General Club Noticeboard

We are running a series of free taster sessions open to all , juniors and adults .Click here for details. if you or your  friends ,family , children or grandchildren would like to have a go at golf then get in touch with us. 

All equipment will be provided there is no cost involved , give it a go !

Call the Pro Shop on 01926 512732 to reserve a place

Steve

On Wednesday 14th April at 2.30 pm come and join us in the clubhouse to see the latest collections of spring /summer clothing from the leaders in golf fashion.

10% discount and gifts on the day plus sale rails with up to 50% off

Raffle - win a ladies outfit for summer 2010

Tickets only £3.00 each (to include tea/coffee and cake) available in advance from the pro shop  Tel:01926 512732 

Click here to view this year's fashion range

 Kenilworth, have now progressed to the Semi-Finals of the Warwickshire Cup with a 2-1 win over Stoneleigh.

 Robert Owens and Craig Owen Lost 2 Down

John Close and Daniel Lane Won 3&2

James Lemond and Richard Keegan Won 1up

Well done to those involved, and James did save our bacon with a 20 foot par putt on 17, and a miss from Stoneleigh from inside 2 and a half foot.

 Kenilworth move on to play Finham away.

 Kenilworth have also progressed to the 2nd round of the Mail on Sunday with a win over North Warwicks at Kenilworth.

On 7^th April 2010, Kenilworth Golf Club will host the second Kenilworth Junior Masters.  This event, sponsored by the Golf Society of Great Britain, is one of a series of six competitions held annually at leading venues across the country which are designed to give young golfers the chance to enjoy competitive golf. 

The list of former winners of events in this series features some familiar names including Oliver Fisher who went on to become the youngest ever Walker Cup player and is now establishing himself as member of the European Tour.  Other notable participants include Tommy Fleetwood, a member of the EGU’s England Squad, and Jonathan Bell, currently a member of the EGU’s ‘A’ Squad.

This competition is open to boys and girls of all abilities aged under 14 on the day of the competition.  Last year, the Kenilworth Junior Masters attracted talented young golfers from all across the United Kingdom and with the number of entrants limited to just seventy-two, those wishing to take part should submit their entry as soon as possible.

Entry forms can be downloaded from the Kenilworth Junior Masters page of the website or they are available from the club secretary on 01926 858517.

 One of the objectives outlined in the Course Strategy Plan for Kenilworth Golf Course was to achieve a course parity of SSS and Par at 71 for the white tees.

 At the Open Forum in September the concept of achieving this parity was widely welcomed.    However the proposal to significantly extend the 5^th Hole was rejected by the members and therefore an alternative had to be found. To meet EGU course rating requirements for SSS of 71 we  require an additional 40 yards, preferably on one hole, to limit the amount of disruption to  members and to keep the costs as low as possible.

 A solution has now been found where we can extend the 3^rd hole by the required 40 yards by   constructing a new Medal tee behind the 2^nd green. This will increase the yardage from the  medal tee from 342 yards to 382 yards. (being the same length as the 9^th hole). The existing tees will continue to be used as yellow tees.

 The conifers behind the current 3^rd tee will have to be removed, which will help the current tee by allowing more sunlight through.

The conifers behind the 2^nd tee will be left in position until the new tee is constructed to see whether they interfere with the line of play. If they do then unfortunately they will have to be removed. Additional tree planting is already planned for this area with deciduous trees which will  lessen any possible impact that the removal of the conifers may have.

Part of this project will be to generally tidy up the area around the new tee and to the rear of the present 3^rd tees as this area is possibly one of the scruffiest areas on the course.      

This is a large project and will be carried out in-house by the greens staff over a four week period.  There will be disruption while the work is in progress and we would ask members to bear with the staff whilst this next phase of improving Kenilworth Golf Course is carried out.

A plan of the work to be done can be viewed by clicking here

 Bill Murdoch

Course Chairman

2^nd February 2010

Course update 15 January 2010

A reasonable guess as to the rate at which the course will recover from the recent extreme weather.

 Today’s rain and heavy rain forecast over the coming weekend together with the rising temperatures, a thaw of the snow is inevitable.

Unfortunately at present the ground is still frozen which will not allow the water to penetrate effectively through the surface.

The course will be inspected regularly but it is highly unlikely that there will be any play before next Tuesday the 19th January.

