Men’s Golf Captain’s Blog
This weekend we have the Spring Meeting (14th and 15th May); there are still tee-times available, so please sign-up via IntelligentGolf.
Tim Fulstow
Last week, Tim – a past Men’s Golf Captain – sadly suffered a heart attack. On behalf of the Men’s Golf Committee, we send our very best wishes to Tim as well as Lisa and their children Phoebe and Hugo.
Charity Golf Day
Tricia and I are delighted that we have a near-full entry for our Charity Golf Competition on 21st May, in aid of Regenerate (https://www.regenerateuk.co.uk/). I will be playing with Lisa Jones (Regenerate’s chair, and Club Member), alongside her husband Steve and their son Zak.
Prostate Cancer Golf Day on 17th June is a 72 Hole Challenge raising money for Prostate Cancer UK. It’s a national event. Andrew Kemp, a Member, had suggested that the Club might organise to raise awareness and funds for this cause.
Having been a guest last week at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club for a dinner where one of their Members, a Prostate Cancer consultant surgeon, spoke about the importance of taking a PSA test and having the necessary fitness to deal with PC if its’s diagnosed, and Prostate Cancer UK being Gerry Dennigan’s charity of the year in 2022/21, I’m delighted that the Club will support the day. So, if you can, please enter. First tee-times will be from 5.30am. Details will be advertised very soon.
Also, Neil Anderson, another past Captain, is shortly to walk the West Highland Way to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. More details and how to donate to Neil and his Band of Brothers, please go to: https://band-of-brothers.uk/
Men’s Invitation Day, 28th May
There are still places left for the Invitation Day; I sincerely hope that we have a full entry. It is 18 holes (shotgun start) 4BBB, with a three-course lunch to follow and various prizes to win.
Surrey Golf
I’m afraid to report that our John Ling team (over 55s, 4BBB team competition) are the only Men’s team left in a Surrey Golf competition. Alas, our Scratch team were defeated away at Hampton Court, our Surrey 5s A team lost at Coombe Wood last weekend and our second Kelso Hamilton pair, Johnny Perkins and Malcolm Turner, lost to Reigate Hill in their second-round match.
Thank you to everyone who represented the Club in the various matches, and we wish the John Ling team, captained by Nigel Brown, all the very best in their match away to Leatherhead on 31st May. If you are available to play on 31st, please contact Nigel or sign-up via IG.
Men’s vs Ladies’ Match
Last Sunday, the Men’s team were roundly defeated by the Ladies’ 5-1. A very enjoyable match, but the Ladies’ section is clearly better suited to team matchplay than the Men, having recently won the Derry Cup and are still in the Pearson Trophy. Thanks to Justin Thesiger and Claire Martin for arranging the match, and for those who played. Nigel Brown and I had a cracking match against Charlotta Lyckeus, next year’s Ladies’ Captain, and Louise Tierney – they won 2&1.
Syd Scott Mixed Foursomes
Very well done to Astrid and Tim Drayson for winning this medal competition with a nett score of 70. Joanna and Justin Thesiger were in second place two shots behind the winners, with Aisling and Ben Wilson in third a further shot behind. We had a field of 20 pairs.
Summer Knockouts
Please ensure that all matches are played by the deadlines given.
- Lockwood Foster – second round to be played by 29th May.
- Men’s 4BBB knockout – second round to be played by 5th June.
- Mixed Knockout Foursomes – second round to be played by 12th June.
Club Roll-ups
It was very good to see Gerry Dennigan win the Roll-up held on 30th April; off 20, Gerry scored 39 points. Alex Milward (16) was second with 38 points on countback over Richard Lurcott (16). We have two roll-ups on the near horizon – 22nd May and 4th June. Please sign up via IG. I do encourage members, in particular our newer Members, to enter the Roll-Ups; they are a great way to meet Members and of course enter qualifying scores for your handicap. I speak from personal experience when I first joined the Club.
Scratch Team Medal
Congratulations to David Birn for winning the Medal competition on 1st May, shooting a gross 73, playing off 2. Luke Gorman (-1) was second with a 74, with Niels Verbeek (4) in third while also shooting a 74. If you are a low single figure golfer with a Handicap Index of 6.1 or below, and not entering these medals and wish to do so, please sign up via IG or contact David or Vince Thorne, the scratch team captain, to find out more.
Pace of Play
I appreciate that the current length of the rough is finding balls harder to find, but please adhere to the 3-minute rule and if you find that you have lost a hole to the group in front and the players behind you are constantly waiting, please waive them through. Also, where you can, walk ahead of your partners and play ready golf. In the past couple of weeks, we have been told of a number of occasions that Members have ignored this basic piece of golf etiquette, which has caused some ill-feeling. Let’s all do our best, please. For a 4 ball, we have a target time of 3 hours 45.
PS – albatross scored
It’s always great to hear of great shots. Henry John, playing his first-round match of the Lockwood Foster, scored a 2 on the par 5th 10th. He hit a 7 iron from around 160 yards. Unfortunately for Henry, he missed a 3-footer on the last to extend his match against Matt Woolston, who will be playing Rob Findlay in the second round.
Happy golfing everyone.