Stoke by Nayland

SENIORS

May 2023

From your Captain:

The greenkeepers have started mowing the fairways and the greens are at last starting to look and play better. This is the time of year when the course starts to look its best.

The inter club matches are still proving to be very popular and are a good way of playing other courses and also meeting like-minded people from other parts of the locality. Pete and Kevin have noticed an improvement in those choosing to play and not dropping out as soon as they are picked. You can help them by keeping your availability updated on a regular basis.

This month we play second round matches in the John Day and the Essex Seniors competitions, both are county competitions. The John Day team are drawn with a very tricky away match at Wanstead, Good luck to Norman Davidson and his team.

The Essex Seniors team will be managed by myself. We also have a difficult away fixture at Romford. Please look for the results of these matches on our Seniors website.

Last month, I invited you to donate in memory of Mike Moore, it is my pleasure to report that we raised the sum of £525.00 for St Helena’s Hospice. This has been passed onto them and I have had a very nice message back from Karen Moore and the hospice, thanking you all for your generosity.

Unfortunately, my charity day has had to be moved to the 7^{th of} August. As you’ll all know by now, my chosen charity this year is the East Anglian Childrens Hospice. Do any of you have anything to offer?

Maybe a service or something we could auction on the day, anything at all will be most welcome. Please get your thinking caps on and let me know if there is anything you or someone you know could offer. Perhaps you or a family member would like to sponsor a hole on the day. Maybe you have a holiday home or caravan that you’d consider offering.

In June, I will be attempting to play as many holes as possible in a day that my worn-out body will allow, pledges per hole would be most grateful. Keep looking at the website for updates.

A request please…………. After our competitions, it is customary to meet and stay for prizes. The attendance has really dropped off in recent times. I know you are all busy, but it would be nice to continue the tradition and at least clap the winners. Please also meet in our designated room which is either Bills or Gallery.

Well, that’s all from me for this month, I appreciate all the support that you all give to me.

New Members
A warm welcome to David Humphreys who has recently joined the seniors section.
At the same time, a sad farewell to Ian Archer, who leaves us for the Norfolk Coast. We wish you and your family well.

Wednesday Swindles

Please note that swindle cuts will be for one week only. Although, serial winners may be treated more harshly!

Wednesday 5th April – Constable
     1st    John Parkinson & Mike Clare              38 points (Snap, Crackle & Cut 3 shots)
     2nd   John Gove & Paul Sandfield               37 pts (2 shot cuts)
      3rd    Peter Hele                                              35 pts (1 shot cut)
Wednesday 19th April – Constable
     1st     Mal Jones & Peter Jay                                                      40 points    Each 4 shot cut    
     2nd     David Seymour                                                               38 pts        2 shot cut
     3rd     Steve Stacey  / Dick Lumsden / Mike Stairmand                  37 pts       Each 1 shot cut
Wednesday 26th April – Gainsborough
     1st      Adrian Cherry         35 points – 3 shot cut
      2nd     Mick Henry                  34 pts – 2 shot cut
     3rd     Alex Giddens                33 pts – 1 shot cut
Swindle dates for May
Friday 5th May – Constable
Wednesday 17th May – Constable
Wednesday 24th May – Constable

Inter Club Matches
If you haven’t already done so, and wish to play in future matches, please make sure you register your interest via ClubV1.
The earlier part of last season saw a high number of people withdraw from the teams after selection, or at short notice. On occasions, we were left with the bare minimum and no reserves. It would be really helpful to the organisers if you were able to keep your availability regularly updated on ClubV1.

Inter Club Match v The Warren - Gainsborough - 5th April 2023

MATCH RESULT – SBN 4 THE WARREN 4
A cold and slightly frosty start to the day, but the promise of sunshine later saw all golfers with a spring in their step and raring to go.
MATCH 1 – Malcolm Norton/ Kevin Walsh – Lost 4&2
This was a close and keenly contested match up until the 14th hole, when The Warren team decided to go on a run of birdie, birdie, par. This was enough to see off our Captain and his partner.
MATCH 2 – Andy Cracknell/Dick Lumsden – Won 3&2
Andy & Dick set the tone for this match by winning the 1st and were never behind in the match. The game was played in great spirit with Dick closing out the match on 16 with a fine 15 foot putt.
MATCH 3 – Bob Filer/ Ray Ludlam – Lost 6&5
Ray felt he was still in holiday mode and felt cold after his recent return from Dubai.
Sir Bob played well (as usual), but in the end they lost to the better team.
MATCH 4 – Neil Ashwell/ Brian Roloff – Lost 6&5
The sight of Brian in his shorts was not enough to deter The Warren pair from making a birdie at the 1st. This rather set the tone for the match and the SBN duo never recovered in the face of some very consistent golf from their opponents.
MATCH 5 – Norman Davidson / Barry Hitchcock – W 3 & 2
A very close match, with it all square after 9. The Warren took the lead on 13 which appeared to be the catalyst for for our dynamic duo to hit back by winning 3 on the bounce. Our partnership dovetailed beautifully, with Norman taking care of the front 9 and Barry the back 9.
MATCH 6 – Alan Finlayson/ Colin Pottle – Won 3&2
Alan & Colin took an early 2 hole lead, but The Warren came back hard and eventually took a 1 hole lead before our boys squared things up going into the back 9. The SBN boys managed to carve out a 2 hole lead once again, but this time saw it through to victory.
MATCH 7 – Kevin Price/ Colin Dallas – Won 7&6
The Warren were totally outplayed in this encounter. Colin continued his fine form from the away day at Diss last week. Thankfully Kevin improved massively on his Diss form, although their was a rumour he only came last at Diss to win the sleeve of balls ! (Typical Arsenal cheapskate)
MATCH 8 – John Williams/ Andy Higginson – Lost Down 2
The match was played in good spirits with some good golf from both teams. The game went the full distance, but sadly our boys couldn’t take them down.
A great match with all golfers enjoying a nice lunch of Roast Pork.
Many thanks to Andy Cracknell for standing in as reporter for the day.

