Each month, our three Captains share with us their news from the previous few weeks and take a quick look ahead to the upcoming month.

Men’s Captain, Norman Davidson

Whilst we still await the much-needed warmer drier weather, the course is at last showing signs of recovery from the very wet Winter and Spring. The green keeping team have been working tirelessly to get both courses back up to scratch, especially the greens which suffered terribly late last Summer from Dollar Spot. It’s good to see the fairways neatly mown and the rough cut back and new sand going into the bunkers.

This past weekend, we witnessed our first team success of the year with our Curry Cup team having a convincing win over Fyn Valley. The morning foursomes was played in atrocious weather, but despite this Ian Thompson’s team managed a whitewash winning all six matches. However, there was no room for complacency, as last year having been in a similar position they managed to lose the match in the singles. This was not to be the case this year as Thommo rallied his team and produced a 7 – 5 win in the afternoon singles, played in slightly better conditions on the Constable course. The result was an excellent win 13 – 5 and congratulations go to Ian and his team and thanks to their caddies.

This coming Sunday, May 5, sees the various swindles and sections coming together to play for the Dick Chalmers Shield. A firm favourite on the calendar and organised as usual by John Walker with the help from friends and family for a dear friend of many, Dick Chalmers, who lost his life to Prostate cancer.

Also, this Sunday, the Thornton Cup team have their first match, a second-round home tie against Theydon Bois, having been given a walkover over in the first round against Woolston Manor who were unable to field a team. Good luck to Team Captain Steve Wood and the boys.

Ladies Captain, Stella Hammond

We have fared better this month (a bit), with the weather, which has meant that weekly competitions have gone ahead.

The Rita Blewitt trophy was won by Jill Pottle with 33 on count back. And the Coronation Foursomes was won by Barby Jones and Corinne Jackson.

Team matches have also now started, the Silver team winning at home against Crondon Park.

The Bronze team played away at Thornton Park and the match was halved. And in their second match at home to Chelmsford, unfortunately Chelmsford were too strong on the day.

The Harris Bowl team didn’t fare so well away at Forrester Park with a loss, but bounced back with a home win against Chigwell.

The Friday night mixed returned and was a resounding success, the sun shone and a great time was had by all. The inaugural winners were Claire Rowan and Nick Bainbridge.

May competitions include the Spring meeting and Australian Spoons and continuing participation in Essex team competitions.

Looking ahead to June we have the Ladies Open and Golf week.

Seniors Captain, John Parkinson

I think we have seen enough rain …. And there is plenty to look forward to now that we are
moving into the golf season proper, let’s hope for a dry May because it is going to be a busy golfing month for the seniors.

Firstly we will play the rescheduled Mike Moore Trophy team scramble, then we have inter-club matches away to Gosfield Lakes; Haverhill and Braintree and home matches with Hintlesham and Haverhill.

On May 13 we have our monthly Stableford.

We also play our first match in the Essex Seniors Championship match at home to Orsett, and we play away at Abridge in the John Day Trophy.

And if that wasn’t enough, we have the VC Tour to East Sussex National on May 14-16 with over 30 players going.

Thanks to all the seniors who made the April Stableford a success, raising over £500 for
Parkinson’s UK and to Trevor Waterhouse who completed 100 lengths of the SbN swimming
pool raising over £300 for Parkinson’s.

Quote for this month; “If you are ever caught on a golf course during a thunderstorm and
you are afraid of lightening, hold up a one-iron. Not even God can hit a one-iron.” Lee
Trevino