Buckinghamshire County Ladies Golf Association

Gerrards Cross Golf Club

Delegates’ Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, 2pm, 15th July 2009

PRESENT:

Jen Marshall County President

Sue Beresford County Captain

Veronica Boulter 2nd Team Captain

Lynda Hilton Honorary Secretary

Georgie Cairns Honorary Treasurer

Sue McKeon Joint Comps Sec. (Leagues) & Midlands South EWGA Representative

Pamela Seller Joint Comps Sec. (K/o’s & Bucks Shield)

Jane Etheridge Juniors Representative

Club / Delegate / Additional Attendee
Abbey Hill
Aylesbury Golf Centre
Aylesbury Park / Fran Coombs / Margaret Askew (Capt)
Beaconsfield / Alison Posgate / Sue Lynch
Buckingham / Fiona Robb / Viv Parker
The Buckinghamshire
Burnham Beeches / Sue Woodward
Chartridge Park / Judy Fuller & Sandie Witt (h’cap sec)
Chesham & Ley Hill / Lesley Seller
Chiltern Forest / Sally Gomm
Datchet / Enid Hope
Denham / Diane Wilson(Capt)
Ellesborough / Sue Clutterbuck / Gill Read (Vice Capt)
Farnham Park / Carol Morgan / Maureen Brooker (Sec)
Flackwell Heath / Jill Davies
Gerrards Cross / Donna Caldwell
Harewood Downs
Harleyford / Janet Allen
Hazlemere / Mary Jefferies
Hedsor
Huntswood / Diane Gilbert
Iver / Robyn Finch
Ivinghoe
Lambourne / Meg Williamson / Ayala Williamson (Vice Capt)
Little Chalfont
Magnolia Park
Mentmore / Glynis Lawrence
Milton Keynes
Oakland Park / Judy O’Keefe
Princes Risborough / Jean Gray / Margaret Evans (H’cap) & Meg Brown (Comps)
Richings Park / Julie Reardon
Stoke Park / Wendy Saunders / Barbara Briggs (Vice Capt)
Stowe / Margot Lohman
Tattenhoe
Thorney Park / Anne Crawley
Three Locks
Wavendon / Ann Pullen
Weston Turville / Sheila Cadge / Chris Reading
Wexham Park / Ann Breedon
Whiteleaf / June Marriott / Val Rodger
Windmill Hill
Woburn / Clare Fulton / Phillipa Cook
Wycombe Heights / Joan Allen

1.

/

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

/ Carole Weir 1st Team Captain & County Training Officer
Wendy Smith Seniors Captain
Mary Jefferies Hazlemere
Roz Warren Harewood Downs
Margaret Warren Denham
Pat Wakeland Milton Keynes
Anne House Chartridge Park
Jeanette Bradford Wycombe Heights

2.

/ COUNTY CAPTAIN – Sue Beresford
Welcome to you all.
▪ / Our 1st team enjoyed County Week recently at Ladbrook Park GC in Warwickshire. I hope you will read Carole Weir’s report on our County website.
▪ / The junior Championship is to be held at Denham on July 22 when the Junior team will be selected. Junior County Week takes place at Mentmore and I hope that some of you will have the opportunity to see the girls in action. I can assure of some superb golf.
▪ / We are aware that the AGM last November lasted nearly three hours. We are considering sending out all the reports in advance to the clubs and would then only be given in brief at the meeting.
▪ /

It is regret that I inform you of the untimely death of Gill Benson recently. Gill was a member of Harewood Downs and also served as the treasurer on the County Executive committee

3.

/ EXECUTIVE VACANCIES
Sue Beresford, County Captain asked the Delegates if they would second the nominations made by the Executive Committee for the forthcoming Executive Committee vacancies.
The nominations for are:-
Margaret Maisey - Ellesborough – President
Sue Lee - Mentmore - Vice Captain
Anne Bridges - Mentmore - County Training Officer
Cathy Armstrong - Ellesborough - 2nd Team Captain
Pat Milliner - Harewood Downs - Seniors Captain
All the above nominations were seconded unanimously by the Delegates.

4.

/ MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Proposed by Fiona Robb – Buckingham

Seconded by Janet Allen – Harleyford

5.

/

MATTERS ARISING

Page 7 - Active Inactive handicaps.
Are there any views to the contrary that an active handicap is required to enter and win a EWGA Medal from 2010? General support - an active handicap is required.

▪

/ Voting procedures. Your views were passed to the Sub committee through the regional meeting.

