New team, kit, a modest subscription increase, and a vote to unify golf in Essex – highlights of the 2024 Club Annual Meeting.

Following the Club re-organisation at the beginning of 2023, last year was one of change and implementation, this year – 2024 – has been all about consolidation and settling into the new ways of administration.
The Management Board, Chaired by Club President Peter Garnett, continues to handle the day-to-day club affairs, running competitions, teams and social events – while the Stoke by Nayland Resort employs all staff and is responsible for all aspects of the golf courses and practice facilities.
In his report to the meeting, Peter gave a brief overview of what all the individual Management Board members do – Adrian Bullock on competitions, Clare Nixon on social events, Dick Lumsden on communication, Lesley Garnett on new members and player development, and Paul Mustoe on finance.
However, he told the meeting that Paul (Gus) Mustoe will be giving up his place on the Board for the new golfing year because of work commitments. He will be replaced as Head of Finance by former Men’s Captain Glen Jackson.
Immediate Past President Steve Clark will also be stepping down from the Board after completing his handover year. Peter thanked all Board members for their work during the year. He also thanked the three outgoing Captains – Norman Davidson, Stella Hammond and John Parkinson, who together have raised more than £18,000 for charity – as well as Membership Manager Harry Hibbert and Resort Managing Director, Matt Manning for their input to Board meetings during the year.
Peter said a full set of accounts were still being prepared and would be available to view on ClubV1 as soon as possible.
Peter also revealed that, following Board discussions and negotiation with Footjoy, all Ladies and Men’s teams playing in Essex competitions in 2025 will wear the same colour kit. The 50 or so members present at the meeting saw samples of the Cobalt Blue Men’s and Ladies shirts, as well as the long and short sleeve options for outer layers in Navy Blue. Peter said that the kit would be available to buy in the Pro Shop at a heavily discounted rate and everyone selected to play in a competition team would be expected to wear it.
Head of Competitions Adrian Bullock gave a breakdown of the competitions season, saying that over 200 competitions were held in total – averaging more than four per week – and rising to six per week at the height of the summer. In total, 5,628 members played in these events.
Adrian explained that he is currently undergoing a review of all competitions, identifying any areas where changes need to be made, or improvements are needed.
During the year, there were a total of over 13,200 general play rounds recorded, with most members managing to keep at least 12 current cards on their WHS record – even our oldest playing member – at the age of 90 – currently has 14 cards on his record.
Adrian also updated members on the WHS changes implemented during 2024, and on the new “adverse weather” advice from England Golf.
Last night’s meeting also heard about the proposed unification of Men’s and Ladies golf in Essex with the plans for the merger of the Essex Golf Union and the Essex Ladies County Golf Association. There will be a formal vote on the merger in January 2025, with each affiliated club having two votes – one for Men and one for Ladies. Peter told the meeting that the Management Board has agreed in principle to support the merger with our two votes, and that all three Sections of the club have already heard the plans in some detail and are in agreement.
Matt Manning told the meeting that all categories of membership fees for 2025 would be increased by £55 – so, for example, a 7-day subscription will rise to £1,420 from January 1. He said that full details would be included in the renewal letters which will go out in the next few weeks.
He also paid tribute to Steve Young and the greenkeeping team for the work they have done throughout the year, ensuring the course recovered well from the Dollar Spot damage of 2023. The meeting unanimously endorsed this.

Peter Garnett also presented some of the trophies won during the year to those winning members who were present.
Last night’s Club Meeting followed three individual section meetings. In the Men’s Section, Matt Tunstall took over as Captain. New Ladies Captain is Jill Pottle and new Seniors Captain is Kevin Price. All three Captains will sit on the Management Board during their year.
If you have any questions about the meeting, please contact Harry Hibbert on harry.hibbert@stokebynayland.com