As the thaw continues I will asses the possibility of any damage to the course and the safety of golfers walking on icy/wet surfaces. Even when the conditions seem okay the turf will need a day or so to recover before the course will be in a suitable condition to play.

Any damage now will not recover until spring or early summer.

 Richard Dorrington

Course Manager

Kenilworth Golf Club

WHATS ON

                                                                                                    Dates for your diary

February

 4     Quiz Night and Supper – Question Master : Barrie James

 *VALENTINES NIGHT – CANCELLED*

 18   Spring Presentation Evening

 March

 18   Sportman’s Night – Speaker Don Goodman  Wolves/West Brom and SKY Broadcaster 

        Comedian:  Lee Roberts

 21   St Patrick’s Day Lunch

27   Captain’s Celebration Evening

Dear All

Please be aware that the clubhouse refurbishment work starts on Monday 18 January 2010, the work will take approximately 7 weeks. 

The builders will do their best to minimise disruption to the members however we apologise in advance for the inevitable incovenience that goes with any project of this magnitude.  The plan is to start work in the Gents toilets/showers, move to the Function room and entrance lobby, then the bar and finally finishing in the Ladies toilets.

Once again sorry for any interruption caused and we look forward to the finished results.

Best regards

Rob Griffiths

General Manager/Secretary

Details and entry forms for all the Kenilworth Golf Club Open Competitions for 2010 are now available on the website by clicking here

I am delighted to announce my nomination for President for 3 years from April 2010 is Brian Melling. 

Brian was a successful Captain of the Club in 2007/8 and I am sure he will be equally as successful as President.

Mike Carrick

President

I am delighted to announce that my nomination for Vice-Captain 2010/11 is Liz Brown.

Liz has been a member since April 2001.  Serving for the second time on the Ladies' committee, Liz is county liaison representative for the club.  

As   our WIL captain Liz successfully led her team to becoming the Warwickshire Inter League champions this year

I am delighted that Liz has accepted my invitation. I look forward to working with her and I know that she will be a great captain of the Ladies’ Section.

Angela Bradley

Ladies’ Vice Captain 2009/10

 It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce that my nomination for Vice Captain for the 2010/11 Golf Season is Patrick Fleming.

 Patrick, as many of  you will know, has been a Director of Kenilworth Golf Club for three years and has used his marketing skills and great drive to enable the Club to continue to recruit new members in the current economic climate.

 Patrick accepted my invitation to be nominated as Vice Captain without hesitation. I know he would fulfil this role dutifully and with great energy and I am sure he would be a tremendous Vice Captain for the Club and to me personally in my year as Captain.

 Richard Joyce.

Vice Captain – 2009/10

As I sat down to write this my second news letter, I wondered if other (great writers!) have always found it difficult to know where to start, as there is so much to say, but I don’t want to bore you too much.  Well I suppose you could say the formal golf season has come to an end for 2009, the clocks have gone back and the days are shorter, and whilst the weather has now broken from that long warm spell the course is still playing well. We are now into our annual Men’s, Ladies and Mixed Winter league golf arenas, all of which can produce some hotly contested matches. We also have plenty of Shotguns and Texas Scrambles along with a few Extra Medals to keep us going until the spring.

 KGC has seen a tremendous season with competition entries up on previous years, this has resulted in some very fine individual scoring, and some extremely good results being recorded. There has also been some hard fought match play battles in the knockout competitions, along with some very good club match wins, the most notable being that of the Ladies, successfully winning the Warwickshire Inter League Club Championships and to a lesser extent the Gents regaining the Llandrindod Challenge Shield.

 The President’s Presentation Dinner to award the Gentlemen’s prizes was fully supported and we have to thank our President Michael Carrick for his generosity in providing the wine. Good support was also forthcoming for the Senior and Junior presentation dinners.

All of the prize presentations have now taken place, with successful members from all sections picking up well deserved trophies.  Unfortunately there are too many for individual mentions, but well played to everyone who has taken part.

 In terms of player participation I hope we will see an increase in the number of you playing in the Mixed Scrambles and Shotguns during the coming months, which always turn out to be good fun and are just as much a test of your golfing skills as in Gents only games.

KGC have been well represented at the end of season dinners, and we have had some well earned praise on the prowess of our players and the condition of our course. On the competition front, I am delighted to report that a former Club champion and Walker Cup star, Jamie Elson, has regained his place on the full European tour.

