My year of captaincy is over half way through and my mid-year progress report is overdue. As many of you are aware, my key objectives in serving on the committee for the last few years have been course improvement, membership accounting and maximising on the asset called Porters Park Golf Club.

The six-year plan for the course, launched in 2000, has started to show benefit, with the course this year as good as I can remember, to the credit of David Tricker, Alan Pountney and most of all Martin Smith and his dedicated team. However, we cannot afford to be complacent. Much remains to be done by way of maintenance and improvement, and with further careful planning and investment the course can be even better. Fairway bunkering, fairway watering and some green reconstruction are all vital steps.

Membership has grown steadily this year. The rebalancing of numbers agreed at last year's AGM has made it possible to realise income from previously five-day vacancies. The average age of members continues to reduce, but we still need to attract a high calibre of new members. With this in mind, the committee continues to look closely at membership structure options.

The wide variety of social events adds another dimension to what the club has to offer, as does the excellent catering provided by Tim McRae and his team. The Summer Ball was particularly well attended and nearly 250 members and guests enjoyed a great meal and evening of fun and entertainment. Thank you to Kevin O'Donnell and all the hard-working members of the social sub-committee.

Next social event is the Summer Classical Cabaret on Saturday, August 13th. This is always a popular occasion, so book early to avoid disappointment.

The club's finances are performing well against budget in the very safe hands of Lionel Cooper, with the increased number of membership entrance fees adding a welcome injection of cash.

This year's Charity Day, on Saturday, September 10th, will follow the usual format, with the strongly contested Four Nations Trophy at stake. Fund-raising, however, will be on a lower scale, as volunteers to orchestrate a big event have not stepped forward. Nevertheless, Phil Beard-well has agreed to organise a big raffle, and we will auction a limited number of lots at the dinner, all in aid of a local charity - The Peace Hospice in Watford. I urge everybody to dig deep in supporting the raffle and auction by buying and selling as many tickets as possible and bidding high at the auction. Anyone wishing to donate raffle prizes should please advise Denise, Jackie or Cathy in the office as soon as possible.

Other forthcoming events of note are the Open Mixed Greensomes on Sunday, August 14th and the 36-hole Men's Invitation on Friday, September 9th.

I cannot write a report without mention of the sterling services provided by our house staff- Peter Marshall, Denise, Cathy and Jackie in the office, Jill and her team behind the bar, Linda and all the waitresses, and last but not least Stuart and Adrian for keeping the club spick and span. I must also thank Alf Westaway and Dennis Lamond for the time and help they have given in starting the multitude of club competitions and golf events.

Finally, thanks to all who took part in Captain's Day (results on back page). I do hope you all had as much fun as my daughters and I.

As already published in the club diary, the course will be closed all day on Friday, August 5th for the Ladies Scratch Open and on Saturday, August 6th for the King George V Coronation Challenge Cup, Tuesday, August 16th for the Ladies' Open, a.m. only, Monday, September 19th for the Porters Park Mid Amateur competition.

Although play is expected to be possible both morning and afternoon, there will restricted tee times on Friday, September 2nd. This is owing to a corporate day not shown in the diary. Watch the noticeboard for further details. The match versus staff, originally scheduled for that day will now be played on Friday, September 23rd.

Apologies for wrongly stating that the course would be closed all day Monday, June 20th. Tee Times was incorrectly informed.

The scratch team have had a surprising month. We started by winning the prestigious Peak Production Trophy at John O'Gaunt. The home team looked unstoppable, with England international John Kemp +2, Open qualifier Mark Wharton +1 and their newly crowned county champion playing off scratch. The competition was a 36-hole scratch medal in which all three scores counted. In extremely windy conditions, Ewen Wilson shot 71,76, Geoff Kirby 75,75 and Michael Moore 75,69 to win the tournament by five shots. Michael was runner-up to Kemp for the gross prize.

We then played Berkhamsted away in the scratch league. With two players unavailable and one choosing not to play, Jamie Longman came in to make his debut and performed well in an unfortunate 6.5 -5.5 defeat.

Nick Pateman and Michael Moore competed at Ashridge in regional qualifying for The Open. Michael missed out with a 75, but Nick made it through to final qualifying with a wonderful 69. He then went up to Scotscraig to try to land one of the three places available. Sadly, his 75,80 left him just below halfway in the field. Better luck next year, Nick.

With the KGV almost upon us, I normally worry about whether there will be any growth to produce a good putting surface so early in the year. With the change of date from April to August, I now worry whether there will be any grass left on the fairways and in the rough as this dry spell continues.

The new fairway irrigation installed in the spring on the 7th and 18th is now paying off with a full covering of grass on these areas. More dry areas will benefit from similar treatment next spring.

