Monthly Newsletter - February 2023
Stoke by Nayland
SENIORS
February 2023
From your Captain:
I cannot believe it’s already three months since I was voted in as Captain. In this short time, we have endured everything nature has chosen to throw at us. From extremely mild and sunny days to the recent cold snap with a bit of snow thrown in. Despite this, the golf course is bearing up rather well and for the first time that most will remember, we have been playing on frozen greens. Hopefully the experts will be proven right and there won’t be any lasting damage. We must all try to protect the course where possible by keeping trolleys off the fairways and using fairway mats too.
With the start of the inter club matches just a month away, could I remind you all that we will be insisting that you wear your blue seniors’ jumpers and or, white polo shirts; this is not unreasonable and if you still haven’t got yours yet, please get in touch with John Parkinson as he is putting together another bulk order. Prices continue to be very competitive for these quality garments.
Please continue to pay your seniors subs; at £10.00 this is great value, and it allows you to play in all of our seniors competitions. Payment by bank transfer is convenient and I can now take payment using our own card machine, just speak to me in the clubhouse.
Be sure to read up on the new rules that came in on the 1st of January and look out for the rules evening that will be announced soon.
I need to remind you all that to win a prize in a competition, you will need 12 qualifying cards on your World Handicap Account; it’s very easy to do and maintain. Make sure the course you play has tees in qualifying positions, this will be indicated on ClubV1 daily. Remember, its 12 cards on a rolling basis.
We will start playing the swindle from the Yellow tees which are usually qualifying and this will give you chance to start getting those cards in.
I have introduced a brand-new event for this year, it’s the Captain and Vice challenge. Although John Parkinson and I didn’t get off to the start we had hoped for, we had a great match against our opponents and afterwards they kindly donated some money to the Captains Charity.
Let me finish by wishing immediate past Captain, Pete Robins, a swift recovery from his recent hip operation and hope it’s not too long before we see him back on the course.
Malcolm Norton
Seniors Captain 2023
New Members
No additions recorded in the last month.
Obituary
We are deeply saddened to advise our members of the passing of Russell Green on the 18th January.
Russell was a very enthusiastic golfer, playing regularly with the early morning group until his health suffered. Although not able to continue playing a game he loved, he was a very regular visitor to SbN enjoying coffee with a bunch of his mates – unfortunately this was recently affected by Covid.
Russell will be very much missed by his many friends at SbN. The funeral will be held on Tuesday 14th February at 12:45 at Ipswich Crematorium, Seven Hills, Felixstowe Road, Nacton, IP10 0FG
Please watch for swindle announcements as the Captain may opt to play from the yellow tee boxes. This will enable members to enter qualifying scores.
Please note that swindle cuts will be for one week only. Although, serial winners may be treated more harshly!
Wednesday 25th January – Gainsborough
1st Kevin Price 40 points
2nd John Williams 38 pts
3rd Alan Finlayson 37 pts
Wednesday 18th January – Constable
1st David Seymour & Mike Clare 37 points
2nd Tony Emms 36 pts
3rd Norman Davidson / Allen Smith / Brian Butcher 34 pts
Wednesday 11th January – Gainsborough
1st Shikhar Chatrath. 41 points
2nd Graham Cork 35 pts
3rd Andy Cracknell 32 pts
Friday 6th January – Constable
1st David Seymour & John Jardine 38 points
2nd Terry Mitchell 37 pts
3rd Brian Roloff / Adrian Beckinsale / Barry Hitchcock 35 pts
Swindle dates for February (All Fridays in February)
Friday 24th February – Gainsborough
Friday 17th February – Constable
Friday 10th February – Gainsborough
Friday 3rd February – Constable
If you haven’t already done so, and wish to play in the inter-club matches, please make sure you register your interest via ClubV1.
Gents,
It's getting quite close now to the start of the Inter Club Matches Season for 2023. We have 26 Matches scheduled between early March and mid-October, all the details can be found on Club V1, where you can also advise your availability on a match by match basis - if anybody needs assistance with this, contact Peter Hele or Kevin Price who will be only too pleased to help.
Most participants will tell you these are very enjoyable occasions, being friendly matches followed by lunch and a chance to socialise. This year we are taking a two course Carvery option for our home matches, which will be served upstairs in the club's Gallery Restaurant. The price for our home matches will be £22 per person, including tea and coffee in the Champions Lounge beforehand and the previously mentioned Carvery and Dessert, served on a rolling basis from approximately 1.15. Veggie Options will also be available for every match.
This season sees a couple of changes to our opponents list, as we will be playing The Essex and Clacton on Sea, and won't be playing against Braintree. The full list of our opposition for Home and Away Matches is as follows - Brett Vale, Stowmarket, Newton Green, Colchester, The Warren, Gosfield, Hintlesham, Haverhill, Frinton, Felixstowe, Benton Hall, Clacton and The Essex.
Team and Reserves selection will take place two weeks before every match and we will do our utmost to make sure everybody gets an equal opportunity to take part.
If you would like to play, please set your availability on Club V1 as equally as possible between home and away matches, and note that we apply a maximum playing handicap of 28 for our home fixtures.
There is quite a lot of organisation for every match, so please keep your personal availability completely up to date, it only takes a few minutes, and this makes a massive positive difference for Pete and Kevin.
Many thanks, and we hope to see many of you playing in our Inter Club Matches throughout the season.
Seniors Club Competition result
Monthly Stableford - Gainsborough - 4th January
59 players in today’s first competition of 2023 on a Gainsborough course which has taken a lot of rain in the last few weeks. Scoring was difficult but Allen Smith continued his fine form from last year returning a splendid 40 points, 4 birdies & 6 pars – that’ll mess the WHI up Allen !! In Division 2 a great performance by Mike Clare with an excellent 39 points, edging out Norman Davidson – 38 points.
10 players managed to birdie one of the par 3 holes with John Smith achieving 2’s on both the 3rd and 7th on his way to a very solid 36 points.
Division 1 winner – Allen Smith
Nearest the pin winner – Ray Firth
Division 1
1st Allen Smith 40 points
2nd Mark Clark 37 pts on c/b
3rd Phil Boyland 37 pts on c/b
Division 2
1st Mike Clare 39 points
2nd Norman Davidson 38 pts
3rd David Seymour 33 pts
Senior Captain/Vice Captain challenge
As you may know, the Captain has introduced a new challenge for 2023. Any pair wishing to take on this dynamic duo should contact Malcolm Norton, who will add your name to his list of opponents. There is no entry fee, although a donation to the Captain’s chosen charity for the year, EACH, would be gratefully received.
The first such match took place on the Constable course on Friday 27th Jan. This resulted in a loss 2 & 1 against their victorious challengers, Kevin Price & Mark Clark. All results will be posted on the website.
Happy Birthdays in February to the following Seniors Members (apologies if I have omitted anyone)
Leslie Parnell, Edward Smith, Ray Firth, Roger Fleuty, Lawrence Carpenter, Paul Sheffield, Dominic Watts, John Williamson, Michael Webley, Steve Mitchell, Phil Wright and Andy Wood.
Many Happy Returns to You All
UPCOMING EVENTS - February
8th Four Ball Better Ball – Constable
15th 3 Clubs and a Putter – Constable
22nd Monthly Stableford – Gainsborough