 Our membership vacancies continue to fall thanks to prompt action and initiatives by your committees, but we must not be complacent and need to always be on the lookout for new prospective members. This applies equally to our Junior section which has seen a decline in numbers this year; they are a great accolade to the club and we should realise that the Champion golfers of tomorrow have to start their game somewhere today, that’s for both boys and girls.

I am pleased to tell you that from all the interviews that I have carried out, new members join KGC not only for the course but our reputation of being a friendly and sociable club.

 Our social programme is again proving popular with quizzes, dining and dancing, and I have to say to those of you who didn’t attend the Charity Day evening with the Likely Lads, you missed out on a some tremendous entertainment.  There are more great events being planned for your enjoyment so keep checking the web site and look out for the posters. We would like more members and guests too come along and support these functions as they provide a great night out and keep the club healthy and viable.

 The forthcoming Old Time Music Hall with carols is an event not to miss, and I thank all those participating and helping to put on what in no doubt will be an extravaganza of delectable entertainment. For those of you with children or grandchildren don’t forget the Children’s Christmas party on the 20^th Dec, were I am sure Santa will be present, unfortunately tickets are limited.

 It would be very amiss of me if I failed to mention Charity Day and the people who supported Lyn and I on that day, so our extreme thanks and gratitude goes to Richard Simmons for providing Ice cream on the 13^th and the competition prizes, Steve Yates and James Crompton along with Ladies who acted as their ball spotters and raffle money takers for beat the pro on the 7^th tee, and all our suppliers and members who donated raffle prizes, which raised some £2800 for the Stroke Association.

 Your chairman of Management Jim McCarthy and I attended an EGU Club Liaison conference back in March with a follow up evening session in October to bring us up to date with matters of the EGU/EWGA merger, Equality, Central Database of Handicaps, Funding of Golf, VAT Tribunals and a Golf Central tee booking facility. All of these issues could have an impact on KGC but we are well placed to deal with any situations that may occur, and will keep you posted accordingly.

We may see some changes to our M&C on line booking system and competition running next year as DJB our software provider has merged with Club Systems International. We are currently evaluating various market options to seek out the best, none of this will have any impact on your handicap record or status, and again we will keep you informed as to the outcome.

 As you have seen recently the strategy plan for both greens and house has been published along with targeted action plans; these engendered some lively discussion before gaining final approval.

All of the changes that are due to take place within the clubhouse may not appeal to everyone, but it would be impossible to cater for everyone’s ideas as you know when you start decorating at home. I am confident that in the long term the changes will prove beneficial to us all, it is not until you visit other clubhouses that you realise how tired ours has become, and you can understand why we get jokes made about our facility by visiting speakers.

The targets set in the greens plan will not be accomplished overnight, but with the work that is being undertaken to improve the percentage of bent grasses, and other measures to control thatch and moisture content we should show an improvement year on year, giving us better playing consistency throughout the year. One way members can help is to remember to repair pitch marks!

Work on the additional drainage took place in ideal weather and has hardly left any scares, and I hear very favourable comments on the installation of our new pathways, not all yet complete I should add. Please make use of them and also walk outside any roped area especially adjacent to the greens and tees, as this will allow us to get good growth in the spring and avoid the bare patches and G.U.R. we have seen in the past.  

Just a reminder, help out the fairways by using a mat or taking a divot bag.

 We finished the Captain Pro challenge matches with 8 of us making a trip to Portugal where the weather was absolutely delightful, unfortunately Steve and I came away slightly bruised but we all enjoyed the week along with the golf.

 I am truly enjoying my year as your captain, it is a privilege to work with a team of members and staff, who are enthusiastic and dedicated to see this great club of ours continue to grow and prosper for the years to come.

I look forward to seeing many of you in the Xmas shotgun or the Dennis Mitchell, but to all of you and your families let me wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Keep on enjoying your golf.

 David Elbourn

Captain

CLUB HOUSE PROJECT 2009/10

Dear Member,

Investing for the Future

We launched the Club’s strategy plan some 18 months ago in which we set out our plans to ensure that Kenilworth Golf Club is, and remains, a financially and socially successful members’ golf club. In an increasingly competitive market place for all golf clubs, we recognised the critical importance of continuing to improve our offering to members if we were to enjoy continued success. We had to ensure that our facilities both on the course and in the club house exceeded the standards being set by our local competitors.

