Stoke by Nayland
SENIORS
July 2025
From your Captain:
Fellow Seniors,
Not quite the Goldilocks weather we wanted! It’s been extremely hot these last couple of weeks, but I’m pleased that I have not heard of any cases of dehydration. Hopefully, everyone is being sensible and taking plenty of drinks out with them on the course.
Many congratulations to Ian McKay and Roger Fleuty for becoming scratch and handicap senior champions 2025. I’m sure Graham will provide more information in his newsletter.
I’m busy putting together plans for the charity day on July 28th. It promises to be a great day, hopefully, with your help, we will raise some much needed funds for the Nayland Community First Responders. I will send out full details a week or so before the event, but it will follow a familiar pattern including tea/coffee beforehand, a putting competition, beat the pro, a raffle, lunch and an auction. Apart from fourball vouchers, I’m still actively trying to source items for the auction. It will be a shotgun start on the day.
For those of you who haven’t played before, it is a team event, with the start sheet opening 3 weeks before the competition, entry via ClubV1. It is traditional for players to bring a small gift for the raffle, this could be a bottle of wine/spirit, or something similar. Competition entry fee can be paid by card. Harry will be in the Gallery restaurant to take payment beforehand. However, please bring some cash on the day for the raffle and various side competitions.
I thank you, in advance, for your support.
Kevin Price
Senior Captain
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
For once, Flaming June lived up to its name, with a plethora of hot, sunny days. Needless to say, there is a possibility of rain on Sunday. Guess who is having some friends round for a barbecue that day?
June is the month for the Seniors’ Championship, played on the Gainsborough and the Constable in successive weeks. Ian McKay won the Gross competition with very consistent rounds of 78 and 80, edging out Simon Oliphant (82 and 77) by a single shot. The Nett trophy was won by Roger Fleuty, with 138. Well played and congratulations, Ian and Roger. Special mention must go to Mick Henry, who mislaid his sombrero when recording a heroic 15 on the 15th Gainsborough in round 1. There but for the grace of God….
The good weather and firm conditions have contributed to some excellent Swindle scores. (Curiously, the Seniors’ website calls this the Wednesday Swindle, although none of the June competitions took place on a Wednesday!) The first two saw success victories for relative newcomers Keith Holmes with 36 on 30/5 (yes I now it isn’t June), followed by Charlie Hunter, Colin Gorham and Tony Husbands and not quite such a newcomer Lionel Hatch, each with 37, on 2 June (an event which saw 12 players being cut – is this a record?). Charlie and Colin improved on this eleven days later, but were trailing in the wake of Peter Jay, who returned a staggering 45 points, which would have been more without his 2 shot cut! Commiserations to Richard Middleton, who would normally expect to win with 43. Look on the bright side, Richard – you were only cut 4 shots! Another recent recruit to the Seniors, Clive Stedman, took the honours on 20th June with 37, while John Crane stormed to victory with 43 on 27th. Honourable mentions to Andy Cracknell (gross 75) and Dave Seymour, with 40 points. Well played everyone. Can Malcolm claim expenses for a new pair of scissors?
On the Interclub front, we have had our best month this year. Including the Braintree match (30/5), our record was played 5, won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Channelling their inner Kipling, the team treated triumph and disaster just the same – an 8-0 defeat at Felixstowe (must have been the car park arrangements) being spectacularly turned round with an 8-0 victory at home to Benton Hall just seven days later. Nor did the team consider it noble to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, but took arms against a sea of troubles, and ended them. Such was the case in the Frinton away fixture. After the first four matches, we were on course to repeat the 2023 (0-8) or at best 2024 (1 ½-6 ½) results. But the 2025 team is made of sterner stuff, each of the last 4 teams earning a full point by winning on the 18th. A fine win away at Braintree and at home to Gosfield Lake (revenge for a heavy defeat in May) bookended a (mainly) successful month.
Many Happy Returns to all members who have their birthdays in July.
Finally, how many of us have inadvertently fallen foul of one of the rules of golf? In order to avoid doing so, and potentially ruining a competition-winning round, below are links to the R and A rules quiz pages. You can choose your level: have a go, you may be surprised at some of the answers. https://www.randa.org/en/quiz/level/quiz-beginner
https://www.randa.org/en/quiz/level/quiz-intermediate
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! All contributions gratefully received.