Dear Member,

As you will all be aware, RYAN WALLACE is representing Handsworth Golf Club as an elite golfer. His handicap is plus 0.5, and his golfing CV is as follows:-

Warwickshire Junior County player for the last four seasons. Captain 2010.

Last season he was in the Warwickshire first team squad of ten players and played in every fixture. He is in the Warwickshire squad for the 2012 season.

He has represented the club in National events in 2011 as follows :-

• Carris Trophy
• British Boys’ Amateur Championship.

He represented Solihull College in the English National College Finals in the last two years.

Faldo European Final as a Junior.

In his first year as a senior he qualified to play in a number of R & A ranking events including : -

• The English Amateur at Woburn
• West of England at Saunton
• South of England at Walton Heath
• South of England U21′S at Rye
• North of England under 21′s at Middlesborough.

He came fourth in the Midland Order of Merit playing in only 3 of the events. He was 2nd in the Warwickshire Open and qualified for the Faldo European Final at under 21 level for the second time.

The club is prepared to support Ryan in the management and administration of his progression through the ranks of amateur golf.  As you will no doubt be aware, competing at this level is expensive, therefore, with Warwickshire County Golf’s approval, we are proposing to put in place the infrastructure whereby we can encourage sponsorship and oversee the financial administration of his golfing season.

Warwickshire County Golf rules are explicit and comprehensive in the manner in which assistance can be given to an elite golfer.

Rule
4 -  Expenses “an amateur golfer may receive reasonable competition expenses, not exceeding the actual expenses incurred, to play in a golf competition or exhibition “

4(i) & 4(ii)   set out that expenses can be paid through the players club with approval from county golf union or association

Expenses
cover six main areas,

1) entry fees,
2) accommodation,
3) travel expenses
4) coaching,
5) equipment,
6) subsistence.

A bank account will be organised by HGC and the authorisation for any payment will be validated and authenticated on a month by month basis. Taking all the legalities into account, we can accept any donations from members and outside agencies to cover Ryan’s playing costs for the 2012 season. Ryan is a very talented golfer who will have to continue to improve if his ambition to be a professional golfer is to be realised.

Anyone who is interested in supporting Ryan, please contact the Club Professional, Mr. Lee Bashford.
BARRY WILLETTS

Chairman                                                                                       18^th January 2012

Mens Open – 20th May
Ladies Open – 22nd May
Junior Open – 8th June
Bridget Jackson Bowl – 26th June
Mixed Open – 1st July
Midweek Open – 25th July
Seniors Open – 2nd August
Ladies 3 Ball – 16th August
Seniors Betterball – 1st November

Please contact us for further informations.

Above Junior golfers Michael Dewsbury, Grace Cannon, India Clayburn, Jake Clorley and Jack Reekie
EUROPEAN Junior Open history was made in the latest qualifier when Handsworth’s Jake Clorley shot the best round seen in the event.His 68 was one better than Justin Rose’s 1994 score at Stoke Park. Jake a one handicap, went out in a three-under 33 at Ingestre Park, Stafford. He eagled the par-five final hole for a 35 over the back nine.
He takes over as the new favourite to lift this prestigious title in Andalucia, Spain. There the finalists play four days over two courses at the Alcaidesa Resort before a cut takes the survivors to a final-day shoot-out at Finca Cortesin.

Previous finalist Michael Dewsbury, from Brocton Hall, scored a 78 to make the finals in joint second with Blackmoor’s Jack Reekie and Hillside’s Bradley Barnes also made it through.

BOYS –

68: Jake Clorley (Handsworth, W Midlands);

78: Michael Dewsbury (Brocton Hall, Staffs), Jack Reekie (Blackmoor, Hants);

80: Bradley Barnes (Hillside, Merseyside);

81: Matthew Downes, (Ingestre Park, Staffs), Chris Watham (Grange Park,Merseyside).

 
As you may well guess a large number of Merry Men from Dad’s Army were eagerly awaiting his arrival in anticipation of the grand gifts that would be theirs. Before Santa handed the gifts out he insisted that they all sang three carols from the song sheets he brought with him, which of course they all duly did and thoroughly enjoyed.

After handing the gifts out Santa had his picture taken with the merry men from Dad’s Army.

It just goes to show, children young and old enjoy Christmas !

The Senior section of Handsworth Golf Club (known as Dads Army) has had another busy 12 months.    The section has nearly 70 members including the Club President and Club Captain. The section has a full programme of team matches and internal competitions (all off the yellow markers). Any member over the age of 55 is welcome to join in. It meets on Mondays (main day), Wednesdays and Fridays about 8.00am to 8.15am. Partners are drawn, so everyone gets a game. The first group usually tee off at 8.30am.

