New General Manager

MITCHAM GOLF CLUB

General Manager

The Board is delighted to announce the appointment of, and to extend a warm welcome Dennise Coker to the position of General Manager.

Some of you already know Dennise, the daughter of a Past Ladies’ Captain and mother of a Past Junior Captain, and others may remember her from her 3 years assisting our juniors section.  She joins us having spent over 30 years at HSBC.  Her time there has given her the benefit of a very strong financial and business background which together with her strong people-skills and proven organisational abilities we are sure will prove invaluable in her role here at MGC.  This will undoubtedly be crucial in helping us negotiate the interesting but challenging times that lie ahead.  Much has been said about the need to move our business forward; working together with The Management Committee, Board and members, Dennise is very well placed to assist us in doing just that. She will be instrumental in the development and delivery of the plans which will ensure the on-going success of our club.

We are confident of the warm welcome that Dennise will receive when she joins us towards the end of January 2013.

The Board would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the other applicants who contributed towards making this a challenging decision.

MGC Board

Captains December Report

Captain’s Report November/December 2012

Well, this is the last report from yours truly in my capacity as Captain. Looking back over the year it has been dominated by the weather which has impacted greatly on our enjoyment on the course, and with the decimation of green fee income, has been instrumental in our reported loss which was in excess of £25k.
As I said at the AGM we must endeavour to recoup these losses next year. We can all do our part to this end. There are at least 2 things that we should all be able to manage: 

1. Attendance at Club functions this year was pitiful. Evie worked very hard to ensure that there was a veritable smorgasbord of acts throughout the year which should have appealed to most. Apparently not. While our direct losses are quantified in the annual accounts, losses in terms of bar and kitchen sales are less easy to enumerate. Please give Social your support next year.

2. We need visitors; golfers and function attendees alike. They provide income that is crucial to our survival. We do too little to welcome these valuable resources, and are often guilty of perceiving them as a nuisance, interfering with our enjoyment. We can all do our part by creating a (good!) memory for visitors to leave with, thus increasing the probability that they’ll return. 

If we are to see a return to profitability, continue to enjoy improvements on and off the course and see subscriptions maintained at reasonable levels, these things are the minimum to which we should commit. Let’s also work together on engendering a return to the ‘Club spirit’. As I said in an earlier report, we seem to becoming more of a fragmented collection of swindles rather than a club. 

Our Charity, Help for Heroes has benefited to the very healthy tune of £3161 thanks to the efforts and the generosity of many, not to mention poor golf on the 18th! The collection tins will remain on the bar until the end of the year – please don’t give up on giving! 

The AGM yet again failed to attract the required numbers to allow voting on any propositions. From this it could (quite rightly?) be assumed that the vast majority who didn’t attend is quite happy with everything, and that there are no concerns. If this is not the case, it throws doubt over the credibility of genuine concerns. Why is it so difficult to attract just 25% of the membership to such an important meeting? 

Jason Stocker and Paul Burton have been very busy behind the scenes putting together some initiatives that are sure to please. Jason described the Mitcham Golf Club Service Directory which includes some 20 companies (with many more to come) which will give discounted goods/services on production of an MGC member’s card. He also told the meeting of our new affiliation with The Golf Network which, for £10 a year, enables members to play at 27 other courses up to 10 times a year, completely free. Further details of these schemes will be made available when you pay next year’s subs, which can be done anytime now; the office is open (if not, the Pro Shop is) and would welcome you! 

Jason went on to hint at the plans for an ‘enhanced practice facility’. Several proposals have been tabled, and we have commenced a feasibility study – watch this space! 

In my address at the AGM I omitted to recognise the considerable time and effort put in by our Village Captain, Neil Heath. Sorry Neil; you have done a terrific job managing what was a very busy schedule, and together with your teams, through your unique fining system, contributed significantly to the Charity. Thanks to you all. 

The Ron Hart very nearly became yet another casualty of the weather. Fortunately the course was deemed (just!) playable, and after a short delay play commenced, despite a covering of snow on the greens. The adverse conditions didn’t prevent Steven Hall and Ken Mehmet coming in with an impressive 45 points. Well done indeed. What was equally impressive, and has always been so, was the slick organisation of the day. Congratulations and thanks to Mo Barber and Barry Jones for a truly great day. It would be remiss of me to fail to acknowledge the inimitable MC, Jack Bruce who had the audience howling with laughter; what a terrific character! Another unexpected truly exceptional performance came from Louise, who braved the elements to serve hot drinks outside for the duration of the competition. Above and beyond the call of duty, I’d say, and very much appreciated. 

