The Year End, 2009
For all you keen followers of the Captain’s Blog, I thought I should
sign off as my year at the helm draws to an end.
Having been a member for 35 years, this truly has been an exceptional
experience I thought I would never have. There have been so many different
occasions that I have worn my Captain’s badge with pride when representing
our club this year that I am just glad that I have taken the time to document
these occasions as they have happened through the year.
All my thank-yous are detailed in my Captain's Report which is contained
in the Annual Statement which will arrive with you in due course, but
really the main thank-you is to the membership – to have the support that
has been shown to me throughout the year has really made it special for
me.
I have been a part of our Board for 7 years now, and as I leave to enjoy
the rank of Past Captain, I leave the running of our club in good hands
– our membership numbers are holding up well in difficult times, our new
ride-on buggy shed will be erected before the start of the new playing
season, our ladies section has a new Captain who will bring new life to
the section and my successor, Howard, is eagerly looking forward to his
year as Captain – I wish him and all the Board well for 2010.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible over these last few
weeks of my Captaincy in the clubhouse – we have lunches and Fish and
Chip nights and, on Sunday 15th November, we have a quiz night run by
the House Committee and David Edelman – get your thinking caps on and
bring up a team of 4 to test your wit against your fellow members - £20.00
a team, should be a good night!
That’s all for now – thank you for taking the time to read my updates
and for the kind comments received for introducing this new initiative
which helps keep the members informed through the year.
Good health and happiness over the festive period and Good Golfing in
2010.
Nicky
What happened to our summer!
As I write this the sun is shining as it should have done through July
and August – instead we had non stop rain for over 50 days. This is the
sort of record we don’t want to see happen. In spite of this, enthusiasm
for the game seldom diminishes. The competitions have mostly drawn to
a conclusion with Finals Day having just taken place – firstly, congratulations
to all who reached a final this year, men, women and juniors – you are
all winners! But, unfortunately, there can only be one winner and my congratulations
go to all the winners – see you at prize giving in December. Another first
for me this year – being part of the Club Championship final and not playing.
Refereeing the final was something different for me but still very enjoyable.
The match was contested between James Hendrick and Alan Johnston. There
was never much in it over the 36 holes with James being ahead for the
whole game up till the 35th hole when Alan went 1 up after James missed
his return putt after going for the birdie to win the hole. The last hole
saw Alan miss the green right and James playing a fine shot into about
15 feet. Alan played a fantastic chip stone dead and James narrowly missed
– Alan is our new Club Champion – his dad George, was quite emotional
and deservedly so – well done, they made a good team! Commiserations to
James who lost the previous year to myself on the last green – I am in
no doubt many championships will come his way over the coming years.
The Captain’s role for me is coming to an end – what a great year it has been! There have been many great days which I will cherish for the rest of my life. My Captain’s Day was probably the best day of the year, being able to enjoy the company of family and my golfing friends – a combination of great fun, good food, loads of booze and great Bonnyton tradition. The Captain and Pro challenge has also been good fun and at the same time raising money for my chosen charity, McMillan Cancer Care. We have had 9 matches so far and hope to play at least another 3 before the end of the year. If you have not had the opportunity to challenge us and would like to see if a date is possible, then call in and see David and he will try and sort something out.
There has been quite a lot of anticipation regarding the construction of a new Caddy car shed for the ride-on buggies which was approved at last years AGM. I am happy to report that the Board are nearly there with a new structure being approved and the costs which were spiralling being brought into line with the approved amount. It is hoped that final building warrant amendments will be approved shortly so construction can begin with an early conclusion for the start of the new season.
We have one more nine and dine event on Sunday 1st November which will involve lunch rather than dinner – a really fun event which I hope to see many more faces at. Bill is putting on a couple of Fish & Chip nights and Carvery lunches – see notices in the clubhouse – always great food and good fun. Also, there is the Newton Shield dinner at Renfrew Golf Club on Thursday 8th October. A sheet is up in the corridor for all those wishing to attend to put their names on. This is a really good evening with good speeches and I can promise that the wooden spoon speech will be good – the recipient Captain of Ralston this year, Ian Gordon, is an experienced after dinner speaker – so come and join the team and Board for what should be a good night.
As we head into the off season, I hope to see many of you in the clubhouse over the closing months of the year and my Captaincy. I hope the 2009 season has been good for you, achieving the targets you set at the start of the year. If you have fallen short, then now is as good a time as any to start the preparation for 2010 – go and see David Andrews – a review of your swing and maybe some new equipment which you can work on during the winter may make all the difference next year. I believe David may be doing some good deals between now and Christmas!
