Autumn League begins on Friday

Our Autumn league (5 from 8) begins this Friday, 27 October.

We will use our revised handicaps for the competition, published by Paul Foster (see below), and the new system for adjusting handicaps as the league progresses.

The committee has decided that, in line with the ‘social golf’ recommendation of Lymm Golf Club, we can use mats everywhere on the course, not just on fairways. Therefore you can use mats everywhere in the league, and also in your doubles-knockout matches.

Christmas Lunch – 8 December

The Seniors’ Christmas lunch will be on 8th December, food served at 14:00.

Cost £15.00. Please add your name to the list on the Seniors’ noticeboard, and pay into the main Seniors’ bank account:

Lymm Golf Over 60’s
Nat West Bank
60-20-29
50244779

Andy Ward Trophy (Doubles Knockout)

Peter Willson has done the draw for the knockout. He will put the sheet on the Seniors’ noticeboard. When you have played your match, write the name of the winning pair on the sheet.

You can see the draw for the preliminary round and round 1 on the attached spreadsheet:

Handicaps – Rules

Reporter: Paul Foster

The following handicap rules will apply to the Lymm Golf Club gents seniors section.

On a 15 hole basis

Marked cards to be handed in following every Friday competition round, and for any 18 hole seniors section competition.

First 15 holes only to count towards their seniors handicap.

After a score of 31pts or above:
0.5 of a stroke deducted from handicap for each point greater than 30pts

After a score of 25 to 30pts:
No handicap adjustment.

After a score of 20 to 24pts:
A single addition of 0.5 of a stroke to be added to the handicap

After a score under 20pts:

0.5 of a stroke added to the handicap for each point less than 20pts

Handicaps that include 0.5 are rounded up to the next whole number.

I will adjust the handicaps every week. A list will be placed on the Seniors’ noticeboard, and on the ‘Handicaps’ tab of this web site.

See below the starting handicaps for the Autumn league:

Handicaps – Notes

Reporter: Paul Foster

Seniors Golf is meant to be fun, where the reward is the company/banter of fellow senior members rather than actual prizes, so avoidance of ‘banditry’ is to be maximised and any ‘protection of handicap’ is to be minimised

We are to reset seniors section members handicaps to their WHS playing handicap (95% of course handicap) ready for the start of the Autumn session. With a few exceptions as explained below.

The majority of seniors section members handicaps are within 2 strokes of their WHS playing handicap. So for these members their seniors section handicap will become the same as their WHS playing handicap.

Where a seniors section members handicap is more than 2 strokes difference, we have looked at their WHS handicap.

For most, the reason for this discrepancy is their WHS handicap is out of date. (we determine out of date as; insufficient best 8 out of 20 rounds or having less than 8 qualifying rounds in the last year) In these cases the seniors members handicap will not change.

When a seniors member WHS handicap is up to date i.e. sufficient best 8 out of 20 rounds completed and 8 or more qualifying rounds in the last year. Then the seniors member handicap will change to their WHS playing handicap.

The following competitions shall use seniors section handicaps;

Peter Herrity
Gordon Wood
Mike Smith Summer Singles K/O
Andy Ward Pairs Winter K/O
Happy Mondays
Autumn, Winter and Summer Leagues

Annual Business Meeting, Prize Presentation and Lunch – Friday 20th October

Reporter: Dave Craggs

With the course being closed due to exceptional rainfall it was agreed we would meet up at the Clubhouse at 1.00 pm to get ready for our ABM.

Our Chairman, Mike Bennett opened proceedings with his address to the total of 43 attendees a copy of which is attached. In particular a vote of thanks and presentation was made to Rob Taylor who after 8 years of service has stepped down to enjoy a well deserved rest. Rob was one of the original members who set up the Seniors section which has gone from strength to strength.

Steve Gosling, Treasurer followed with his  presentation of the finances of the Section supported by the attached excellent supporting documents.

Presentation of prizes for the year were made to the worthy winners who were all in attendance. List of winners attached.

There then followed an excellent two course meal and plenty of banter. Thanks were previously made by Mike to Karen and her staff for all the support they give to us on match days and providing the ABM lunch.

Seniors who were not at the meeting, but would like to see the budget, bank statements and chairman’s report, please contact Dave Craggs, who will forward them to you.

Llangollen Senior Open – 6 June 2024

Reporter: Grahame Brickell

Dates for next year are shortly to be released for this popular venue / event  and as regular visitors of the event we have the opportunity to pre-book some tee times (late morning/ midday is being suggested) . 