The Ladies will be holding their Christmas raffle on Sunday. Thanks to many of you who have already bought tickets, and to those of you who haven’t, please do. The kid’s Christmas party is on the same day, so why not stay awhile after your game to get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy the spectacle of Santa appearing from the woods by the 18th. (It’s interesting to note that there were about as many kid’s names down for this event as there were names on the list for the Captains’ Farewell Party; hmmm). 

I would like to thank the ladies for their kind invitation to their presentation dinner which was a thoroughly enjoyable event. What worried me however was the thought of being stopped by the police on the way home, and Evie explaining, ‘Honest Officer, I won all this silverware!’ 

Declining membership numbers are a worry in general, but are of particular concern to the ladies and juniors. If anyone out there has any ideas how we can reverse this trend, we’d love to hear them. 

Evie and I have thoroughly enjoyed our year as captains, and would like to thank sincerely those of you who did give us your support. In closing I would like to thank the committee; Past Captain Keith Lewis, Match & Handicap Gary Brazier, who went through a very steep learning curve, and produced the goods, Vice Captains Adelaide Kirby and Peter Jablonski, Chairman Jim Lawrence, and of course, my nearest and dearest, Evie Simpson. Dave Willis and his team deserve praise of the highest order for maintaining our course in such immaculate condition. Paul Burton and Mark Fluskey are to be thanked for all they have done for the club and for the members and the bar and kitchen staff is to be commended for working so well in difficult times. Although I mentioned his departure in my last report, it wouldn’t be right not to thank Dave Tilley again for all he has done for MGC over the past 61⁄2 years, and to wish him well in the future. 

A very merry Christmas, and a happy (and hopefully!) prosperous New year to you all. With 
best wishes to next year’s captains for a successful 2013. 

Brian Simpson 

Your Golf Travel Sign up with us

Europe's biggest golf travel agency have signed a sponsorship deal here at Mitcham Golf Club with a number of golf days planned and some advertising at the club. Lee who is the Corporate Director at Your Golf Travel said" We are delighted to work with a golf club so close to London with so much history, we are looking forward to hosting a couple of big golf days here."

200 Club Results

1st Prize      Peter Jablonski       £150

2nd Prize    Bobby Moore          £75

3rd Prize     Alan Thorpe           £50

4th Prize     Ron Davis              £25

Next draw will be end of December, if any member is interested in joining just email paul@mitchamgolfclub.co.uk

Captains Drive In

Father Christmas Coming to Mitcham GC

Father Christmas is coming to Mitcham Golf Club on Sunday 16th December from 15.00. This will include a children's party and entertainer as well as meeting Father Christmas. If any of your family are interested in coming over please email paul@mitchamgolfclub.co.uk with the names of the children and  their ages, there is no cost for this event.

Xmas Decks up at the Club

As Christmas is getting ever closer we have now put the decorations up with a tree in the bar area and in the front dining area.

Midweek Stableford Results

1st    Dean Gurney     39pts
2nd   Peter Miles        36pts
3rd   Robert Scully     34pts

200 Club Draw October

£150     Dougie Kerr

£75       Stephen Hall

£50       Sarah Edwards

£25       Brendan Williams

October's Captains Report

Sadly I find myself writing my penultimate report on a Sunday afternoon, back from the club, having laid to rest the latest casualty of our annus horibilis – this time the Village Mixed falling foul of Mother Nature. Is there no end to this dreadful weather? Someone did point out to me that it hardly ever rains on Wednesdays when the midweek stableford is played; food for thought, perhaps?!

Presentation Supper went very well with the worthy winners collecting their trophies for many a fine performance. Paul Burton mistakenly announced that there had been no holes in one this year, to which an aggrieved Brendan Williams, in his inimitable style reminded everyone that he had had one, and it had cost him a bloody fortune! Apologies, Brendan. Paul and Dave Tilley put a huge amount of effort into the evening, as did the kitchen and bar staff. Paul prepared a very professional power point presentation which displayed the names of the winners together with the trophies won on the big screen. Nice touch. Many thanks to all.

