Captains Report
My last report this year, just prior to Christmas and I’m pleased to
say we have enjoyed some pretty good golfing weather in way of
temperatures; most people’s thermal gear is still pretty much folded
up neatly at the back of the wardrobe! Obviously we have had some
wet and windy conditions, but even this when compared to all those
poor people in Cumbria has been minimal. Competitions are holding
up well, finishing up this side of Christmas with the Maddock
Tankards. The Presidents’ Challenge, held on the last Sunday in
October was an excellent, fun day and very well supported with 14
tees taken and played in sunshine and mid-teen temperatures. The
golf and evening in the Clubhouse afterwards all went very well - a
big thank you to Douglas and June.
Duncan Abbott is working very hard, adapting his schedules into the
winter conditions. He has set up evenings on a Wednesday on his
‘sky screen’ for team challenges purely as a fun event. People are
starting to take advantage of this and those that have entered have
had an excellent evening. Duncan has also been using this facility for
the Juniors on a Saturday whilst the weather has been wet. His
school visits have continued during the week to coach groups of
juniors, hopefully to encourage them into golf and obviously,
hopefully at Gorleston. Duncan has also been entering into some of
the Pro-ams around Norfolk this autumn. These have also been very
good fun and I was pleased to be present at Duncan’s most
rewarding event at his old home Club of Cromer. Our team came 3rd
and Duncan 4th in the individual Pro event - he played very well. We
played Eaton in the next event… This didn’t go quite so well, Duncan
didn’t listen to all my advice that day, as at Cromer and we all just
slipped off home very quietly! I’m sure many members require new
equipment and clothes for next year’s golf, so where better and
easier to purchase all those lovely Christmas presents, so pop along
to see Duncan and receive his friendly personal service to source the
correct item, rather than sitting at home pressing a button on the
internet for the sake of a couple of quid perhaps! We need to
support Duncan wherever we can and by doing so, this supports
Gorleston Golf Club.
One hundred and one members and guests enjoyed the annual
Trophy Presentation Evening last month; one of our most prestigious
events of the whole golfing season. Well done to all the deserving
winners during 2015 and thanks to David for organising and hosting a
very enjoyable evening once again.
The team events have now all been drawn for next year resulting in
some good draws generally. I would like to wish everyone the best of
luck in these events; I feel we have the players to push anyone in all
categories. Neil Youngs has announced Chris Duffy as his
Hambro/Stenson Captain for next season; an excellent choice for the
Club, Chris was a good confidante for James last year and I believe he
will step into this role very well and certainly strain every sinew, as
James did this year to bring either of these coveted trophies back to
Gorleston.
The Course is generally playing very well and as mentioned earlier,
weather conditions are still generally favourable apart from one
particular wet period a couple of weeks ago. This has led to the
‘grass car park’ being closed off, so apologies for any difficult parking
problems at present during busy periods. Please try and park as
sensibly as possible, car share or perhaps a brisk walk or bike ride
and leave the car at home for local members to keep off those extra
pounds, amongst all the Christmas festivities!
We have commenced work on some of the tees to level them up and
lay new turf. 2, 4, 7 and 9 are definitely the worst ones and with the
turf now stripped, reveals how bad these areas were. Drainage
appears to be good on all 4 of these tees. Over the next few weeks
work will continue on these areas. Unfortunately a hydraulic pipe
failed on the greens mower on the 9th green. We immediately
applied oil absorbent pads to remove as much of the surface oil as
possible, before saturating the area with copious quantities of
detergents to dilute the oil and alleviate as much damage as
possible. Hopefully this will enable the green to recover next spring
without any further work required - we will have to await and see.
The 14th green is currently very wet and has been placed on a
temporary green as a result of this. The staff have scarified the whole
green, solid tined and slit to try and encourage better drainage.
Heavier equipment to vertidrain the green cannot be applied, as this
will certainly cause even more damage to the green itself which
would not then be able to recover over the forthcoming winter
months. Can I please ask everyone to keep out of wet muddy areas
on the course wherever possible, walk in cleaner areas for your own
benefit and the course’s. Keep buggies off the fairways or to an
absolute minimum please. Replace divots on the fairways and please
repair your pitchmarks for you to enjoy better conditions and indeed
the rest of us too.