There are already a dozen or so names attending so if you would like to be included please message me, Grahame Brickell, on IG messaging.

Happy Mondays – 23 October

A good turnout again. Here are the results (team Stableford):

Winners: Mike Bennet, Mark Pickles, Colin Crail, Richard Yates.-  28.75
> 2) Charlie H, Peter W, Tommy L, Steve B – 27.8
> 3) Charlie H, Paddy M, Ron T, Ken N, 27.75
> 4) Eric C, Phil P, John B, -25.3
> 5) Steve G, Pete B, Steve R – 25
> 6) Colin C, Sammy L, Les F – 24.6
> 7) Phil L, G Utton, David G, K Pearce – 21.75

Prostate Cancer Support Charity

Phil Ormesher made a thank you speech at the ABM thanking the Senior Section for moneys raised for his prostate cancer support charity.

Phil has asked me to attach the following note (in Microsoft Word) for those who were not there on Friday.

Annual Subscription now overdue

Steve Gosling informs me that, despite chasing members by email, only about 70 have yet paid. It is not fair on Steve that he has to spend his time chasing up the money.

If you have not yet paid, please send £20 to the Senior’s bank account as soon as possible. If you would like to resign from the Senior Section, please inform Steve.

Lymm Golf Over 60’s
Nat West Bank
60-20-29
50244779

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

If you have not already done say, please pay your annual subs to the Senior’s bank account. Steve Gosling informs me that 36 have paid so far, which is only about a third of the membership. The subs remain this year at £20. If you no longer wish to be in the senior section, please inform Steve.

Also, if you are coming for lunch as the annual business meeting/presentation, please pay £15. Steve says the following names are on the list, but they have not paid.

Please confirm that you are attending by paying immediately in order that we can firm up the catering order. If you have changed your mind, please email Dave Craggs to inform him.

The correct bank account to use for the subs and the meal is:

Lymm Golf Over 60’s
Nat West Bank
60-20-29
50244779

Andy Ward Pairs Trophy

If you would like to be drawn into this year’s doubles knockout, please add your name to the list on the Senior’s noticeboard as soon as possible.

We have extended the deadline until Friday morning, 20th October. The draw will be made at lunchtime on Friday.

HANDICAPS  – Update from the Chairman 

Reporter: Mike Bennett

Further to last week’s newsletter regarding handicaps I can confirm that when the committee met on Friday the 5th of October we discussed at length  the various handicap proposals.

However NO vote was taken.

The reason for this is that at the forthcoming AGM on the 20th October we will hopefully have two new committee members. 

It was felt that we should give  the opportunity to these 2 committee members to express their views and take part in the vote.

We have therefore arranged a meeting on the Monday after the AGM namely the 23rd of October to finalise the handicap system.

Any member who would like to put forward a suggestion on the handicap system, please contact a committee member who will take it forward to the meeting on the 23rd of October

Please note Handicaps are not on the agenda for the AGM. 

The new handicap system and your new handicaps will be announced in our newsletter on Wednesday the 25th of October.

A copy of these will also be put up on the senior notice board.

The new handicaps will be applicable from Friday the 27th of October which will be round 1 of the Autumn 5 from 8 competition. 

Happy Mondays

Reporter: Peter Willson

Todays Happy Monday’s was a Yellow Ball 

1st – 109 points – Steve Barlow, Ron Thornton and Peter Willson
2nd – 100 points – Charlie Heath, Mark Pickles and Steve Gosling 
3rd – 93 points – Mike Bennett, Richard Yates, Les Williams and Colin Crail
4th  – 84 points – John Both, Coin Chisnall and Alan Thomas
5th – 79 points – Tony Lambert, Paul Wright and Phil Perry
6th – 76 points – Pete Broady, Dave Waggitt, Charlie Hill and Phil Lomas 
7th – 67 points – Eric Cox, Graham Utton and Ken Pearce

Dry, no wind, milky sun, damp underfoot, frost to start 2 deg C rising to 15 deg C.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 18th October) 

This is the tee booking schedule for play on 3rd November: Round 2 of best 5 from 8

If your name is in the left column, please book for your group. 

Please consult the Seniors’ noticeboard the next time you’re at the golf club, and confirm your availability for the Andy Ward Pairs Trophy and for the Presentation Lunch/Annual Business Meeting (described in last week’s newsletter), planned for Friday 20th October.

