Hello Everyone

Well, what a summer of weather we have enjoyed this year.

Whilst my golf has definitely not matched the temperatures during this golfing season, I certainly can’t blame that on the conditions which courses have produced for us.

At the AGM, which was held at Little Aston on 19 August, I was delighted to be elected as Chairman of the Society for the next three years. I will do my best to promote the Society during that time along with the support of the other committee members.

At that meeting Ronnie Steedman stood down from the committee. We are grateful for the work he has done during his time on the committee.

I have taken over from Robert Hill and, as I said at the meeting, I certainly do have a very hard act to follow. Robert has been a brilliant Chairman. The Society contributed towards a new pair of waterproof trousers by way of a thank you for his service. Hopefully, he will not need them too often!

I am pleased that Robert will continue to work with Ian Macleod, Ed Devine and the new recruit to their group, Pete Carpenter, in managing our website content.

The upgraded website has been a great addition for the Society. It allows information about the Society, its history and other news and information to be readily available to members and provides an easy portal for prospective new members to use when applying to join.

There is much work which that group does behind the scenes to keep the website updated and relevant and we are all grateful for their contribution.

At the time you are receiving this message, you will also be receiving a message confirming that applications for next year’s meetings are being accepted.

Details of the meetings are published on the website. Applications to join those meetings will again be conducted through the form which will be available on the website. Please just be aware that the dates for the meeting at Sandiway and Delamere Forest are now scheduled for 16 and 17 June 2026, namely seven days earlier than the dates which were originally published for that meeting.

Next year the quality of our meetings remains extremely high. What the Society offers to members continues to be a great mix of high quality golf courses at accessible prices compared with the standard green fees at the courses which we visit, together with food on both days, some friendly but competitive golf for some magnificent trophies together with the chance to meet up with like minded folks from around the country.

Do please try to enter as many meetings as you can so we can all enjoy great golf and good company together. Please also recommend the Society to friends and acquaintances who might like to try us out!

Reports of this year’s meetings together with photos of the winners are on the website so I will not repeat that information here.

As I am preparing this newsletter, we are getting ready for the autumn tour to Mauritius which promises to be a treat. Thanks to Pat Bennett for organising this.

Next year, in April, we look forward to our tour to Scotland based in Dundee and playing some notable courses in the area. Then in October we have our trips to Costa Navarino in Greece. It is a venue which attracts huge praise from those who have experienced it. It proved to be such a popular trip that we have been able to arrange two trips so it is pleasing to know that, between the two, we will be able to take a total of 62 members on tour. Thank you to Ian Wright for agreeing to lead the second week’s tour.

We are already planning the tours for 2027, and details will be circulated for members to reserve places on them as soon as we are in a position to do so.

The committee will continue to work on steering the Society. At our last meeting of the year at West Lancashire GC, in my address after dinner I was keen to introduce members of the committee who were present so that members of the Society recognise who is working on their behalf. I propose to continue this practice next year. Please do speak to any of us about Society business including ideas for future tours.

As well as myself, the current committee comprises Linda Hill, President, Robin Moser, Treasurer, and committee members: Pat Bennett, Pete Carpenter, Alison Evans, Heather Williams and Ian Wright.

However, whatever work the committee does, it is insignificant compared with the huge effort which our Secretary, Brian Ward, puts in for us so that we can enjoy the meetings we do.

Since my election I have had my eyes opened to just how much Brian does for us. Thank you, Brian, for all that you continue to do so that we can enjoy all that the Society has to offer.

I wish you all well over the winter, which may involve plenty of practice so we can come back stronger and even better next season!

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at as many meetings as possible next year.

Best wishes

Richard

 

 

IN MEMORIUM

 It is with sadness that we learned of the recent deaths of two of our long-standing members, Alan Dilliway-Parry in September and Lorne Smith in October.

Both were great supporters of the Society. We sent our condolences and heartfelt wishes to their families.