After a week of glorious sunshine, Captain’s Day 2006 dawned wet and overcast. The rain was much needed on the fairways and greens, but it made play uncomfortable for the early starters.

By 8am, however, the skies cleared and for the rest of the day conditions were near perfect. Club Captain Ken Hannah generously lubricated play throughout, with Bucks Fizz at the 6th and Pimms at the 12th, served by a rota of helpers who included his wife Ann and all carefully managed by David Holden.

Howard Till claimed the Captain’s Prize with 40pts. Second was Chris Sweeney on 38. Top scorer among the seven-day restricted members was Craig Hutson with 34pts.

The ladies’ prize went to Janet Kilsby on 39pts, with Sally McAlister second on 37. The prize for nearest-the-hole on the 9th was won by Anita Prosser, and on the 14th by Chris Pinkstone and Eirwen Cox. At the 15th, Alan Pountney hit the longest drive and Pam Cohen the straightest.

Jordan Lawrence took the junior prize with 41pts, just pipping his brother Ben on 40.

Some 200 members and guests went on to enjoy a superb buffet supper, followed by dancing to the small hours to the music of Juan More, all in the wonderful setting of the marquee on the putting green.

Congratulations and thanks to the Captain for a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Porters Park’s Nick Pateman is the new Hertfordshire County Champion. He won the title over three days play at Moor Park mid-month, after shooting 3-under-par over the first day’s 36-hole medal stage to share the prize for best score.

Along with Nick, fellow club members Michael Moore, Jason Mitchell and Ewen Wilson were among the 66 players who qualified for the tournament either through handicap or by shooting leading scores in the Herts Salver.

The medal play determined the 16 to reach the knockout stages. Jason Mitchell and Ewen Wilson just failed to make it, while our other two stalwarts qualified easily.

On Day 2, Michael failed to make the quarter-finals. Nick won both his morning and afternoon matches, in one recovering from 2 down with 3 to play.

He went on to win his semi-final match fairly easily and found himself, as last year, facing in the final his old rival Tom Shadbolt from Mid Herts. After some very good golf Nick emerged victorious, winning by 4 & 3 to avenge his defeat in 2005.

This gave Porters Park their first county champion since Ben Connelly won the title in 2003 for a second successive year.

It was a little disappointing that there were no Porters Park members present to cheer Nick on to victory. Perhaps next year, when Nick hopefully defends the championship, the event will be better publicised in the clubhouse so that members know it is taking place.

Ronnie Samuels

The KGV will shortly be upon us and volunteers will be needed to update the scoreboards and spot balls. If you can help, please watch the notice board for details.

The knockout competitions seem to be running to schedule. Next year we will stagger the start and finishing date of each competition to relieve the pressure on singles time during April and May.

An early change of date for next year – the Ladies Scratch Open will move to the second Friday in August.

Please note also that, from 2007, in mixed matches the maximum number of shots given will be 18. This is due to the change in the handicap requirements for full membership, although in theory it would be possible for players to give up to 20 shots.

Members are reminded that in club competitions the competitor must play in the format of the competition for the day (see Rule 6-3b). Members must not play with a visitor in a competition.

Finally, congratulations to the ladies’ section on their very successful academy day. Thirty ladies are now taking lessons from David, and all are potential members. No wonder David is looking so happy!

R. Hemmings - Chair of Golf

The summer programme is now in full swing and the course looks a treat. Members and visitors alike have been generous in their comments and these are regularly passed on to Martin Smith and his team.
The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) paid a scheduled visit early in the month. The verdict:  “These are the best greens I’ve seen anywhere in England this year - and that includes the tournaments I’ve watched on the television...”  The fairways and the new bunkers were also considered first rate. More details soon on the STRI report.

The mist sprayers are finally working - the contractors were delayed in April by the frost, and everything was put back. Martin and his staff will be focusing on bringing the bunker surrounds up to scratch, greatly helped by the sprayers.
A number of members have asked if all the new trees are being regularly watered through the summer. The answer is yes. We are hoping that members will contribute further to our Tree Appeal to enable further plantings to take place in the autumn.

The greens staff will be fully committed in the coming months to keeping the course at its very best. Meanwhile the greens committee is already looking to the autumn programme. Neil Coles and co will be drawing up suggestions for the new greens. Neil will also be advising on some of the replacement tees and the positioning of any new trees.
It falls to me to salute the wonderful efforts of our staff and to wish all members a happy golfing summer.

Alan Pountney - Chair of Green

The course is standing up extremely well to the recent hot spell. The winter aeration programme has helped to increase the root depth of the grass which stops it from drying out as quickly as it otherwise might have done. We over-seeded with a higher fescue mix last year and this seems to be more drought resistant.

The S.T.R.I. agronomist made his annual inspection of the course and was pleased with its condition, especially the greens. I think that the new growth retardant has produced a more dense and compact turf which encourages a better roll on the ball. The full report is being posted on the Palm Court notice board.