▪

/ Page 8 - With respect to the merger, not much to report as we are in the talks about talks stages, but most believe a merger is the way forward but many counties are not in favour of a big bang.

▪

/ A letter has gone out to Ladies’ Secretaries re scratch medals and survey of division 1 players. Please check you secretaries are dealing with it.

▪

/ Rules courses have not been advertised yet.

▪

/ EWGA diary – despite our feelings 5 000 have been printed and will be for sale at Championships this year.

▪

/ Page 9 Delegates forum – would any club prepared to host a delegates meeting next year speak to me at the end of today’s meeting or e-mail me as soon as possible

6.

/ EXECUTIVE OFFICERS’ REPORTS
/ Treasurer – Georgie Cairns
I would like to take this opportunity to “run some numbers past you” in relation to Capitation fees. The per capita levy has been held at £5.00 for the last four years but it is inevitable that we will need to increase it for the forthcoming year, not only because of increasing costs related to Bucks moving in the new Midlands South Region with increased travelling costs,
but also because many clubs are predicting a drop in their membership numbers as a knock-on effect of the recession. Because the fees are based on membership numbers as at 1st Jan the impact has not been felt so badly this year – but we need to be prepared for a drop in income next year.

▪

/ My initial thought was to increase the Capitation fee to £5.50 but acknowledge that this would represent a 10% increase, albeit the first increase in five years. Alternatively we could up it to £5.25 or similar which clubs might find more acceptable in the current financial climate. If a further increase was then necessary the following year, when we have a better idea of how membership numbers stand, then it might not be such a bitter pill to swallow.

