Greetings All,
I hope you’re all wintering well. We may not get a white Christmas but we’ve had a white something-or-other, and I for one am glad to see the back of that and to be able to walk about properly again.
As you know, the green has been duly renovated, and is looking suitably greener – or at least, it was before it went white. The work on the paving in front of the clubhouse is complete, and looks much better as well as being safer for all. It won’t be that long before we can start thinking about getting ready for the new season, and with that in view I’m pestering for volunteers (as usual): this time to take on the responsibility of keeping the garden areas tidy. As you know, Jackie did that for a time, and the surrounds of the green looked much better last season, so we need someone to take on that role, please. It doesn’t mean that you’ll have to do all the gardening yourself – quite a number of people do things on their own anyway – but it would be good to have their various efforts co-ordinated, rather as Jenny does for the clubhouse.
The Annual Dinner seemed to me to go off very well in the new venue, and everyone I’ve seen and talked to about it seems to agree. The attendance was much higher than usual, probably because it was in Battle, and if most members agree we should perhaps go there again next year. So thanks to Pam and Jenny for finding that and for organising menus etc, as well as to Dick for finding ways to relieve you of your pound coins, to President Bruce for presenting trophies and certificates, and to Alison for making sure that we gave them to the right people in the right order. If anyone won a trophy last season but hasn’t got it yet, please let me know and I’ll get it to you. And can I remind you that we agreed that engraving trophies should from now on be the responsibility of the winners (perhaps that will discourage Nigel from winning so many next year!); Alison has found a place in Bexhill that will do them, or if a number of people want them doing at the usual place in Hastings, and I can get enough of them, I could take them there and get a discount. Incidentally, it was good to see a number of new people winning trophies and certificates this year. So when the competition entry forms go out, if you don’t usually enter, do consider doing so next season. You won’t win anything unless you have a go!
Whilst on the subject of competitions, some things for you to think about. As you know, last season we did not play the Club Championship as a separate competition, but as a ‘challenge match’ at Finals Weekend between the winners of the Ladies’ and the Men’s. What do you think about that? Is it better that way, or should we revert to the old format? I’ve also had a suggestion from Mike Artz concerning competitions: that one or more of the competitions that we currently play throughout the season could be played over a full weekend, or on one day if entries were small, sometime during the season, the finalists to play on Finals Weekend as usual (as we do with the Two Woods, for example). There is no doubt that playing competitions throughout the season presents difficulties of organisation, especially for the Competition Secretary, who has to badger people to get their matches played in time. On the other hand, there might be people who would like to enter competitions who were unable to play on a particular day or weekend. So get your thinking caps on about that too, please, and communicate with me or another committee member before we have our next meeting, which will be in mid-January.
As I said, it won’t be too long before we’re thinking about getting out on the green again. But it would be nice to have a social event or two before then. What would we like? One event, probably in February, or two, spread out during the next three months or so. Another quiz? Colin Miller says he is happy to do another if we’d like one. Alison has suggested a Beetle Drive (remember Beetle Drives?). What about that? Again, any ideas will be gratefully received, and argued about by the committee.
Finally … I know that 2022 has been a hard year for some of us, who have suffered losses that cannot be replaced. I know too that all our members will be sending their sincere thoughts to them at this time, and on behalf of the committee I wish everyone the best possible Christmas time, and the very best for the New Year.
Roy.