In launching the plan, we saw our most urgent need as being investment on the course. Indeed that has been our focus for several years and, over the last five years, we have committed several hundred thousand pounds of investment on course development expenditure, on new equipment and on replacement of existing equipment. In addition, we have increased substantially our expenditure on course running costs.

The result is a course that has never been in better condition. We remain committed to further improvements, as set out in the Course Action Plan, and we will not rest on our laurels.

Whilst the progress on the course has been a success story, financial constraints have prevented us from addressing the improvements required to the Club House. Over the same 5 year period when so much has been invested on the course, the amount spent on new or replacement equipment, fabric or fittings in the Club House has been virtually zero. The result is a club house that is looking tired, unattractive and dated, with a real need for improvement and enhancement. As members, through familiarity, we may ignore these shortcomings but they are certainly seen by visitors and prospective new members. Our club house is noticeably inferior to that of our immediate competitors. We now seek to address some of those shortcomings.

The plan is to spread the renovation over several years, so that we do not make financial commitments beyond that which we can afford at any one time. We will commence by addressing those areas of the Club House identified by your committees as most in need of refurbishment.

In the first phase, to be completed over the next 5 months, we will be working on the Bar, the Function Room, the Ladies and Gents Locker Room toilets, the Gents shower area, the entrance  and inner lobbies and the Bar toilets. The project team have identified the key areas to address and drawn on experience and advice from specialists in design and building to develop a coherent plan that identifies a total solution and seeks to address some of our inherent shortcomings, whilst seeking to retain the essential attractive elements that we have at present. We will, as a result, have a Club House that is contemporary, convivial, attractive and affordable.

We will commence work in January (and possibly in December for the toilet improvements) and seek to complete the work by the end of February. We will ensure that important social diary events are not unduly impacted by the work.

The project will cost £75,000, which will be fully funded from existing funds, without using the “reserve fund” established through the sale of land in 2008, or diverting money from the course development fund. We have been asked by members where the cash has come from, given the financial difficulties experienced in 2007. As we reported in the 2008 accounts, our financial position was significantly improved by the action taken to increase membership numbers, improve Bar and Restaurant profitability and increase green fee revenue. This action increased revenues in 2008 by nearly £100,000 and whilst expenditure has been increased, most notably on the course, we were able to report an operating profit, after tax of £18,000.

The cash inflows from the operating profit and the land sale were further supplemented by prudent control of our capital spend so our cash position was improved in 2008 by £154,000. Our cash management through 2009 has been good so that our cash fund is further supplemented. This provides the confidence that this project, together with the programme for course improvement, set out in the Course Action Plan, can be fully funded from existing funds.

The immediate plan addresses those aspects of the Club House in most urgent need of attention. As we continue to generate cash from our operations, so further funds will be available in future years to refurnish and re-carpet the bar and to refit out our locker rooms. Plans will be developed and discussed for these projects in due course.

For now, our attention is focussed on successfully delivering on Phase 1.

Regards

Jim McCarthy,

Chairman of Management                                                                           

20^th November 2009.

Monday 21 September 2009

Kenilworth Ladies Team played extremely well to overcome all opposition at The Welcome Golf Club at Stratford Upon Avon to win the Warwickshire County Inter Club Championship.

The victorious team included: 

Liz Brown - Team Captain
Maggie Smith
Alison Seymour Mead
Lyn Harrison
Christine Hurcomb
Pat Eden
Val Cushing

All played exceptionally well and thoroughly deserved a marvellous victory.

A majestic win by Kenilworth by six matches to four in the 58th year of the annual home and away match against Llandridnod  Wells played in glorious autumn sunshine on Sunday 12th September. Our Welsh friends apparently succumbed to the balmy Kenilworth climate and the vagaries of the many watering holes of Leamington Spa and Warwick the previous evening....and thus the inevitable defeat followed.! Winning Captain David Elbourn clutches the prized shield and embraces the Welsh Captain Graham Glover -West. Other notable dignitaries in attendance included President of Llandridnod, Bernard Davies.KGC chairman Jim McCarthy, Mike Carrick,Past Presidents Ron Saywell and Bob Holland and a plethora of Past Captains and KGC notables

36 teams played in the rearranged Member/Guest Competition. Some guest had travelled quite a distance to participate – Norfolk, Cotswolds, Buckinghamshire.

