The undoubted highlight of the year the trip Angela and
I took to Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia for the Walker Cup. The occasion was made even more pleasurable as Anthony and Wendy Shone accompanied us. Wherever we have travelled as representatives of the Club we have been treated with unbelievable courtesy and respect not least in America, and the realisation of the esteem in which Hoylake is held is, I can tell members, quite humbling. Angela and I took the opportunity whilst in America to visit our elder son Tim and his family in New York, and were thrilled to see once again our two grand daughters. In early October a Club side visited Tantallon Golf Club
at North Berwick for a weekend match. Gareth Lewys Lloyd and Jamie Uren brought the average age of the team down and played extremely well. The match against Tantallon is always a hilarious affair and the dinner in the small but delightful clubhouse was a riotous occasion. Party pieces after dinner are de rigueur and I was really pleased with my rendition of Donald Where’s Your Troosers only to be completely upstaged by a version of The Vicar of Bray by our erstwhile Captain Elect, Arthur Noble! Watch this space! The Autumn has passed so quickly I can hardly believe it.
The Captain’s Prize finals were played on the 17th October and tremendous golf by David Smith and Andy Joslin secured victory in the green and yellow course finals respectively. A most enjoyable dinner with the Hittites followed and in November the formal dinners restarted. To date I have
attended and spoken at 10 formal dinners with three more to go - PHEW! - interspersed, I am pleased to say, with lots of bridge! Including two matches against the Ladies. I am relieved to report that after a losing run normality has been restored and the male ego is intact! Many thanks to Lindsay Housley and all the Ladies. Christmas was spent at home with our son Robin and his
wife Liz and their two sons Henry and Rupert who made it a holiday to remember. New Year at the Club was by popular agreement a great success enjoyed by all and 2010 was enthusiastically let in. The weather brought the early part of January virtually to a stop and as I write on the 29th January it is snowing again. The weather, however, can not dampen my spirits and writing this report has brought back so many wonderful memories of the year so far. Another first for me is playing in the Frostbites and having attended and played in the Frostbites stableford mixed foursomes in December with Geraldine Hamer I achieved my first victory, due in the main to Geraldine’s superb golf. I am delighted to be playing with Ruth Jacobs in the Frostbites and so far we have played one and won one! I feel another proposal coming on!!! My sincere thanks to David Cromie and all the staff at the
Club for their unstinting help and support, and to all members for your tremendous support and friendship throughout the year. It has been a huge honour to captain this Club and quite simply a joy and I have loved every moment of it.
Caribbean
Evening at The Club
The Captain with the Village Play
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