Inter Club Match v Colchester - Away - 17th April 2023

Match result – SbN 2, Colchester 6

As it turned out, it was a lovely day for golf with the sun shining and no wind. So all was set fair for the contest with Colchester seniors intent on reversing the result at SbN earlier in the season. To help them achieve this, they produced quick and relatively hard greens. Not something SbN have been used to!!

Malcolm and Alan lead the team off only to find Terry from Colchester with 6 shots was pretty hot, using all his shots to good use and making it hard for our boys to get a handle on the game. So despite their best efforts, went down 2 & 1, in what was described by all 4 players, as a ‘cracking’ game.

Next up were JP and Mal. They lost the first and with one of their opponents Bill sinking a 30 footer on the 2nd for another win, the SbN boys knew they were going to be up against it. Being 3 down at the turn and then losing on the 10th, it was not looking good. However JP and Mal stuck with it and reduced the deficit to 2 with 3 to play, but just couldn’t cut it any further. Also going down 2 & 1.

Colin and Gordon battled all the way round, with Gordon, according to Colin carrying the flag for SbN on the front 9. SbN were never more than 2 behind and on the back 9 got the score to level. However Colchester sinking a 25ft putt on the 17th was a cruel blow to the boys who could only half the last and went down by 1 hole.

A similar tale for the next pairing of TC and JW. A hard fought match were the boys came up against opponents who chipped and putted like professionals. The game unfolded to the old golfing adage of ‘nip and tuck’ all the way to the 17th, when once again Colchester won the hole and played out the 18th for a half and SbN going down by 1 hole.

Brian and Rob were next up on the tee with Brian winning the 1st. They played steady golf with Brian playing below his handicap and by the turn were 2 up. Both continued to dovetail and eventually wore their opponents down, going out 5 & 3 winners. Biggest win of the day by either team.

The last 3 groups had to trudge all the way to the 15th. 1st off were Steve and Brian. All was looking good,with Stoke 2 up after 6. Unfortunately that was as good as it was going to be. They then unfortunately lost 5 of the next 6 holes to opponents that putted and chipped like demons, and never recovered and went down 2 & 1.

Up to the Tee next, were Dave and Phil. Dovetailing nicely and both playing well, were able to keep their opponents at bay the whole round and never being behind, ran out 2 & 1 winners.

Final grouping of KP and Graham set off knowing they had to give their opponents 5 and 10 shots respectively. Despite this, our lads played some good golf in a game that swung one way and then another. Unfortunately the 18th was one hole too far, losing it and going down by 1 hole.    

So Colchester got their revenge and beat SbN 6 – 2. An excellent day finished with a delicious meal of chicken and vegetables, followed by cheese cake.

Many thanks to Mal Jones on his report of todays match at Colchester – thanks Mal

Team ……..

         Malcolm Norton & Alan Finlayson

         Mal Jones & John Parkinson

         Colin Dallas & Gordon Bryan

         Tony Carman & John Williams

          Brian Willsher & Rob Swan

           Steve Mitchell & Brian Roloff

           David Seymour & Phil Hickley

           Kevin Price & Graham Cork

Inter Club Match v The Warren - Away - 28th April 2023

Stoke by Nayland       1½ – The Warren     6½

        Malcolm Norton (Captain) & Trevor Waterhouse

            Jonathan Perry (Reporter) & Kevin Walsh

             Kevin Price & Steve Mitchell

             John Jardine & Dick Lumsden

             Tony Carman & Roger Davies

             Bob Filer & Alan Line

             Ray Firth & John Williams

             Andy Higginson & Eric Fisher                                                             

A full report will be available on the website as soon as our roving reporter has finalised the complete list of excuses!

May Fixtures:

4th May                            Gosfield                           Away
10th May                          Hintlesham                     Constable
24th May                          Brett Vale                        Gainsborough
30th May                          Haverhill                          Away

Seniors Club Competition results

12th April  Monthly Stableford – Constable

53 entrants in today’s Monthly Stableford on a Constable course which has had more of it’s share of rain in both March and the past few days. The course has, however, stood up well although putting can be quite a challenge on greens that are quite uneven. Strong winds didn’t make life any easier although the ‘promised’ heavy rain was avoided by all apart from the final few groups who arrived back in the clubhouse pretty drenched !

Despite the course and weather conditions VC John Parkinson in Division 1, off his very modest handicap, and Robin Owen in Division 2, off his slightly higher handicap, made light work returning to the clubhouse with 38 and 37 points respectively. Many congrats to both of you.

Big winners todays, and perhaps another indication of the tough conditions, were Reg Reid and Steve Stacey – the only members of the field to achieve 2’s on par 3’s – both on the 8th.

Leading positions …….

Division 1

     1st     John Parkinson          38 points
      2nd    Simon Oliphant              35 pts
      3rd    Adrian Cherry                 33 pts on c/b
      4th    Paul Sandfield                33 pts

Division 2

     1st   Robin Owen                37 points
     2nd  Robert Swan                    35 pts on c/b
      3rd   Kevin Walsh                    35 pts
     4th   Rob Ogles                        35 pts
      5th   Steve Stacey                    35 pts