This black tie event involved an excellent 4 course meal prepared by Michael Lewandowski and his team, full details of the menu can be seen in the attached link. Dinner Menu

Following the meal, Barry Willetts made an excellent and amusing speech proposing a toast to the Club.The Captain then responded and in doing so made presentation’s to the Lady President – Rano Thukral and Bridget Jackson. The Captain also mentioned that he had managed to get several past captain’s to attend in partricular Len Brown, Jim Faultless and Ted Weaver.

The evening concluded with an excellent performance from the Star of “Stars in Their Eyes” James Alexanda who captures the mood and music of Lionel Richie. He managed to get all the audience up on the dance floor – which is quite a feet.

During the evening Malcolm Brice was taking picture of all the couples, these are available from Lise in the office at a cost of £3. Thanks to Malcolm for letting us use some of the photo’s for this article, to view more of his work visit www.azurerepublicphotography.com

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The Lady President Rano Thukral receiving flowers from the Captain Ken Hatton and his wife Cathy

Bridget receiving her flowers from the Captain

The Captain's Table (standing) - Cathy Hatton, The Captain,Barbra & Peter Neale, (front) Tony & Jilian Carr with Ted Preen

The Lady Presidents table - Rano and Satish Thukral, Jagi & Sunita Kumar, Bridget Jackson and Sunny & Satty Thukral

James Alexanda in full flow entertaining the members, in the forground Satish showing his moves.

Tim Pepper

“Tim ran for us in appalling weather conditions on Sunday. He endured severe winds, torrential rain and extreme cold.

 The Captain and I would like to thank him very much for his effort.

 Unfortunately the marathon was called off half way because of the extreme weather conditions.”

Tim was cheered on by Roger and Jan Pepper, The Captain and his wife Cathy and Lady President.

WELL DONE TIM AND MANY THANKS!

Anyone wishing to make a donation can they add their name to the sheet in the Spike Bar.

The 2 pictures below sum up the day!

Jan Pepper (Mum) and Rano Thukral quite literally give Tim their support after the run.

The Bin - sums up conditions on the day

Despite the heavy rainfall over the last few days, the course was in excellent condition although it was playing long – as evidenced by the scores.

The winning pair were Nicky Edwards and Howard Shinebaum with a score of 34 points. They were followed in second by Tina Reddall and Gary Thompson (32 points) with Sheree Thompson and Jake Wharton claiming third (31 points).

Rano Thukral ( Lady President) presents Howard Shinebaum and Nicky Edwards the silver salver with Captain Ken Hatton in attandance

Runners-up prize being presented to Tina Reddall and Gary Thompson

At the other end of the table, the Lady President, Rano Thukral and her playing partner, Godfrey Mansell (18 pionts) lost to the Lady President’s husband, Satish and his partner, Maura McGarry (19 pionts) by a point for the booby prize of maltesers.

Rano & Godfrey Mansell recieving the prize for the strongest team as they held the rest up !

After the golf, the players and their guests sat down to a wonderful carvery served by Michael and his team.

The next event at the golf club is the annual dinner dance on 12 May – details can be found in the clubhouse if you have not already booked a table.

Tues   1        9.00am Tuesday Medal

Tues   1       2.00pm ‘B’ Team v Sutton (A)

Wed   2        8.00am Midweek Medal (Q), No Starting Sheet

Thur   3        8.30am to 9.30am &1.30pm to 2.30pm Birmingham Insurance (GS)

Thur   3         4.00pm to 5.00pm ‘A’ Team v Coventry Hearsall (H)

Fri      4        8.30am to 9.30am Seniors Centenary Shield

Fri      4        11.00am to 11.45am The Crown (GS)

Fri      4        9.00pm Bi – Weekly Draw

Sat     5        8.00am Monthly and Final Medal (Q), Starting Sheet

Sun    6        1.00pm to 4.30pm Spring Mixed Foursomes 1^st & 10^th tees

Sun    6        11.00am Juniors v Maxstoke Park (A)

Mon    7        8.00am May Day Texas Scramble, Teams of Four, No Starting Sheet

Tues   8        9.00am Ladies Stableford

Wed   9        3.00pm to 4.00pm ‘B’ Team v Moseley (H)

Thur   10      9.00am Seniors v Aston Wood (A)

Thur   10     10.00am to 12noon Amateur Tour Golf

Thur   10      4.00pm WML Team v Dartmouth (A)

Fri      11      10.15am to 11.00am Ladies v Moor Hall (H)

Sat     12      8.00am Victory Cup (Q), Starting Sheet

Sat     12     7.00pm for 7.30pm Annual Dinner & Dance

Sun    13      1.00pm to 2.30pm Ladies Spring Cup

Sun    13      3.00pm to 3.45pm Junior v Sutton (H)

Mon    14      4.00pm to 4.45pm WML Team v Dudley (H)

Tues   15      9.00am Ladies Chris Coutts Salver

Tues   15      3.00pm to 4.30pm President’s Team v Midland Greenkeepers

Wed   16      3.00pm to 4.00pm ‘B’ Team v Edgbaston (A)

Wed   16       5.00pm Scratch Team v Walmley (A)

Thur   17      3.00pm ‘A’ Team v Coventry Hearsall (A)

Sat     19      4.00pm Course closed for preparation for HGC Open

Sun    20      HGC Open Competition, Course closed until 4.45pm

Mon    21      10.00am to 12.30pm Moor Hall Ladies Day Out

Mon    21      4.00pm to 4.45pm WML Team v Swindon (H)

Tues   22      Ladies Open, Course closed until 3.30pm

Tues   22      4.45pm to 5.30pm Scratch Team v Drayton Park (H)

