It hardly seems possible that some three and a half months have passed since I sent out my first Captain's Digest. That was our first mass electronic mail out and coincided with the launch of our new KGC web-site www.kenilworthgolfclub.co.uk . Since then we have used e-mail to communicate with the bulk of you on several occasions and our web-site is proving invaluable both to members and visitors.
Past Happenings
My Captain's Day was a wonderful day that I will never forget. My family and friends supported me to the hilt and this together with wonderful weather conspired to make everything perfect. Through your generosity we collected almost £2000.00 for our charity, the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.
A week later we made our annual pilgrimage to Llandrindod Wells. Despite our best efforts, we lost!
In July we staged the Kenilworth Bowl, otherwise known as our Mixed Open. We attracted over 90 pairs, filling the entry list and resulting in a great success and many glowing testimonials from visitors.
The next weekend we held, for the first time, a joint running of the Men's and Ladies' Club Championships. Whilst lessons were learnt, it is clear that this is the way forward. Ben Hammond, our 2007 Men's Champion, proved his ability with a back to back win and Alice Young showed the advantages of youth with her win in the Ladies 36 hole event.
August was a very busy month with four prestigious Open events. Over three and a half weeks we staged the Men's Open Alliance, the Men's Open Singles, a Senior's Mixed Open Shotgun, the Men's Seniors Pairs Open Shotgun and our Junior Open. Whilst this was all going on the Ladies' Captain, Ann Saywell, ran a most successful Ladies' Away Day at Wychwood Golf Club.
September proved difficult with bad weather spoiling golf at Kenilworth for the first time in a long while. Despite all our successes with our drainage work there are occasions when sheer volume of rain over an extended period results in unplayable conditions. This happened on the days we were scheduled to run the Ladies Autumn Open and the Men's Phelps Bowl. Despite these disappointments we were all impressed with the speed with which the course recovered. A week later we were able to entertain Llandrindod Wells at home and beat them. Once again we should all give our excellent Greens Staff a pat on the back. In the latter part of the month I took 28 players to Broadway for my Captain's Away Day where we enjoyed excellent golf and superb food. The last week end in September stayed fine for Ann and me to hold the Captains' Charity Day Competition, Raffle and Dinner. We would like to pay tribute to Richard Simmons for providing the Competition Prizes and many senior members and suppliers for donating raffle prizes. We must also thank Steve and James for organising their Beat the Pro competition on the 7th hole. With all this help and your generosity we collected £1700.00 for our charity. Thank you.
Future Happenings
Looking out of the window as I write this, it is clear that Autumn is upon us. The days are shortening, the temperature is dropping and we need to grab the opportunity to play as much golf as possible before we are faced with a shortened course and the lottery of Winter League Golf. Any thoughts of an Indian Summer appear to be fading fast. The last Medal competitions of the year for men and ladies are upon us and we can play over the next few months without the eternal threat of another + 0.1 on our handicaps. That said our redoubtable Match and Competitions Committee will be running plenty of competitions through the winter to keep us on our toes.
Socially we have organised five Quiz Nights to be held monthly between now and February. The first, hosted by Denis Blasdale, is scheduled for Thursday 9th October at 7.30 pm. For a modest £20.00 you can enter a team of four, show off your collective ignorance and receive some refreshments. On Saturday 25th October we are holding a Dinner and Disco at the club, details are on the web site and on notices in the club. There is another Quiz on Thursday 6th November when your Master of Ceremonies will be Barry James. The next evening we are holding our premier President's Presentation Dinner when all the success stories of the year are retold repeatedly as our heroes collect their glittering trophies. The rest of us will sit quietly consuming large quantities of the President's Wine. On 22nd November we will be bringing a little bit of the USA to Kenilworth Golf Club with a Thanksgiving Supper (with Elvis in attendance!).
On a business front we are holding an Extraordinary General Meeting on Tuesday 28th October when you will have the opportunity to consider the sale of a piece of land adjacent to the 14th tee. This piece of land, whilst of some conservation interest, is situated such that it can never be incorporated into the golf course. As a result of developments to the rear of the 14th tee we have been presented with an unexpected opportunity to sell this land at an extremely advantageous price. We have consulted expert local land agents who have appraised the land and the offers received for it and have unconditionally recommended that KGC consider the proposition expeditiously. The original proposal made by the Management Committee was presented to the Club Committee who asked for an amendment to the line of the boundary of the plot next to the tee. This change has been agreed with the proposed purchasers and as a result I can advise you that the Club Committee now supports the sale of this land. The Club Committee also asked that the area concerned be clearly defined by markers and tape so that members can view it. This has been done. Our Articles of Association require that the Management Committee should seek the agreement of the Members in a General Meeting before disposing of any land and you will have your opportunity to agree or disagree on 28th October. Don't waste this chance to express your opinions either in person or through a postal vote.
On Monday 6th October, many members, will I am sure join me in celebrating the lives of Dennis Moore and Peter Eden. Both, sadly, passed away last week. Dennis, after a long illness and Peter after his brave struggle since his stroke on the golf course 14 months ago. Dennis, a member for more than 40 years and a past captain, always supported the club to the best of his ability and was still playing bridge on a Monday evening until quite recently. Peter, a member for almost 30 years, enjoyed his golf and the social life within the club and particularly, during recent years, with his fellow Eggs. God bless them both.
Alan Pulham
Club Captain
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