Minutes of the Clays Golf Council Meeting held on Tuesday 12th April 2022 at 6.30 pm in the Holt Lodge
Present: President – Gareth Roberts, Captain – Don Wraight, Ladies Captain – Julie Hanmer- Price, Ladies Vice Captain – Sue Falcus, Seniors’ Captain – Chris Jacques, Handicap Secretary – Peter Bowen, Hon Treasurer – Christine Evans
Apologies: Mick McHugh, Shan Stapley
The Captain welcomed the members of the Council. The minutes of the last Council meeting held on the 8th March 2022 had been circulated. The Captain asked if they were a true record. Proposed by GR seconded by PB that the minutes were correct in content and were thus approved and duly signed.
Matters Arising
Health and Safety – nothing reported
Correspondence –JG has completed WG survey, this was approved by Council.
The minutes of the AGM, March 26th 2022 were approved.
AGM attended by 22 members, 14% corporate members, 86% seven-day members. Notice for commencement meeting, 2.30 pm as the last two AGM’s that have been held. Some members presumed start of 2pm. Management had promised a report to be read at AGM, but this was not available but a newsletter for members promised shortly. Although not shared with members to date.
Captain expressed disappointment at attendance, maybe need to think about how to increase attendance in future.
CJ had previously raised playing competitions under course restrictions, which is applicable to all Sections. Policy not yet in Constitution, however discussions noted that Medal and Boarded competitions to be rearranged if course restrictions in place. Nonspecific competitions e.g., St David’s Day, Poppy Day etc to continue and play under course restrictions. Details of this not yet confirmed by Council. Impact of limitations this would impose particularly to those who would be unable to play because may require buggies recognised by Captain.
Management
Management Report
DW had had a verbal conversation with management, JG re membership and levies for DGU.
Head Greenkeepers Report
No report but course open and looking good.
Captain’s Report April 2022
I had a meeting with Josh this morning 11th April. Not a great deal to report from that.
We discussed the shotgun starts for Captains Drive In and the upcoming events which require the same format. Captains Day, Charity Day and President’s Day. Josh was requiring a greater number of entrants than competed in the Drive In. The impact on blocking the course with little participations from members can and is reflecting on revenue to the business.
Membership renewals are in the process of being mailed out to members by the end of the month. I assume this will be same for DGU fees etc.
In the light of chasing members for their club fees as other years, would it be better to have these paid by the 1st April every year? In theory a member could win a trophy or play in a DGU or GUW event and not have paid fees which could bring the club in some jeopardy.
Have asked Mark to try and put the white markers as close to the painted blocks for future medal. Makes an even playing field for Eclectics.
Don Club Captain
Attached are the figures up to 8th April 2022
- Included in income are the amounts received for Honour Board Competitions. This shows a miscellaneous amount of £81. Currently I am unable to identify all the income to competitions. I have asked Paul Lloyd for the information and am hoping to receive shortly. I think some of the issue is around identifying corporate member payments for club competitions. A breakdown to competition as it currently standing is also attached for information.
The ladies competitions and Seniors competitions show the correct amounts as a reconciliation was available with the money. Hopefully this will be resolved by the next meeting.
- Amounts for the Jubilee Plate are now starting to come in. I will keep a separate record allowing reconciliation with the entries.
- An initial payment to the Alzheimers Society is included in respect of 2021. A further payment was made after these figures had been prepared and will show in the next figures. All further charity income will be included in the 2022 figures.
Banking
Banks have now begun to open accounts for societies and clubs. This will now be progressed in line with Council agreement in 2021.
DGU Subscriptions
These are now due and the figures need to be agreed with the Handicap Secretary for payment shortly.
Membership Subscriptions
These are now due. A BRS request for payment will be send out to all Golf Club members this week.
Regards, Christine
Honorary Treasurer
CE reported that clarification of entry fees by Knockout competition was ongoing. Mainly in respect of Corporate Members . More specific information re type of member, name etc would be requested when the request for annual membership and handicap fees was sent out. JG asked to send via BRS.to ensure no confusion over who has paid.
Bank application currently in progress Lloyds Bank currently bank of choice, lower charges and positive responsiveness to application.
President GR raised point of interest in relation to monies from Shop competitions.
Query raised in relation to payment for HDID. Captain will discuss with Management.
DGU subs need paying. Not previously collected in the last 2 years by DGU. Noted that DGU subs are paid a year in advance. Wales golf have adjusted date to Aug/Sept from previous Mar/April, so collected in year.
Concern raised by Captain that some Members may be playing in Competitions and winning but have not paid DGU subs, though GR pointed out that only one Competition may be affected if at all in respect of timings of Comps and payment.
In 2022 suggested by Captain that everybody should pay subs by end of April and if not paid will automatically be suspended from HDID and therefore unable to enter scores.
Captain will clarify with JG that Club levies need to be paid prior to competitions.
Ladies Section April 2022
Ladies Report- An encouraging start to the season with 10 ladies entering the Prestatyn open, 9 in Rhos on Sea open and 2 in the Daily Mail.
No wins to report but great to see the Ladies section getting involved.
Captains Drive In was a lovely day both weather wise and turn out. Congratulations to ladies winner Nicky Bowen.
A big thank you to Vice Captain and Lady Vice for the fun introduction at the start.
Ladies Eclectic – this has not been played since 2017 and I am pleased to say this now has approximately 18 ladies entering in 2022.
Julie Hanmer Price
Lady Captain
Lady Captain reported that there was an encouraging start to the golfing season and more ladies enthusiastic to participate in both internal and external competitions.
