

Scratch Cup

Josh Green beat Paul Lloyd

Seniors Matchplay

Dilly Jones beat Andrew Mitchell

Gem Trophy

Andy Matthews and Gareth Whitley beat Dave Palferman and Richard Collier

Ladies Betterball

Dawn Thompson and Jane Evans beat Christine Evans and Pauline Peacock

Quarterly Medal

1^st        Stephen Hart               2^nd       Reg Peacock

Larry Birch Memorial

1^st        Martin Povey              2^nd       Dave Palferman

Seniors September Medal :

Division 1 :

1^st           Chris Jacques                       2^nd       Alan Barnsdale                   

Division 2 :

1^st            Stewart Poole                      2^nd       Mike Drake  

Thursday 5^th September : Seniors 9 Hole Qualifier:

1^st            Mike Parks                          2^nd       Bill Hughes      

Club September Medal :

Division  1 :

1^st        Neil Owen                   2^nd       Stephen Hart  

Division 2 :

1^st        Gareth Roberts            2^nd      Reg Peacock

Division 3 :

            1^st        Beverley Hood           2^nd       Barry Dare

Midweek Medal 11^th September :

1^st        Spencer Kearney         2^nd       Beverley Hood

  

Ladies Allington Hughes Salver

1^st        Julie Hanmer Price      2^nd       Pauline Peacock

  

Dates for Your Diary :

2^nd October                         Ladies Midweek Stableford Qualifier

3^rd October                         Seniors Medal

5^th October                         Club/WG Monthly Medal

13^th October       Charity Day for Prostate Cancer

15^th October                       Seniors Stableford Qualifier

                                                Club Council meeting

16^th October                       Club Midweek Medal

19^th October                       Cheese, Wine & Quiz

20^th October                       Clays Past Captains competition

2^nd November                    Club Monthly Medal

7^th November                    Seniors Stableford Medal

9^th November     Presentation Day

Upcoming Social Events

23rd November Curry & Quiz £8 (payable in advance) Tickets available from Reception

6th December Christmas Party! Buffet & Disco £12 (payable in advance) Tickets available from Reception

19th October Cheese & Wine £12 (payable in advance) Tickets available from Reception