All new fairway bunkers seem to be playing well and the sand has settled down nicely. The new mist sprinklers around the bunkers should help to keep the grass banks from drying out. If the mist sprinklers are successful we will extend them to several more bunkers in the autumn.

The new trees are looking healthy and are being watered on a weekly basis. We have been asked to move their support posts so that they are in line with play and not across it. This will be done shortly.

Martin Smith - Course Manager

A big thank you from the ladies’ section to past captain Peter Robinson and John and Sara May for their donation of a new annual trophy.

The May Robinson Cup is played over 36 holes as the qualifying competition for the ladies’ club championship.  In this first year it was won by Hilary Skinner with successive rounds of 82, 82, with Ellie Brede runner-up on 80, 85.

One hundred and forty-six golfers Texas-scrambled round the course on Pro’s Day – none to more effect than the quartet of Andrew Griffiths and David Mitchell and juniors Ben Donaghey and Albert O’Shea. Their winning score of 48.4 beat, by more than two clear strokes their nearest rivals – Carole Sharp, Anita Prosser, Janet Hardy and Margaret Mills on 51.

Artisans David Jolly, Gerry McGrath, Andy Springle and Darren Wakeling came third with 51.2, with another ladies’ team of Ann Hannah, Gillian Edmonds, Judy Jenkin and Sue Lean in fourth place on 51.8.

The course was in the superb condition members have come to expect and the weather almost as good, though blustery enough in the later stages to demolish the gazebo by the side of the 10th green from which David and Peter were dispensing drinks. Attendance was just two down on last year, partly because of World Cup football which, with England playing in the afternoon, packed the course to capacity in the morning and partly, it was suggested, because Pro’s Day this year was separated by only a fortnight from Captain’s Day.

The race night, due to follow in the evening, had to be cancelled through lack of support, but the raffle went ahead as usual. Alan Ring scooped top prize of a set of MacGregor irons. Errol Rudnick won second prize of a Titleist Vokey wedge, and John Beardwell walked off with a pair of Footjoy shoes. Other lucky winners shared a feast of shirts, brollies and balls.

Our junior golfers took another notable stride forward in their quest to maintain their grip on the Ver League trophy by holding to a 3½ -3½ draw a very strong Brookmans Park team in the away first leg of their quarter-final encounter. The home leg will be played on Sunday, July 8.

Top scorer in this month’s junior medal was Ben Lawrence who, playing off 19, returned a remarkable net 63.

Earlier in the month, 15 budding golfers, aged from three to eight, attended another pre-junior coaching session under the watchful guidance of Gerri and Padraig Warnes. For the first time they were able to use the club’s own golfing gear, kindly presented by a parent. Parents and grandparents were on hand to lend encouragement. 

A further session is provisionally planned for 10.30am on Sunday, July 16. If you aim to be there, please check nearer the date with Gerri (01727 866612) to make sure that it is going ahead.

The Captain is pleased to welcome as playing members: Christopher Grimston, Kenneth Mitchell, Charity Barras and Ole Kufaas. And as student playing members: James Jankowski and Neil Hopcroft.

Barry Barnes who won the Humble Salver with 77-13-64 from Luke Gutteridge with 71-4-67.

Richard Nicklin who won the Centenary Medal with 76-6-70 (last 9) from Stephen McConnell with 80-10-70 (last 9) and Colin Robertson with 77-7-70

Dominic Warren who won the June midweek stableford with 34pts from Graham Wright with 33 (last 9) and Duncan Moffat

Russell Lewis who won the June medal (division 1) with 70-5-65 from Jason Mitchell with 67-1-66. Norman Mitchell won division 2 with 79-13-66 (last 9) from Tony Evans with 81-15-66. This competition was notable not just for Jason’s fine gross 67 but for a flood of birdie-2s at the short holes – 19 in all from a field of 80. A reflection perhaps of the trueness of the greens as much as the skill of the golfers?

Judy Williams who won the silver division of the Westgrove Cup (first leg) with 86-13-73 from Rowena Hemmings with 86-11-75. The bronze was won by Carole Bamford with 100-24-76 from Vivienne Fletcher with 103-26-77

Averil Mackett who won the Centenary Trophy with 88-15-73 from Judy Williams with 89-13-76 (last 9 from Myra Wilson)

Averil Mackett who won the Tatham Cup with 78-14-64 from Shirley Gudgeon on 86-13-73 (last 9 from Linda Lambert). The bronze division was won by Janet Longhurst with 109-76-73 (last 9 from Carole Bamford)

Fionnuala Smith who defeated Rowena Hemmings to win the ladies’ Humble Salver

Joan Dulieu who won the Lady Captain’s Day stableford (silver) with 40pts (last 9) from Hilary Skinner, also on 40pts off 5. Gillian Edmonds took the bronze with 39pts from Rena Delaney with 37