Stoke by Nayland

                                                                                       SENIORS

                                                                                      March 2024

From your Captain: 

Well, what can I say that you haven’t already heard about one of the wettest Februarys on record?

Those long-standing members will confirm they have never known both courses to be closed for so long. Rightly so, as we need to protect the course from damage. Let's hope March brings us a sustained spell of no rain with sunshine and wind to dry our courses out.

We managed to get two comps in during the early part of February: Seniors 4BBB fantastic score Reg and Mike 47 points and 3 clubs and a putter well played Paul in soggy conditions with 34 points. Sadly we lost our February monthly Stableford due to course closure. Our weekly Seniors Swindle also took a hit, don't worry as soon as we can Malcolm and his trusty tee bookers will advise via the Senior Swindle WhatsApp group when it's back on.

Please make sure you use the new member's website Sbngolfmembers.co.uk, it has lots of good info on there, plus tee booking, competition entry, and much more. Not forgetting our own senior's website stokeseniors.com everything you need to know about the senior section is on there. Thanks to Peter Jay who looks after and maintains this site for us. Competitions for March; on March 6th we have the first Mike Moore Memorial scramble, I noticed we have a good field of 56 competitors. Let's hope the course will be open. I am sorry I can’t make this event but VC Kevin Price will cover for me. I hope you have an enjoyable event and take a moment to remember our good friend and fellow golfer Mike Moore who is much missed. Monthly Stableford March 13th. Our interclub season starts away to Stowmarket on March 12th, followed by home matches against Newton Green and Colchester. Please put your name down if you wish to play in these matches. Entree is via Club V1 under Club, Club teams, seniors inter club. For home matches, lunch will be a carvery for £20 which includes £1 tip to the bar staff. Thanks to Pete Hele who does the hard work organising these matches for us.

Quote for this month I played crap he played crap. He just out-crapped me; Wayne Grady

John Parkinson SbN Seniors Captain

Disclaimer: This is a light-hearted review of the previous month’s events. No offence is intended, I hope none is taken!

Full (formal) information can always be found on the senior’s website www.stokeseniors.com

Is it Zebedee from the magic roundabout bouncing around Stoke by Nayland? Is it Elvis thrusting his hips in preparation for a resurrection tour? Or perhaps Anton Du Beke in preparation for the Strictly spring special?

Even better; it’s none other than our very own Lionel Hatch, fully recuperated from his epic battle with the surgeons. He faced pain and torment with the utmost strength and courage and is now ready to grace us yet again with his epic wit, charm, tact and guile. The fairways will be blessed once again from March 1st, bring it on! (Is that OK Lionel, don’t forget the cheque!)

Well, I haven’t mentioned InterClub matches for a while. We have three coming up in March. Our IC guru, Pete Hele mentioned  availability shown, thus far, is not as high as he would have liked to see, so please make sure your options have been selected and updated accordingly. I understand one of our matches only has 12 participants at the moment. The usual reminders will be sent a couple of weeks before the game, but please help Pete by getting in early on ClubV1. If you’re not sure what to do, or haven’t joined the squad yet, just check with Pete, Malcolm or myself (Kevin.)

You may recall, when you renewed your membership at the turn of the year, that one of the offers in the member’s book, was for a reduced price BOGOF meal at the club. Just a reminder that, unlike previous years, this offer expires at the end of March, so if you want a ‘cheaper’ night out with your wife/partner, or somebody else’s wife/partner, make sure you use it this month.

As you know, the senior’s section have their own website, but now there is also a member’s site for the club. This can be found at www.sbngolfmembers.co.uk and contains all the latest club information, useful videos, competition results and much more detailed information. Check it out, you’re sure to find something of interest to you.

Well, what a month February has been. What started off staying dry and mild, being slightly firmer under foot, and conditions even offering a little run on the ball suddenly changed overnight. In one foul swoop, 6 weeks worth of clement weather was wiped out with a deluge of rain that completely saturated the course. Acting golf manager, Matt Manning, wasted no time in closing the course and for the second time this year, we had golf restrictions imposed upon us. Coupled with an alcohol abstention, for some, February will definitely be the month of clear heads, DIY projects and generally getting in the way domestically! So, something to ponder, how can we have on of the wettest Februarys on record, yet be dry February at the same time?

Swindle and golf participation was obviously hampered by the weather, although we were able to operate two competitions to a conclusion (foregone for one of them!)

As soon as the draw was released for the 4BBB on Feb 7th, there was only ever going to be one winning pair. The red hot favourites of RR (not a Rolls Royce, but Reg Reid, although they both purr along) and Mike ‘Kelloggs’ Clare romped home to win by two points from the AB/CD pairing (they go well together!)

In the 3 clubs and a putter comp, and what turned out to be the last competitive game of the month, Paul Sandfield saved the best until last coming in from the final group with 34 points to win the competition and Div 1. Kevin Price (can’t think of anything witty to say about him) won Div 2 with 33 points.

We were only able to complete one swindle during the month. In the last of the drier weather, Kevin Price sneaked home with 39 points, from Brian Butcher with 38 points.

Here’s hoping for better weather in March for our 4 swindles, 3 InterClub matches and 2 competitions, the first being the inaugural ‘Mike Moore Scramble’ on March 6th, in memory or our good friend Mike. It’s great to see a full entry sheet for this competition.

Finally, Many Happy Returns to all members who have their birthdays in March.

Details of March’s schedule and all fixtures in 2024 can be found on the website.

Club V1 is the place to go to enter your availability for all 2024 Interclub matches, you can also sign up for the team, if you’re not yet a member.

If anyone wishes to share any “amusing” stories with me for the next newsletter, this can be done anonymously, or otherwise, by emailing kevinprice@btinternet.com