issue no. 23 july 2011 · 2018. 9. 6. · 1 issue no. 23 july 2011 editor: john salter those of us...

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Issue No. 23 July 2011

Editor: John Salter

Those of us who watched the final day of the Masters and witnessed Rory

McIlroy’s disastrous final round, will recognise his moment of utter

incredulity and despair captured in this picture. We will also remember the

way he murdered the Blue course at the Congressional Country Club to

win the US Open a short while later. What a display of character! What a

feat!

And talking about feats, we have had our share in the Seniors’ recently;

Joe Quinn with his 46 stableford points in May; John Umney’s 48 points

on Captain’s Day; Alister Kinnon’s and Mike Bellamy’s incredible 103 points to win the

Australian Stableford by 19 points from second placed Bob Morey and John Moore - itself an

excellent score, Dave Atkins’ nearest the pin and Division 2 win in the Northampton County

Seniors, John Moore’s 46 Stableford points in the June 30th

roll-up and Peter Julyan’s win in

the “over 70s” division of the John O’Gaunt Seniors’ Open. (Add up the aggregate ages of

the last two players: 158!) Apologies to others that I may have omitted.

Getting back to Rory, he now has to cope with the massive expectations and constant

adulation, which accompanies outstanding achievement. Let’s just hope he handles it better

than one so-called golfing icon, who has still not learned that role models don’t spit on golf

courses and sling their clubs about in anger. The signs are good. The young man impressed

at his recent press conference and his parents seem to have encouraged him without putting

undue pressure on him to win at all costs. It will be interesting to see whether he fulfils his

potential in the following years.

Having completed half his year in office, here are a few words from our Captain, Tony

Finch. So far it has been a happy adventure that I set out on. There have been moments of great

pleasure and a few of disappointment. It has been pleasing to see the Section continue to

flourish with new members joining and some past members re-joining.

To all of these members I extend a warm welcome. Some of you I will have met by now, but

if for any reason I have not managed to talk to you, please grab me next time our paths cross.

As is to be expected, one or two of our friends in the Section have fallen ill during the year.

To each of them, on your behalf, I send our joint best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.

On that note, I am so very pleased to see my good friend Harold Dynes back on the Course

after his recent upset. Good on ya Harold.

Features: P1 Captain’s report

P2 Brian Farman’s profile

P4. Analysis of Roll-up leaders

P5 Competitions’ Sec’s report

P7 Rules Quiz

P7 Bob Morey’s hobby

P9 Captain’s Day report

P10 Graham Follett’s dream day

P11 Mike Cox at the Belfry

P11 Want to learn computing?

P12 Competition and Medal results

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I mentioned disappointment. One of the biggest of those is the struggle we have to get

players for our matches. With more than a hundred members; with more than forty regularly

turning out Mondays and Thursdays, it is bemusing that we struggle to get twelve to play in

matches. I know economic pressure is increasing, but if every member played in just one

home and one away fixture, Roy Davies would have a much easier time. So come on chaps,

give it a go.

I have tried so far to carry out my tasks as Captain with the best interests of the Section’s

members to the fore. However, there are one or two of you who think that I am not doing

well enough. That’s life. I can’t please all of the people all of the time. If you have

something to say then talk to me. I promise to listen. I don’t promise to do exactly as you

wish as I have a broader church to consider; but I will explain why.

The days are already getting shorter, but I’m sure that won’t stop us enjoying our excellent

golf course and the companionship of our fellow golfers. Go to it.

Brian Farman was Seniors’ Captain in 2004 and his wife Christina, now thankfully back

playing golf after an horrendous shoulder injury, was Club Ladies’ Captain in 1999.

Here is Brian’s profile.

I was born in the shadow of Ely cathedral on 16th

December 1941, in a

small nursing home, where my mother had been taken, due to the

continual shelling of her home town (soon to be mine) of Lowestoft. It

appeared that the German navy took some kind of pleasure in using

Lowestoft for gunnery practice and since my parent’s house was a mere

500 yards from the sea front, it was deemed best to move inland.

I spent all my formative years as a Lowestoftian, graduating from primary

to grammar school and enjoying life with my younger brother and many

close school pals. Our main pastimes were playing football, cricket and

swimming on South beach - much to the annoyance of the many

holidaymakers - cycling near and far, lots of scrumping as well as bird-watching (both types).

Armed with a few O levels, my father decided my best career path was in engineering, as the

only local employment was either in the fishery or canning industries. However, my main

love was art, at which I was fairly competent and I had accepted a place at the RCA in

London (commissions currently being accepted!).

