Captain's Newsletter - 25 August 2019

As golfers we all know, there is nothing we would love to do more on a beautiful day than to play golf!! The sun certainly shone on the Squad on Friday last when they met Redbourn Ladies at home. I had the pleasure of seeing all the pairs tee-off and then come in some four and a half hours later, somewhat warmer!! Whilst these matches are always played in a spirit of open friendliness, underneath we nevertheless want to win and this time we were successful in doing that. Well done ladies, it was a great day! We look forward to playing them again next year!

The day before, Thursday, had also seen beautiful weather and two of the nine-hole ladies ventured out to complete their Stableford Qualifier. Well done to Jane S and Pam B. In the slightly cooler weather but nevertheless, completing all 18 holes, division 2 brought a great score from Kathy M of 42 pts and a handicap cut bringing her into division 1 with second place in that division going to Megan B with 37 pts. Quite a few ladies either met their handicaps (Debbie F) or were in their buffers so well done! Great golf, ladies! In division 1 it seemed a bit tougher, coming out on top was Hazel B with 34 pts and in second place on countback was Pat W. Well done to you all.

Some of the 7day ladies will have been competing today in the Denis Flynn Memorial Trophy, so I hope you have managed to get a good round on your card on this hot Sunday of the Bank Holiday!

This coming Thursday is the first round of the Eclectic Cup, a two round Singles Strokeplay, (please remember not to pick up!). It looks like a pretty big field, but if you still fancy joining the game, please let Lin know and she will try to fit you in towards the back of the field.

We are still about 6-8 weeks away from utilising Intelligent Golf for our competition bookings, but do get on-line at home on your computer or download the app onto your phone. It is pretty simple to do, but there is lots of help available if you fall into trouble. Please just ask! Intelligent Golf will run everything for us going forward so it is important that you are ready when the BIG DAY comes!

The Biennial Solheim match against Mill Green on 13th September is fast approaching and we are still looking for glamorous caddies to wear the coveted Waistcoats of CDLS/USA and support the players. It is all a bit of fun and no caddying skills are needed, so please do put your name down on the sign-up list and ensure you are part of a day to remember!!

Finally, our next committee meeting is on Tuesday 3rd September. If there is anything you would like us to discuss please do drop me a line or have a word with one of the committee, after all we are here for you!!

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend

Yours
Margaret
Ladies Captain 2019

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Captain's Newsletter - 19 August 2019

Well, Sarah made it to the Women's Grand Medal Final at Woodhall Spa last Thursday. What an amazing achievement for her - we believe she is the first lady golfer from Chesfield Downs to reach such heady heights! The practice round on Wednesday had been rather a wash out and she and her caddie Jackie, found respite inside (rumour has it in the bar!). The course was in amazing condition but the greens were apparently really difficult to read, even with Jackie's eagle eye helping out! It was not to be her day but nevertheless she is rightly very chuffed to have been part of the Grand Final. Well done Sarah, we are all very proud of you!

Of course, Sarah wasn't the only Chesfield lady out and about last week. Four ladies (including Sarah) played in the Saffron Walden Open on Tuesday, four more hardy golfers experienced the East Herts Open on Wednesday in very soggy and wet conditions and more of you played at the Veralum Open on Saturday (see below) and proudly came in third, well done to Olive, Caroline K and Kathy M.

The main event of the week at the club was the Macknight Pairs Scramble, fortunately played on a lovely August day. It was great to see Amanda out there playing in her own trophy but she and her partner Kathy C were not to be the winners! An amazing score of nett 68.0 from Pat W and Megan B would take the top place on the day with Jean P and Olive C coming close and in second place with a nett 70.7. No doubting the winners though!! Well done to those ladies in particular.

This week, we will have a further chance to improve our Eclectic Score on Tuesday and Thursday brings us a Stableford Qualifier so fingers crossed for fine weather.

Our lovely Junior Captain Amelia Fitzgerald, who plays off an impressive handicap of 12, would like to enter the Ann MacLaurin Trophy again, which this year is held on Sunday 15th September at Mill Green GC, but she needs a lady partner!! Many of you will have played with Amelia already and know what a nice young lady she is, so if you would like to play with her at this event, please read the notice on the board and get in touch with me. Thank you.

Talking about Trophies, can I please ask that if you have a trophy at home which you were awarded last year, could you please return it sometime soon, so that I can get your name engraved on it ready for the AGM and the new year. Thank you.

You should all have received your individual log-in details for using Intelligent Golf by now. The easiest way to complete your initial log-in is through the Chesfield Downs link on https://chesfielddowns.intelligentgolf.co.uk . Our competitions will not be on there for a while yet, in order that we can complete some of the on-going eclectics etc but I will keep you informed as to when we will be going over completely to Ig. In the meantime though, do have a look at the website, familiarise yourself with what it can do for you and remember you can book your individual tee times through that route now! If you have any difficulties in getting logged on please do ask. I know the guys on the desk are also very keen to provide help if you need it.

Having lived in Hitchin over the past ten years and I already feel very proud of the town and what it offers. Like me, you might be interested in knowing that the town has been shortlisted for the Champion Award for Britain's Best High Street. If you would like to support the town in winning please click here and VOTE!

I won't see you on Thursday as I have another commitment, but I hope to catch up with most of you on Tuesday. In the meantime, get those scores down!!