The turf on the new bunkers is being watered on a regular basis, backed up by wetting agents. Only a few dry spots are present at the moment. Members will need to be understanding as sand wash-down is inevitable in the bunkers, and 1 would presume more dry spots will appear with all this dry weather.

Damien, our Australian temporary member of staff, is leaving at the end of the month to continue his world travels. We wish him well.

Midweek starting times are to change from August 1st , most significantly in that three and four balls may now start at 7.45am from the 10th.

The revised times are being posted on the 1st and 10th tees, on the notice boards in the men's and ladies' changing rooms and in Palm Court. Weekend times will remain as they are.

Members are gently reminded that you should be ready to tee off five minutes before your appointed start time. In strokeplay competitions, if a player is more than 10 minutes late then he/she is disqualified. In matchplay competitions, if a player hasn't turned up within half an hour of the arranged tee-off time the opponent may claim a walkover.

The notice is up in Palm Court for the new-look married couples' competition, now a foursomes stableford followed by an evening meal. As five-day members may now enter, we are hoping that this event will be well supported.

Ladies should note that, starting in 2006, the Lane Salver, which is already a 36-hole medal competition, will also be the qualifier for the club championship.

Smoking will be banned in the clubhouse from 1st August 2005. The committee decision, which will apply to members, guests, visitors and all those attending private functions (apart from those already booked before the ban came into force) follows a survey of the membership which found overwhelmingly in favour of making the clubhouse a no-smoking area.

There was no such unanimity on the other issue put to members - the suggestion that informal knife-and-fork snacks should be consumed in an area especially set aside for the purpose. There will therefore be no change and the present arrangements will continue.

Lady Captain's Day 2005 and the year's longest day dawned bright and clear and very pink! Anita had decreed a "pink day", with fines for those not sporting at least one item of visible pink attire. For those who did forget there was a scramble to borrow items of pink golf gear. Not until later did we realise that there was an abundance of pink lipstick and nail varnish - but would they have counted?

Anita also raised money with penalties for those unfortunate enough to find the sand on the 9th and 14th. This will be added to the sum being donated to her chosen charity, Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The morning's enjoyable and fun round of golf was followed by an excellent lunch. Anita had continued her pink theme into the dining room and the tables were a tribute to much hard work.

An array of prizes was presented to the winners whose names appear below. Congratulations to them all and a big vote of thanks to our Lady Captain for a very successful and memorable day.

Although this is only July, work starts next month on preparing subscription notices for the new club year commencing 1st October. Would any members wishing to make changes to their membership or whose personal details have changed, please help by letting the office know NOW.

Ken Hannah who won the Captain's Prize with 40pts, three clear of runner-up David Holden. Daniel Marsh took the 5-day/7-day restricted prize with 36pts from Andrew Gall on 35. Among the ladies, Sally McAlister's 40pts just pipped Melanie Roberts on countback. Junior Captain Jamie Longman headed his section with 38pts, with David Goldie runner-up on 36. Nearest-the-pin prizes went on the Friday to Mary Gibson (9th) and Mike Gibson (14th) and on Captain's Day to Mike Mealy (9th) end Ken Spector (14th).

The Club Captain who, unable to play for his own prizes, earlier came into his own by winning the June medal (0-12) with 80-12-68 from Richard Paffley with 74-5-69. John Perry won the 13-28 division with 79-13-66 from Gerard Elliott with 83-15-68.

Stephen McConnell who won the July medal (0-12) with 78-12-66 from David Paton with 72-5-67. Scott Maclachlan won the 13-28 division with 90-22-68 from Terry Wakeman with 83-13-70 Ian Lovatt and David Fennessy who won the spring leg of the Maltby Challenge Cup Mark Godber and Charles Strajkowski who amassed 46pts to win the Second Generation Greensomes from Rena Connell and IanAckroyd on 40.

Fionnuala Smith who won the Lady Captain's Day stableford (silver division) with 37pts on countback with Janet Hardy (2nd) and Averil Mackett Rena Delaney won the bronze division with 41pts. Jenny Gelson came second with 35pts on countback with Carole Bamford. Rena Delaney won nearest the pin (9th), and Fionnuala Smith won longest drive. Prize for best par-3s score went to Janet Long hurst with llpts. Four comers best score was won by Carole Bamford with 12pts.

Rena Delaney who beat Shirley Gudgeon to win the Humble Salver.

Anita Prosser who won the 36-hole Lane Salver with net 140 (68,72) from Rowena Hemmings on net 144(73,71).

Mary Wilson who won the winter league from Jan Kilsby.

Judy Williams who won the July stableford (silver division) with 40pts from Hilary Skinner with 39. Vivienne Fletcher won the bronze division, also with 40pts, from Gillian Edmonds with 39.