That’s all for now.
Nicky
Where does the time go?!
We have just had the Carl Black Open mixed foursomes tournament which
was played in horrendous weather – the winners were our own Lester and
Valerie Cram – I think local knowledge in the harsh conditions were to
their advantage – congratulations! Also congratulations to Brian Haggerty
on winning the Open Seniors tournament.
Talking of the weather, it has taken a bit of a tumble from the warm
and balmy days of June and early July. When the Glancy team headed to
London the first weekend in July it was shorts all weekend – the weather
was hot, but the golf was not – we competed well but just missed out on
any trophies. The memories I will have from the weekend as Captain will
be some of the fondest I will have of the year, with a great team from
the past and present – great team spirit and great supporters who travelled
with the team – thanks to all for making it special!
There has been fantastic scoring with both Gordon Blair and James Hendrick
shooting 66s in medals – I feel my course record could be under threat
if this keeps up. The Club Championship final did not take place as scheduled
which was disappointing but a fantastic match lies ahead between James
Hendrick and Alan Johnston. The date for the final will be posted shortly
and I urge as many members as possible to come and watch what will be
a great final.
We have also had in July our first ever Scratch Open which was played
on 11th July in very hot weather. The tournament was run by David Copeland
and James Fleming with on the day assistance from Johnny Bennett, David
Smith and David Andrews. Thanks to everyone for making it a successful
event which was a great showcase of our course to the area’s top golfers
with at least 2 new members joining in the Autumn – our team is likely
to go from strength to strength as a result.
August for the Captain does not seem to slow down – we have our Corporate
Day, medals, Paisley and District Newton Shield events, Texas Scramble,
etc. At this point in the year I must make mention of my wife, Vicki,
who reads this Blog just to find our where I am and what I have been up
to as she does not get much time to see me between the Golf Club and business
commitments. Being Captain has its demands, but these are far outweighed
by the honour of the position and the fun had along the way.
That’s all for now. Enjoy your golf!
Nicky
It’s the end of June and my year as Captain is more than half completed
– where does the time go! So far the weather has behaved itself with good
playing conditions on every medal day and the competitions are on schedule.
First, congratulations go to Andy McLaughlan with a superb win in the
Winestone Cup with scores of 73 and 70, James Hendrick coming a close
second – well done! We also have a County Champion in John Curley who
won the Renfrewshire 13 plus handicap Championship on June 14th at Fereneze
– well done!
For myself, my golf has taken a back seat, which is a bit of a pun if
you excuse me, having suffered with neck and back problems – great start
to the year which came to a sudden halt – hopefully I will be back to
form soon. The Newton Shield team has come close so many times away from
home only to narrowly lose out at the end – so close yet so far this year.
We have 2 more matches, one away and one at home – if we can win both
of these we will finish 3rd – watch the results board in the corridor.
Our Juniors have a similar story to tell and have had to cope with the
temporary suspension of matches due to a swine flu scare from one of the
clubs competing, which has now passed.
We had our Pro-Am on 23rd June and it was won with a superb 65, and the
team prize was won by our Match Secretary Johnny Bennett with his brother
Richard and Barry Chuwen – well done to them. By the way, the Golds came
2nd.
The start of June saw the annual Captain’s outing which this year was
held at Dalmahoy. A total of 44 took part and a great day was had by all.
The sun shone, the golf was good, and the catering and liquid refreshment
were excellent. Thanks to all who attended for making it a memorable day
for me and well done to Kevin Ockrim who was the individual winner – time
for a handicap cut there!
The Glancy tournament is almost upon us and our team of 8 with supporters
head to London on Friday 3rd July – all the arrangements are made and
we look forward to bringing back the trophies? I will report next month.
On Saturday 11th July we are hosting our first Open Scratch tournament.
A quality field of golfers of 5 and under will assemble to compete over
36 holes in this Order of Merit tournament. This is a great showcase for
our course and although the course will be closed, the opportunity of
courtesy at other courses is available – contact the office for details
and to make arrangements OR you could spend the day watching.
That’s all for now.
Enjoy your golf!
Nicky
We are now well under way with the 2009 season with all competitions played in relatively good weather – long may it continue! Some handicaps have already started to tumble while others steadily move in the wrong direction – don’t be disheartened, it’s a long season and it only takes a small adjustment to make all the difference.