My father’s impression of artists was someone seen chalking on the pavements, so off I went

to pursue an apprenticeship at English Electric (EE), Whetstone, home to Frank Whittle’s jet

engine. Having survived my 5 year apprenticeship and attained an HND in Metallurgy, my

new inspiration came from that “Black Art” called welding. I was appointed a research

welding engineer in CML for a series of projects, developing the weldability of QT35 and T1,

the new high-strength steels for the construction of our first Trident nuclear submarines and

welded rotors for the GEC (Arnold Wienstock took over EE) range of turbines.

In 1964, after a long and memorable courtship, I married my dear wife Christina and we set

up house in Cosby, just a couple of miles from GEC Ltd, where we both worked for a further

9 years. I was head hunted by Gebr Bohler, based in Dusseldorf and Kapfenberg, to head up

their UK operation, based in Lincoln Inn Fields, London, with the main task of securing their

steels and welding consumables, specified for major UK contracts for all the natural main gas

pipelines.

During this period, we had our lovely daughters Justine & Marcella, who are now both

married and have given us two fantastic grandchildren and fine son-in-laws.

My next move, in 1972, was away from the German influence to the free-thinking Swedes, in

the shape of ESAB, whose HO was in Gothenburg, with the UK operation based in

Gillingham, Kent. However, my first appointment, as a regional manager, took me to

Scunthorpe (a major steel making town) to Grimsby and to Hull, almost back to my roots,

with the strong smell of ozone and fish!

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It proved to be an untapped area for the products and process of welding. Everything from

furnaces/castings, stainless steel, copper and aluminium tankers. What a treasure trove! My

success propelled me ever upwards to HO and finally, after 8 yrs, to General Marketing

Manager, behind a desk, with my grateful family, at home in Canterbury. GEC beckoned

once again when they acquired AWP, based in MK, and didn’t know what to do with the

product called Synergic MIG, another “blue flash” in my life, the rare opportunity to promote

a revolutionary element. Cranfield had long been pioneering this technology for

“Hyperbaric” applications at 3,000 metres depth for the Norwegian offshore industry under

Professor Apps, where welding HT alloyed steels was proving almost impossible. Dr R R

Wright and I transformed the process into a commercially viable product in 1982, securing

contracts for “Hyperbaric” projects and won a major contract with General Motors in Detroit,

worth over £3 million dollars, to weld all their catalytic converters with Synergic MIG.

Completely out of the blue in 1986, (not a flash this time), I was head hunted to set up a

completely new company for SAF (Soudure Autogene Francaise), as its General Manager.

However, no sooner was I appointed than they got cold feet and decided they wanted an MD

to start an independent subsidiary. After much discussion I agreed to establish a new

company based in Daventry, with almost nil revenue and no employees. Within 3 years, it

had topped its first million and by 1992 reached £3.5 million and 26 staff; one of my most

proudest achievements as its Chairman.

During this period, Christina and I were introduced to what turned out to be the most

frustrating sport known to man and woman. Golf!!

I had retired early and taken the family back to Felmersham. Luckily for us, Pavenham GC

was opening its new course in 1994. We joined and played on the 1st nine in those days, with

its sheared-off roots of oil seed rape. The club house consisted of portakabins in the car park.

But what camaraderie we had, all 100+ members: in the Winter, crammed into the

portakabins; in the Summer, memorable spit pig barbecues. Then came the marquee, with

live music from members such as Ricky Vallance of “Tell Laura I love Her” fame.

Although a lot of you look upon me as a bit of a moaner, I have thoroughly enjoyed my

family, business and golfing life. I did it my way!

You only need one golf club

Feeling the strain carrying a full set of clubs? Fed up with your electric trolley giving up the

ghost on the13th tee? Daunted by the prospect of buying a new set of clubs?

Then Hammacher Schlemmer may be able to help.

With a name like that I thought it was a wind up but it appears that this

Company is marketing a club that adjusts to 33 different loft angles,

enabling you to carry just one club and use its adjustment system, located

in the heel, to transform it into five putters, two drivers, three fairway

woods, 14 irons or 9 irons.

This does however conflict with the ruling on the maximum number of

clubs you can use on a round – but that’s another story.

The club retracts to 19 inches long, so is easy to carry, even in an aircraft.

However, I’ve got news for Messrs. HS. One of the seniors has already invented such a club.

It’s called a putter. His name: John Umney.

If all else fails.....

“It’s a training drill I use that I thought I’d try for real,

because I was holing nothing. As you can imagine, it was

quite thrilling to open my eyes and see the ball tracking every

time for the hole.”

At Bay Hill on Sunday, March 27, Justin Rose completed the

back nine in 31 shots and finished third, using this technique.

Perhaps there is something in this for us seniors. Just wear

sunglasses like Justin, so you cannot see out of them.

