We are three quarters of the way through the Captain’s year, just three months to go before Captain Simon Freemantle hands over to Richard Lane. I caught up recently with Simon to find out what he has been up to in his Captains year.

Editor: Simon. Firstly has the role lived up to your expectations?

Simon: Yes and beyond. Having served two years as Vice Captain, that gave me a good insight on what to expect. No two years are the same, but I was aware of what was, and is, expected of me and the effort needed.

Editor: What have you enjoyed the most in your Captains year so far?

Simon: Frankly, I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything. Golfing at the many (17?) ‘Captain’s Invitationals’ this year has been fun. We are a popular club and over the years our Club Captains have attended and built good relationships with all of our neighbours, far and wide, so I have been invited to many events.  I have also held over 40 welcoming chats with new members, whilst time consuming it is a good reminder of what we need to deliver as a club. The 50^th anniversary of Alresford v Hampshire Men was rather special in February, and I certainly did enjoy the Captain’s trip in May – it took a great deal of planning but I got the impression that it went down well with attendees.

Editor: What has been the most difficult?

Simon: Those who have not held the role, think that all you hear are grumbles – but nothing could be further from the truth. It is heart warming when members smile, say you’re doing a good job, and are often complementary on what the club is doing as a whole. I have rarely had to bite my tongue, however I have not shied away from difficult conversations when they were needed. I have tried to listen and take on new ideas, and sometimes had to explain why everything isn’t always possible – this is often down to how the club is funded. We probably have the lowest annual subs among our peers which does have an impact. If we want our course to move to the next level (or even keep up!) members may need to dig a little deeper into their pockets.

Editor: Every Captain leaves his fingerprints on the role. What are yours?

Simon: Alresford has always been considered good hosts, whether visiting individuals for our Opens, societies or other clubs. I would like to think I have been an excellent ambassador, both at home and away.

Editor: What will you leave behind?

Simon: Hopefully a vision that captaincy is enjoyable and can be done by anyone! All you need is enthusiasm.

Editor: How has the fund raising for the Captain’s Chairty, Rainbow Trust?

Simon: As you know, it has been a joint effort on many different occasions from Gunnel, Steve, Oscar and myself. We have currently raised over £15k, we are delighted and appreciate members generosity.

Editor: What advice can you give for members considering whether the Captain’s role is right for them?

Simon: First and foremost, it’s only a year, have no regrets. The Club Captain is surrounded by hard working volunteers and a General Manager who is thoughtful and has a positive impact on the role of Captain; so you are not alone. Yes, it obviously takes a fair amount of commitment and even when you are not at the club, you are thinking about it, but the support and encouragement you get from members is second to none. The Club Captain and Vice know many members but even we do not know everyone or their aspirations, so if you wish to be considered have a quiet word with a captain, past or present. Alternatively, a member can collect fifteen names to support their application and that can be put forward.

Editor: how is the Captain chosen at AGC?

Simon: It is clearly stated in the rules (well done for P&D ensuring these are kept up to date and are relevant). The Vice Captain is part of a committee of six, three men and three ladies, past captains and the current Chairman. The Vice suggests names and the committee give helpful guidance on suitability. Finally at the AGM the new Captaincy is approved. It was an easy process for me last year and I hope for Richard this year.

Editor: Last November you announced a new competition called the Memorial Vase, tell me more.

Simon: Every year inevitably some members sadly pass away, it is not possible to name competitions or place benches and new trees around the course in their memory. So each year on the first Friday and Saturday after November 1^st (all Saints Day) there will be the Memorial Vase competition, 18 hole stapleford for 5 and 7 day members. The competition fee will put towards flowers for the Memorial Vase which will be on display in the Clubhouse all year and if anyone wishes to donate towards the flowers, particularly at a certain time of year in memory of someone, that would be welcome. The Vase is currently being engraved and I will try and have it on show prior to the competition.

Editor: Are you winding down now?

Simon: Certainly not! Captain’s Day (September 10th) is my chance to thank Members for their support. For the Club Dinner (November 11^th) posh frocks! A few more invitationals and more social events still to go! Loving it!

Editor: thanks Simon for an excellent year and for putting so much effort into making the club a success.

IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION FROM ALRESFORD GOLF CLUB 

The majority of our members value and respect our golf club, but we are becoming increasingly aware that some untrustworthy members are bringing guests onto the course with no intention of signing them in or ensuring that a green fee has been paid.

FINAL WARNING:  The Management Committee has ruled that ANY MEMBER playing or attempting to play the course with a visitor or guest who has not paid a green fee will be SUSPENDED FROM THE CLUB IMMEDIATELY, pending a full disciplinary hearing that may well lead to being expelled from the Club, named and shamed. There will be no refund of any subscriptions or joining fees paid.

The Club will be stepping up random checks, particularly in the evening, without further notice.

As a member of  Alresford Golf Club it is unequivocally YOUR responsibility to ensure that your guests have been signed in by you, paid the appropriate green fee and are displaying the green fee tag. We have recent experience of members refusing to give Club officials their name when encountered with guests on the course who have not paid green fees, we will review CCTV to ensure that these people are identified.

Robert White

Chairman of the Management Committee

As we get to the business end of the season, we have had mixed results in the various Club team competitions. I am delighted that the Ladies Annodata team have reached the last sixteen of such a large inter club competition. The Men’s Kindred Cup team, as current holders, have again reached the finals day. Good luck to both the Ladies and the Men.

