From your Captain:

May I start by wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

You will all know by now that the Golf Club is changing, so keep up to date with all the latest news by visiting our brand-new website. Meticulously put together by Peter Jay and John Venner, it’s your one stop shop for everything Seniors. There you’ll find everything you need, from dates for all our competitions to the requirements to play in them.

 A reminder that you will now need to have twelve qualifying scores on your WHI to win a prize. This is on a rolling basis, and you are encouraged to keep putting your cards in, even your casual rounds will count. An ideal way of adding to your total would be to play in the swindle, which is also a great way to meet people you may not have played with before. If you want to be added to the group, just let me know.

On the first of January your seniors’ fees will be due and as a way of helping you to pay we have purchased our own card machine. This will be available to use after our first Stableford of the year on Wednesday 4^th January. You can also pay by bank transfer into the seniors’ bank account. The cost remains at a very reasonable price of £10.00 and free for all of our honorary members.

                                                               SBN GOLF SENIORS

                                                             20-22-69    30985236

Lastly, it’s my intention as captain to play with as many of you as possible this year! Please feel free to invite me into your groups and there may even be a tea or coffee afterwards.

Best wishes

Malcolm Norton

New Members:

No additions recorded in the last month.

New Website

www.stokeseniors.com

After just over 11 years the existing format of the Senior’s website was, to say the least, creaking and really struggling to provide the support that the section needed. The decision was taken by your committee to rebuild the site, which several of you will have seen, went live a short while ago. In making the changes, the decision was taken to limit the available information to the past couple of years – that doesn’t mean that this info has now been lost forever – if anyone has a wish to refer to older information, please contact Peter Jay who will have access to this.

In producing the new site, much thanks must go to John Venner who has worked tirelessly in, not only putting the site framework together, but also in answering a torrent of questions and queries to enable us to complete what we have today. This support has been very much appreciated.

We hope that the new site is helpful to you all in answering all of your queries and questions about what goes on within your section.

Yuletide Scramble – 14^th December (Sudbury Foodbank Donation)

As you will all be aware, the above competition was cancelled due to the adverse conditions. Although the course was ‘open,’ it was extremely hazardous underfoot and would not have been an enjoyable occasion.

This did not prevent the donations from flooding in for which the Foodbank are eternally grateful. In total, a staggering £3250 came in, before Gift Aid, from 75 individual donations.

As usual, these efforts were coordinated by Roger Davies for which his endeavours are greatly appreciated.

Wednesday Swindles
Wednesday 21st December – Constable

           1st     Robin Owen    38 points
           2nd   Steve Stacey & Rob Davies – both with 36 pts
           3rd   Allen Smith & Brian Willsher – both with 35 pts 

Friday 16th December – Gainsborough

Cancelled because of extreme weather conditions

Wednesday 7th December – Constable      

           1st   Brian Willsher                            39 points
           2nd  John Russell                               38 pts
           3rd   Colin Dallas & Roger Fleuty    37 pts

Swindle dates for January

Friday 6th January – Constable

Wednesday 11th January – Gainsborough

Wednesday 18th January – Constable

Wednesday 25th January – Gainsborough

The ‘serious’ swindle will resume from January 6^th. It will still be played from full handicap but, there will be cuts in the traditional fashion. A reminder of these:

Winner                   3 shot cut

Second                            2 shot cut

Third                     1 shot cut

There will be an additional 1 shot cut for a player scoring 40 points or more

There will be no countback, so if more than one player has the same score in the top three, they will all be cut!

Inter Club Matches

The 2023 season starts in under 3 months. Please ensure you have registered your interest to play via the ClubV1 app.

Seniors Club Competition results

Lady Vets & Seniors Christmas Mixed - Gainsborough - 5th December

 20 pairs, each consisting of a Stoke Senior and a Stoke Ladies Senior, participated in today’s traditional December 13 hole Greensomes competition on the Gainsborough course in great condition. Well, most, played only 13 holes, however, Eric Fisher, Paul Sheffield and their partners suddenly realised that they were out on the G back 9 with very little company before realising that after the 11th hole the 17th was to be played.

A thoroughly enjoyable competition was followed by an extremely good Christmas lunch in the Gallery Bar. We were delighted to be joined by Corinne & Glen Jackson, Ladies & Men’s Captains. 

The competition proved to be an extremely close one with at least 4 pairs returned scores of 29 points, but congratulations must go to Barbara Rowe and Alex Giddens who won on countback.