A number of you said how much you enjoyed reading the “league table” of

winners, produced for the last edition of InPutt, by Harry Sykes, that he was

invited to contribute a similar analysis for the period January

Please don’t be upset if you know you won a competition during this period and your

triumph doesn’t figure in the table. This analysis only covers ‘top 5’ placings in Seniors’

events which found their way onto the official online Master Scoreboard.

covers most of our roll-ups now that all competitions are treated as qualifiers.

A total of 31 official competitions in the first half of the year yielded no fewer than 54

different top 5 finishers, including 10 who didn’t appear in the 2010 roll of honour.

Conversely 16 winners from 2010 have yet to earn a podium place this year. So there is still a

very good spread of winners amongst the membership.

The full listings will be published on the Seniors’ section of the Pavenham Park site, but

below are the top 18 performers:

I’ve added an extra column showing where our top performers were positioned in

at the top is Roger Burrows, although it is noticeable that he hasn’t figured in the last 11

competitions, so maybe the handicapping system has got him at last!

appears to have recently entered a rich vein of form, with 5 p

including 3 wins.

Well done to everyone on the list.

Harry Sykes. ( Handicap still 28

Bob Aston, Seniors’ Captain, 1998.Bob died in 2004 and his was the only photograph missing from

gallery of Seniors’ Captains 1995

2011 issue of InPutt.

This photograph was kindly supplied by his widow, Judi and

daughter, Kerry.

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ners, produced for the last edition of InPutt, by Harry Sykes, that he was

invited to contribute a similar analysis for the period January-June, 2011.


e in the table. This analysis only covers ‘top 5’ placings in Seniors’

events which found their way onto the official online Master Scoreboard.

ups now that all competitions are treated as qualifiers.

ficial competitions in the first half of the year yielded no fewer than 54



very good spread of winners amongst the membership.


below are the top 18 performers:

I’ve added an extra column showing where our top performers were positioned in

, although it is noticeable that he hasn’t figured in the last 11

competitions, so maybe the handicapping system has got him at last! John Umney

appears to have recently entered a rich vein of form, with 5 placings during the same period,

Well done to everyone on the list.

( Handicap still 28 �. Number of brown envelopes 1

Bob Aston, Seniors’ Captain, 1998. Bob died in 2004 and his was the only photograph missing from

gallery of Seniors’ Captains 1995-2011, which appeared in the March

2011 issue of InPutt.


daughter, Kerry.


ners, produced for the last edition of InPutt, by Harry Sykes, that he was

June, 2011.


e in the table. This analysis only covers ‘top 5’ placings in Seniors’

events which found their way onto the official online Master Scoreboard. However this

ups now that all competitions are treated as qualifiers.

ficial competitions in the first half of the year yielded no fewer than 54




I’ve added an extra column showing where our top performers were positioned in 2010. Still

, although it is noticeable that he hasn’t figured in the last 11

John Umney however

lacings during the same period,

Number of brown envelopes 1 ☺ )

Bob died in 2004 and his was the only photograph missing from the

2011, which appeared in the March


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Jim Middleton, our Competitions’ Secretary, does an enormous amount of work behind the

scenes to make sure our Monday and Thursday golf goes smoothly. Here he shares with us

the nuts and bolts of that organisation. Believe it or not there is a system behind the way all the competitions and roll ups are

organised. So here goes for a year in competitions. It will act as a check list for when I am

too old and doddery to look after the programme - although some think that time has arrived

already.

Generally my year starts in August/September, when I have the first stab at the new fixture

list. We start with the matches with other clubs that Mike Taylor has fixed and then add in

the medals and main competitions with around one of each per month from April to October.

We then add in other roll - up competitions for pairs, teams etc to maintain variety. Once the

fixture list is agreed, as far as we can internally and with the Club, John Parrott kindly

arranges printing in time for the Turkey Trot and AGM at the beginning of December, when

they are distributed and you pay your £5 seniors’ membership.

We need to play a significant number of ordinary Stableford singles to make sure that

everyone has a good chance to complete the 10 needed to register in the Merit Leagues over

the summer. The merit leagues are aimed at encouraging seniors to play in matches,

competitions and roll ups and they run from April to October and points are scored for all

appearances and results. There are trophies for Division 1 and Division 2. I have fine-tuned

Mike Brock’s original spreadsheet, so we can produce a final result easily, but the data does

have to be input for all play from April to October. Merit league prizes are presented at the

AGM. Over the Winter months we run the eclectic again to encourage regular play.

Each year I gather up the trophies (which can be viewed in the cabinet) and get them engraved

with the winners’ names. Some of the shields are now full so as a new name is added the

earliest winner’s name is relegated to the back of the trophy. In addition, early each year we

purchase 14 engraved medals for the year and also the small engraved salvers, that the

winners of the main competitions keep. In October we buy the engraved salvers that the three

winners of each merit league are presented with at the AGM. All this is quite expensive and

is one of the major expenditure items from our funds.

