The very wet weather over the past couple of months has made it a very frustrating time for golfers and greenkeepers alike. Although many of us would have liked to have played more in recent weeks, I’m sure that you will agree that it is important to protect the course when conditions dictate that the ground would be damaged if play was allowed.  Mark and his team got the course into such brilliant condition for us this season and it would be a pity for all their good work to be wasted now for the sake of a game. Fingers crossed for a long spell of dry, bright weather in December!

We held Presentation Day on 9^th November and, although the weather intervened yet again resulting in the cancellation of the golf competition, the day proved to be a great success. I was particularly pleased that so many people turned up anyway, not only the winners and runners up but also the number of members who hadn’t won anything but still came to recognise others’ success. It really did turn out to be an excellent celebration of the 2019 season. I have listed all of this season’s winners in a “2019 Roll of Honour” later in the newsletter.

Our Curry and Quiz night took place last Saturday evening, 23^rd and again the turnout was very pleasing. Hayley again provided us with delicious food and those attending were also treated to a short burst of karaoke from a club official! A great time was had by all with, as a result of a degree of success in Hayley’s “Play Your Cards Right”, some members ending the evening better off than when they arrived!

Our next social event is the Clays Christmas Party on Friday, 6^th December starting at 7.30pm. This will be a buffet and disco plus some fun competitions. Tickets are just £12 per person, available from Hayley. All members, friends and families are of course very welcome.

I also just want to give everyone a reminder that the ‘Clays Golf Christmas Draw’ is currently underway in Reception at £2 a square or 3 for £5. First prize is a 7 day Clays Golf membership and other prizes include a large turkey, a bottle of scotch, wine and chocolates. Many thanks to all members who have already taken part.

I’ve mentioned in recent newsletters the possible purchase and installation of a new air compressor for members’ convenience. I’m delighted to report that this has now gone ahead, primarily as a result of the generosity of two of our members, Irwin Elkin and Richard Key, who have been instrumental in the initial purchase of the equipment. Many thanks to both. The establishment of a halfway house still remains an intention of the club and we will continue to aim to raise funds towards this over the coming months.

Finally, I would like to wish all of our members and their families a very Merry Christmas.

Nigel Davies, [email protected]

Club Captain

Club News :

The Clays Christmas Open will take place on Saturday, 28^th December. This will be a Texas Scramble competition for teams of 3 or 4 players and teams can be mixed with Men, Ladies or Juniors off Yellow/Red Tees. Entry fee is just £6 for Members and £10 for Visitors. Prizes include meals out, rounds of golf at other courses and golf products from Ben at Fairway Golf.

On the 5^th November, 46 Seniors took part in the annual Ken Lawrence Trophy individual stableford competition which also incorporates their Poppy Day Appeal. Prizes were donated by Ken’s family and Ken’s son Chris also played in the competition. All proceeds from entry fees and raffle sales were donated to the appeal and an excellent total of £350 was raised on the day. There will be a presentation to the Royal British Legion at a later date.

The Clays Christmas Mixed competition has been arranged for the 8th December. This will comprise a stableford betterball competition followed by a meal. Entry fee is £24 per pair to include the meal and prizes. Please contact Reception for further details and tee times etc.

There has been an excellent response to the Winter Golf Clinics that Steven Wilson will be running over the next few weeks, beginning Wednesday, 27^th November. Many thanks to Steve for providing this opportunity for members to develop their game.

Club Results :

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

Seniors Ken Lawrence Memorial :

1^st           Alan Bottomley                    2^nd       Tom Pierce

Club November Medal :

Division  1 :

1^st        Dave Riley                  2^nd        Graham Davidson-Clarke

Division 2 :

1^st        Paul Stevenson            2^nd       Michael Carnell

Division 3 :

1^st :      Harold Hughes            2^nd        Keith Hawthorn

 South African Pairs Turkey Trot competition :

1^st        Michael McHugh & Paul Stevenson               2^nd        Iwan Bonds & Richard Collier

Seniors Winter League Round 1 :

1^st        Mick Carnell               2^nd        Ken Tieszen                3^rd        Peter Taylor

2019 Roll of Honour

Captains Day                                                      Iwan Bonds

Presidents Day                                      Mike Jones

Clays Past Captains                           Dave Palferman

Captains Drive in (Men)                                Vic Mohun

Captains Drive in (Ladies)               Jane Evans

Lady’s Captains Day                                       Pauline Peacock

Fan Jones Trophy                                             Christine Evans

Allington Hughes Salver              Julie Hanmer Price

Aber Rose Bowl                                                Dawn Thompson

Powells Jewellers Trophy                       Julie Hanmer Pric

LADIES BETTERBALL                                          dawn thompson

HARCOMBE TROPHY best nett                     jane evans

LADIES CHALLENGE best gross                   jane evans

MIXED FOURSOMES PAIRS                                beverley hood & nigel davies

JUBILEE MIXED FOURSOMES PLATE  pauline peacock & reg peacock

LADIES CHALLENGE BOWL                               pauline peacock

WELSH DRAGON BROOCH                                 julie hanmer price

SENIORs GEMINI trophy                                  peter almond & mike jordan

SENIORs BETTERBALL                                        stewart poole & damian atkin

seniors DJ BOGIE                                                damian atkin

Copperwheat Eclectic                                 dave palferman

SENIORs 2-DAY CHALLENGE DIV 2                dilwyn jones

SENIORs 2-DAY CHALLENGE DIV 1                martin povey

VETS TROPHY                                                        john kelty 

2019 roll of honour (contd.)

SENIORs TROPHY                                      michael carnell

SENIORs CHAMPION                                            dilwyn jones

FLICK CUP                                                               paul wallace jones & jason hill

GEM TROPHY                                                         andy matthews & gareth whitley

ORDER OF MERIT                                                  iwan bonds

Tom & Kathleen Jones Cup             andi jones

T M DAVIES CUP                                                    mike jones

JCB SHIELD                                                             mark williams

NEIL HARDEN trophy                                       mike jones

KAREN GRIFFITHS cup                                       graham davidson-clarke

ABER SHIELD                                                          dilwyn jones

CLAYS CHALLENGE CUP                                    paul lloyd

SCRATCH CUP                                                        josh green

ROWLAND CUP best nett                               patrick whelan

CLUB CHAMPION                                                  paul lloyd 

Dates for Your Diary :

1^st December                      Ladies 9-Hole comp & Christmas Party 

3^rd December                     Seniors AGM 

5^th December                     Seniors Stableford Medal

6^th December               Clays Christmas Party!   

7^th December                     Quarterly & Monthly Medals 

8^th December                     Christmas Mixed 

10^th December                   Club Council Meeting

 14^th December                   Turkey Trot : 2 Ball Texas Scramble 

17^th December                   Seniors 9-Hole comp & Christmas Party 

21^st December                   Turkey Trot Finale :  Six  Six  Six 

28^th December                   Clays Christmas Open 

                2020  Happy New Year! 

2^nd January                         Seniors Stableford Medal 

4^th January                         Club Monthly Medal 

7^th January                         Seniors Winter League 3 

                                                Annual Handicap Review 

11^th January                       Saturday Winter Order of Merit 1 

12^th January                       Sunday Winter Order of Merit 1