Fortunately for everyone this time the weather was fine and sunny and good scores were registered by lots of teams.  The top three were really close but edging into first place was Liz Brown and her partner Jill Butler(N. Warks) with a score of nett 69.  In second place was Meg Lewis and Elaine Kendall(Hearsall) nett 70 and third place went to Chris Hurcomb and Sandra Frearson(Nuneaton) with nett 71.  Front Nine was won by Caryl Green and Marilyn Plummer(Elsborough, Bucks.) with nett 32 and Back Nine winners were Clem Upton  and Lyn Cotton(Kings Norton) also with a nett 32.

On Tuesday Bill Murdoch and family, very generously, again hosted the annual Margaret Murdoch competition for the Ladies of Kenilworth.  Despite the heavy rain, 73 members enthusiastically challenged for the opportunity to win the wonderful 'Quiache Cup' donated, by the family,in memory of Margaret - who was a very popular Ladies' Captain.

This year, the grandchildren were fully involved with Callum speaking to the assembled ladies and Clarrie, Archie and Ellie presenting some of the prizes.

The course held up well to the conditions and some good scores were achieved by the ladies.

The oustanding winner was Liz Brown with 39 Stableford points. Dawn Logue in second place (33pts back 9) pipped the long time club house leader, Judith Matthews(33pts) third. Catherine Midgley(32pts back 6), fourth, edged out Anne Evans(32pts), fifth.  Nearest the Pin on the 7th was won by our present Ladies' Captain, Lyn Harrison (9ft 8 ins) and Nina Noon won the 'Straightest Drive' on the 12th hole.

The day was rounded off with a most enjoyable evening meal in the clubhouse restaurant with fond memories  of Margaret being exchanged by one and all.

Ladies' M&C

32 couples competed in the annual Morton Cup mixed foursomes medal.  The winners were Jean Keeling & Glenn Coleman with a net 69 by virtue of a better back nine, with John & Dawn Logue in runners up position also with a 69 and Cecilia & Richard Lane in 3rd place with a net 71.  Best gross prize went to Caroline Durbin and Ben Hammond.

Bob Harrison and Ian Jones lifted the President's Cup at the club on Sunday.
The duo amassed 46 points to win the greensome stableford competition which was hosted by Mike Carrick who kindly provided some Spanish treats at the halfway house.
Jim McCarthy and David Muir finished runners-up with 45 points, while Stephen Price and Stuart Harrison were third by virtue of a better back nine than Martin Bradley and David Edgeller after both pairs scored 44 points.

An intrepid band of 33 players from Kenilworth GC made their annual pilgrimmage to Llandrindrod Wells Golf Club at the weekend of 20th/21st June.
President Mike Carrick and captain David Elbourn headed the travelling party in a long established fixture which has been played for some 62-years. Players from both clubs competed in a stableford competition for the Les Williams Trophy on Saturday, before the two clubs went head-to-head in a team event on Sunday.
The Welshmen certainly made the most of home advantage with Leon Taberner lifting the Les Williams Trophy by amassing 39 points. The prize for top Kenilworth golfer went to John Butler who scored 38 points.
Llandrindrod Wells won the team event 11.5-5.5 and retained the shield.
Kenilworth will be aiming for revenge in the return match at Crewe Lane in September.

DAVE EDGELLER emerged triumphant in the Captain’s Day competition at Kenilworth Golf Club on Saturday 13th June.

Edgeller amassed an excellent 45 points to finish overall winner and top of the C Division from Kevin White 44 and Ollie Pearman 43.

The A Division winner was Philip Chatten with 41 points who just edged out Martin Bradley 40 and Craig Owen 39.

Countback was required to determine the outcome of the B Division with Neil Hubbard pipping vice-captain Richard Joyce and James Leggitt after all three golfers scored 43 points.

Gary Knight posted the best gross score of 74, while nearest the pin winners were Andrew Watts (7th), Sam O’Sullivan (10th) and Malcolm Young (18th).

Captain David Elbourn was the genial host and provided welcome refreshments for the 199 golfers at the halfway house

In form Nuneaton golfer Andy Sullivan beat a high quality field to add the Kenilworth Classic to his already impressive tally of wins this year.