Our standard tee times are the 1st tee from 8.26 am to 10.02 am each Monday and Thursday

(except Bank Holiday Mondays when we have 8.26 am to 9.30am). This should allow 13

groups to start (9 on bank holidays). When we can, we use the 16th

to compress the start and

finish times, but those on the 16th

must clear the 1st tee before 10am. Each month I agree

special tee times with Lee Pepper, so at the end of July, I will try and sort out special times in

September for:-

Seniors’ Championship - 8am to 10am, 1st tee for both days.

Autumn Shield, - 3 extra times from 10th

tee from 8.26am.

September Medal, - 1st and 10

th tees from 8.00am to 9.30am – play in threes.

Two Home matches, - roll up to start early 7.45am followed by matches at 9.00am.

The Club are very helpful to us in reserving these special times and occasionally we are asked

to change our arrangements to help with other events they have on the course. In my view the

Seniors are looked after well by the Club and we have a good working relationship, so I am

happy to make any changes to our times to accommodate the Club’s special events. The Club

has also been great in the way that our cards are processed quickly after our competitions and

the new handicap regime does seem to be settling down well.

About three or four weeks before any significant competition or team event, I put up a notice

for those wishing to play to enter. Those who do enter will have a tee time posted about a

week before play. We will always try and accommodate those turning up on the day in any of

our events. Knockout draws are made and posted and we are again trying a pair’s knockout

competition this year. Matches are looked after by the Captain and Vice Captain. Most of the

money collected in by Robin and me when you play is immediately returned in prize money.

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A small sum is retained when necessary to keep enough in the coffers for all expenditure –

Hugh Josty keeps an eye on the finances.

Whenever I go to town I look out for sleeves of balls and ProV1’s at a reasonable price and

also occasionally hit Staples for a supply of plain brown envelopes.

And that’s about it in a nutshell. If you have any ideas about different competitions you would

like to try then let me know and we will certainly give it a go.

We all remember the horrific scenes of devastation caused by the Japanese

earthquake and its after shocks. Goodness knows how many millions of yen

will be needed to rebuild the stricken areas.

It was therefore heart-warming to read about the generosity of the golfing

community rallying around and doing their bit. Korean K J Choe donated

£60,000; American Bubba Watson handed over the £30,000 cheque he won

at an April tournament; Ryuji Imaga is donating £750 for every birdie he

makes, but nothing can compare with the generosity of the 19-year-old

Japanese superstar Ryo Ishikawa, who has announced that he will donate

his entire earnings for 2011 to the Japanese Earthquake Relief Fund. In

addition, he will give £750 for every birdie he makes this season.

What an example to other young, high-earning sports stars.

All about Hybrids

A lot of seniors are using hybrids nowadays, but if you have not yet invested in one, James

Whitaker, head pro at Moor Allerton GC, tells us a few things about them. The whole point of a hybrid is to be more forgiving than a long iron, but more controllable

than a fairway wood.

They are designed to launch the ball up in the air from long

distances and tough lies. They spin a little bit more and offer a

higher launch angle than a long iron, meaning the typical

hybrid is going to carry farther and stop a little sooner.

They come with different sized heads and it is important to

match the right head size with your swing speed. Players with

slower swing speeds will benefit from a wider sole, which puts the centre of gravity further

back, generating the high launch and spin rate.

Some hybrids have a really high moment of inertia (resistance to twisting on mis-hits – a

basic measure of forgiveness), too, and are ideal for players who struggle with consistency.

There are better-player options out there, though, and they usually feature heads designed to

look and feel more like an iron, with the centre of gravity positioned close to the face. This

produces a lower, more powerful launch and helps you shape the ball.

If you decide on a hybrid, it may be worth starting with an 18-20 degree and then adding a 21-

24 degree club.

Produced with the kind permission of National Club Golfer, June 2011 edition.

Senior figures in the final of the Club Winter League. In 2009, Roy Davies and Charlie Glover won the Club’s Winter League competition.

On Sunday, 3rd

April, 2011 another senior, John Salter and his son Ashley, beat Ray de Branco and his

partner Nigel Robinson in the final of the 2010/11 event. It was a closely fought contest and there was

never more than two shots difference in the scores at any stage. Nigel managed a hole-in-one at the

eighth and only the players teeing off on the 4th were able to witness this feat. Apparently, they also

saw Ray’s ball trickle over the hole before coming to rest 6 feet away.

80 pairs started competing in this event last October and played on ten selected week-ends during this

preliminary stage. The 24 pairs with the best six scores qualified for the knock-out stage, which

consisted of four rounds plus the final.

