First-4-Golf

With weather closing in, and last weekend at the mercy of the elements, some of our group managed nine holes on Saturday morning before the lure of the coffee machine and bacon baps overtook the enthusiasm for plodding for another hour and a quarter playing very bad golf.

Sunday fared no better with ice being the main bugbear, the approach roads to the club having a treacherous sheen to them which was caused by steady drizzle which made matters worse. Still, the hardy few took to the course with gusto and appeared to all intents and purposes to be having a good time.

Results are always thin on the ground at this time of year, butDerek Lyonof Clays surpassed himself by providing five pages of A4 for my printer to disgorge which gave results of played matches, and the goings on at the Annual General meeting when all the officers of the club changed over.

The meeting was held on 12^th December, and outgoing captains, Reg Peacock and Diane Dare gave their reports on the preceding twelve months in the club. A financial report given by Treasurer Eifion Jenkins was also received by the members, and a further general report from the club secretary, Ray Martin.

Reg was succeeded as Captain by Gareth Roberts whose wife Shirley was appointed lady Vice captain in lieu of Anne Lee who in turn succeeded Diane Dare as Lady Captain for 2012. The junior captain was Jimmy Lee, Anne’s son.

 Anne has an excellent golfing pedigree in that she is the sister of Simon Edwards, professional at Windermere golf club who represented G.B & I. against theUSAin the PGA version of the Ryder Cup for club professionals. Her father is Wrexham golf club stalwart, Malcolm J. Edwards who has been a member of his club for over forty years.

The new seniors captain is Colin Brown who took over from Bob Brown who in turn was elected vice captain of the club for the coming twelve months.

Both retiring captains paid tribute to the efforts of the members whose efforts raised money for their charities namely Wrexham’s Family Friends and Home Start and Cancer Research, and mentioned the various successes that had come Clays’ way due to some excellent golf both by teams and individuals throughout 2011.

The Senior section played a “Christmas Bash” and a turkey trot last week, the former being played as a Texas scramble prior to the seniors’ Christmas party. Winning quartet were Jack Brown, Bob Brown, Stan Brookfield and Brian Mercer with 26.1 points. Runners up were Mike Jordan, Peter Almond, Steve Beech and Ron Pierce with 26.6 points, all the aforementioned starting their matches on the 1^st and 14^th tees.

Starting on the 5^th and the 10^th tees came winners Andrew Mitchell, Tony Owens and Ray Martin playing as a three ball and gaining 24.3 points. Obviously on the same numbers, a count back of scores on 24.3 ranked Brian Downes, Gerry Wooster, Stuart Miles and Dave Riley into second place for their efforts from their tees.

The Seniors’ Stableford on 15^th December was played as an individual event and witnessed a win for Noel Jones with 39 points from second placed Graham Stokes on another 38 point card. Peter Frazer was in third place with yet another similar score.Fred Court was fourth with 35 with Bill Parry emulating his score exactly for fifth place.

The conclusion of the AGM was the presentation of the prizes for the recently held Turkey Trots which have been faithfully recorded in this column week by week thanks to the valued contributions fromDerek Lyon.

It is a pleasure to forward all the best of the seasons’ greeting from the Executive and members of Clays to all who have supported the club these past twelve months.

 

Ever reliable Phil Coleman of the Vale of Llangollen golf club informs me that the Sunday morning “draw for partners” event will commence on January 9^th. Now in its 38^th year since its inception in 1975, the event sees members meeting in the clubhouse at 8.15 a.m. for the draw followed by rapid dispersal to three tees for a simultaneous start over thirteen holes of play at 8.30 a.m. It is usual for up to sixty members to gather for this popular event and long may it continue.

 

It merely remains for me to wish all contributors and readers of these notes a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. Keep practicing!!!