PUTTING COMPETITION NOVEMBER 10TH 2024 RESULTS ETC FROM MIKE HEALEY

Seniors - We have once again been thwarted on the Blue Course, still 10 members turned in for some extra indoor putting. Not golf as we know it but the alternative is Xmas shopping or tidying the house for family visits over the festive period. On today's showing, it would appear that we are a little ring rusty, as a number of 3-putts started to rear their heads (yours truly included). We interspersed a couple of the normal circuits with a reverse circuit just for fun and then insisted on a one-handed round just to be awkward. Club Vice-Captain, Paul Wallace-Jones came out on top with the best overall score, beating Richard Collier by one less putt into the second place/prize. It was all close at the top but alas only two prizes for the loops. Paul also won the long putt exercise but the "one prize only rule" was applied and runner up Barry Dare picked up the winnings. Finally, Mr Captain was pipped in the skills exercise by Barry Evans, who walked away with the cash. Sounds like Las Vegas style winnings. We never trouble HMRC but we can make £10.00 go a long way and the banter and mickey-taking more than makes up for petty cash prizes! We were joined by a couple more members for the breakfast baps with coffee and the usual banter continued until about 11.00am. My thanks go to Eric and Richard for collecting the money and paying Hayley at the end. The additional results and prizes from today's putting session have brought to a close our win statistics for 2024 (11 months) and Stuart will present the stats in his report next Tuesday at the AGM (we keep getting the plugs in!) We will send to all a copy of the AGM Agenda and also a copy of the 2023 AGM minutes sometime over the weekend. We are still hoping for a 9 hole Texas Scramble in the morning next Tuesday and the AGM will start promptly at 12noon. The proceedings will begin with a presentation of a cheque for donations from our Ken Lawrence Memorial day to Kevin Forbes, who will be representing the Royal British Legion. We are hoping to see as many seniors as possible at the club. Please add your signature to the sign-in sheet as you enter the dining area on arrival. One last thing in this report - can we all offer up a prayer to the weather gods in the hope that we at least get in a couple more rounds before 2025

KEN LAWRENCE MEMORIAL TROPHY 2024

The Ken Lawrence Memorial Trophy was initially postponed this time last year and eventually cancelled altogether because of course closure. We have more than made up for it this year. 50 tallies went into the draw at 8.45am, including a number of our newer brethren. Just to remind everybody - all competition fees for this event are donated towards the Royal British Legion for their Poppy Day Appeal. Threeballs and Fourballs went out from the regular three tees and having a dry 18 holes, at this time of year, was the icing on the cake. From a cold start, even the sun came out mid-morning and made the effort. The course was in good condition and greenstaff have worked very hard on reducing the fallen leaves, so not too many ball searches. Given the numbers, the whole competition took a little bit longer than usual but most seniors remained for the presentation. Just before the results were announced, Mr Captain asked everyone to bow their heads following armistice lines and informed all present of the recent demise of past senior member - Lew Bush. He thanked Stuart for resolving 50 cards and then announced the top 3 scores. There wasn't to be any kitty comp prize money on this occasion as we only present to the winner. A worthy mention of the runners-up though, Richard Collier and Paul Cheetham, both returning cards with 37 points each but the winner and recipient of the Ken Lawrence Memorial Trophy (and a bottle of malt whisky) was Wyn Jenkins with 38 points. Don stepped up with his camera (David Bailey style) and not only did he shoot the presentation but the whole group as well. Of course Wyn was not the only winner, as Chris our treasurer, collected and counted the money donated and so far we have reached the sum of £391.00. There is an envelope in reception for further donations if any of our members missed the golf today and it will remain there at least until next Tuesday. When we have a final sum, a checque will be presented to a RBL representative at our AGM on Tuesday 3rd December (did you spot the plug there?). The golf was good, as was the food and banter afterwards. All in all a satisfying day all round. Pairs Bettedrball on Thursday and we start the Winter League next Tuesday. See you there.