Ladies Eclectic has been revamped; 16 entries noted so far.
Lady Captain reported that Saturday Ladies Monthly Medal already approved in principle by Council, is now played separately on a Saturday to facilitate easier collation of ladies scores for the Ladies Eclectic and Wales Golf Medal (awarded each year for the best 4 nett Wales Golf Medal scores for the year).
As such LC stated that this will need a small amendment of the Constitution within the lists of Competitions to reflect this Medal Comp, ‘to state that this will be the total of lowest scores on every hole played in the monthly medals between April and September’.
It was clarified by Council that Members can only play in one Medal competition per month and confirmed by Handicap Secretary. Senior Medals and Club Medals are separate competitions and therefore not within this regulation. The wording within the Constitution should also emphasize that entries to only ONE Ladies Medal per month is permitted.
Council confirmed that Club Saturday Medal will now be a Gents Medal only and as such will continue to be included within the Order of Merit.
A further small amendment to the Constitution was requested …. Coronation Foursome to change from Wales Golf to R&A.
A query from the Hon Sec requested clarification as to if the Captains Drive in should be 2 separate competitions. This was confirmed by Council and in future will comprise of Captains Men’s Drive In and Captains Ladies Drive In.
Also confirmed that Captains Day to be listed as separate competitions.
Confirmed that on Captains Drive in, Men’s tees should be white tees.
Confirmed that Presidents Day remains as one trophy.
Tommy Davis Cup to remain as mixed Comp.
Council also noted that Winners of Ladies Wednesday monthly Medal and Saturday monthly medal should be invited to play in the Quarterly Medal.
SS would update the constitution tables to reflect the above changes to competitions.
Mens Section
No report
Senior Section
SENIOR CAPTAINS REPORT APRIL 2022
In the light of the discussion of issues following the St David’s Day competition the Seniors Committee are putting in place a policy which will be implemented when there are course restrictions in place on Competition Days.
The first Inter Club match has taken place at home to Mold, which resulted in a 7-3 victory for Clays. Mold players were complementary about the course and (no surprise here ! ) the lunch.
The first Medal of the Summer took place on 7th April. It took place in extremely difficult conditions and the scores reflected this.
Chris Jacques
Seniors Captain
DW reported that JG had raised concerns that not all of the pre booked tee times has been filled for the Shotgun Start Captains Drive In and as such he was concerned that this had limited the Club to have availability of tees for other Members/visitors not playing in the Competition. Generally it was felt that the Shotgun start for this Comp and 2 further comps within the year was an important format to allow presentation of prizes and encourage Club house attendance post comp.
JG has requested that on Competitions with Shotgun starts that tee times are filled to max capacity.
CJ reported that there had been a further 3 or 4 new members to the Senior Section with indications that there will be some further potential members.
Junior Section
There was no Junior report although reported by Hon Treasurer that 7 Junior members in Club.
Handicap Report
My first encounter in the active season was The Captains Drive-in. It turned out to be not the best of starts. After consulting the constitution, I eventually found the comp in mixed honours board competitions but no mention of two separate comps.
I’ve now adjusted my constitution copy, so this won’t happen again.
There was a delay in announcing results on the day, as 5 cards were never submitted at all. And we had spent time looking for them!
On Thursday we had our first seniors qualifying comp, 45 took part in what can only be described as appalling conditions but despite this, by 3.30pm all 45 score cards had been registered by the PSI or HDID and before anyone left the clubhouse, so at 5pm I printed the result EXCELLENT!! If the seniors can do it, everyone can!
I have been asked for numbers for a DGU invoice. Can we discuss this, please? I need guidance.
Peter Bowen
PB reported that active season started. A query was raised if PB closed weekend Club Comps which he confirmed he did during active season only.
Following from last month’s minutes New Member packs were mentioned. SS received Welcome pack, photographed, and shared on Whats App, confirming that Clays distribute a ‘welcome pack’. There would be an ongoing review from relevant sections with the possibility of specific welcome emails from relevant sections depending on age/ gender of new members. Review to be included on next month’s agenda.
Competition Report
Advertisement in progress. Hon Treasurer raised that perhaps Members were unaware of level of input required to undertake the role, ongoing recruitment in place. Knockout competitions for 2022 already set up
A.O.B.
- Action next meeting to discuss Special Events.
- Captain requested that Council Members check ‘pigeonholes’ in computer room as some correspondences have been placed in these and not been found for some time. A weekly check was requested by Captain in the short term.
- General Security of the Club area, availability of keys to access the small office and pigeonhole area, Club information Boards, trophies, password codes for Ladies Locker Room and other areas was raised by CJ and CE. Proposed that initially LC to send out message to all lady members to ensure that the Locker Room main door and the internal door to the toilet are kept permanently locked.
- Captain confirmed that entry into the following Competitions had been paid, Victory Shield, Ping Mixed and Welsh Team Championship. Teams to be clarified.
- Victory Shield.1st round against Mold, information to be forwarded to the 2 best Club players.
- Ping Mixed Comp. Current entry is for one team however Captain reported that a 2nd team could be entered at no additional cost. CE will coordinate.
- Noted by Captain that Wednesday Club Medal, reduced numbers playing competition. Decision to continue to run with Medal and as per regulations to have separate competitions available for monthly medal.
- Captain raised issue that in Competitions, white tees to be by placed by white blocks to ensure equity. CE also advised that same should apply for red tees. SS would update Constitution to change Captain’s Drive In, to white tees for men.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday May 10th at 6.30.
3 apologies received in advance, PB, CE, SF.