Hello golfers,

I’d like to start be wishing you all a Happy New Year and hope it brings health and happiness and plenty of golf. It’s been a very busy time at the club since my last email to you before Christmas so lots to report… make yourself a brew and get comfortable as this first one of the year's packed out. I promise going forwards they all won’t be this long, but as I’ve always said everyone deserves their moment of glory.

What’s been happening at the club?

So heading back before the big day it was Christmas lunches galore and I’d like to thank the seniors' section, the Thursday Roll-up and The Golf Barmy for inviting me along to their celebrations. However, if I could ask they not to be three days in a roll next year as I’m not sure that my body can take that amount of brussels and parsnips in 72 hours.

We had a great turnout for the seniors' lunch and it was great to see all the year's winners collecting all their silverware, but I’d also like to wish Alan Rhodes, the in-coming Seniors' Captain, all the best for 2018.
The Thursday Roll-up/Thursday lunch gathering the following day was equally well supported and we had a lovely atmosphere in the room, all seamlessly organised by Past Captain Peter Killick. However the highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of the NEW bag to the ‘Roll-up Godfather’, Mr Brian Herridge.

I then, to finish my Christmas lunch marathon, was very kindly invited to play in ‘The Golf Barmy Ryder Cup’ match on the Friday and as you can see by the picture below, one side was a little more committed than another. It was a great day full of highs and lows for me as I will explain later in this email, but once again thank you to all The Barmy Boys as it was a hilarious day, just as I expected it to be.

Turkey Trot Weekends

The Turkey Trot at the club is now one of the biggest events of the year and certainly the most fun, however this year the weather threatened to put a bit of a dampener on it. All the Saturady golfers got out on a bit of a frosty morning, but the following day the heavens opened all night and shut the golf course, so I was forced to put the Sunday event back a week. So the following week on an equally frosty morning, the remainder of the field headed out. Prosecco bottles were heard popping all over the golf course which, for most, ofetn helps the scoring. The winners this year, to top off what must be the best years of his life, was the Men’s Captain’s team made up of John Murray, Patrick Murray and Adam Crockford.

Its is also tradittion that the year's knockout winners are presented with their well-earned silverware. So we’ll kick off with The Spring Scratch Knockout and that was won by Declan O’Brien who beat the Captain in the final. The Singles Everrett Knockout was won by Ben Northeast, who also rompted the Christmas Eve Stableford shooting a gross 70 for 41 points, and finally The Brodie Helder Foursomes Knockout was taken by the Men's Captain David Barnett and Declan O’Brien. Congratulations to all the winners, but I’d also like to give a massive thanks to all who played and created such a special atmosphere at the presentation. We are very lucky here at Epsom that we all play at such a friendly and inclusive club, and I can assure you that we are the envy of many others.

Junior Christmas Golf and Lunch - Thursday, 28 December

It was lovely to see so many juniors and their parents in attendance just after Christmas and to the relief of all, Turkey wasn’t on the menu. Our Junior Organiser, Roy Chegwin pulled it all together and presented Ben Partridge with The Kestrel Cup and Patrick Murray with The Leverets Cup. Well played boys and it always makes me smile to see one of our juniors taller than our Junior Organiser. Sorry Roy… couldn’t resist.

Oh no… not another one!

As I mentioned to you earlier The Golf Barmy day was full of ups and downs. Firstly, the down… despite going round two under I was bashed up 2&1 by one of the Barmy Boys. Well played Woodsy (not said through gritted teeth at all), but to make matters worse I lost having had my second ‘hole-in-one’ in six days. Some may say this should be a high, but if any of you know how those Golf Barmy boys drink, you would have sympathy. However, there can’t be too many chaps who’ve had two aces in a week so fairly proud of that one.

I’d also like to give a huge congratulation to one of our latest Academy Members, Mrs Zhuqing Bao who holed a 9-iron on the 17th to card her first ace.

Pro Shop January Sale

We are holding a big shoe sale throughout January and there are some great bargains with 25% discount to be had while stocks last. All Under Armour and FootJoy shoes are now in the sale.