CAPTAIN'S NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2024

Captain's Newsletter: January 2024 Welcome to the first newsletter of 2024.I would like to wish everyone the very best for the coming year. Due to the ongoing poor weather we have only managed to get a few winter league matches played . Five of the eighteen holes remain closed. Mark and his team have finally been able to get the machines onto the course and with extra care managed to get some cutting done unfortunately the ground is still too wet to have all 18 holes open. Mark is just as eager as we all are in getting all 18 holes open as soon as possible. Good news, the halfway house is now complete which will be a great addition to the members especially on major competition days. Big thanks to all who helped in getting this project complete. Special thanks to Trig for all his efforts, we are not quite sure if he has moved in there or not, just waiting to see a rocking chair appear out front. Competitions. Last month I attended the Denbighshire AGM where once again Clays picked up the D.G.U. division one winner’s trophy presented to team captain Patrick McHugh. Board competition sign up forms are now available in the reception area please sign up to as many as possible as it is a great way to have a chance in getting your name up on the honours board. Keep a check on the notice board for upcoming DGU competitions also you will find fixtures for year 2024 on IG. Ladies news letter At the end of 2023 our Ladies Xmas party had a gathering of 23 ladies and despite the cancellation of the morning golf competition, it was a successful afternoon, with a delicious Christmas lunch with music, a quiz by Christine Evans and an indoor golf chipping competition organised by Jane Evans. As out attention now turns to the forthcoming golfing season, January started much like December with heavy rain and freezing temperatures necessitating closure of the course. A number of us however have met at the Driving Range for some early season practise and have been out on the course to play a mini Stableford competition and some social golf. There is a planned calendar of competitions for the Section in place until the end of March and weather permitting, we shall hopefully soon be able to play some of the pre planned golf formats. Work commenced in the latter part of last year on raising a number of the Ladies Tees. I am hoping that in discussion with Mark and the Greenkeeping team, work will progress during the coming year on the remaining tees which need to be raised. The calendar of Ladies events and competitions for 2024 has been completed, dates are in the Club diary and the formats set up on IG. Entry forms for the Honours Board Knockout Competitions are now available. Following the success of the Ladies Open last year, an Open has once again been scheduled together with a number of additional Club exchange days. In late March a number of ladies are looking forward to an overnight trip to play The Nefyn and Abersoch courses organised by Lady Vice Captain Shan Stapley, which I am sure will be a great start to the forthcoming golfing season. The Captains’ Supper in March is organised and Mick and I hope that you can join us for this event. Tickets are now on sale from Hayley. As the weather improves I look forward to welcoming everyone back to The Club. Sue Falcus (Lady Captain) And finally from me… Some sad news, Billy Spilsted passed away suddenly at his home earlier this month he was a popular member of the senior section at clays and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time R.I.P. Billy. Tickets are now available from Hayley @ £30 p.p. for the Captains last supper on 22 of March. live band, good food, and hopefully plenty of dancing should be a great night get your tickets asap. As the course slowly re opens for the new season please remember the 3 R’s: Rake, Repair and Replace and most of all enjoy your golf! Best wishes Michael McHugh (Club Captain)