The competition was spread over 5 months, attracted high and low handicap golfers and was played in

all the conditions that a British winter could throw at the competitors.

Which senior(s) is going to be in the winning team this year?

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Rule Quiz. Check your answers against the correct ones on the bottom of page 8.

1. In match play, A drops his coin on his ball, as he is about to mark it. The ball

moves. What is the ruling.

a) There is no penalty, but the ball must be replaced.

b) There is a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.

c) A loses the hole.

2. In stroke play, A thinks a ball in a bunker is his, but he cannot be sure, as he

cannot see his identification mark. Which one of the following is true?

a) It is not permissible to lift the ball.

b) A may lift the ball for identification, but is penalised if it is not his ball.

c) The Rules permit the marking and lifting of a ball in a bunker for identification.

3. In match play, A measures to see who is to putt first. In so doing, he touches his

ball with his club and the ball moves. What is the ruling?

a) There’s no penalty, but the ball must be replaced.

b) There is a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.

c) A loses the hole.

4. In match play, A tees off from in front of the tee-markers. Which one of the

following is true?

a) A loses the hole.

b) A must replay from within the teeing ground, but there is no penalty.

c) A’s opponent may require him to replay from within the teeing ground, but

there is no penalty.

Bob Morey plays a mean game of golf, but has no aspirations to play at international

level. He has already done that with a former passion, fishing. It’s a fascinating story.

I was born in Birmingham into a musical family, but I didn’t want to follow in their footsteps.

I wanted to follow another route. At the age of five, I was rushing my piano practice to go out

to dig worms to fish in the canal with my cane rod. “Where’s Bob?” my Mom would cry out.

As if she didn’t know!

I spent many a happy hour with a fishing rod in my hand. I travelled miles on my bicycle

with a basket on my back and rods tied to my crossbar to fish different venues.

At the age of 17, I was about to be called up for National Service, so I thought I may as well

do four years in the RAF, as I couldn’t survive on £2 10 shillings a week. I was posted to the

legendary Christmas Island and passed the time away fishing off the coral reef with makeshift

gear, mainly telephone wire and sharpened meat hooks, hammered into shape to form a hook.

Yes, I did catch an 8 foot sand shark that took five of us to get on the beach. It was

commandeered by a Gilbertese native who fed his family with it, after cutting out the jaw and

giving it to me. I boiled the teeth and sent them home to my then girl friend, who later

became my wife of thirty years.

After demob I was employed at Pickfords, driving all over the British Isles and the Isle of

White and it was on one of these trips to Scotland that I got my first glimpse of a fly line, on

the river Dee and thought: “How do they catch fish with that thick line?” I continued to

wonder, so I bought one. Needless to say I had all the wrong gear, so it was a bit of a flop.

I spent many years course fishing, improving my ability and joined the Bedford Angling Club

This is where my fishing got competitive and I realised there was money to be made at it. I

quickly reached a standard where I was competing against England's best course anglers and

achieving results. But something happened in the course fishing world that made me decide

to quit it. Anglers invented speed fishing, catching a lot of tiny fish in quantity instead of the

quality bigger fish.

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Then one day, I was asked to accompany the then owner of my local

fishing shop on a boat at Grafham Water, trout fishing. Reluctantly

I agreed. What a revelation! I then saw how the trout line I had

bought years earlier was supposed to be used. It was great. Every

fish that my host was catching was a good size and fighting like

fury. This was for me. I spent a small fortune on trout fishing

tackle and booked my first boat.

It was not long before I got the hang of it and caught my first trout. I Joined the East

Midlands Trout Fishing Club and learned how to tie my own trout flies. Some weird

concoctions came off my vice, I can tell you, and after trying them without any success, I

realised the conventional fly, tried and tested, produced the best results.

I met real trout anglers that were always ready to give me tips and share boats with me and I

achieved a good standard of catch and entered the local competitions From the EMTFA I

found myself amongst the top rankers and I was soon entering matches that led up to the

England Qualifiers, where around 15,000 of England's top anglers jockeyed for a place to be

in the top 12, that formed the England squad to fish against Scotland, Ireland and Wales . I

felt I had arrived, when I won a place in the English National, at Draycot Water. On the day

of the match I decided to fish the same flies I used on Grafham, but with four of them on a

trace. Lo and behold, I could not stop catching. I ended up in second place to the then

England captain Bobby Draper from Northampton. My first England qualifier.

