Category: Captain’s Posts

I’d never been to Worthing before but had heard a lot about the Cissbury Salver Scratch Competition. It’s a 2 day foursomes event, with the top four teams from a 36 Hole qualifier going through to semi-finals and a final on the Sunday. Those that don’t make the Semis play for the plate and the Parsons Jug on Sunday. Our South Beds team played superbly all weekend. The wind was blowing strongly on Saturday and it took a while to get the hang of the greens. Only one pair from Woburn managed over 30 points. We dug deep and qualified 4th to play Woburn who won the Saturday qualifier. Sunday was calmer and our boys came through against Woburn in dramatic style, halving the 18th in bogey (thanks for the 3 putt Ryan) and then winning the 1st extra hole with a birdie.  A richly deserved victory against our local opposition. Worthing had won the competition for the last 9 years, but we triumphed over them to win 3-0 in the final, bringing the trophy back to Bedfordshire for the 10th time since 1961.  A great achievement, well done Miguel, Paul, Ian, Charlie, Sam, Alex and Harry

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June ended with Paul Kirkwood winning the club championship (again), and Mick Hagen a worthy winner of the handicap competition. Past Captain Richard returned to partner Martin for the invitation day and I was joined by my cousin Alan. Undoubted highlight was my eagle on 13, followed by low (zero) points on 14, 15 and 16.

July brought the hot weather just in time for our Proms on the Course concert on 6th. The weather was fine and hot and the Luton Youth Concert Band performed brilliantly in front of 200+ members and guests.  The BBQ and Bar were busy all night and a good time had by all. On 13th we hosted the South Eastern Counties regional championships, again in sweltering weather. The conditions hinted that the finest amateur golfers from the 11 counties in the South East of England would have it easy, but South Beds once again proved it has a few tricks up it’s sleeve. There were some good sub-par rounds, but few than many expected. Hampshire won the day with some excellent golf from all six of their players.

Despite strong winds and heavy squalls on Saturday morning, Phill Church played very steadily to record a winning score of 37 on both days of Captain’s Weekend. 243 members had signed up to play over the weekend, and they enjoyed the course in excellent condition with greens running fast and true and the rough punishing without being too punitive. The BBQ on Saturday night was sold out and enjoyed by everybody as the raffle was drawn. The many volunteers in the refreshment tent, registration and starting made sure the weekend ran smoothly and my grateful thanks to all of them as well as those who generously donated prizes. The weekend raised over £2000 for my charity, MS Trust.

The Last month has seen a mixture of golf played and watched. I played the bank holiday mixed greensomes at the start of May with Kitty and just missed out on a prize. Carole Clarke picked me for the end of May bank holiday, we dovetailed really well and won with 35 points. The Peak Production trophy is a scratch competition at which South Beds fielded two teams. The John O’Gaunt course was fiercely difficult with only one round under 70 in the day. Our ‘A’ team managed to come in 4th behind two strong Woburn teams and the home team. (photo is Paul Kirkwood sinking a putt at Peak Production). Hospitality from John O’Gaunt captain Francois was first class and just about compensated for me missing the Club v Past Captain’s match which ended in a half.

One of the perks of captaincy is that you receive invitations to play some lovely courses. England Golf invited me to bring a 4ball to Woodhall Spa for £30 each and as I’d never been, it seemed like an opportunity not to be spurned. It’s a long drive but well worth it. We played the Hodgkin course which is superb, with tight challenging holes and long carries over heather to the fairways. The bunkers are numerous, large, difficult to avoid and almost impossible to leave. The greens are tricky to read and although not fast for our visit were hard and true. It was a dry and windy day although nothing like the 49mph which had been recorded the day before. Andy and I just managed to beat Terry and Pat with my par on the long par 4 18th – an exciting finish to an excellent day’s golf.

Hello May sunshine.  Goodbye April Showers. The golfing calendar is well underway now with President’s Putter and Miles Trophy Qualifiers taking place and neither threatened by the weather. We’ve had a busy social life with a very successful race night on 13th and a great Poker night the following week. The St George’s day Stableford competition was well supported by men and ladies with prizes for drawn partners. The English supper was excellent and we’re looking forward to this becoming an annual event. Michael and I have played our first Capt/Pro challenge match we we unfortunately lost, but we’re hopeful of more success as the season progresses. We won our first two club matches, 4-3 v Bedfordshire and 4½-3½ in the home leg of our Royston double. Thanks to all the players from both side for excellent matches. I’m looking forward to more matches as the summer rolls on. The club open day was a great success and I’m very pleased to be busy interviewing new members most weeks. The only thing I need now, is to improve my golf!

I can hardly believe that I’ve already been Captain for 3 months, only 9 more left! The focus in that time has been the social events leading up to and including Christmas, and then New Year’s Eve and Burns Night. In November and December the courses were hardly troubled by the weather but once January started we were under snow for a couple of weeks and again for a few days in February. It’s a tribute to the Course manager and his staff that we’ve been playing again as soon as the snow melted whilst some other local courses have been closed and waterlogged for days. The underlying chalk landscape plays it’s part too.

The last three months have also seen the commencement of a new management regime at South Beds with a Management council focussing on staff and financial management of the club in addition to the development of long term strategy. The club committee, chaired by me, focusses on issues of direct relevance to the membership such as social, course and competitions. So far, all seems to be working well, thanks to everybody’s hard work.

I expect to be playing a lot more golf in the next few months as the weather improves and we start playing club matches and Michael Davis, our pro and I take on all comers in the Captain/Pro Challenge. I can’t wait !!

The undoubted highlight of the weekend was the performance of Luton Town at Norwich. The Town won 1-0 and became the first non-league side to ever beat a Premier league club. To win at Carrow Road was unbelievable, and a great confidence boost to the club’s ambitions for promotion from the conference.

Almost as soon as I wrote the previous post it started snowing and the course has been closed under snow for a couple of weeks. However, as if to prove how well it drains, the snow melted last night and the course was open again today. Well done to all the course staff for the work that they do to keep South Beds in tip top condition. It really is the best winter course in Bedfordshire.

On Friday 25th, 74 members and guests celebrated Burns Night with a wonderful dinner and great speeches. Particular thanks to George Young who delivered an Immortal Memory invoking his youth in Mauchline where Burns also lived. Thanks also to our piper, James Boyd. A short taster of the evening can be found in this video (opens youtube).