Some 50 golfers from 30 different clubs across the UK contested the ever popular event and Sullivan, currently playing off a plus 3 handicap, returned gross scores of 66 and 67 for a nine under par total of 133 around a challenging Crewe Lane course.

A member of the England Golf squad for several years and a losing semi-finalist in the 2008 British Amateur Championship at Turnberry, Sullivan has already won several significant events in 2009.

These include the Midlands Closed Championship against the top players from all 10 Midlands Counties, the Warwickshire Amateur Stroke Play Championship (by 3 strokes - which included 29 for the last 9 holes at Olton in the morning round) and, most recently, his successful defence of the Warwickshire Amateur Match Play Championship where his combination of power and finesse were simply too much for any of his opponents.

Sullivan clinched the Kenilworth Classic title by six strokes from Shirley’s Jamie Carney (70 and 69) while John Chamberlain (Cold Ashby) finished third with 140 (71 and 69).

A total of 13 prizes with a total value approaching £1,800 were presented by event sponsor Bob Taylor and Kenilworth club captain David Elbourn.

Sullivan now turns his attention to the Open Championship qualifying event at Coventry Golf Club on June 24.

Classic presentation. From the left - David Elbourn (Kenilworth GC captain), Andy Sullivan, Bob Taylor (sponsor) and Nick Wright (Kenilworth GC match and competitions chairman).

The organisers would like to thank all those that took part in this event which raised a magnificent £898.50.

The Family Foundation was setup to help provide financial support to the parents of talented young golfers playing the game to a high level and participating in recognised regional, national or international events.  Presently, the Family Foundation is able to provide assistance with competition entry fees, overnight accommodation, travel and subsistence expenses.  

If any member know of  deserving recipients that they wish to propose, then they should contact Barrie James, Richard Lane or Graham Wright. Any contacts can be in confidence.

Last year's Club Captain, Alan Pulham and Ladies’ captain. Ann Saywell, adopted the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance as their chosen charity for their year in office.

In the previous year the Air Ambulance had made two life saving visits to Kenilworth Golf Club and it offered the perfect opportunity to say thank you. Members were generous in their support and the captains collected £6,400.

Six Kenilworth members, including club president Mike Carrick, have just returned from a memorable links golfing trip to the West of Ireland.

The courses played were Carne, Enniscrone and Strandhill. Carne and Enniscrone are two of Ireland’s top championship links, while Strandhill, also links, is described as the hidden jewel of the west. The weather was blissful and the skylarks were in full voice all week. The other members of the party were Mike and Tony Rossborough, Barry Flick, Terry Bamford and Patrick Fleming.

Happy Band - sun over the yardarm

The party was collected from Knock Airport by local minibus man Shamie Kenny, who was contracted for the week. We stayed at Crockets-on-the-Quay in Ballina, where the healthy breakfast option was an excellent and substantial fry-up, with plenty of toast and soda bread.

Typical links country - Enniscrone 16th

Our President enjoyed courtesy of the golf courses and responded by giving us a big treat on the last day, of which more later. It is not necessary to dwell on the golf, other than to say that getting off the mown stuff was probably a lost ball and a drive down the middle would probably not be found on the line on which it was hit. The rough on those links courses is never touched, which is all part of the charm.

Golf apart, a highlight of the trip was Jack Charlton walking up to us in Paddy Jordan’s Bar in Ballina one evening and chatting away for ages. He was there for the Mayfly, fishing for trout and salmon on Lough Conn and on the River Moy. In fact, Jack only ever went to Ireland for the fishing, although he did get talked into managing the football team and took them to two World Cups. He wanders round happily like one of the boys, with nobody making a fuss of him.

The President - Lord Kenilworth to the locals!

We mustn’t forget to mention The President’s Treat, which was a piloted boat trip on Killala Bay on our last morning. We saw herons, cormorants, various waders and dozens of fat seals lying on the sandbanks, or feasting on the salmon. Our reveries were interrupted by running onto a sandbank, at full speed, in the middle of the channel!! Terry’s comfy chair got smashed to smithereens while the rest of us, shaken but unbowed, held on. After much co-ordinated rocking, we came free of the sandbank and on our way again. The harbour of Ballina was a welcome sight, Declan said good bye, Shamie was ready to load us up, and we headed back to Knock Airport for the bmibaby flight to Birmingham.

