Firstly, I would like to congratulate Barry Dare on his appointment as Clays Seniors Captain. Barry is a very highly regarded and supportive member of our club and I know that he will do a brilliant job in his new role. I must also thank Don Wraight, outgoing Seniors Captain, for everything that he has done in leading the section over the past two years and I wish to acknowledge the huge amount of work that Don does for our club in many different ways.

In my previous newsletter, I had expressed a wish for a long spell of dry, bright weather in December. Unfortunately, this hasn’t come about and it has again been a very frustrating month for our greenkeeping staff. With the course in its current condition, any pitchmarks and unrepaired divots can take a long time to repair themselves and so please, whenever you do get chance to play, could you make every effort to protect the course. I know that Mark and the rest of his team will be doing all they can in the next few months to get the course back into the brilliant condition that we enjoyed for the majority of 2019.

Take up for the Clays Christmas Party on 6^th December was very disappointing and the nature of any social events in 2020 will be something that the Club Council will be considering carefully. Inevitably, the people who do attend these occasions have a very enjoyable time but it may well be the case that evening events are just something in which the general membership has very little interest. It may be useful to gauge members’ views regarding this in the coming months.

I am pleased to report that Richard Edwards will be joining us back at Clays as our Head Teaching Professional. Richard’s role will be to promote and develop the Coaching Academy at Clays Golf with a primary focus on Junior Golf development. I know that everyone will give Richard a great welcome back!

We are currently waiting on the electrician to check over the Air Compressor ready for full installation during the second week in January.

Over the next few weeks, the entry sheets for the 2020 Honours Board competitions will become available. I very much hope that you will be able to enter as many of these as possible, either the on-going matchplay knockout competitions (a format that we don’t really play that often but one which is very enjoyable) or the single round events which are publicised throughout the season. In addition, there will be a couple of competitions arranged during 2020 for which the proceeds will go towards making further enhancements to the course.

This time of year is always a period of reflection over the past twelve months and it is fitting to remember those members of our club, or members of their family, who have passed away during 2019. We are known for being a very friendly golf club and I know that the support that is always offered to fellow members during very difficult times is greatly appreciated.

Finally, may I wish you all of our members and their families a very healthy and Happy New Year.

Nigel Davies                                                                                       [email protected]

Club Captain

Club News :

The Seniors AGM took place on 3^rd December, during which Barry Dare was elected as Seniors Captain and the Seniors Committee members were confirmed, including Tom Pierce and Mike Hollings who were newly appointed to the Committee.

A large number of Seniors took part in their Christmas celebration day on which comprised a 9-hole Texas Scramble competition followed by an excellent lunch from Hayley. Results for the morning competition are included below.

60 entrants took part in the Clays Christmas Open held on Saturday, 28^th December in a Texas Scramble format. Results below.

Dates for Your Diary :

2020  Happy New Year! 

4^th January                         Club Monthly Medal 

7^th January                         Seniors Winter League 2 

                                                Annual Handicap Review 

9^th January                         Seniors Stableford Medal 

11^th January                       Saturday Winter Order of Merit 1 

12^th January                       Sunday Winter Order of Merit 1 

14^th January                       Club Council meeting 

18^th January                       Saturday Winter Order of Merit 2 

19^th January                       Sunday Winter Order of Merit 2 

21^st January                       Seniors Winter League 3 

25^th January                       Saturday Winter Order of Merit 3 

26^th January                       Sunday Winter Order of Merit 3

Club Results :

Congratulations to those members listed below on their recent golfing success.

Seniors December Stableford Medel

Division  1 :

1^st        Alan Barnsdale                                   2^nd        Ernie Williams

Division 2 :

1^st        Stewart Poole                                     2^nd        Steve Monk 

Club December Medal :

Division  1 :

1^st        Graham Davidson Clarke                   2^nd        Paul Lloyd

Division 2 :

1^st        Paul Stevenson                                   2^nd        David Jones

Division 3 :

1^st :      Harold Hughes                                    2^nd        Barry Dare 

Quarterly Medal :

1^st        Paul Stevenson                                    2^nd        Graham Davidson Clarke

Seniors Christmas Competition :

1^st         Chris Jones, Gareth Roberts, Mick McHugh, Russ Adamson           31.3

2^nd        Stewart Poole, Mike Kalka, Chris Jacques, Mike Hollings                31.65

3^rd         Alan Bottomley, Dave Palferman, Peter Taylor, Peter Thomas       32.3 

Clays Christmas Open :

1^st        Justin Bull, Andy Jones, Kevin Jones & Stephen Jones                     34.7

2^nd        Paul Lloyd, Mal Lloyd, Richard Prandle & Mike Jones                    37.7

3^rd        Andy Matthews, Gareth Whitley & Tony Bull                                  38.25 

Individual  Turkey Trot (30^th November) :

1^st        Andy Matthews                      2^nd        Paul Stevenson