Almost 160 members were present at the 2007 Annual General Meeting, held on Sunday, December 8, to hear the retiring Captain Jas Arora and Treasurer Jeff Cloke report on another good year for the club.

Jas believed that the continuing excellent condition of the course had played a major part in this, and in attracting 30 new members. He thanked Martin Smith and his staff for all their hard work.

Highlights of his social year had included his drive-in and that of ladies' Captain Linda Lambert (who, helped by advances in technology, finished farther up the fairway!), the Christmas lunch, Captain's Day and a summer ball with an Indian twist, and Charity Day which raised £26,000.

He thanked Peter Marshall and the secretariat, Tim and Flora, Gill, Adrian and Vanessa for their excellent service. He had had a most enjoyable year and wished the same for his successor, Lionel Cooper.

In this, he was joined by the President Rob Reith, who welcomed the cultural 'wind of change' Jas had introduced to Porters Park.

After thanking Jas, and Alan Pountney who was standing down from the Committee after serving three years as Chair of Green, Lionel proposed Kevin O'Donnell as Vice Captain. Members duly approved, as they did the reappointment of Robin Leach as Trustee for a further five years and the similar appointment of Ken Brown. The unopposed election of Janet Hardy and Peter Robinson to fill two vacancies on the

Nominations Committee was also approved.

Before the election of Committee members, Chairman John Liddle explained that there were ten candidates for six vacancies and urged members, in the interest of fairness, to use all their allotted six votes. Candidates were then invited to explain why they wished to serve on the Committee and to outline their relevant skills.

Ron Culnane, Martin Jeens, Janet Kilsby, Ian Lovatt, Linda Lambert and Gerri Warnes were elected to the Committee and welcomed by the membership. The Chairman thanked all candidates for standing and in particular George Copley and Rowena Hemmings for their contribution to the work of the Committee over the past three years.

Presenting a brief resume of the accounts, the Hon Treasurer, Jeff Cloke, said that entrance fees and subscriptions, at £77k, were 20% higher than expected. Against this, the smoking ban and lifestyle changes had helped depress bar profits by one-third. Societies produced £75k, equivalent to around £150 on subscriptions. Membership applications were down and he encouraged members to do their best to recruit new blood. He assured members that capital expenditure planned for the current financial year would conform to that agreed under the five-year plan.

.After the accounts had been accepted, it was agreed that, with total outstanding creditors of £582k (including £144k members' loans), the approved borrowing limit should remain at £400,000.

Earlier, while votes for Committee members were counted, many points were raised under Any Other Business.

It was explained that social functions would not have been reported as losing money if bar takings were included, and that much of the rise in catering expenses was down to replacing old kitchen equipment.

Tim Mcrea had played a part in paying for this and, under his contract as franchisee, also provided meals for staff.

Peter Robinson told the meeting that no agreement had yet been reached with the Department of Environment on the permissible amount of daily extraction of water from the course borehole.

The club could only be patient.

Hilary Skinner commented on the lack of lady members despite the club's declared intention to move towards gender equality. The Chairman said that every effort was being made to encourage ladies to join.

Gerri Warnes added that the Ladies' Academy was playing a valuable part in this.

A suggestion that tees be policed at weekends to ensure members start at the right times was deemed impracticable because of the cost, but it was agreed that the Golf Committee should look into thepossibility of enlisting volunteers from the membership.

The Golf Committee would also consider Tex Uwins's point that the extension of the ladies' starting time to 12.30pm on Tuesdays in winter had made it difficult for fourballs to play a full round. Starting times on Saturday mornings would also be reviewed with the aim of preventing singles off the 1st catching up with fourballs off the 10th.

In answer to a request for more competitions for men, the Captain said that an additional stableford would be introduced next year. A show of hands produced only moderate enthusiasm for an increase in similar competitions midweek.

Improvements to the club website, more cost-effective use of email, and the omission of lady winners

from the Centenary competition board were among other matters raised.