On the social side, many various functions are still taking place, many
of them private parties. The popular Fish & Chip evenings have
started up again for the winter and have been well supported,
amongst other evenings also. The Children’s Christmas Party was
certainly another roaring success. The organisation and effort to set
this event up is massive and I’m sure you would all, along with me
like to thank Jane and Julie for their assistance for this event to take
place each year. I mustn’t forget thanks for our resident ‘Santa Claus’
alias Howard, who’s shape and appearance improves every year!
I mentioned in my last report that I hoped to have a Children’s Choir
attend for the Christmas Draw evening on December 19th, this
indeed has all been arranged and is just about sold out, tickets are
actually free, giving a light buffet refreshment after the Carols and
prior to the Christmas Draw, but I would please ask for everyone to
donate as generously as possible on the evening, to support my 2
charities, Centre81 and JPH Neonatal. The Wroughton School Choir is
delighted to be coming to Gorleston Golf Club, to be centre piece for
this evening - a big thank you to them from myself for coming. Apart
from this, the Clubhouse really does look wonderful for Christmas
again, a big thanks to all the ladies who help and make this happen,
brilliant.
Membership is still currently sitting just above our budget prediction,
so again all nudging in the right direction. Green Fees are also still
slightly up on last year and Winter Warmers are well up on last year,
thanks to advertising on the Club’s website and aided by exposure on
the Club’s Facebook page. Thank you to Committee members David
Uden and Tony Cater for setting up this Social Media outlet this year.
Our predicted budget expenditure is still intact. We are now
purchasing much needed replacement chairs for the clubhouse and
new curtains are being sourced also. Work will commence on a
parking area opposite the Greenkeepers sheds across Warren Lane,
on the corner of the 14th hole behind the trees for the practice area.
We will then also look to form some ‘pitch and putt’ holes on the
New Land area, primarily for Duncan to use, but obviously any
members can utilise as they wish. Planning on the New Land has
been confirmed providing we adhere to the preconditions set within
the original planning consent. David will prepare this over the winter
months and submit to the Planning Department next spring. We
have also received £14,750 from our insurers for the stolen Mellon
painting which was taken from the Clubhouse in August. This figure
was determined by a guide price of £12,000-18,000 set for a ‘sister’
painting that went on Auction at Bonham’s, London in November.
The reserved figure of £12,000 was not met at auction by a
considerable amount, so the painting was withdrawn. I think we can
feel very fortunate to have received the figure we got. This money
has been set aside and will be spent on something specific within in
the Club in the future.
Finally, I am now into the last quarter of my year as Captain; as said
in my last report much work is still to be done and continued, a lot of
this behind the scenes. The Christmas period has thrown up lots of
social activities, one being myself and the President took all the
office, bar and kitchen staff out for a very pleasant evening in Great
Yarmouth. Douglas and I had great pleasure in providing this little
Christmas treat and it was lovely to see all the staff wanting to be
together socially after working hard all year at the Club. Well done to
all of them and the service they give to our Club. I eventually had to
drag the President home in the early hours, kicking and stamping his
feet, but once again I drunk him under the table………………
I am holding an ‘End of Term Captain’s Party sponsored by The
President’ on February 6th at the Club. Firstly a very big thank you to
my very good friend and colleague Douglas, our President for joining
me in hosting this party. This will be a celebration and a thank you to
everyone, primarily members, but my family and friends also. I have
tried to invite as many people as possible from all the many groups
within the Club. Support from all Members throughout the year has
been fantastic, so I hope no-one is offended who does not attend
this Party, obviously numbers are limited by what we are allowed to
have in the clubhouse. Anyone who does not attend the party,
please come to the Club the next day after the Sunday Medal and
have a drink on me at the bar. Lastly, once again, can I thank
everyone for their support, enthusiasm and encouragement thus far,
for my term as Captain and have a wonderful Christmas and a very
happy New Year.
Mark Everard
Club Captain