This tale would not be complete without a few photos (none of St. Jack unfortunately, but then he’s just one of the lads), but please enjoy the ones we have.

Trip dates were: Mon 18th to Fri 22nd May 2009.

Countback was needed to determine the winner of a hotly contested Seniors Open at Crewe Lane on Friday.

Ashley Hayward (Kenilworth) and Paula Young (Nuneaton) emerged triumphant by virtue of a better back nine than Ernie and Val Stene (Kenilworth) plus Barry and Judith Langford (Kenilworth) after all three parings scored 42 points.

Kenilworth duo Bill and Christine Hurcomb finished fourth with 40 points on countback from Margaret and David King (Redditch), just ahead of Nicky Woodhouse (Stoneleigh) and Robert Curtis (The Warwickshire) 39.

Kenilworth duo Pat Eden and Mick Coop took the best front nine prize with 20 points, while the best back nine of 23 was posted by Jane and John Fellows (Worcester),

Malcolm Young lifted the Baker Cup by virtue of a better back nine from David Mehhan after both golfers scored 37 points.

Christopher Aldridige finished third by edging out Ernie Stene on countback after both players gained 36 points.

Countback was also required to settle the Mitchell Goblet Qualifier on Saturday.

John Kavanagh 79, nett 66, took the Division A honours thanks to a better back nine than Stephen Kingham 79, nett 66.

Alistair Giffen 78, nett 68, was third by virtue of a better back six than David Titman 82, nett 68, finishing just ahead of Bob Harrison 79, nett 69, Graham Hurst 83, nett 69, and Robin Laye 77, nett 69.

Mark Taylor 81, nett 60, proved a convincing Division B winner from Colin Oliver 84, nett 67, Michael Sykes 86, nett 68, Michael Eliot-Higgitt 97, nett 69, Stephen Price 89, nett 69, and captain David Elbourn 87, nett 69.

Robin Laye returned the best gross round of 77.

The English Golf Union and the English Woman's Golf Association are to launch a system that will identify the competitive nature of an individual. Approved and supported by CONGU the "Inactive / Active Handicap" will identify by the use of an indicator whether an individual has competed in qualifying competitions and as a result returned information on their playing ability.

The system will be launched in January 2010, but requires players to have submitted at least 3 qualifying scores (including Supplementary Scores, Extra Medals, 9 Hole Extra Medals and Away scores) during the calendar year 2009 if they wish to avoid an inactive handicap for 2010.

Qualifying scores of less than 3 are not permitted to be carried over from one year to the next (no topping up) e.g. 1 score in the current year and 2 in the next year. Non Returns in a qualifying competition will not be accepted as part of the 3 qualifying scores.

Those members not meeting the requirements will automatically be identified by with an "I" (inactive) on any handicap certificate or handicap list published by CONGU. This situation is reversed on a member fulfilling the requirements above. Example: 12(I).

An inactive (I) handicap can still be used for social golf and those competitions for which an active status is not an entry condition.

KGC have not yet decided on whether to impose an entry condition that requires an active handicap for specific competitions Club or Opens and none will apply during 2009. Irrespective of that decision all members will be allowed entry into qualifying competitions to provide as much opportunity for the removal of the inactive (I) handicap. 

KGC will be permitted to exempt players from an inactive (I) handicap for injury/illness that has prevented them submitting the required number of scores during the calendar year, this will also apply to transferring members who have submitted cards at another club and new members entering the club and are being issued with their first CONGU handicap.

Any member falling into these categories should advise M&C before

30th  November 2009.

 You may well be asking yourself what are the benefits of the system.

• Firstly it will enable event organisers to run competitions, both Club and Opens, without the fear of players entering with "false" handicaps.
• The system should encourage more individuals to submit qualify scores, thus improving the accuracy of member's handicaps throughout England.
• Following monitoring and review of the number of scores required to maintain an active handicap it may be possible to review Clause 25 (Lapsing of Handicaps) of the Unified Handicapping System.

 Further information is available on the EGU & EWGA website (www.englishgolfunion.org) or (www.englishwomensgolf.org)

or  email M&C -  comps@kenilworthgolfclub.co.uk

Match & Competitions

04/02/09