Lady Captains Report - April 2015

March seems to have whizzed by and I have played a lot more golf than usual – some good, and some not so good - but that’s golf!

Highlights this month were being able to be a part of the Pearson team in the matches against West Kent. The team won away which really set us up for our home fixture on the 27th March which I am delighted to report was a home win meaning we won our group and we have progressed to the next round which we will be playing in May.  Rena is on tender hooks waiting to find out who we will play so we will wait patiently.  I would like to congratulate the team and also thank the supporters who give up their day to come and cheer onTeam West Malling.  

The team were able to play the first hole on the Spitfire as the management opened it up just for us and although still muddy and not attractive to look at the new hole one is shaping up to be very interesting and I am sure it will be nice to play when it is opened after all the seeding and finishing.  A date will be published very soon as to when that will be. 

Our first interclub fixture was played on the 19th March.  The Ladies vs Vets - the day was great fun and played in the best spirit.   It was the first time I have been able to play and be a part of the day which I thoroughly enjoyed.   The vets were victorious by winning 5-2 but all the ladies had great fun and our autumn fixture on the spitfire will be where we will hope to redress the balance and win the trophy back.  I had my first Processco at the club since New Years’ Day on the day as Julie Harris celebrated her birthday with us and looked like she had fun even when ‘Happy Birthday to you’ was sung in the ladies changing room and after our post match meal!! 

Being at the club during the week was also a delight as I was able to see some of the swinging sixties crew and saw recruitment for the new Daffodil trophy in action under the capable hands of Pam Honeybone who I called to ask to help out.  It will be lovely to run another new competition in conjunction with the Spring Meeting and catch up with everyone afterwards.   Sue and Carol have the draw done so now all we have to do is turn up and enjoy our first big get together of 2015. 

Our second external competition of the year was played also – Coronation Foursomes and congratulations have been extended to the winners and reported by our competition team. 

Our mixed season kicked off and having met for breakfast at the club early we realised the weather was not going to improve so we played our first competition of the season in very wet conditions.  Luckily the yard of string is a popular event and so there was some laughter around the course and everyone sat drying out in the bar afterwards for some time before we all headed home.   Thanks go to Gill for organising the day and making sure cards and prizes were given out.  Gill’s report is on the blog for you to catch up. 

The winter knockout has concluded in a match played in early April. Carrie Beech and Gill Harman were able to enjoy some spring sunshine with Carrie winning the title.  Congratulations! 

The Ladies Summer Knockouts have been drawn and are posted in the changing room so I wish everyone well with setting up their matches and I am sure there will be good golf played.  Thanks to Sue and Carol for getting these posted early as we know diaries during the season are stretched and we appreciate that all matches are played in the designated timeframe so that the committee does not have to get involved. 

Shirley and Gill have posted the Kip draw on the mixed noticeboard and this year there are 24 entries so again I wish everyone well with getting matches arranged and played. 

Being lady captain I have had some jobs that have not been expected.  I have extended our condolences to the Knole Park ladies this month.  Their lady captain Frances Gibson sadly passed away at the beginning of the month not long after we played our Pearson.  

We do however have a happy vice-captain as open entries have begun to arrive so Lisa has ensured forms are acknowledged, cheques are banked and is on the countdown for our open in August. 

Finally, we celebrated Easter with 2 ladies fun pairs better ball competitions on Tuesday and Saturday which were well supported netting a further £120 the charity. 

I had to apologise to the Tuesday ladies as I cycled down to the club for the presentation and remained ‘lycra clad’ in my cycling gear as I had Wrotham Hill to contend with home.  The ladies were wind blown as the weather treated us to 25mph winds and after completing 30 miles I felt like I had been in a wind turbine or two.   Seriously, though I really appreciate all your encouragement for my bike ride in June and the lycra will only be around for another 60 or so days!!

Our Saturday ladies pair’s competition was incorporated into a mixed team birthday celebration event which made for an interesting afternoon. Thanks go to Joe Harris for extending an invite to us all to be a part of Julie’s surprise birthday celebration.  It was a fab day and night and I know everyone who was able to go thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  Thankfully Julie finally got to dance with all her nearest and dearest. 

We added and trialled a new event, the mixed ‘draw on the day’ pairs better ball competition on bank holiday Monday sponsored by Sally Payne. The winners picked up Easter Eggs as their prizes. We are planning another on the next May bank holiday as it seems our mixed section like to have an option of an organised fun competition.  Colin Kiddie has agreed to sponsor the next event. Thanks go to Gill for picking up the extra work without complaint and to everyone for their patience whilst we sorted out the draw in the clubhouse.  Gill will I am sure be reporting results as part of her report for the month. £70 was raised for the charity and as ever I am grateful and thrilled. 

And so the action will hot up from here on in with a full diary for the next couple of weeks then I will decamp to Portugal for hot weather training as April draws to a close, recharging my batteries before May and June. At last I am really enjoying the job of lady captain.  The diary is set, the challenges of earlier in the year have been overcome and I am looking forward to the condition of the courses improving and enjoying golf with as many of you as my limited time allows.  Thanks to everyone for their support.  

G 😄