I went on to fish in five Internationals and two World Cups for England. I teamed up with

twice world champion Brian Leadbetter and travelled all over the British Isles. On one

occasion, whilst attending a charity match, Brian and I decided to have a break, as it was a

rather a windy day, so we went for a pint. We set off walking around the reservoir and I

noticed a commotion in the water. We ran into the water and waded out to two anglers, whose

boat had capsized. Dragging them out, I saw that it was one of the many friends we had

made, Tony Pawson, sports writer and ex England cricketer, fishing with John Golding, MP

for Newcastle. Tony Pawson looked dead but I tried to resuscitate him and after a while got

him breathing again. As you can well imagine I bought no more beer for months after that. I

received the Queen’s Humanity award for that little episode. Brian and I were invited to

lunch at the Houses of Parliament, in gratitude, by The Right Honourable Lord Roy Mason,

then Minister for Northern Ireland.

I was then chosen to attend the World Cups in France and Belgium after

that and it was on another Charity Invitation Day that I met Bernard

Cribbins, of Railway Children fame, at the bar, and he took me to a golf

driving range and we had a great time hitting balls, everywhere but

straight. Like I do now.

It was about this time when I was stricken with the terrible news that my

wife had terminal cancer. My fishing days were over and I attended my

wife in her illness. I did find time to hit a few balls at Mowsbury and

found golf less time-consuming. And that’s how I got into this silly

game. I have since remarried and settled with my wife in Kempston.

You just can’t please some people! Jim Middleton was playing in a group with Peter Law, when the group in front kindly let

them through on the 10th

tee. Peter spanked his drive left, clattering into the trees. Jim and the

others then spent a few minutes looking and were puzzled to find no trace of the ball. Those

letting them through stood relaxed watching this pantomime. Just as they were giving up, the

ball dropped down from the tree behind Peter. Rather than being pleased about this good

fortune, he accused them of hiding his ball and then dropping it. This is the man who dropped

his ball down a rabbit hole when Jim found it for him on the second!

Answers to Rules Quiz questions: 1. b) Rule 20-1. 2. c) Rule 12-2 3. a) Rule 18-6. 4. c) Rule 11-4a

Grafham Trophy –

top England Rod

2lb rainbow trout

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Captain’s Day was on 16th

June and Tony Finch shares with us some of his thoughts before,

during and after the event.

For the six or so weeks or so leading up to the Day, I had been struggling with the

organization and administration. In the end, I like to think that the day went smoothly and

was enjoyable for all of you who took part. Thanks for your support.

Apart from trying to get sponsorship and trying to decide on appropriate and suitable prizes,

the constantly changing weather forecast was a big black cloud over my head. Despite

terrific help from Thompson Golf, from Matthew and the catering team and from my fellow

committee members, which eased some of the stress, the b****y weather was still a threat.

Version 6 of the Start Sheet, being printed late Wednesday evening, contained 73 entrants

and the weather forecast was for everything up to and including a plague of locusts and

raining frogs!

6 o’clock, Thursday morning; pack the car with all the things we need - prizes; refreshments

for the Buggy service. 7 o’clock with my wife Karen alongside, set off for PPGC. Jim

Middleton and Robin Mowe had very kindly offered to deal with the registration for me. We

were just about to cross the Oakley bridges from Bromham, when we realized that we had

forgotten the pastries to go with the morning coffee. Calamity! Turn round, drive home,

pick the trays up and set out once again. We were late! But those fine chaps Middleton and

Mowe, had things under control. And glory! It looked as if it would be a cracking day. The

sun shone and we would be able to enjoy the Elgar Lounge balconies for our pre-lunch

drinks.

The rest of the day I must confess was something of a blur, so much so, that in my many

circuits of the Course to offer drinks and candy bars, I managed to completely miss out Dave

Thorne, Peter Metcalf and John Economides! Sorry fellows. Put it down to senility.

Lunch was eaten and I believe enjoyed. Time to award the hard-earned prizes.

John Umney led the day with 48 points. John Economides took the Division 2 prize with 42

points.

Carl in the Pro Shop had processed the cards for me and gave to me

a list of the winners. All I had to do was read them out. Senility

struck again! I managed, initially, to award the wrong prize to

Margaret Mitchell; giving her the Best Ladies Score when she

should have had Nearest the Pin on Hole Three. Worse, was that

Best Ladies Score was won by Pauline Davies, the wife of my Vice

Captain. But all ended well and I did get two kisses from Margaret!

Other prizes went to Mike Cox, Dave Webb, Mick Bellamy, Brian

Farman and Mike Lacey.

Looking back, all the hard work and a deal of nervous stress were worth every bit, when 74

golfers (where did the extra one come from?) had a great day and raised over £300 pounds

for my charity, Willen Hospice. Thank you all so very much for taking part; for your great

good humour; for your friendship and above all for your generosity.

