Over 120 members braved the elements on Sunday, 10 December to attend the 2006 Annual General Meeting at the club.

Opening the meeting, the retiring Chairman, Ken Brown, said he felt the club was in good shape. The work that had been done on the course over the past three years had brought warm praise from both members and visitors. He was also encouraged by the intake of new, younger members, which had resulted, for the first time in years, in a noticeable reduction in the average age of the membership. He wished his successor, John Liddle, every success and thanked the committee and staff for their hard work.

Ken Hannah, the retiring Captain, summarised what he had written in the club’s annual report and highlighted the contribution of greens chairman Alan Pountney and of head greenkeeper Martin Smith in producing a first-class course. Moves had been made both to encourage new members to join the club and make it possible for more members to play weekend golf.

The Hon Treasurer, Lionel Cooper, drew attention to the operating surplus for the year of £89k (£23k after charging exceptional expenditure), an improvement on 2005. This was due partly to increased income from subscriptions, improved receipts from societies and green fees (£129k), and to an increase in room hire (£23k).

The five-year plan had led to capital expenditure of £168k on the refurbishment of fairway bunkers, new machinery and the watering system. Next year’s capital expenditure should be lower but provision would be made for the refurbishment of 6th and 16th greens, as displayed in the clubhouse.

Following the acceptance of the annual report, Jas Arora was confirmed as Club Captain for 2007, and Lionel Cooper as Vice-Captain. Past Captain John Liddle was confirmed as Chairman for the next three years and Jeff Cloke as Hon Treasurer for the next two years. Social chairman Kevin O’Donnell was re-elected to the committee for a further three years.

Ian Eggleden was confirmed as a Trustee, having been co-opted following last year’s AGM, and Mike Peterson was confirmed a life member of Porters Park after completing 50 years’ unbroken service.

The meeting then considered four resolutions. The first, arising from a commitment given at last year’s AGM, proposed a new rule that would limit future subscription increases to 5% above inflation. This required a 2/3rds majority of those present and was passed by a show of hands.

The second resolution to increase the number of full members from 350 to 375, and to reduce correspondingly the number of restricted seven-day members from 125 to 100, was introduced by Ken Hannah. After interviewing many applicants for membership, he was in no doubt that, despite the quality of the course, what most wanted was weekend golf at the earliest possible opportunity, as offered immediately by many other local clubs. This resolution, which also required a 2/3rds majority, was passed by a show of hands.

The third resolution was submitted from the floor by John Hedges and Ros Lake. This required a change in the rules to ensure that the committee published minutes of each AGM within 30 days of the meeting and submitted these minutes for the approval of members at the following AGM. An amendment proposed by the committee to extend this period from 30 days to 45 days to give the committee time to approve the minutes before publication was accepted by John and Ros and was passed by a show of hands.

A final resolution submitted from the floor by David Talbot and Barry Plews expressed no confidence in the current catering franchisee, Tim McRea, and required the committee to put the franchise out to tender within three months if the resolution was passed.

A lively debate ensued, with many members endorsing the tenor of the resolution. Others, however, disagreed, some citing a much improved level of service following the recruitment by Tim of a front-of-house manager. On behalf of the committee, Ken Hannah urged those present to reject the resolution saying he was sure the new committee and the Managing Secretary would address the issues raised. With this assurance, the resolution was put to the vote and defeated by 69 votes to 44.

Forty-six members, including the committee, attended the Ladies’ Annual Meeting, chaired by Club Captain Ken Hannah, writes ladies secretary Judy Jenkin. Reports were received from competition secretary Jan Kilsby, handicap secretary Gillian Edmonds, league captains Angela Davis and Christina Lye, Pearson captain Linda Lambert and retiring ladies’ captain Gail Ralph.
Linda Lambert was elected as Lady Captain for 2007, Carole Bamford was elected as Lady Vice-Captain and Diane Jeens was elected as a committee member.

Much discussion followed a proposal from Rowena Hemmings that the Vice-Captain of the ladies’ committee should in future be elected annually at the Ladies’ Annual Meeting, nomination being open to any member of the ladies’ section who had served for three years on the ladies’ committee at some stage.  The motion was approved almost unanimously and a sub-committee will be set up to implement this proposal.

Golfers will remember that there was no trolley ban last winter, but with the course so wet at the moment, this time around could be different. Protecting the course must come before members’ convenience and the situation is being monitored carefully. If a ban does become inevitable, it is likely that pull-trolleys with porcupine wheels will be permitted.

Please note that with all bunkers back in play, unlike last year all competitions for the rest of the winter will qualify for handicap purposes.

Good news on two fronts for restricted 7-day members. Under a new committee decision, you will now be allowed to enter and win boarded competitions. You may also enter and win 36-hole competitions providing you pay the normal rate for a guest’s green fee for the morning round. In mixed matches it is a condition of entry that you must be prepared to play in the morning and pay a green fee.

The committee has also decided that at winter weekends restricted 7-day members may tee off at the earlier time of 11.30am. Also at weekends, please note that there is now a sheet in the Palm Court for all members to sign to order bacon rolls before they go out.

