Mens Golf Captain’s Blog
With the recent ‘damp’ weather, we have all been striving to remember how it feels to play golf in dry and warm conditions. The course is soggy, we are on multiple temporary greens and it feels far removed from the scenes we watch in the TV golf coverage.
The importance of repairing pitch marks, replacing divots and taking care of bunkers remains vital. Bunkers are hard enough as they are! Have you ever hit your ball into a bunker and it’s come to rest up against the rake close to the edge of the bunker? You carefully move the rake and then you realise you have no backswing and can’t get the ball out!
To all golfers, please anticipate and try and leave the rake as close to the middle of the bunker as you can so that if a ball runs up to it, you can still play your shot! It is at times like these that I remind myself that it is vital we protect the course at this time of year. By doing so we will all get the chance to enjoy the course at Roehampton Club in fabulous condition from early April – remember that it is only 11 weeks until we open the season with the Centenary Putter on 2nd April.
This weekend we will all be in the Charity Competition – re-arranged from pre-Christmas and ‘weather-God permitting’ we will be able to get out and play some golf, enjoy a New Year ‘re-tox’ and renew friendships after the long break.
On Sunday we have a Club Roll up – usual arrangements save we will meet in the Bar as the Club Café is being renovated. Meet at 07:30 with the draw at 07:45. First tee off will be at 08:00.
I tend to correlate my enjoyment of golf with how well I have played. By and large that sets me up for many hours of gritted teeth and mental mind games where I know I can play so much better, but somehow can’t do it anymore.
This weekend past I had a little insight into how golf can be enjoyed (and probably should!). On Sunday afternoon I accompanied the Cadet Stableford as they went out to play. The weather was foul, the rain was coming sideways but I heard no complaints and saw no miserable faces. Far from it, the excitement, positivity, and sheer joy on their faces reminded me that golf is a game to be loved for the pleasure of being outside, hitting a silly little ball and enjoying a chat – nothing more, nothing less!
To those intrepid golfers – Zaal Owen, Huw Stradling, William Sargent, Gareth Owen, Edward Clement, Charles Greenwood, Emily Butler, Ralph Adamson and Harry Adamson – I salute you!
Simon Butler, Men’s Golf Captain