Harborne Golf Club
Your HGC Weekly Round Up
I hope you’re enjoying your bank holiday weekend and we finally have our finished patio complete with furniture – yippeeeeeeee! I personally haven’t had chance to enjoy its delights due to some inclement weather despite assurances off Megan Wood, that Summer was arriving Wednesday but at some point I’m looking forward to enjoying a bottle of bubbles out there!
Ciaran Baker Smith, a junior member, is probably a tad too young yet to be celebrating with bubbles but last Sunday he would have been one happy lad as he won the Junior Academy nine hole comp with 48 points. It was a great sight to see a bunch of kids with their parents enjoying the course although I noticed it was mainly the parents carrying the clubs, easy golf or what?
Talking of winners, it’s been a great week for our team matches and the West Mids League kicked it all off with a 2-2 draw against North Worc at home on Tuesday. Thursday, the County League ladies beat Coventry at home with an impressive 6-1 followed closely behind by the Seniors with a 4-2 win at home to Kings Norton, their second consecutive win! Then to finish the week the ladies 2nd team played their first match of the season on Friday to win 4-0 at home to Moseley. Wow!
Further excitement came on Thursday in the way of the, much longed for, arrival of patio furniture and doesn’t it just change the landscape totally. How wonderful to be able to have the patio doors wide open to let in the fresh air? Sadly, I couldn’t make Club Night but I’ve been led to believe our new members’ area was fully utilised as the Club was buzzing with members inside and out, everyone hoping they would be the lucky winner of £525. At last, after nearly five months, we finally found a member who was in the room, Narinda Aurora, and Narinda wasn’t the only happy member following Club Night, Peter Casasola won the raffle of £381 having bought his ticket during the day!
The simulator was fully up and running on Thursday so the Nearest the Pin was held at the 10th hole at Celtic Manor. Charles Bailey was the winner with 3ft 8” and prize money of £20 which he then doubled by also coming first in the Nine Hole Stableford. The Manc won £15 for the Second Division with the 5ft 3”.
The menu for this week is still under consideration so I’ll send the details out separately asap but please don’t let that stop you booking your table. Whatever the menu, it will be great food at a great price with lots of your fellow members.
Back to the golf and The Spring Handicap Bowl took place Saturday and Ben Steer came in first with -4 and Adam Humphreys and Colin Brookes just behind with -3. Congratulations to all our winners last week.
Further excitement came in the form of a ‘hole in one’ on Saturday by Scratch Team Captain, Nick Clifford, on the 6th whilst out playing a friendly with his brother, Jeremy, Ian Ferris and Matt Best. You might think that was wonderful in itself but later in the day it transpired that Peter Clifford (Nick’s dad) was playing a competition at Aberdovy Golf Club the very same afternoon and had also hit a ‘hole in one’. The parallel doesn’t stop there; both father and son used a six iron and between them have now clocked up twelve during their golfing lifetime, an achievement that Ginny, Nick’s wife and now fellow golfer, said she is ‘very proud of!’
For the rest of us, who can only dream of such things, do not despair and definitely never give up. Doreen Green got in touch last week to say her friend, Dorothy Pugh, an ex Lady Captain and President at Brocton Golf Club, has just recently celebrated a ‘hole in one’ and she’s soon to be 90!
Back to HGC and this week kicks off with the Mens Better Ball Open today so if you’re looking to play the tee is closed until 2pm. Tomorrow the Ladies will be coming together for a ‘Waltz’ around the course for Lady Captain’s Day and Dinner and for some of us it will be our first so very excited! The B Team will be at home 3pm on Wednesday to do battle with Robin Hood whilst the Seniors and West Mids League will be away on Friday to Stourbridge and Dudley respectively. Saturday sees the Jackson Cup take place for 2015, a gold leaf trophy started in 1958 and won by a Mr Jolly! It’s set to be a busy day but there are a few time slots remaining so get your names down fast if you’re interested. Finally, the Mixed Friendly Team will be away on Sunday to Handsworth and then can you ‘adam and eve’, its June!
Not wanting to wish your lives away but jumping forward now to Sunday 28 June, Adam Humphries, young Lewis Savage, Scott Ryman and James Tandy, aka The Bogey Men, have set themselves the challenge of 72 holes of golf in one day in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Whilst we’re all still cosy in our beds, the boys will aim to set off around 5am (if the tee’s free) and will continue playing until their last shot which they think will be around 9.30pm. Although they have smashed their target of £500 in less than a week, The Bogey Men would dearly love more donations for this worthwhile cause and so are appealing to the good nature that is HGC. How to donate can be found by following the link https://www.justgiving.com/hgcbogeymen.
With talk of charity challenges you will be pleased to hear John Deeley and his clan of intrepid cyclists have completed their 800 mile cycle ride through Spain and are now enjoying a well deserved rest. Through their endeavour they have raised a massive amount of money. Initially their target was £6,000 but including gift aid the figure now stands at a fantastic £9,245 and I’m sure like me you would like to wish John and his team, many congratulations. The Virgin Money Giving site is still open if you would like to contribute, just follow the link http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=pain-to-spain&faId=532020&isTeam=true.
Finally, and as some of you may know, Stuart will now be offering video lessons for members and once filmed you’ll be able to relax back on the sofa with Stuart and relive your performance on the big screen whilst discussing the ins and outs of your swing! Rory Mclaren has been one of the first members to give it a go but unfortunately for Rory (6 handicapper) he suffered a shank! You’re ok Rory, I’ve only seen it a couple of times and my lips are sealed. To showcase, how it could benefit you, Stuart is planning a demo evening very soon so watch this space.
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