If you are attending the lunch, please pay £15 into our main senior’s bank account. The committee encourages you all to attend. This is the correct bank account:

Lymm Golf Over 60’s
Nat West Bank
60-20-29
50244779

At the annual meeting, we will also go through the new plans for updating senior handicaps, which will be run by Paul Foster, whom the committee has co-opted to the role in charge of handicaps.

Paul has proposed three possible systems. The committee agrees unanimously on Paul’s simplest system, which will not be WHS. For those who say WHS is the simplest, it would not work well for the senior section, for many reasons, not least as we go into the Autumn season (best 5 from 8) then Winter season (best 5 from 10), in which no-one’s WHS handicap is adjusted. Furthermore, many of our senior section are 5-day members, some of whom have a poorly maintained WHS handicap. Therefore, the handicap you start with in the new system will your WHS handicap if it is well-maintained, or a calculation based on this year’s senior 15-hole competitions if your WHS is poorly maintained.

Andy Ward Pairs Trophy

If you would like to be drawn into this year’s doubles knockout, please add your name to the list on the Senior’s noticeboard before Friday 13th October (if possible). The draw will be made the following week.

The format is, we draw playing partners, a player in Division 1 with a player in Division 2. It is then a straightforward knockout, with deadlines set for each stage of the knockout. We have found that in previous years it is not possible to be flexible with the knockout stage dates, therefore please give yourself plenty of time to play your match, allowing for possible postponements due to weather. If a match cannot be played before the deadline, you can agree to use the toss of a coin to decide which pair goes through to the next stage.

Annual senior subs due

Our annual subscription is due. It remains at £20 this year. If there is a credit or a deficit against your name, Steve Gosling will inform you and ask you to make an adjustment to your subs.

Please pay £20 into our main seniors’ bank account (not the friendly league account).

These are the details.

Lymm Golf Over 60’s
Nat West Bank
60-20-29
50244779

Autumn League

The committee has decided to delay the start of the the Autumn League until Friday 27th August, to give Paul Foster and the committee enough time to firm up the correct handicaps going forward. Therefore the Autumn format will be best 5 from 8 (rather than from 10).

Seniors’ Turkey Trot – 6th October 2023

35 seniors entered the Turkey Trot to play in fine weather with a gentle breeze.

The winners are:

Division 1:
Charlie Heath: 32 points.
Division 2:
Art Laird 29 points.

Charlie and Art will receive a £30 voucher, presented at our annual lunch.

Happy Mondays

A good turnout this Monday, for the popular format of Shambles 

7 teams – 22 players

Winners – 56 points – Tommy Lawless, Phil Perry and Peter Willson
2nd – 54 points – Steve Gosling, Phil Lomas and Charlie Heath
Joint 3rd – 52 points – Mike Bennett, Richard Yates, Colin Crail and Les Williams 
Joint 3rd  – 52 points -Graham Utton, Dave Waggitt and Les Fecitt
5th – 47 points – Paul Foster, Tony Lambert and Eric Cox
6th – 44 points – Steve Barlow, Ron Thornton and Ken Pearce
7th – 43 points – Colin Chisnall, Alan Thomas and John Booth 

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 12th October) 

This is the tee booking schedule for play on 27 October: Round 1 of best 5 from 8

If your name is in the left column, please book for your group. 

Inter-club friendly v Warrington at Home, Friday 29 September

Match Reporter: None

Once again our Seniors Team assembled for our final Match of the season to take on Warrington.

The course had its Autumn maintenance completed at the start of the week, but the greens ran true and the weather was Ok, a few showers but better than expected (from memory).

I did not capture the individual scores, but it appeared that we turned out all our low handicap players and got a 4-4 draw to end a fine season of inter-club matches.

As the Ryder Cup was on in the club house, the way Steve G and Grahame B were playing you would think they wanted to get in there in a hurry, 6 down after 9 holes, but they stayed with it and won 7 holes on the back nine to finish with an unlikely half point.

The Match was played in a great spirit and followed by a lovely meal and a few friendly drinks, and of course some light entertainment.

All the players thanked John Armstrong for all of his commitment, effort, and organising this Year, a big thank you from all that played in the 22 matches throughout the summer. A well deserved rest until next year.

A reminder from John that anybody wanting to play in these matches next year, they need to have a club polo shirt (order now from Steve in the Pro shop) and a sign up sheet will go up on the notice board next year for anybody to register their interest in playing.

