Minutes of the Isle of wedmore Golf Club
Members Committee Meeting
Held in the Clubhouse on: Thursday 23rd February 2023
Present: Club Captain Jay James, Helen Tanswell, Paul Stephenson, Dave Bedford, Steve Sage, Lyn Bird, James Wilde, Alan Richardson, Mike Garbutt, Ian Robson, Martin Olive, Kev Osman and Ann Adams
Apologies: Mary Lou Denny
The Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday, 26th January 2023 were approved and signed by Club Captain Jay James
Matters Arising from Meeting held on Thursday, 26th January, 2023
Mike confirmed that £1200 paid to IG will be the cost of the annual maintenance.
Management Report
As yet we have not heard back from the Captains regarding the Triangular Match due to be held on the 18th June – please can a decision be made? It was agreed to go ahead and Jay will confirm with Emma.
It is important that all Committee Members who have access to the IG database and other Members’ details are aware of GDPR and what this means regarding the sharing of Members’ personal data. Should anyone have any queries, please contact the Office.
We have not yet heard from Ann / Jay regarding changes to the Constitution. A sub-committee to be formed to review Constitution, Jay, Dave, Alan, Ian, Ann & Helen.
Captain’s Report
INTRODUCTION
January icy conditions are beginning to fade and there is a hint of Spring in the air with freezing temperatures hopefully a thing of the past, 18-hole competitions and casual rounds are happening. The Roll-ups have seen an increase in players with typically 24-32 golfers throwing a ball in the bucket. The mixed Stablefords, despite being on a Sunday, attracted a large number of competitive golfers, resulting in some healthy payouts for the first 6 places. Congratulations to Claire Biggs who was the overall winner.
Recap
The January & February Quizzes were almost fully booked, and the final Quiz of the Season takes place in March being very close to St Patrick’s day (so bound to be some Irish themed rounds but no doubt with a twist).
Burns Night
Thanks to those who organized and supported the evening. A generous donation was also made to the Captains’ Charity by those attending.
Current affairs
The Greenkeepers have been able to undertake more work on the tees, fairways and greens now the weather has enabled the use of the heavier machinery. The substantial remodelling of the 11th tee is well underway and temporary pathway to the right of existing tee. The forward tee off the mat will be used for the forthcoming Season. When Green Staff are working on the 11th tee, gents will play off forward tee position on the 15th hole.
• Is this a temporary tee to the right of the 10th green for the gents or will they share the red tee?
• Are there any implications for h’cap / slope index?
• Do we need dropping zone behind the 10th green? Free drop off the path no near the pin as an alternative?
Discussion took place regarding dropping zone issues, and it was decided to leave dropping zone as it stands especially as it is highlighted on current score cards.
Martin highlighted that so long as the total yardage off the tees being played is not 100 yards shorter or longer than the measured course, scores are still acceptable for handicap purposes with no adjustment to course or slope rating. HOWEVER, due to weather conditions there have been some holes where the day’s blue tee markers have been in front of the blue course stones, which may have reduced the course by more than 100 yards.
This should be highlighted to the Club Management so Greenkeepers are aware of this issue. So that qualifying rounds and casual play scores are valid.
Forthcoming Events
The usual mix of monthly competitions for February and March are available to be booked via IG. With additional competitions migrating from ClubV1. Notable events include:
11th March Avalon A B C & Seniors Shotgun A charge of £4.00 will be made.
25th March Captain Pro Challenge
27th March sees the Monday evening Skittlers commence.
Avalon League matches scheduled to start and hopefully the Teams will all enjoy successful Seasons.
Mixed Friendly matches currently being scheduled by Dave Bedford who is the co-ordinator & matchmaker for the team.
• Suggestions for social events to optimise use of the Club House, would be welcomed by Hannah.
• Options for September Captains Weekend
Above to be discussed at meeting
Jay James
Treasurer’s Report
The Account has moved quite a lot this month as the balances for Captains Away Weekend have been received and the payment to the club for our contribution towards IG has been paid.
The balance of the members account is now £2731.37 with the HIO account increasing to £154.76 as we have had 1 new joiner but no pay-outs. The Charity Account has increased by £60 as I took that amount out of the Captains Charity Box on the bar following last week’s Quiz Night.
The £9.99 expenditure for Committee expenses is for a computer bracket that Ian Robson bought for the screen in the hall.
I have been informed that the £1200 that we paid as a contribution to IG is likely to be the annual contribution to maintenance, which is 20% higher than we paid for the Club V1 maintenance last year.
Mike Garbutt
Senior Captain’s Report
As of last month, our competitions are running to plan; with the exception of our “Fun Comp 2” and our Winter League round 3; both of which fell foul to the inclement weather. We seem to be (hopefully) over the bout of hard frosts which, although not stopped us playing, has seen some crazy golf scores coming in.
Our program of Seniors Friendly matches, against different clubs in the southwest, starts in earnest on Tuesday March 21st, when we visit Tiverton Golf Club in Devon. I have 50 plus golfers already signed up to the squad and I am very much looking forward to leading them in this series of events.
At this stage, I would like to point out how user friendly the IG system is for match management. Although I have not had any “official” IG training, for a self-confessed IT illiterate like me, I find the software very, very easy to use, definitely a step forward.