After having been postponed, the last major competition of the year, The President’s Prize was finally played. The later groups certainly drew the short straw as far as the weather was concerned, finding themselves finishing in far from ideal conditions. This didn’t prevent Glen Moore carding an impressive 43 points; gross 67, comprising 16 pars and 2 birdies. Wonderful golf played on a crappy day. Well done to you, Sir!

The inaugural President’s Prize for the Ladies was won by guess who? Yep, Evie Simpson, who had had one eye on the impressive trophy from the start! Well done to you, Ma’am; is there no stopping you?

Dave & Dan Berry defended the Bill Andrews Trophy – hard to believe Dan! Only joking mate; well done the pair of you! Congratulations to Nick McArthur who was victorious in the Village scratch knock out.

Will Sullivan.

You should have by now received an email from Paul regarding the midweek stableford competitions. These will continue on Wednesdays until the end of November. When they resume next year, by popular demand, they will move to every Tuesday.
As you are no doubt aware Dave Tilley has resigned his post of Secretary/Manager. His decision was not made lightly, and was for personal reasons. Many of us will miss him, and ourthanksgotohimforallhehasdonefortheclubindifficulttimes. Fromapersonal perspective his assistance has been invaluable to me this year. Thanks Dave, and all the best to you and yours.

Next Sunday, 11th November is, as we all know, Remembrance Sunday. I was playing in a group with Tim Deane last week when he suggested we sound the klaxon at 11am, and wherever we are, pause to reflect for a minute to remember the selfless actions of those who gave their lives for our Country. Well put Tim; consider it done. My only fear is that through force of habit, we’ll all act like a bunch of Zombies and find ourselves trudging mindlessly back to the club house!

The Captains’ farewell Christmas party is fast approaching, and if it is to go ahead Evie & I need your commitment. A promise of support doesn’t cover costs. A great deal of effort and considerable finances are involved. The list will stay up until Monday 12th November, but if we have fewer than 80 names up, it will be cancelled. Once you have put your name up, please buy your tickets at the bar. I have heard it said that £20 is too much for a party at the club. Bear in mind that it is not going to be any ordinary buffet; it’s going to be an M & S buffet! Seriously though, there will be a bubbly reception served by the Captains, a D.J (not cheap during peak party season) and a sumptuous rolling buffet all evening. It’s certainly not going to be an Iceland ‘special’ with scabby sausage rolls and dried up scotch eggs. Furthermore, courtesy of the Captains, 5 ticket holders will receive their money back by way of a door-prize draw.

On the Marketing front many things are happening, most very successful, some not. Watch this space for some interesting developments, but in the meantime I doff my cap to the brave volunteers who welcomed a group from Burntwood Lane recently; ‘Nuff said!
Keith Lewis received, on behalf of the club, a rather nice photo of Tom Dunn, who laid out the original course in 1891/2 which was presented by his grandson Willie Dunn. We will find a suitable spot for it in the clubhouse.

The next Quiz night is Friday 16th November; the list is now up. You can also expect to be harassed by the ladies selling Christmas raffle tickets – please give them your support. The draw will take place on the same day as the Children’s Christmas party, Sunday 16th December.

Until next time. Brian Simpson

PS: You may have wondered why Will Sullivan’s name has appeared in this report. Only the two of us know answer to that one, don’t we Will? My lips are sealed. (The good money’s on Neil Heath’s Granddaughter!) In the same vein, Ian Sellers is fast running out of time to claim his pint! 