We have had our first Captain and Pro Challenge. David and I were challenged by last year’s captain, Stephen Jacobs and his good friend and fellow Board Member Adam Lewis. Many strokes were on hand for the challengers and Adam started strongly while Stephen was still brushing the cobwebs off his clubs, not used since his Captaincy finished – or so he said. The match result was a win for Captain and Pro, the result is on the board – I am not one to rub salt into a sore wound, a win is a win. We are looking forward to the rest of the challenges through the year - some very interesting matches are ahead. The charity that I have nominated which the entry will go towards is Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Pro Shop is looking great with many of the latest fashions available at very competitive prices. If there is something not available that you would like, be it clothing or equipment, ask David or Colin, and they will be able to order in for you. Having purchased new equipment myself this year from David, I can assure you, David will make sure you are getting a competitive price – Support your Pro!
The course is in superb condition for the time of year, well ahead of most other inland courses. The 11th green is in great shape and the only fly in the ointment is the 3rd tee. It is in need of some attention and the Greens Committee and Ross are looking into it.
The Newton Shield campaign gets under way for us on Thursday 7th May with our first match at home against Greenock. These matches start at 5.30pm and it would be great to see some members come out and support the team – the matches are well contested and a feast of good golf will be on show. Our team this year will have 6 players of 1 or better, and with all being available, I am quietly hopeful of a good campaign this year, maybe even as good as 2007 with any luck. For more information on the match dates, see the board in the hallway or ask the office or Team Manager Jonny Bennett.
Generally, in spite of the “credit crunch”, the club is in relatively good shape. We are only slightly down on our full membership numbers so if any members have either friends or family they would like to propose for membership, don’t hesitate – I believe there is a free dinner in it for anyone proposing someone who is accepted for membership.
There has been much comment in the club about the hut at the 9th not being open often enough. This is something the Board is well aware of and steps are being taken to ensure it is open on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The other main point of comment is the number of pitchmarks on greens and divots on fairways not repaired or replaced. This is your course, it is up to each and everyone to do their bit to ensure the hard work done by our Greens Staff is not wasted by laziness and bad etiquette.
Enjoy your golf!
Nicky
Welcome to the first Blog of 2009 – this is in fact the first ever blog
I have written.
I hope I find you all well and eagerly looking forward to the first competitions
of the new season. You are running out of time to look for the new magic
change to the grip, or swing, or even the equipment – so I would recommend
you drop in to see David, our Pro, who can give you that pre season golf
medical that will help you start the season, all guns blazing.
So far, so good – the Drive-In, although earlier than usual, was well
attended and good fun. There has been a Fish and Chip night and an Italian
Night, both great food and most enjoyable. Both well attended, but could
always see more members enjoying what is a great night with really good
food at reasonable prices.
The course is shaping up well with Ross enjoying all the snow so he can
improve his snow-man techniques while the greens have a well earned rest.
I joke, Ross and his staff always have lots to do, snow or no snow, in
the winter. There has been much great work done on the course over the
winter months which we will all benefit from in the coming season – remember
though to be a little patient – we are still in the hands of mother nature
who does not always play fair, so the greens may be a little bumpy at
first until we get the proper early growth coming through.
Our 11th green is shaping up well and Ross is supremely confident that
we will be playing on the green on our first medal on 29th March, all
things continuing as they are. If, for whatever reason, usually climatic,
that the playing surface is not up to playing standard and we have to
play to a temporary green, the medal with be a NFH (not for handicap)
competition – the competition goes ahead but your handicap can not go
up or down. The Greens and Match Convenors will make the final decision
on this on the Friday before the medal and notification will be made in
the clubhouse and on the website.
Bonnyton is now an official member of the Alister Mackenzie society
– for more information on this, please visit
http://www.alistermackenzie.co.uk/home.php
I always knew our course was a great layout, and this is due to its heritage
with one of golf’s greatest golf course designers of the early 20th Century
being behind its design.
We have arrived in the 21st Century with our On-Line booking system –
all members have to register when you receive your new card which you
should all have now. It is a swipe card which you will use to sign in
with at the Pro Shop before teeing off, registering your entry into a
medal and then in-putting your score at the end of the round. My suggestion
– leave this card in your locker so you never forget it –
this should make life much easier to get the time of your choosing and
will let the Board know what are the best times to allow outings when
the course is not busy. We do not envisage any teething problems, but
those who have any experience with IT know all to well that things can
go wrong, so be patient!
Well, that’s all for now – enjoy your golf, good luck for the season
and remember to get your name down for the Captain and Pro challenge –
David and I look forward to it!
Nicky