Presentation Lunch / Annual Business meeting

The presentation lunch this year will be held on Friday 20^th October ( some 2 and a half weeks ahead)

The format will be the same as our previous presentation lunches. The business of the ABM will be slotted into the silly games and the presentation of our 2023 Trophies to those that triumphed during this season.

No long lists to plough through nor boring monologues- just the usual barrel of laughs and a fitting end to another fabulous season.

We aim to sit down to dinner at 14.00 hours – so please plan to be there before to allow  time to enjoy a pre- lunch drink with your friends if you so wish.

A List is now upon the notice board in the locker room. Please get your names down as soon as possible so we can have a clear shot at reckoning the numbers for Karen and her team.

The cost – will be finalised at the next committee meeting this coming FRIDAY( 6^TH) AND PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER. £20 or below is the target.

Annual Business Meeting

Seniors Committee – Volunteers needed.

As reported above, our Annual Business Meeting will be held on Friday 20^th October concurrent with the Presentation Lunch 2023.

Please read the following Notice from the committee.

Annual Business Meeting

Election of Committee Members.

The end of our financial  year sees a small number  of our 9 elected members completing  their term in office .

We therefore have a few seats to fill at  this year’s Annual Business Meeting which is on the 20th of October (concurrent with the Presentation Lunch) .

We need volunteers now please!

A list  asking for nominations has been pinned onto the Senior’s Notice Board in the Locker room. (Statutory rule)

The suspension of the rule for seconders has been made permanent and the Guidance Notes and Rules have been amended accordingly. (Statutory rule)

If you would like to give something back to the senior’s by joining the committee, please either.

• Add your name to the list.
• Speak to any member of the existing Committee or
• e-mail/ phone the chairman, Mike Bennett, if you can’t get down to the club in person.

If more applications are received than seats available voting papers will be prepared, and a runoff will be held at the ABM.

The closing date for applications is the 18^{th of} October ( 2 days  before the ABM)

Many thanks

Rob Taylor

Secretary to the Gents Seniors committee.

Bottle of wine comp, 29 September

An individual stableford comp, whilst the club match Vs Warrington was played.

22 cards were submitted, although 6 had incorrect handicaps…..please check and use your correct senior handicap to make Peter’s life bearable.

Winner was Stuart Baird with 31 points gets the bottle of wine (see Peter W)

Mike Kendal 29 points and Les Williams 28 points.

Happy Monday’s, 2 October

A team stableford comp, 17 entered, (16paid!),

Winning Team was Charlie Heath, Dave Waggitt & Peter Willson with an average of 25.3

Second, Les Fecit, Pete Broady & Phil Lomas 23.3

Third, John White, Steve Barlow & Ken Pearce with 23.1

Charlie is on the look out for the missing £1

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 5th October) 

This is the tee booking schedule for play on 20 October: Game format TBA as its also the AGM that day.

If your name is in the left column, please book for your group. 

Booking Date	THURSDAY @ 8pm	05/10/23		GAME
	Booking for	FRIDAY	20/10/23		TBA & AGM dinner
	Time	Player 1	Player 2	Player 3	Player 4
	Target
		Tee Booker
	07.36	George Clark	Joe Priestner	Tommy Lawless	Martin Franks
	07.44	Alan Thomas	Colin Chisnall	Pete Broady	Stuart Baird (G)
	O7.52	Barry Smith	Phil Lomas	Phil Perry	John Hayes (G)
	O8.00	Steve Gosling	Charlie Heath	Mervyn Roberts	Steven Bramall
	O8.08	Charlie Hill	Phil Ormesher	Dave Meir	Bob Mycock
	O8.16	Mark Pickles	Mike Pigott	Paul Foster	Mark Marsland
	O8.24	Ken Narraway	Peter Willson	David D Jones	Graham Utton
	O8.32	John White	Paddy Moran	Les Williams	Andrew Cox
	O8.40	Steve Barlow	Tony Lambert	John Boyle	Rob Taylor
	O8.48	Jeff Ashurst	Paul Lennie	Ian Whitehead	Dave Waggitt
	O8.56	Mike Kendal	John Armstrong	Ron Thornton	Paul Wright
	O9.04	John Higgins	Duncan Clarke	Paul Collins	Colin Crail
	O9.12	Alister Cook	Mike Bennett	Eric Cox	Les Fecitt
	O9.20	Richard Yates	Colin Hughes	Robert Wooldridge	Ken Pearce
	O9.28	Phil Blake	Jeff Chapman	Alan Ranscombe	Gordon Ballantyne