Men's Captain's Blog - Par Date 19/02/2018 Another month has passed very quickly but a lot has happened in that month, especially if you work in a large charity. The word Brexit continues to invade our lives and it appears that there is no end to the exposure of people’s lives on social media. Thank goodness we have a lovely golf club to retreat to. Course news I’d like to be able to report how the course is looking but yours truly has been unable to play due to a torn tendon in my knee (or an attention-seeking accident with my shoelace as last year’s Men’s Captain would like to describe it). However, I seem to be making good progress and hope to be back on the course next week. I have been down to the Club several times over the last few weeks and it is obvious that the range is making very good progress. For anyone who practices regularly I am sure the ability to now do so under cover will be very appreciated especially this winter. Apparently, Chessington Zoo are eyeing up Ben’s mud bath for a couple of their hippos once the weather warms up a bit. Elsewhere on the course, I hear that things are holding up well despite the really atrocious weather. I do have to confess that I was green with envy as I watched the BOF’s trundling off in beautiful still conditions last Wednesday morning. However, by midday my mood had changed to one of huge relief as I watched the rain coming in horizontally and sensed the temperature plummeting as I sat in the warmth of my kitchen. Social news The two big pieces of news to report relate to the 25th anniversary clothing and accessories and the 25th party on September 15th. As you will have seen from Steve’s email, the kit is now available for order with a 15% discount on clothing items. The Men’s section has selected red polos as the team shirt and heather grey pullovers as the team jumper for our 25th year (and, no, despite the highly amusing investigations of some of our more commercially minded members I am not on commission!). We are maintaining the existing colours of light blue and white as well so that no one feels obliged to buy new kit. The red polo is not actually on the order form so to order it just cross off the colour and reference of another polo on the list and put red under the colour. Steve will do the rest. The 25th Anniversary weekend is really shaping up to be a very exciting celebration of 25 years of golf at Bletchingley. The Anniversary Committee (yes, we have committees for everything!) are working hard on the proceedings for the weekend and hope to have full details and sign-ups ready in the coming weeks. Please check the noticeboards each time you come down to the Club to avoid disappointment. The Men’s vs Seniors match on March the 17th is looking like another epic encounter of historical proportions. The Men’s side has been hit hard by our scratch side having the good sense to arrange a match with Betchworth Park on the same morning and Messrs Fuller and Harvie deciding to escape the local weather for some winter sun. The Seniors are licking their lips at the thought of savaging an injured beast but of course it is a classic case of lulling our more experienced colleagues into the ultimate false sense of security. On a practical note, there is a sign up on the Seniors’ board and one for the Men on the first board on the left as you come into the clubhouse. Men can also email me at david.allard@sjpp.co.uk. Local rules The rule below may also be useful in the current weather conditions. Storm damage in bunkers – where heavy rain causes rivulets/small gullies that expose bare earth inside the bunker and a ball that comes to rest in such a rivulet or gully, may, without penalty, be lifted and dropped in the bunker within one club length of the damaged area but not nearer the hole. Of course, it will then be plugged but you can’t have everything! Competition news The Monthly Stableford on Sunday, 4th February was won by Phil Morgan in Division 1 with 36 points and by Pat Wilkins in Division 2 with 39 points. The Stableford last weekend in Division 1 was won by Mark Fuller with 38 points and Division 2 was won by James Lyons with37 points. Very well done to all of you. I will end this blog by saying that I am chomping at the bit to get out on the course. I can almost sense the sunshine and warmth at the end of a very long winter tunnel. I love the arrival of spring and the vibrant growth that it brings to our lovely course. I am sure it will be no time before we are complaining about the length of the rough rather than biting northerly winds! Humour I think Steve and I get the humour prize this month for shirt selection for team matches by originally picking purple ,which we now know only comes in an athletic fit. This would have been fine for Michael Day but I suspect that the rest of us might have been reaching for the defibrillator before we got to the first tee. Thank goodness for red and standard sizes! Regards Dave Allard Men’s Captain.
|