Correction: On winter weekends and bank holidays, the starting time at the 10th for singles is given in the new club diary as 09.45-11.30. This should read 09.45-11.00.

Rowena Hemmings
Chair of Golf

CCTV is now up and running. Cameras cover all three entrances to the clubhouse and exit to the car park. All four pictures show simultaneously on screen both in the bar and in the managing secretary’s office.  When one of the cameras detects movement, that picture then jumps into close-up. The registration plates of all vehicles leaving the premises are recorded by the camera covering the car park exit. Pictures can be retrieved from all four cameras for up to 30 days.

A plea from the office: When entering your name and initials on notice board lists for social functions, please write clearly to help ensure that accounts are charged correctly.

This is the last edition of Tee Times to reach members by post. Instead, those of you without email, or whose email address is unknown to the club, will be able to pick up a copy of future issues in the clubhouse, as was originally the case. The change will save both money and office time.

A set of the latest Cobra irons will top the prize list in this year’s New Year draw. Tickets, on sale at the pro’s shop, cost £1 each, or you can buy six for £5 or 15 for £10. The winners will be drawn at the New Year’s Eve party.
New Year’s Day will mark the start of David’s bigger-than-ever seasonal sale. A major clearance is needed as the shop is to be refitted in February.

Congratulations to Ken Hannah on his appointment as Secretary of Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club. He will take up the position at the start of the New Year.

Your 2007 club diary is now available for collection in the committee room.

The wet weather is holding back the winter programme, not least the drainage work on the 17th practice ground which will now have to be delayed until next summer. The aeration programme is also suffering. To verti-drain now would leave tractor marks and smearing on the ground.

The new weather station which was installed on October 1 has recorded 10in of rain since that date, so it is no wonder our schedule is out. Instead we are settling for collecting the massive amount of leaves, but the end is now in sight.

Martin Smith
Course Manager

The Captain is pleased to welcome as playing members: Andrew Boyd, David Green, Roy Read and Fiona Crampton Smith.

The club regrets to record the death of Denis Kimbley, a member since 1977.

Last month’s social, with alcohol as its theme, got off to a great start as eager quaffers threw themselves wholeheartedly into a tasting to select some new wines for the club’s list.

Having demonstrated their ability to down the stuff, members were quizzed about whether they knew what they were drinking. Questions were compiled by Cynthia O’Donnell and Martin Jeens, who also acted as quizmaster, and included a spirited whisky round from Ken Hannah.

All in all, this was a wonderfully Bacchanalian evening, given added kick by a delicious spicy buffet from Tim McCrae.

Forthcoming events: New Year’s Eve Party - book now. January 12 – curry and bingo. January 26 – Burns Night.

My year of office is nearly over. Usually this would end at January’s annual dinner when my successor is revealed.
As I am away in Australia for January, the dinner is postponed until February 1. My punishment for this gross dereliction of duty is to have to go to the Melbourne Test!

It has been an arduous year for me… some 26 fourball matches plus two (much less arduous) with the ladies, and about 15 speeches. Fortunately, a member has kept me well supplied with suitable (and less suitable) after-dinner jokes.

In terms of results I could not claim it has been an outstanding year but, employing best New Labour spin, I regard this as a form of triumph for the Commandos. Such is our reputation that opposing clubs invariably put a three-line whip on their best players to turn out.  The reputation of Porters Park as one of the finest courses in the county also helps with their selection.

We play for the pleasure of taking part and meeting longstanding opponents.

Our ladies’ night seems to have been well received; nobody actually threw anything at me!

I finish with our usual reminder that we are open to all gentlemen members who are 55 and over and who are available to play midweek golf. We also have a regular Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning “roll-up” which meets at 8am on 10th  tee (subject to weather) and is a convenient way for potential Commandos to introduce themselves.
My thanks to all the match managers and others who keep the Commandos running smoothly.

Keith Jenkin
Commando Captain.

The Men’s Xmas Fayre was wonderfully and originally organised by George Copley - his only failing being the weather! Just six holes after the shotgun start, the heavens opened, writes Jas Arora, and even the most determined competitors had to give up as the course flooded.

However, a good time was subsequently had by all, with Alan Lambert skilfully auctioning the many generous contributions from members, including Captain Ken Hannah’s offer of dinner, overnight stay and round of golf at Royal Cinque Ports. More than £4,500 was raised for two charities, principally the Make A Wish Foundation. Thanks to all, not least Sean Reddin, Dave Fennessy and David Talbot for all their help with the organisation, and Tim, Flora and the catering staff for an excellent meal.

Peter Chisholm who won the November midweek stableford with 38pts from Michael Mancini with 37pts

Jai Raja who won the December midweek stableford with 38pts from Michael Wilson with 35pts

November Foursomes Stableford:  Winners Moira Stanbury and Yvonne Frankland who won the November foursomes stableford with 32pts from Gerri Warnes and Pam Cohen with 30pts

Carole Sharp and Anita Prosser who won the Christmas Fayre foursomes with 36pts points from Linda Lambert and Anita Healy with 34pts and Sally McAlister and Loretto McHugh with 32pts.