▪

/ At the present moment in time I am still gathering in all the various County Week expenses, always our largest item of expenditure for the year and when figures are complete for this I shall have a better idea of how things stand – and an even better idea still when I’ve done the end of year figures – which I should have by end Aug/early Sept.
However since we don’t have another delegates meeting before the AGM I felt it important to mention this to you today. If you are happy for us to discuss it subsequently in an Exec meeting and then email you our decision on the precise increase, but I would like your approval today that there should be an increase with the proviso that it will not be more than 50p.
Handicap Advisor – Di Bovey
This memo came from Wendy Taylor Chairman, EWGA Handicap Committee Re: The Rainbow Concept.
“It is understood that golf clubs in your County may have received a communication from Mr Roger Wornell, concerning his initiative called "The Rainbow Concept". Mr Wornell proposes that a new rainbow course be set up in clubs on which mixed golf and qualifying competitions can be played (see www.rainbowgolfcourse.co.uk). Mr Wornell claims that he has agreement of CONGU, EWGA & EGU, but this is certainly not the case. CONGU & EWGA have written to him stating that although his concept is of interest it may only be used for social golf as rainbow courses will not have a SSS. EWGA have stated that it will not be rating a rainbow course now or in the future, therefore qualifying competitions are not permitted.”
Joint Competitions’ Secretary (K/o and annual competitions) - Pamela Seller
The summer competitions are well under way and in your envelopes you will find an update results sheet for them all. Also the entry form and rules for the Interclub Foursomes which is being held at Gerrards Cross this year on Thursday 15th October.
▪ / Bucks Shield
We have now reached the semi final/final stages which are taking place at Burnham Beeches Golf Club on Friday 14 August. Harewood Downs are playing Woburn and the holders Buckingham are playing Beaconsfield. The first tee time for the semi final is 8.30am and the final starts at 1.30pm. All spectators are welcome so please come along and support your Club.
▪ / Champion of Champions
We are now into round three with only one match having been played.
▪ / Challenge Cup
Two matches still need to be played before we can confirm all the semi finalists, these need to be played by 29 July. Lois Shoosmith from Ellesborough and Sarah Hocking from Harleyford are both thru to the semi final.
▪ / Summer Greensomes
Sue Clutterbuck and Eve Mandry are playing Jo Wells and Angela French all from (Ellesborough) in one of the semi-finals the other semi finalists are not known yet as their round three matches have not been played.
▪ / Rose Bowl
Two matches have been played in round three and that was Sue Carroll (Gerrards Cross) beating Irene Gregory (Datchet) and Julie Butterworth (Harewood Downs) beating Margaret Gilbert (Datchet). Sue Carroll and Julie Butterworth now play each other in one of the semi finals.
▪ / I would just like to say that the competition results sheets are as up to date as they can be but obviously with matches still to be played they are constantly changing. So please go to the County website for the latest results.
Joint Competition Secretary (Leagues) – Sue McKeon
The Summer Scratch Leagues are in progress, with Round 4 underway. Up to date results sheets for the Silver and Bronze leagues are in the envelopes.
▪ / The Winter League entry closes on August 28th, a gentle reminder to those clubs who have not yet entered. The entry form is in The Captains Competition File which was circulated at the AGM in October. Contact me if your club requires another copy.
▪ / The Autumn Meeting for all handicaps is at The Lambourne Club on Thursday 8th October. The entry form can be found on page 18 of the year book and entries close on September 5th.
▪ / I look forward to receiving the Eclectic and Cygnet Trophy results – the closing dates are 15th and 30th September respectively.
Ist Team Captain – Carole Weir – read in absence by Veronica Boulter
Another successful County Week has come and gone with Warwickshire as victors in the Midland South region with Oxfordshire 2nd and Bucks 3rd.
▪ / Our first match on Monday was against our old rivals Berks and it proved to be very exciting. We were honours even after the morning foursomes. We then won 3 of the afternoon singles matches and Berks won 2. That left Vicki Harris out on the course in a battle with Laura Webb from Berkshire. When I joined Vicki’s match she was 3 down with 3 to play but I didn't christen her “Pocket Rocket” for nothing!! She dug in and halved her match to bring us an overall win by 5 matches to 4.
▪ / Tuesday bought our came again Oxon. My congratulations to them since they are a very much improved team and they proved to strong for us. The end result was 61/2 to 21/2 to Oxon who then went on to win several more times during the week and battle it out on the Friday with Warwickshire for the overall win.
We played Worcester and Herefordshire (W & H) on Wednesday and once again we were honours even after the morning foursomes. However, the girls played some fantastic golf in the afternoon and won the singles 5 matches to 1 and the match we lost went down to the last putt on the last green. The overall result was Bucks 61/2 to W & H 21/2. My congratulations to Zoe Fitz-Costa as this was her first full county match and she bought home half a point in the foursomes with Steph Gough and then a full point on her own in the singles. /
▪ / Thursday we faced Warwickshire who were last year’s winners and have a whole host of good young players. They were also on home ground and sadly they proved too strong for us and the overall result was 7 matches to 2 in Warwickshire’s favour. /
▪ / Friday bought our last match against Northants. Sadly, it also bought the rain and a lot of it!! Eventually, the course became unplayable and the girls were called in from the course part way through the morning foursomes. The decision was made that all matches still on the course would be declared halved and we would move on to the afternoon singles matches with a two tee start to give us the best chance of avoiding any other downpours. This decision left us honours even with Northants since we had each won a match and Jess Burrows and Steph Gough were still playing when the rain came. My thanks to them for accepting this decision with such grace. The afternoon singles matches were halved giving us a halved match overall and securing our 3rd place. /
▪ / Whilst we didn't get the result we wanted the team were wonderful ambassadors for Bucks. I couldn't single all of you out in this report girls but I know you all gave your all. You were great fun to be with all week and I know you are fired up to improve Buck’s position next year. /
▪ / Can I take this opportunity to thank all the ladies who came to support and caddy? You can't believe what a boost it is to see red shirts and sweaters everywhere. We hope that you enjoyed the golf and we look forward to seeing you again at Goring & Streatley from 14th to 18th June 2010. /
/ 2nd Team Captain - Veronica Boulter /
▪ / The 2nd Team will play their first away match at Droitwich Golf Club against Worcestershire/Herefordshire on Friday 24th July and the last match will be played on Thursday 27th August against Warwickshire at Whitefields Golf Club, Draycote, Nr., Rugby. Making her 2nd Team debut in the match against Worcestershire will be 12 year old Annabel Dimmock from Beaconsfield who plays off 10. She recently represented Beaconsfield in a scratch match, is the Bucks Junior Par 3 Champion and in May took part in the 2009 European Championships in Scotland. The top finishers in each category then competed in the Van Horn Cup where the best European players were pitted against the top non-European golfers. She qualified to compete and came third in her age category. She and her partner halved their match to help Europe to a 6 and a half to 4 and a half win. Being one of the top 5 finishers she has received an invitation to the US Kids Golf World Championships at North Carolina in August. Last week at the Midlands South Championship which took place at Buckingham Golf Club Annabel was one of the top 16 qualifiers to take part in the matchplay stage, playing to a 7 handicap in the afternoon.