As always, Carden Park looked after us extremely well for our AGM meeting in July. The weather was kind and the courses were not (not to me anyway). However some people managed to cope very well and Pat Bennett and Drew Carmichael won the Handicap Cups while Delyse and Richard Wadkin took home the “Enjoy Golf Together” trophy. For the first time at any meeting we held a 9-hole competition, which was won by Jan Carpenter, just edging out Ed Devine.

Those of you there for the AGM will remember that I reported that we have been disappointed by the turnout for AGM meetings in recent years and the AGM itself will be added to a normal meeting during 2025. More details to follow.

Our next meeting was at my home course, Bath, followed by Kingsdown, just over the border in Wiltshire. To my relief, all went well, with the minor inconvenience that the council decided to resurface the road leading to the club on that very day. We were only actually “locked in” for a couple of hours mid afternoon and most members took that as a cue for another glass of wine. The winners were Alison Evans and Roger Pike and I think it’s fair to say that no-one was more surprised than Roger.

The last meeting was at Frinton and Purdis Heath (Ipswich) in the middle of September.

Terrific weather but a fair wind made Frinton a challenge on the first day. (Of course the locals called it a gentle breeze). Terry and Vanessa welcomed us to Ipswich on the second day and everyone was very impressed by their course. Pat Bennett and Dudley Carvell won the Super Seniors trophies and Ruth Lindley and Ian Chamberlain took the Seniors prizes.

Congratulations to all the trophy winners. Let me remind you to return them, engraved and polished at or before the equivalent meeting next year.

Just one more event to record…the Autumn tour to Como in Italy. Not a regular destination for golf tours but I think that may change. Our hotel could not have been more central; in the main square and overlooking the lake. And, on the day we arrived there was a wine festival in the square…definition of paradise!! Four days of golf and two rest days. Four different courses, each with a different appeal such that everyone seemed to have a different favourite.

It has been very wet in Europe this year and some areas of the courses were a little damp but we were lucky. Even with overnight rain we played all 18 on each of our golf days. We need to thank Sue Lockley and Linda Hill who couldn’t play but helped the rest of us find our way round the courses and tried to keep us moving.

Rest days were spent touring the streets of the city, riding the funicular to the top of the mountain (and in some cases walking back down again), or taking a ferry to Bellaggio further north on the lake to see the gardens. A great trip, which we will all remember for a long time.

Another good year for the Society, and another to look forward to in 2025, with some great courses to visit and two wonderful tours to Gran Canaria and Mauritius.

It will soon be time to sign up for 2025 meetings and can I remind you that this year it will all be done online.

If you are reading this report, then you have received the email notification that the application form for 2025 meetings is live on the website and that applications need to be completed by the end of January. You may notice that the price of some of the meetings reflects the significant inflation of green fees at certain courses over the last few years. Fortunately, our numbers, coupled with Brian’s negotiating capabilities, allow us to be able to offer prices which are still excellent value for money compared with published green fees and we continue to offer golf at great courses with the added value of food, prizes and wonderful company!

As usual, just a reminder to tell your friends about the Society, especially those in clubs where we don’t have members at present.

Lastly, thank you once again to Brian. He runs the Society with such smooth efficiency. And to the members of the Committee for all their help and support.

Please try to squeeze in some “warm weather training” over the winter so you are ready to do battle once again next year.

See you then.

Best Wishes

Robert