Alasdair Forrest recalled the time, ten years ago, when the club's finances were in a "parlous" state. Despite a significant improvement, he urged caution and a more restrictive view on capital expenditure until members' loans had been repaid. The Chairman responded that these repayments were commonly held to be a priority, but that his view was that the loans helped to cement the relationship between members and the club.

The meeting, which began at 5pm, closed at 6.40pm.

After a committee meeting held on Monday, 17 December, the following sub-committee appointments were announced:

Chair of Greens - Nigel Weekes; Chair of Golf - Ian Lovatt and Jan Kilsby (jointly);

Chair of Social - Martin Jeens; Chair of House/Premises - Linda Lambert;

Chair of Juniors - Gerri Warnes; Chair of Communications - Ron Culnane.

The Commando year, which ends on January 10 with the annual dinner, has been very enjoyable.

We played some 26 matches and although our results were more West Ham United than Manchester United, the spirit of golf prevailed. We play for the pleasure of taking part and for the pleasure of meeting again with old friends from the clubs that we encounter.

I played in 21 of these matches and was greatly impressed by the esteem in which members of other clubs hold Porters Park. Invariably, fixtures at our club are oversubscribed and much looked forward to. They are a good advert for our golf club and I would commend these matches to eligible members - you might be surprised at the enjoyment you derive.

January 10 also sees the retirement of our long-serving secretary Ron Culnane. He and our fixtures secretary, Rod Kirkland, do the bulk of the administrative work and, together with the individual match managers, ensure that all runs smoothly. I owe them a big vote of thanks.

Best wishes for a happy Christmas and an enjoyable golfing New Year.

Tom Griffin - Commando Captain

As part of the club's effort to "go green", prize-winners will no longer be issued with vouchers. From 2008, all competition winners will have their account in the pro shop credited with their winnings. Please direct any queries to Jan Hynes in the office, or to the pro shop.

A limited number of tickets for the New Year's Eve Party are still available from the office. The festivities kick off at 7pm and will finish at 1am. Enjoy a gala buffet, a cocktail pianist and a funky disco for just £40 per person. Dress: DJs and posh frocks.

The monitor installed in the Palm Court for recording competition scores will act as back-up for the one in the pro shop and should be in use early in the New Year. The aim is to allow members who play late to enter their results into the computer after the pro shop has closed and make it more convenient for all to keep an eye on the leader-board.

by email is failing to reach a growing number of members. This, the office reports, is usually because an email address has changed and the club has not been informed. You are urged to make sure that the club knows your current email address, as attempts to resend will not be made. If you experience a delivery failure, you can always read Tee Times on the club website.

Diaries for 2008 are expected to be available during the weekend before Christmas and will be left in the lounge for playing members to collect. For other categories of membership, including juniors, they will be available from the office.

Members are again reminded that they should not put other members' names down for a function unless they are sure they wish to attend. Two members were recently charged for a function they had no idea they had been entered to attend - and didn't. The members were unhappy, and so was the office which had to sort out the muddle.

Junior Benjamin Lawrence has taken the good name of Porters Park to Spain via a great run in the Andalucia Junior European Open Under-16. He kicked off with four rounds at Alcaidesa, where a 78 on the Heathland course and a 76 on the Links course (each the better of two) made him one of only 12 to qualify for the final round at Valderrama. After a nervous start, he rallied to shoot a respectable score but stay in 12th position. But just to play on such a tough course was a great experience and one for which he thanks Porters Park and members for all their help and encouragement.

Not surprisingly, Benjamin also features in PPGC's junior prize-giving, where he collected the Darroch Cup for the best gross under-18 over 36 holes and the Nelson Trophy as winner of the matchplay singles.