Wed   23      8.45am to 9.30am Seniors v Walmley (H)

Wed   23      3.00pm ‘B’ Team v Walsall (A)

Thur   24      4.00pm to 5.00pm ‘A’ Team v Walsall (H)

Fri      25      9.45am to 10.30am Ladies v Druids Heath (H)

Sun    27      8.00am to 12noon Captains Charity Com.   (Shotgun Start)

Sun    27      2.00pm to 3.00pm Jewellers Arms (GS)

Mon    28      1.00pm to 6.00pm Breast Cancer Charity Day, (Shotgun Start)

Tues   29      9.00am Ladies Champions Cup

Tues   29      1.00pm to 1.30pm John Hall Cup (GS)

Tues   29     4.45pm to 5.30pm Scratch Team v Ladbrook Park (H)

Wed   30      2.00pm ‘B’ Team v Walmley (A)

Wed   30     4.30pm WML Team v Penn (A)

Thur   31      10.00am to 10.45am & 1.30pm to 2.15pm Oak Cottage (GS)

• Play unlimited golf
• Sign in a guest at members guest green fee rates
• Unlimited use of the practice facilities
• Membership of the golf club
• Unlimited access to the bar and restaurant facilities
• Access to the fishing lake and squash courts
• Member discount card granting 15% discount on bar purchases

In order to get an application for please contact our club professional, Lee Bashford, on 0121 523 3594.

Ryan Wallace & Tom Ibbertson lost on the 2nd play off hole at Sunningdale in the 78th Sunningdale Foursomes yesterday to Stiggy Hodgson (ex Walker Cup player and now professional) & James Stansbury in what was a close contest.

The Warwickshire Pair were 2 up after 8, but some wayward tee shots allowed the Sunningdale pair to come back into the match and got 1 up after 15.

Ryan & Tom won the 16th to draw level.  On the 17th a very good bunker shot from Stiggy  after a wayward tee shot from James kept the game level going to the 18^th.

The 18th was halved in birdies and the match went down the 19^th, again the 19th was halved in birdies and at the 20^th, a par 3, both pairs hit the green; Ryan’s 15 foot putt lipped out leaving a 4 foot braking putt – James birdie put also lipped out leaving Stiggy a 3 footer. Tom’s putt for unfortunately lipped out again leaving Stiggy to holed out to win the match.

A great experience for the two Warwickshire players against quality opposition on their own course.

Well done to Ryan, and unlucky, meeting two players on their home course – always a difficult task.

Tuesday 13th March – first round

Ryan Wallace (Handsworth) & Tom Ibbertson (Coventry Hearsall G C) progressed to the last 64 of the 78th Sunningdale Foursomes with a 2 & 1 victory on the Old course  over D Peel professional from Stockport Golf club & his son M Peel Cheshire county captain.

They tee off in the morning against Walker Cup player now professional Stiggy Hogson & his Partner James Stansbury both from Sunningdale on the New course.

Other notable players through are to the second round are Paul McGinley, David Gilford, Tony Johnstone, Ian Pyman , David Howell and local professional Warren Bladen.

• Mens Open – 20th May - Download Mens Open 2012 Entrance Form
• Ladies Open – 22nd May - Download Ladies Open 2012 Entrance Form
• Junior Open – 8th June - Download Junior Open 2012 Entrance Form
• Bridget Jackson Bowl – 26th June - Bridget Jackson Bowl 2012 Entrance Form
• Mixed Open – 1st July - Download Mixed Open 2012 Entrance Form
• Midweek Open – 25th July - Download Midweek Open 2012 Entrance Form
• Seniors Open – 2nd August - Download Seniors Open 2012 Entrance Form
• Ladies 3 Ball – 16th August - Download Ladies 3 Ball Alliance 2012 Entrance Form
• Seniors Betterball – 1st November - Download Mens Seniors Betterball Entrance Form

Please contact us for further information.

The Captain thanked Dave Jones for his excellent work in organizing the Winter Stablefords this year. He also thanked all the members who took part and enable him to raise £240 for his charity.

These are 6 excellent events over the winter  when all full members of the club can come along and play. They can either play with their regular partner of or play with a random partner as Dave mixes the rest up. After each competition there is also a ball draw raffle.

But the big prize everyone wants to avoid is the booby prize, on this occassion the Captain insisted their was no prize, or was that just he had his concerns as his playing partner was club Proffessional Lee Bashford !

Dave Jones doing his thanks before the presentation

Mike (left) and James Darby posing with the Captain - Ken Hatton following their excellent win

Speeches were given by the immediate past Captain Roy Brown, the Captain and Lady President.  The guest speaker, Tony Taylor, then provided an entertaining speech which included some interesting and amusing anecdotes about the Captain.

Thanks go to all those involved in ensuring that the evening went smoothly – including Michael and the catering team who turned the clubhouse from the AGM to a dining room in a short period of time, Frank and his bar staff and Tina, Lady President’s daughter, for acting as official photographer on the evening.

Captain Ken Hatton and Lady President Rano Thukral pose for a photo

Rano has her photo taken with the younger Handsworth Ladies from the left Tracy Hampton, Sheree Thompson and Val Mason

Ken and Rano get to meet their better halves Satish and Kathy - you can work out which is which !

Rano doing an excellent job giving her maiden speech as Lady President

Last year's Lady President Nicky Edwards entertained the audience whilst hanging Rano's photo

Tony Taylor gave an entertaining speech in responce to the captain.

Bob Willetts shows the bar staff his new suit

Looks like Tracy and Dot have seen it before

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