The next ‘home nations’ match in the series, Ireland vs Rest of the World, will be held in March and this will be a mixed event.
Many congratulations to Sam Huxtable for winning last weekend’s Stableford competition (43 points, playing off 12) on countback from Simon Lucas (23), with Michael Murray (my playing partner, alongside Simon Prince) in third with 39 points (playing off 21).
The Winter Foursomes competition is now getting into its stride, with a good number of second and third round matches played. As a reminder, the second-round matches must be played by 19TH December and the third round by 16TH January. We already have our first pair through to the quarter-finals: Stuart Loggie and Greg Waunford-Brown.
If you recall, we wanted as many of the Winter Foursomes first round matches to be played over a single weekend, and in the main they were. Given the broadly positive feedback from members to doing this, the Men’s Golf Committee (at its meeting on November 30th) have decided that we will look to repeat the ‘first round weekend’ for certain competitions next year, for example the Summer 4BBB; we will ensure that members are given plenty of notice.
Among the issues discussed at the Men’s Golf Committee were:
Winter golf arrangements: we are generally happy with them, with some tweaking if possible. The current arrangements are to be discussed at the next Golf Committee, chaired by Niels Verbeek.
Club Roll-ups: we will continue to run them via IG, but we may move them a little earlier in the day. The next roll-up is this Sunday (12th December); please sign-up via IG.
Dress Code: the Men’s Golf Committee’s view has been sought and provided to the Golf Committee. We have recommended some very minor changes.
Course etiquette: the Committee implores that everyone who plays – weekends, midweek, 9/18 holes, low/high handicaps, must give greater consideration to the upkeep of the course and by doing so to their fellow Members (nobody wants to play a bunker shot out of a footprint). So, please rake bunkers, repair pitch marks (always do more than just your own), keep trollies off tees etc. And speed of play; assuming it’s safe to do so, walk ahead of your playing partners to save time and by doing so, it should make it easier to spot wayward balls in the rough and amongst the leaves. And please call people through if you’ve lost more than a hole from the players in front of you. Here endeth the lesson!
Entry is now open for the Christmas Charity Competition on 18th December. It’s a mixed event, team competition (shotgun start) with the money raised on the day going to Regenerate – https://www.regenerateuk.co.uk/ – the chosen charity of mine and Tricia Morgan, the Ladies’ Captain. Lisa Jones, a member of the Club, chairs the charity. As a reminder, Regenerate is a youth charity based on the estates in Roehampton and Putney; Roehampton is one of Europe’s largest estates and is just a 9-iron distance from the 14th tee. The charity works with children on the estates to help them navigate the challenges that many of them face on a daily basis – at school, at home and in finding employment.
And to wrap up, some golf dates for your diary for after Christmas and through January:
- Christmas Foursomes (mixed): 27th December
- 4 Club Stableford: 8th January (non-qualifying)
- Club Roll-up (mixed): 16th January
- Men’s Stableford: 29th January
- Club Roll-up (mixed): 30th January
A I said in my previous blog, if you have any questions or comments about Men’s Golf at the Club, do let me know – paul@taylorkeogh.com
Happy golfing everyone. I wish you and your families a very joyful Christmas and New Year.
Paul Taylor, Men’s Golf Captain
