CLAYS SENIORS OPEN NEWS 2025

Seniors - Info before the report: Hayley is not available next week. There will be no food or bar/drinks on Tuesday but Kerrian will be there on Thursday for drinks only. Where do I start my Open report? I normally mention weather but even the early damp conditions paled into insignificance with everything that followed. Brian has already published the winners and all details are on ig but can I add my congratulations to the Falcii on their win - 3rd on countback last year - top of the tree 2025. I don't want to repeat Brian's report except to say spot prizes were duly noted and there were no fewer than 8 recipients of prizes in the Ballsweep. All details have been sent to guests who provided e-mail addresses. Now the real report starts: Clays staff - I begin with thanks to Gemma, Josh and the reception team, who are always there with the detail (IT support, entries, markers, buggies etc.) and a special thank you to Andy who made sure the ball was rolling at 7.00am. The course was in fantastic condition and the next thank you goes to Mark and his team, who received numerous positive comments all round (except for one visitor who thought there were too many dog-legs). His legs were last seen upside down in a red bin behind the building. Hayley and Kerrian were busy all day, starting with breakfast baps and meals later on. Our Seniors are used to this good service but again, compliments all round from visitors - thank you both. Your Senior Committee plus Irwin and Gary - Chris, Fred and Irwin put in a huge stint on the desk with entries early doors and cards/results as they arrived later on. It was great to see results come live on the display board (despite your Captain coming halfway down). Early doubts with the IT system were put to bed and all flowed really well. Tom, as always, was our initial Starter and his sartorial elegance was commented on loudly from a distance, just as a visitor was at the top of his backswing! I believe Mr Miles is the recipient of a Senior Moment award. Gary followed on and I thank both Starters. What can I say about Don? He stood for the best part of 5 hours at the top of the stairs and nobody but nobody got past him without buying raffle tickets. It was even better to see all the raffle prizes go out, particularly held by guests with smiles on their faces. As I am typing, Chris will be working on the final figures but it has been a guesstimate that the raffle alone has easily surpassed last year's sum. It was a joy to share a pint afterwards, with the provider of the Aston Martin driving experience and a huge shift on behalf of the Seniors. Thank you Don. Malcolm, Stuart, Peter and Barry were on hand in different roles after their golf and made themselves responsible for most of the clearing up process. On your behalf, I offer my thanks to the entire committee for their efforts both before, during and after the event. Main man - Brian was co-opted in January to join the committee but with his wealth of knowledge and experience in organising awayday Opens, it was a banker installing him in the role for our very own Open. He has left no stone unturned, covered every aspect of the planning and made sure everybody was in place. He continued in different roles during the day, ensuring all was running smoothly. I know his glass of red last night will have gone down well, in the knowledge of a job well done. I offer my special thanks personally to him and also on behalf of all the Seniors. Great job - magnificently done! If I have missed anybody - written complaints in triplicate by Tuesday at the latest! We have an end financial result to come from our Treasurer - Chris and I believe we will all be very happy. My final thanks go to all the Seniors who provided raffle prizes (and there were lots), everybody who played on the day and everyone who made the effort to engage with visitors. The compliments were in abundance, we gained two new members on the day and many promises of a return for our Open next year. Roll on an even bigger and better 2026. A very happy Senior Captai