Keep golfing ⛳🏌🏌🏌
Yours
Margaret
Ladies Captain 2019

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Captain's Newsletter - 11 August 2019

The Palmer Cup is always a great event to be part of, with the Ladies competing in Pairs Matchplay games against the Senior Men for the trophy presented by David Palmer some years ago. The ladies were thrilled on Wednesday to come away with a 4:4 draw and therefore keeping a firm hold on the trophy for yet another year. Well done to all the ladies and especially to Jenny and Annette, who were last in the field and came in VERY wet indeed!! Nevertheless, they are made of 'sterner stuff' and came in with the important win the ladies needed! A great day!!

Monday last week, had seen another Pairs Matchplay event, when the Friendly Squad went to Mowsbury Park GC, Bedford for their annual head to head. This is always an enjoyable day, with good company but tough competition, especially away from home and the squad came away after losing the match 3 and a half to 1 and a half. Two more Friendly games to go before the end of the season and with both games being held at home, we are keeping our fingers crossed for two wins!! Watch out Redbourn Ladies on Friday 23rd August we are ready for you!!

Lin G and Virginia C travelled to Bishop Stortford on Tuesday to represent Chesfield Downs in the R&A Coronation Foursomes. Whilst they enjoyed the day, they were happy to come away finishing somewhere in the middle of an auspicious field of competitors.

The August Medal on Thursday saw the Junior Captain, Amelia F joining us, which was great to see. She had an amazing round and came in with the best score for division 1 with a nett score of 66 (gross 80) and yet another handicap cut for her! Taking 2nd place and very close behind was Lauren P with nett 67 (gross 82) and 3rd place, Annette G again with nett 67 (gross 84). There were some really great scores amongst division 1 and 5 ladies saw their handicaps cut. In division 2, Ann G walked away with top spot with a nett 69 and a handicap cut, followed by Katy C who came in with a nett 71. A brilliant day for many ladies - well done!!

Congratulations this week also go to Ann Kane, who has just got her new playing handicap and is looking forward to her golf developing. Well done Ann, we look forward to seeing you out there on the course!

We will all be thinking of Sarah F on Thursday, while we are competing in the Macknight Pairs Scramble at home, she will be out early at Woodhall Spa GC playing in the England Golf Medal Final. Good Luck Sarah - have a great day! With Jackie R caddying for her, she will be awesome!

This year's CAPTAINS' DAY is now being advertised on the main noticeboard in the clubhouse. Please do get your name up there on the list to play and join us in the evening of SATURDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER. Don't forget you have the freedom of the course if you are a 5-day member, so the day is open to you all. This is an opportunity for the four Captains to thank their sections for the support they have given them throughout the year, so PLEASE do come along!
Good Luck to everyone playing in the third round of the Tuesday Eclectic this week, it looks like its going to be a pretty house!! Enjoy the golf!

Lastly, a polite request......several pairs of reading glasses that have been kindly put in the locker room box alongside the sign-up sheets have gone missing over the last few weeks. I am only too aware of how easy it is to use these and then accidentally put them in your own bag! If you do find them, could you please return them for us all to use. Thank you!

Enjoy your golf this week!

Yours
Margaret
Ladies Captain 2019

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Captain's Newsletter - 5 August 2019

The Captain's Away Day at Bourn was a great success! Thank you to everyone who came along and joined in the fun, and, of course, a special thank you to Rogie for all the organising! There were times when it felt a little like 'Fawlty Towers' with the builders carrying large boards of wood through the main reception area, the chef being rather sniffy (if not rude) to some of us for, what he considered was, our late arrival and then the disappearing putting competition, that was there one minute but largely gone by the time we came in!!!! Nevertheless, all this was taken in good spirit and after a challenging round of golf, we were only concerned with our meal and who had been successful on the course. It was very clear to us that the defending combination of Nikki B and Helen L would be looking to retain the Kelland Pairs Trophy and indeed they did a fine job coming in with a score of 38 pts and taking second place. However, just beating them this year with 39 pts were Ann G and (in fine form) Annette G. Congratulations to them both! Annette was also the only birdie winner of the day!!

This weekend saw nine ladies playing in the fifth round of their Eclectic. Several ladies came in with gross scores within their handicap range but Pat W topped the leaderboard this time with a gross score of 80. Its looking good for another cut sometime soon for Pat!!

This coming week is another busy one for the section. Tuesday is Round 2 of the Eclectic, so hopefully some improvements from last week will be seen and perhaps some of us will be able to complete all 18 holes if the weather holds. Wednesday, we will be competing against the Senior Men in the Palmer Cup and hoping that we can retain it for a second year, fingers crossed! There looks like a pretty full field for the Thursday August Medal, which is great to see. Don't forget if you fancy a round and can't see a space, contact Lin who will try to fit you in!

There are certainly spaces for the SOLHEIM CONTEST against Mill Green on Friday 13th September. This competition is open to everyone. We are looking for a team of 15 players, plus some reserves. The contest comprises of 3 single games, 6 players for pairs matchplay and finally a further 6 players playing foursomes matchplay. Do get your diaries out and see if you can support us by either playing or caddying (the list for this will go up soon)!!!

The Nearly New Rack of clothing is in place in the locker room now, so please do add to it and also have a look through. There are also several pairs of golf shoes, which have hardly seen a pair of feet, so please do have a browse!!

Finally, it is with sadness that I have to tell you that Kirsten G is unwell. I have sent her some flowers on behalf of us all with a message that we are thinking of her. Many of our ladies have known Kirsten for a good while, and know her as a determined but gentle lady. We send her all our love and best wishes at this difficult time.

Yours
Margaret
Ladies Captain 2019

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