Other prizes, which were presented by the President, went to:

Jack Frances and Ben Cherkas as joint winners of the Roberts Cup for the most improved player handicap (-14.7); Rory Suttie (Centenary Trophy, donated by Brian Chapman); Ben Donaghey (Fotheringham Order of Merit); Callum Shinkwin (Darroch Cup best gross 36 holes under 16); Ben Cherkas (Darroch Cup best net 36 holes); Jack Frances (summer eclectic) and Nicola Bennett and F Bennett (2nd Generation Cup Foursomes).

Tex Uwins and Paul Williams who won the winter greensomes with 37pts (back 9) from Geoff P Kirby and Howard Warnes

Jai Raja who won the November stableford (div 1) with 37pts from Chris Thornton with 35. Jeff Cloke won div 2 with 37pts from Neil O'Donnell with 34pts

David Tricker who won the December midweek stableford with 35pts from Gordon Parsons with 34pts (last 9) and John Cox

Alan Pountney and William Cooper who won the winter greensomes with 40pts from Manjeev Arora and David Tricker with 35pts

Denise Liddle and Jan Kilsby who won the ladies' Christmas Fayre with 37pts from Jenny Gelson and Loretto McHugh with 36pts (back 9) and Pamela Cohen and Fiona Crampton-Smith

Linda Lambert who won the silver division of the December stableford with 42pts from Christina Lye with 33pts. Meera Patel-Schelleken won the bronze division with 37pts from Carole Sharp with 34pts

Captain Jas Arora seized the opportunity offered by the end-of-year prize-giving evening to introduce more of the Indian culture that has proved so popular with members during his term of office.

After prizes and trophies had been presented to those who had made their mark on the golf course during the year, there followed a buffet of Indian food, featuring mild to very hot curries and other mouth-watering Indian delicacies.

Then came entertainment provided by two superb exponents of Indian music, one playing a 'cello-like stringed instrument and the other a bongo-type drum, which seemed to have magical qualities in the pitch and sounds that it produced.

After the dessert course, the 'cello was replaced by an 80-stringed zither/guitar and more music filled the room.

A good evening was had by all and the Captain was thanked for arranging such a fitting final event of his year.

The Christmas carol concert was the usual popular success. The singing, which followed the meal, was led by the choir of St. Andrew's Church, Watford, who were accompanied on the piano by Cynthia O'Donnell. As always the finale was the Twelve Days Of Christmas, with each table lustily singing their gifts with appropriate Gestures.

Coming shortly: Friday, January 11 - Curry & bingo Friday, January 25 - Burns Night

Eighty golfers got into the festive spirit and spread happiness to others, too, when they took part in the Men's Christmas Fayre.

This annual fun-filled event, organised this year by Chris Thornton, Andrew Thornton and Geoff O'Brien, raised £3,800 for the Willow Foundation, which gives young adults living with life-threatening conditions a chance to escape the pressures of their daily routine and share quality time with family and friends.

The money came from the competition itself - a Texas scramble played in teams of four - and from the fines and auction conducted with his usual flair by Alan Lambert after an enjoyable lunch.

The winners, with a medal score of 55.3, were Colin Robinson, Padraig and Howard Warnes, and Manjeev Arora.

Still looking for a Christmas present for the golfer who has everything? Then pop into the pro shop, or give us a ring, and see if we can help, suggests David Gleeson. If you see nothing you fancy, then how about giving a little tuition? This doesn't have to take place on the practice ground. We can supply vouchers for six- and nine-hole playing lessons.

Very often the fault lies not your swing but in your head. On the course, this is often easier to spot. I'm a great believer in improving golfers' mental strengths and course management.

Boxing Day will mark the beginning of the winter sale featuring hundreds of reduced items. Call in and maybe pick up a bargain.

Collect tickets for the New Year raffle, too. As usual, the first of many prizes will be a set of clubs (make yet to be determined). The more tickets you buy the cheaper they come - 1 for £1, 6 for £5, 15 for £10.

Meanwhile all of us in the shop would like to thank members for their support and wish all a happy Christmas and New Year.

The new club captain, Lionel Cooper, sends best wishes to you all for the Christmas festivities and a great golfing and rewarding New Year.