Stoke by Nayland

                                                                                     SENIORS

                                                                                   March 2025

From your Captain:

Fellow Seniors,

Welcome to March and a little bit closer to warmer weather.

An exciting month is in prospect as we start our InterClub matches. Although I’ve played in many of these over the years, it will be a different proposition being Captain of the side each week. I’m looking forward to the challenge and hoping that we have a successful campaign.

As I write, we have a new member just joined the section, a warm welcome to Charlie Hunter. Charlie has mainly played social golf and needs to get some cards in quickly to obtain his handicap. So this seems like a good time to remind everyone to ensure you have sufficient cards in your own record to enable you to enjoy our competitions to the full. To play in a competition and win a prize, you need 12 qualifying cards in the last 12 months. I urge you all to think about submitting a card for handicap purposes, whether you are playing a friendly, or a part of the weekly swindle. Some people enter a card every single round they play, but with at least 40 swindles a year and 12 monthly stablefords, we should all comfortably be able to meet these requirements.

This month, we hold the Mike Moore Memorial Trophy. Quite often, these types of events are held and people are heard to say “who was so and so then?” Mike is still very much in our recent memories, andsadly missed. This competition is a fitting tribute to Mike and an opportunity to remember him and his great contributions to the section.

Enjoy reading Graham Cork’s newsletter below.

Kevin Price

Senior Captain 2025

Disclaimer: The following 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

All club information can be found at www.sbngolfmembers.co.uk

Having endured January, your humble correspondent returned to the Constable on Wednesday 26thFebruary, only to be greeted by almost continual rain. Like many of the other stalwarts who ventured out, 11 holes proved to be more than enough. Dry February it certainly was not! Roll on Mediterranean March!

We’ve had a bit more action on the competition front this month, all taking place on what will soon be known as the Gainsborough Links. Firstly, although not a seniors’ competition, special mention must be made of Mark Clark and Ian McKay, who finished 1st and 3rd in the Mens’ Stableford on 1st Feb.

Our first competition of the month was the Fourball Betterball on the 5th. This proved to be a very closely fought contest, with Peter Hele and Robert Ogles recording 39 points, edging out Paul Sandfield and Tony Reeves on countback, with the 3rd and 4th placed teams only a point behind.

The following week saw the 3 clubs and a putter competition – always a sound choice for when trolleys and buggies are not allowed! The winning score in Division 1 was 35, one better than the Division 1 winner of the Stableford 5 days later, when a full set could be used. Make of that what you will! Wellplayed Martin Brown and Bill Wardle, winners of their respective divisions.

The Stableford on the 17th saw a welcome return to form of Kevin Walsh, who triumphed with 34 points, just ahead of Ian McKay on countback. Division 2 saw a very comfortable win for Roger Fleuty with 36 points, six points clear of his nearest challengers.

The next competitive action is our monthly Stableford on 5th March – a few spots still available, followed by the Mike Moore Memorial Trophy – a Texas Scramble (NB this is a drawn competition). Please sign up on Club V1.

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

As always, if anyone wishes to share any “amusing” stories with me for the next newsletter, this can be done anonymously, or otherwise, by emailing grahamcork@outlook.com . Reports of outrageous fortune – good or bad – are particularly welcome!