Quiz Night Friday 16th November

Presentation Evening

 Last Friday's Annual Presentation Evening

JOSH STONE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER

MARTIN CLARK WINNER OF THE HARRY WILLIAMS SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

FRANK CASSIDY GREENSMITH CUP WINNER

NEIL HEATH CAPTAINS PRIZE WINNER

NICK McARTHUR VILLAGE SCRATCH WINNER

JOHN PARKE MIDSUMMER CUP WINNER

DAVE EVANS BRIDGE BOWL WINNER

DAVE ADAMS TIM BELL SHIELD WINNER

BARRY /IAN SEYMOUR FOREMAN CUP WINNERS

ROBERT SCULLY JUNIOR JUBILEE WINNER

JOHN BOTTING  FOREMAN CUP RUNNER UP

JOSH STONE JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPION

BRIAN WARD NEWMAN CUP WINNER

ROLEY WITHERS WILLIAMS CUP WINNER

JIM RYAN WYATT CUP WINNER

JOHN BOTTING WILSOM BOWL WINNER

DAVE ADAMS ELLIS BOWL WINNER

TONY OTOOLE MALLABY DEELEY WINNER

DAN BERRY BILL ANDREWS WINNER

TROPHY WINNERS

G BRAZIER/B SEYMOUR WINNERS OF THE TERRY MOORE TROPHY

Midweek Stableford News

Midweek Stableford News

The midweek stableford competition which is played every Wednesday will close from the end of November. We will restart the competition on the first Tuesday of February and this will continue every Tuesday throughout the season.

Secretary's Departure

To all members & staff

I have tendered my notice of resignation as Secretary Manager of Mitcham Golf Club. This is not a decision taken lightly and is for personal reasons, not a reflection or comment on others. My decision for me.
I shall continue to work through the next 3 months and look forward to handing over to my successor, when I shall resume my membership.
I would like to thank those that have supported me in this position and I hope that you all welcome and support the new Secretary Manager when they are appointed .

Dave Tilly

Bar Hours

Bar Hours

In line with the current Constitution and Regulations effective from 29th October, the bar will close Monday to Thursday at 6pm and the clubhouse at 6.30pm to allow for drinking up time.

This ruling will from time to time be overruled if the Secretary or Steward deem viable.

Opening hours from Friday to Sunday inclusive will remain unchanged.

These rules will be in force until new British Summertime begins on April 1st 2013.

A Bit of History

The Exploits of the Secretary

 

Thanks to Peter Miles.

How many members know that Mitcham Golf Club's Secretary was runner up in the Amateur Championship?

No …. DaveTilley has not been hiding his light under a bushel! 

The man in question is James Wallace. The year in question is 1934.

Wallace was an accomplished Scottish golfer who joined Mitcham Golf Club in 1935 as Secretary and Manager. The 1937 edition of the Professional Golfer's Handbook records that he held the amateur course record of 70 – the professional course record was Nelson Hambly's at 69.

Unfortunately, when Jimmy Wallace (Troon Portland) played the 36 hole final at Prestwick he came up against the young American Lawson Little who was, in the opinion of the highly-regarded golf writer Charles Price, “the greatest match player in the history of golf."

And Lawson Little was playing well! Bernard Darwin called Lawson Little's 14-and-13 victory "one of the most terrific exhibitions in all golfing history." He shot an unofficial 66 in the morning, five better than the course record. In the 23 holes completed Little had a dozen 3s on his card!

Little had an expert short game. He used a variety of clubs from around the green, and in fact often carried as many as seven wedges among his 26 clubs, an excess which in 1938 prompted the USGA to institute the 14-club limit

Lawson Little went on to become U.S. Open Champion in 1940 so James Wallace was in no way disgraced by his defeat – he had defeated 6 other players to reach the final.

Wallace was still Secretary in May 1939 when, playing off a handicap of 3, he partnered Nelson Hambly (Plus 2) in the Wildernesse Foursomes a competition for club secretary and professional.

Wallace also captained the Rest of the World team against an England team in the celebrated matches held each year at Mitcham after the new club house was opened in 1934. A Pathe News clip of the 1935 match can be watched here... http://www.britishpathe.com/video/news-in-a-nutshell-14/query/mitcham

Read more about Lawson Little here … http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/hof/member.php?member=1074

Magical Golf Video

Thanks to Stuart Mutter who sent in this video   http://www.youtube.com/everyshotimaginable

Willie Dunn Presentation

Wille Dunn (right) presenting photograph to Keith Lewis Clapham Common GS of his great, great uncle Tom Dunn who laid out the original course on Mitcham Common in 1891/2.