John Umney receiving his

prize from the Seniors’

Captain, Tony Finch

Seniors’ Captain’s Dinner (a few months earlier this year)

Saturday, 24th

September, 2011 Welcome cocktails Three Course Dinner Music by PPGC’s favourite DJ

Enjoy a Summer evening with friends and family in the excellent surroundings of the Elgar Lounge

and admire the stunning views and breathe in the evening air from the balconies

£25 per person

Dress code: black tie optional

Contact : Tony Finch 01234 826203or [email protected] to reserve your places.

Numbers limited to 54

10

A red-letter day for Graham Follett. The day he played to his 28

handicap.

April 27th 2011 – a day to remember. Sunny and quite warm.

A bit of a wind but not worrying. The course was quiet – ideal

conditions so there’d be no hassle from other groups. I had

hoped that some of the other 28ers might be there, but no,

so straight out onto the first and a first drive that took me

just short of the central bunker. Not a bad second – a 4 iron

onto the mound in front of the green and it was 5 for 3 points.

My drive at the 2nd went just left of the trees nearly to the top of the hill and a

nice 3 wood saw me halfway up the fairway, a 6 for 2, followed by a 5 for 2 on

the 3rd – a 3 putt there didn’t help – that blasted green always runs so much.

Managed to scrabble a 6 for 1 on the 4th even though my drive was topped a bit

and short of the ditch, then onto the 5th. A drive into the middle of the fairway

and then my 3 wood came into its own – I seem to be getting better results from

that lately – just short of the ditch. An iron just short of the green; a chip

onto the green, followed by a very satisfying 15 foot putt - great! - a par for 4

points!

I usually go down the right side on the 6th, but feeling good, the deep blue sky,

birds twittering and all’s well with the world, so, with my driving going fairly well,

I thought, why not - I'll have a go at driving the green......and I did!! Then yet

again 3 putts! Damn this putting – but never mind - 4 for 3

On to the 7th – and Oh! Into the pond. A drop and then bunker to bunker (you

all know about that, I’m sure!). My first blob - 8 for 0! Oh dear. (Or some such

phrase!)

It picked up on the 8th, a bogey for 2 points; another bogey on the 9th – 2

points. Down in 49 strokes for the first 9 holes, 19 points. Feeling excited.

And so to the second nine. Not quite so good –one 4-pointer and two 3-pointers,

with just one blob. Down in 51 strokes, 100 for the round, 36 points.

And no blighter anywhere to witness it! I did mention it to Steve at reception

when I got in, and he was very pleased for me, but it’s not the same as the pats

on the back on the 18th green that I might have had on a roll-up. (Not so sure about that, Graham. Many seniors are fairly sparing with their praise. You may have got a reserved: “Not a bad round, that.” Ed). All I've got is my unsigned scorecard, which I will probably now frame! Footnote: 5 days later, Bank Holiday Monday, I teed off in a 3-ball and my two partners were

there to witness my prowess. A massive 13 points. How the mighty have fallen!

A lady went into a pharmacy, walked up to the chemist, looked him straight in the eye and said? “I would like to buy some

cyanide”.

“Why in the world would you need cyanide?” he enquired.

“Because I’m going to poison my husband,” she replied.

The chemist, taken aback, exclaimed: “Lord have mercy! I can’t give you cyanide to kill your husband. That’s against the

law! I’ll lose my licence. They’ll throw both of us in jail. No. Definitely not. You cannot have cyanide.”

The lady reached into her handbag and pulled out a photograph of her husband in bed with the chemist’s wife.

The chemist looked at the picture and replied: “Well now, that’s different. You didn’t tell me you had a prescription.”

11

In May,2011 Mike Cox was invited by “Today’s Golfer” magazine, to join their team testing wedges at the Belfry. Here he tells us about his experience.

It was an early start at the Belfry Golf Course, home of the Ryder Cup. As a member of the test team, we were tasked to test new wedges over a two day period. The team consisted of a journalist from the “Today's Golfer” magazine, two PGA professionals and two club golfers.

We tested approximately 40 wedges for their accuracy, weight, feel, look and distance. Each category was rated from 1 to 5 and the wedges’ flight and distance electronically calculated. When we finished, the test team participated in a photo shoot

for the next issue of the magazine. However, it wasn't all work. The “Today's Golfer” representative arranged for us to play the National PGA and famous Brabazon course, which was home to four Ryder Cup events. The whole experience was amazing and gave me a sense of how the PGA professionals must have felt, playing on this world-renowned Course. Thanks to the magazine for selecting me to be a member of their test team. The results of the Test are to be found in the June/July edition of “Today’s Golfer”. Photograph produced with kind permission of “Today’s Golfer” magazine.

Scared to go near a computer?