In January every year a list goes up inviting members to put their name down for the inter club team matches (Cosby and Abbey Park new for 2012). So if you are over 55, get up to the club and get your name down!

The section also has a number of away days locally and then there are internal competitions.  So you have to keep a regular check on the Senior notice board and the club diary.

The first Monday in the month (weather permitting) an Eclectic competition is held with the player’s best four stableford scores to count to win the summer (or winter) trophy. A mixed Christmas lunch is held in December to which wives/partners are invited. At the annual lunch in January, the new Senior Captain and other Senior Committee members are elected. A nominal fee each year is charged (rumoured to be £5, but as I am too young – so a full disclosure of cost has not been made!), which helps towards the engraving costs for the trophy winners and miscellaneous expenditure of the Section.

RESULTS OF TEAM MATCHES 2011

WON 8 LOST 6 HALVED 5

From our section Seniors Captain, Bert Truman won the Clubs James Hipkiss Trophy

Ted Mason won the 140 years plus combined age group prize with his partner in The Senior Open Winter pairs with Ron Goodwin and Michael Giles 3^rd in the same event.

On being asked about the Senior Section Club Captain Roy Brown said that “it was a pleasure playing with the guys and the organization throughout the year was excellent. He would like to give a massive thanks to Burt Truman for all the work he has done in his year as Seniors Captain.”

Internal Competitions Results

Tues  3        12.30 Seniors Lunch

Sat     7        2.00pm Childrens Pantomime

Wed   11      8.00am Midweek Stableford (Q), No Starting Sheet

Sun    15      8.00am Winter Stableford, Course closed until 12noon

Fri     20       9.00pm Bi – Weekly Draw

Sat     21      8.00am Competition of the Day, No Starting Sheet

February, 2012

Fri      3       9.00pm   Bi – Weekly Draw

Sat     4        8.00am Competition of the Day, No Starting Sheet

Sun    12      8.00am Winter Stableford, Course closed until 12noon

Tues   14     7.30pm Valentines Dinner

Wed   15      8.00am Midweek Bogey  No Starting Sheet

Fri      17      9.00pm  Bi – Weekly Draw

Tues   21      10.30am Ladies Coffee Morning

This is a great benefit of being a member of Handsworth Golf Club as this club was formed by a number of clubs, all celebrating their Centenary in 1995.  All members of the 1895 club offer reciprocal courtesy of the course to visiting members from other 1895 clubs.

The Royal Golf Club de Ardenne in Belgium has now been accepted into the club which further expands the clubs numbers.

In September we saw 3 new clubs join being, Abbeyleix Golf Club, in Laqois Ireland, Aberfeldy Golf Club in Perthshire Scotland and also Pumpherston Golf Club also in Scotland. This now takes the number of participating clubs to 41 including clubs from England, Scotland, Ireland, France, New Zealand and now Belgium for full details of all clubs and there website links click on the 1895 tab at the top of the site.

To see how these courtesies can be used to create a great holiday see the article lower down the news items.

This year Warren Bingham score a credible 35 points to win the putter at Walmley Golf Club.

Previous winners are as follows:

The putter itself like many trophies never leaves the clubhouse but can be seen in the first alcove overlooking the putting green.

Front row – left to right – Barry Willetts, Warren Bingham, Ian Ashford, Reg Neale, Len Brown, Paul Hodnett, John Whelan, Dereck Trueman

Back row – left ro right – Jim Faultless, Alan Spalding, Ted Mason, Godfrey Mansell, Mike Edwards. Alan Hopewell, Don MacColl

Nicky played some excellent golf on the day, gaining 4 birdies and to many pars to remember. When asked how she got on, she said for the full rounds completed I shot net 75, 77, 77, 77 and 72 (which is not bad of a 6 handicap). She also said it was achieved with the same ball (poor ball). For us mere mortals who deal in stableford points that would equate to 162 point for the 5 rounds at an average of 32.4 (not bad). Nicky did say the one downside to this is that she now knows she needs 4 practice rounds to play her best !

Nicky would like to thank all the members for letting her through and all her caddies for the day Justin Craig (18), Gary Thompson (18), Pat Wallington (18), and the iron lady of caddying Val Mason a massive (46). She also has a massive thanks to everyone who sponsored her for the day. If anyone else would like to sponsor her please let Nicky or the Captain know.

Nicky celebrates putting out on the final hole.

Justin Craig joins Nicky in a glass of champaign after walking with Nick for the full 100 holes

Several members came down to cheers Nicky on with her great achievement from the left Reg Neale, Mike Edwards, Tina Reddal, Howard Shinebaum, Pat Wallington, Sue Edwards (trying to hide), Val Mason, Jenny Brown.Gary Thompson, and The Captain – Roy Brown in the front a rather tired Justin and Nicky.