Turkey Trot Results

Winner   G Kyffin         36pts
Second    G Moore        36pts
Third      J Harbrecht   35pts

Hickory Golf Society

Mitcham Golf Club welcomed both Clapham Common golf society and the Hickory golf society today on a very bright and breezy morning. We also had a special guest today, Willie Dunn who's great, great uncle was  Golf Professional and course designer Tom Dunn (pictured below on the far left)

PETER MILES MITCHAM MEMBER

Fairway Credit Offer - Membership

Spread the Cost of Your Subscription

Fairway Credit enables you to pay your fees by monthly instalments . It's flexible, it's affordable, it makes sense . You won't have to break the savings and you can use funds in hand pay other bills.

For more information call our Secretary on 0208 648 4197 for an application form.

Captains Farewell Party

TO BOOK PLEASE SEE THE BAR OR EMAIL paul@mitchamgolfclub.co.uk

Presentation Night

On Friday 2nd November we have the Presentation Supper evening, for £10 the evening includes Steak & Ale Pie followed by Cheese & Biscuits. Please enter your name on the notice board or email me at paul@mitchamgolfclub.co.uk.

Midweek Stableford Results

Congratulations to Richard Wymark who won this week's midweek stableford, he birdied the last to finish with 41pts,  Richard beat Peter Jablonski and Alan Thorpe on the back nine. These stableford competitions will be played every Wednesday throughout the year.

Tee Times Presidents Prize

                                                        PRESIDENTS PRIZE DRAW
                                                      SUNDAY 21st OCTOBER 2012
                                                           18 HOLES STABLEFORD
                                               

1	7:30	M LACEY	L DONOHUE	S BURKE
2	7:38	D BERRY	DAN BERRY	S PAICE
3	7:45	R WHYMAN	P CLOTHIER	A DOBSON
4	7:52	S LAYBURN	B PETERSON	J LOWNEY
5	8:00	NO TEE OFF	NO TEE OFF	NO TEE OFF
6	8:08	K DAVISON	D VARRAN	T BIGGS
7	8:15	R LUNDIE	A CRAIG	G LEWIS
8	8:22	B WARD	M JEFFERY	T MANNEH
9	8:30	B FRENCH	D MCEVOY	D ADAMS
10	8:38	C SPAIN	K MAHER	P ROGERSON
11	8:45	D MARSH	A HODGSON	T PARDEW
12	8:52	B DANIELS	B ROLFE	T PITTAS
13	9:00	NO TEE OFF	NO TEE OFF	NO TEE OFF
14	9:08	M BRIDGEWATER	K LEWIS	J PARKE
15	9:15	G KYFFIN	P MILES	K GLADING
16	9:22	B MCFARLANE	T JONES	G YUILL
17	9:30	L TURNER	C TURNER	S TURNER
18	9:38	R HARMAN	M DILLEY	G BALL
19	9:45	W SULLIVAN	N HEATH	G BRAZIER
20	9:52	R TURRELL	C BROWN	G WILSON
21	10:00	NO TEE OFF	NO TEE OFF	NO TEE OFF
22	10:08	T STOVELL	T DEANE	T OTOOLE
23	10:15	T BROWN	J STONE	N MCARTHUR
24	10:22	R MORRIS	C BUDDE	C WESTON
25	10:30	P J JABLONSKI	M PODMORE	S CARTER
26	10:38	B SEYMOUR	I SEYMOUR	D P THOMAS
27	10:45	A THORPE	S HALL	D EVANS
28	10:52	B SIMPSON	J WRAY	F CASSIDY
29	11:00	NO TEE OFF	NO TEE OFF	NO TEE OFF
30	11:08	Ladies	Ladies	Ladies
31	11:15	Ladies	Ladies	Ladies
32	11:22	Ladies	Ladies	Ladies
33	11:30	Ladies	Ladies	Ladies
34	11:38	M ADDY	K MEMHET	D PERERA
35	11:45	R WOOD	P JABLONSKI	W KELLY
36	11:52	W OSBOURNE	R BARRONS
37	12:00	NO TEE OFF	NO TEE OFF	NO TEE OFF
38	12:08	M CURTIS	R WITHERS	I SMALLMAN
39	12:15	W FROST	J HAYNES	J HARBRECHT
40	12:22	B A WILLIAMS	G LYNDON	M LEWIS
41	12:30	G J MOORE	C PALMER	T SYSON
42	12:38	N STEPHENSON	S CHOO