Then you’re not alone. A lot of us think it is some kind of complicated machine (right),

which will either run amok, blow up or prove too difficult to master (wrong). And I speak

from experience, having bought a computer and put it into my study, where it stood for 6

months before I plucked up courage to venture into the unknown. But first, I persuaded

myself, I had to learn to touch-type, which I did, but that was just a ploy to defer the start date

for another 2 months!

Eventually I contacted a tutor and he helped me take my first steps and I never looked back.

However, I still cross my fingers whenever I switch it on!

Here’s how to get started.

The 2012 Raceonline initiative is promoted by the

government and aims to get the whole country online

by 2012, to help people reap the benefits of the internet.

UK online (UKo) is a network of 6,000 learning centres

across England, which gives 2 million people access to

computers and training every year from local computer

suites.

Just call UK free on 0800 77 1234 to find out the address and phone number of your nearest

centre. There are plenty of them and they include: Bromham Library; Wootton Library;

Bedford Central Library; The Smart Thai Centre, Bedford; Bedford Institute of Technology;

The Community Learndirect Ltd. Bedford; The Mallows Company Ltd, Bozeat; The Skills

Bank, Bedford Learning Centre.

Just say: “I’d like free computer course”, choose a centre and you’re on your way.

And just think, you’ll be “in the loop” - non technical computer term - as far as the Seniors’ e-

mail updates are concerned. You’ll make Michael Taylor very happy. Slow play...how about this for a sensible suggestion from a reader of National Club Golfer, August 2011

edition?

“So many courses complain that players are causing slow play, when they themselves are the biggest problem.

The main culprit is, and always will be, lost balls. If courses spent a little more time looking at the main places

where slow play is occurring and the conditions of the grass growing in that area, it could drastically reduce

slow play.” Ray Gudge

12

I was wandering around the Clubhouse with this sepia

photograph in my hand when Frankie Williams peered at it

and volunteered that it looked like his grandfather, who had a

moustache, wore a collar and tie, a flat cap, a suit with a

waistcoat, and often carried a gun. He was a poacher.

In fact, it is the grandfather of a James (Jim) McRobert

Middleton, who died before Jim was born and he is carrying a

golf club, not a gun. He was a greenkeeper at Renfrew Golf

Course, near Glasgow.

A prize awaits whoever can spot the resemblances between

him and his grandson, our Competitions’ Secretary.

Competition and Medal Results

Competition 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Shaun O’Reilly Cup

Shaun O’Reilly

Peter Hasler

Glyn Lee Shaun O’ Reilly

Andy David

John Salter Robin Cooper

Aston & Toole Trophy

John Salter

Peter Metcalf

Stewart Wood

Allen Woodward

Hugh Josty

Roy Davies Andy David

Captain’s Day Trophy

V Rolton/ J Salter

P Julyan J. Kavanagh

R. de Branco & P. Law

Ted Hill Joe Quinn

B Farman J Day

M Rogers J Economides

John Umney John Economides

Brian Farman Vase

D Davies/ P Julyan

A David/ P Metcalf

G. Lee/ M. Lacey

George Holt Mike Rogers

S. Wood R. Davies

M Rogers/ B. Farman

Michael Taylor John Fossey

April medal Div 1 Dave Atkins Div 2 Robin Mowe

May medal Div 1 Roger Burrows Div 2 Tony Keating

June medal Div 1 John Umney Div 2 David Fleure

July medal Div 1 Mike Rogers Div 2 David Fleure Friends of St. Peters Church, Pavenham

Charity Golf Day, 27th

May, 2011

A big thank-you to all of you who supported the above:

• The Seniors

• The organisers – especially John Kirman and Peter Daniel

• Those who contributed prizes

• Thompson Golf Management Team Winners included: Nearest the pin: Mike Lacey

Best front 9: Gordon Mitchell

3rd

prize Shaun O’Reilly

We raised £838 for our Charity funds.

Hope you enjoyed the Day. See you next year.

Hugh Josty, Trustee

Frank Williams will be

participating in the 15 mile

Newport Muster Walk in aid of

Willen Hospice on 10th

September, 2011.

He will be inviting you to

sponsor him soon, so please give

generously.

Stop Press: Congratulations to Carl Baker, who after 3 gruelling years, has now achieved

PGA status and is now a fully-fledged PGA professional.

Steve Vinnecombe was one of a handful of Club professionals invited by the

European Tour to give lessons to visitors at Sandwich, prior to the Open.

We at Woodfines are once again delighted to contribute to the costs of publishing your InPutt newsletter and just to maintain the standard of jokes, how about this one?

Golfer: “Do you think I can get there with a 5 iron?”

Caddy: “Eventually.” Ashley Salter Partner

issue no. 23 july 2011 · 2018. 9. 6. · 1 issue no. 23 july 2011 editor: john salter those of us...

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