Last month I mentioned the Francis Holmes Shield.  With great pride Alresford hosted this years’ competition on Sunday August 20^th. The format was teams of 8 playing foursomes medal in the morning and singles medal in the afternoon. The original ‘nine-holers’, Marlborough, Romsey, Andover and Alresford battled it out over a long day. I am delighted to say that it was a home win, with Romsey, next years’ hosts, pushing us all the way. This competition is in its 58^th year and adds to the rich history of all competing clubs. The visiting clubs asked me to thank our members for their generosity in allowing the days’ play.

The Junior Championship was fiercely contested in late August. Congratulations to Rosie Rooney who won with a gross 82 & 78, and not to be outdone, younger brother Oscar won the Junior Challenge Cup with a best nett score of 62. Special thanks to Richard Lane, Gareth Rees and our Junior Captain Oscar Vaughen for their hard work on the day.

Finally, I’m really looking forward to welcoming as many, 7, 5 Day and Country Members to my Captain’s Day on September 10^th. Posters in the usual places for full details. This day gives me a chance to thank you all for your support.

Simon Freemantle  

Captain

August is traditionally the month of holidays and we are moving into a slow-down mode of golfing activities. Nevertheless, the Annodata  team won handsomely 4-1 on the 9^th August against Ferndown being the only Hampshire team to go through to the national competition!  Great result and well done team of Polly Church, Jill England, Sue Poulter, Pat Palmer and Karen Fox. We are all behind you wishing you well!

Senior ladies showed their mettle in 2 major club events this month, the ‘Senior Ladies’ and ‘Grannies’.

A 1day medal competition was run in parallel from the red tees with Cathy Hilton, Jackie Coulson and Marion Bruce finishing in the top position in respective divisions. Ann Younger facilitated the county juniors in inter-county competitions at the beginning of the month. Thanks to her for engaging in golfing for the youngsters.  Friendlies and Mixed Friendlies have been ongoing as usual with positive results against Waterlooville and Romsey, so hardly a slowdown mode after all!

Results:

Senior Ladies: 2day medal competition

Best Net, Day 1 – Sandra Hooker  (69)

Best Net, Day 2 –  Sarah Worthington  (69)

Best Aggregate Gross – Sue Pearce (86+88)

Runner Up – Maggie Jones (74+74)

Winner – Caroline Warne (76+71)

Well done to all who participated and joined in the fun.

Grannies: Individual Stableford

The annual Grannies competition was completed on a lovely sunny day. Nikki White scored the winning 40pts, with Ann Gunn 2^nd with 36 pts and Debbie Wills in 3^rd place on count back from Jeanne Renshaw on 35 pts. Well done ladies and we will keep going another year to battle it out then!

We welcome Jeanne Renshaw as a new member from Winchester and the Avington GC.

Apologies to lack of reported results during  my 2week vacation in Sweden. After a pleasant rest, I look forward to September challenges including a Pro/Am match on the 7^th.

With my very best wishes,

Winter Knockout Competitions

Men’s Lombard 4BBB

Mixed Winter Foursomes

Entries for our Winter Knockout competitions 2023/24 closes at 10pm on Sunday 24^th September 2023.

Members are asked to consider their own availability for arranging matches before entering, particularly if players are intending to have extended holidays in the new year.  The provisional timetable for the winter competitions are:

League Stages Commence:        2^nd October 2023

League Stages Conclude:           31^st December 2023

Knockout Stage Commences:     8^th January 2024

The provisional deadline dates for knockout stages is as follows (based on 16 qualifying pairs):

Round 1:           11^th February 2024

Quarter Final:   10^th March 2024

Semi Final:        7^th April 2024

Final:                28^th April 2024

If you wish to enter but do not have a playing partners, please email the C&H Committee and we will see if we can help handicaps@alresfordgolf.co.uk

General Play Scores

The C&H Committee would like to remind members to submit their scorecards after registering for a General Play round.  All scorecards must be clearly labelled General Play and must be marked by a player with a WHS Handicap and signed by both player and marker.  England Golf imposes penalty scores for any player who registers for a General Play round but a score is not submitted.  Please ensure that you enter your score via the PSI terminal.

Golf Foundation Stableford

The Golf Foundation was founded in 1951 by Jack Burroughs of British Steel Golf Shafts who perceived that the sport of golf was facing potential crisis in falling participation and playing standards.  He and the famous golf correspondent Henry Longhurst believed a solution was to become active in the schools.  At around the same time, three-time Open Champion Henry Cotton was holding meetings with Raymond Oppenheimer and Cyril Gray to try to find solutions to the very same problems.

With Burroughs’ support Cotton undertook a lecture and demonstration at two schools. The feedback convinced them they were on the right track and thus was born the core activity of the Golf Foundation, which was to make possible golf instruction in schools via a process of fundraising and subsidy. By August 1953, 108 schools had registered for Golf Foundation instruction, representing around 3,500 young people becoming actively involved in the sport of golf.

The Golf Foundation may have evolved into the progressive organisation it is today, ‘helping young people to enjoy the playing and personal benefits of golf’, but it has never departed from its original ideal of growing participation levels, with strong relationships with schools being a key starting point.

Along the way, many people have made important contributions, not least thousands of volunteers from golf clubs, schools and the community. Leading golfers of today, including Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and Danny Willett, can all recall Golf Foundation help in their own coaching.

On Friday 8th and Saturday 9th September it is AGC’s turn to help the foundation by our Charity Stableford competition, all the proceeds of which will be donated to the Golf Foundation Charity.

Gill Freemantle

Chair Competitions & Handicap Committee, Handicap Secretary

handicaps@alresfordgolf.co.uk

Steve Oldham

Vets Captain