At the time of composing this report I have not yet attended the funeral of Jim Warner; but by the time we meet next week, I and many of this club, would have said our goodbyes to an ex-member, colleague, neighbour, and friend. I trust the day will go without a hitch, and all our thoughts are with his wife Pauline and her family.
Steve Sage
Ladies’ Captain’s Report
Burns Night was a great success, very well attended, food was excellent, thanks go out to Hannah, the chef and all the catering team, and of course those who made the evening such a success, Ron Barron who at the amazing age of 89 can still recite the Address to the Haggis and then dance as many reels as you can give him! Clive and Marion Warren-Smith who worked so hard to decorate the room and train the dancers, and Kevin Osman and Mo McMillan for their speeches. The end result was £200 being paid into the Ladies charity account, which with the ok from the committee I would like to transfer to the Cancer Research Fund Raising page as we then receive gift aid. Also £20 was paid into that account on the night and money also put into the charity boxes. It was agreed that this cannot be gift aided.
Senior Ladies had their annual New Year Lunch late January. The first time this has happened for a couple of years, it was well attended and turned out as usual to be a very noisy affair. No event we hold is the same without one of Claire’s quizzes which went down very well. Thanks to Eunice Bond and Jenny Thomas for organising. The Fox & Goose did us proud. We seem to be getting back to life as we knew it.
IG
Our friendlies and League fixtures for 2023 are now on the app, being used by the Ladies to show their availability. Well done Jennifer Fell & Pam Berry and Janet for starting us all of. IG appears to be very well accepted by all.
Spring Coffee morning is being organised for Tuesday 7th March. We use this opportunity to raise funds for the Ladies Section and Charity.
Somerset Girls v Wedmore Ladies. The ladies have been asked to put a team together to play Somerset Girls for a pre-season warm up match. This was a great success last year and the Ladies are looking forward repeating the experience.
Ladies Championship Day is being discussed to enable it to continue in its same format of 36 holes in one day - much loved by those who play in it.
We are discussing having an 18-hole Ladies competition on the same day within the 36-hole comp. which will be played for the Ladies Championship Supporters Cup. Reusing one of our cups in a new format.
We hope this will encourage more Ladies out on that day, not only to ensure that the day is fully used by the Ladies but also to keep the Championship Day a special day for all the Ladies. Hopefully encouraging more players to do the 36 holes.
The suggestion of how we revamp the day came from Annya Patten and I would like to thank her for her contribution to the discussion on how we could develop this day.
Ongoing Projects
We are reviewing our Trophies as requested by the Office. A good opportunity to identify any that are not well supported.
Also working on producing standardised templates to be used for Opens and Special events such as the Spring and Autumn meetings. This includes templates for Starters, Welcome Desk, Results / Prize giving etc so they just need tweaking by the Organiser.
We are also reviewing the Constitution.
Congratulations are due to Claire Biggs who has won the Mixed Winter League Stableford with 111 points, the winnings being a very nice £68
Well done Claire.
So now we are all just looking forward to the season.
Helen Tanswell
Handicap Secretary’s Report
Nothing to report.
Martin Olive
Competition Secretary
Kev will finalise wording on the calculation of how a Winner is determined if scores are tied and count-back over the last 9 holes does not resolve it.
Kev Osman
Junior Section
Nothing to report.
It was confirmed that Liam has the appropriate Employee and Public Liability Insurances to deliver Junior Coaching.
James Wilde
Items for Discussion
1. The September Captain’s Weekend: It was confirmed that the Friday Night would be a 9-hole Comp. On Saturday, Members would be playing for the Captains’ Cups and Sunday would be the Fun Day. As this has not happened in recent years JJ to check numbers of golfers who attended on the Sunday for the Fun Competition. A black-tie event for the Saturday Night has been proposed.
2. Member Communications: It has been confirmed that, due to GDPR legislation, there are restrictions on Committee Members being able to access individual Members’ Emails. Is it feasible for Members to opt in or out of receiving Emails? How can notices be sent out via the Office that identify it is from a Committee Member, not from the Wedmore Office? Is the option of Newsletters, Competition information/results or Handicap Q&As being sent out as attachments, so members can choose which, if any, they wish to open? Is there a preferred day or date for the Office to receive Committee Member Emails so they can be sent out in plenty of time to inform Members.
3. Mixed Individual Stablefords for 2023/24 The question was raised as to whether it is worth doing this during the Summer and is it better to have the competitions on a Saturday as the Sunday was less popular?
4. Ball Washers - Could they be topped up with water as some of them appear to be dry.
5. Mike Garbutt reported that Bill Lander had donated a Trophy to the Club and suggested that the Gents’ Summer Singles KO is split into 2 Competitions. Handicaps up to 15 play for the Frank Edwards Cup and, therefore, those with handicaps greater than 15 compete for the Bill Lander Trophy. MG felt that low Handicap players were put off entering the Singles KO because of the shots they had to give and high Handicap players were also put off because of the opposition they might face. It was generally agreed that we should continue with this and Kev agreed to set up the new Competition when he sets up the Summer Knockouts.
The Meeting closed at 6.30pm
The Date of the Next Committee Meeting – 30th March 2023 at 5pm
Signed: Dated:
