Stuart Walker

Hello Golfers,

Welcome to another edition of your pro shop weekly newsletter with all the latest news and gossip from Epsom Golf Club.

Competition news

Another hugely successful Pro-Am...

Last Friday we hosted over 160 competitors in our flagship event, our 32nd Annual Pro-Am. The course was looking sensational, the weather was superb and it was all shaping up for another hugely successful day. The morning teams kicked off from 8:00am and judging by the lower than average scores, the course was certainly winning at this point. I played in the morning in the Men’s Captain’s team and although we didn’t set the world on fire I’d like to thank Alan, Steve Brown and David Barrows for a very enjoyable round. A larger number of the field went out in the afternoon and finally at 8:00pm as the last ones putted out we had the results.

Professional Prizes:

First place - 67 (-3) - Gary Gillian (Lingfield Park GC).
Second place - 69 (-1) - David Callaway (West Hill GC).
Third place - 70 (Par) - Ian Golding (Kingswodd GC), Craig Sutherland (Poult Wood GC), Richard Tinworth (Tinworth Golf), Craig Cowper (Surrey Downs), Kevin O’Connell (Purley Downs GC) and Marting Woodbridge (Oxford GC).

Corporate winners (winning a trip to Spain supplied by www.costalessgolf.com) were the team from Plan Insurance; Dan Dove, Lee Hughes, Matt Perry and Professional Craig Cowper from Surrey Downs.

Team Prizes:

First place - 125 (-15 on C/B) - Pat Inns, Gary Stone, Andrew Pelling and Professional David Callaway.
Second place - 125 (-15) - Dan Dove, Lee Hughes, Matt Perry and Professional Craig Cowper.
Third place - 126 (-14 on C/B) - Ben northeast, Colin Harris, Tom Coombes and Professional our very own Adam Taylor.
Fourth place - 126 (-14) - Adrian Northeast, Paul Harris, Kieth Harris and Professional Lewis Parker.
Fifth place - 126 (-14) - Geraldine Scanlon, Jerry Scola, Lidia Coutts and Professional Ben Light.

It takes a great deal of work behind the scenes to make big days like these run smoothly so I have many thank yous to make. We are very lucky to have so many generous sponsors who create such a professional feel to the day, none more so that Hector and Horatio of King of Cotton. Every year these gents supply goodie bags, golf balls, tees etc. so a massive thanks for their continued support, but also all the other sponsors all the way through to the members who put up the bottles of Champagne for the nearest the pin prizes.

However, in the running the day I’d like to start with the Pro-Am Committee led by Dec O’Brien, we plan and meet throughout the year to get every detail correct. There are a team of volunteers led by Roger Wildig who get the clubhouse, surrounds and all advertising material out and back in from the course. Kay Briggs and her team for keeping us fed and watered out on the course on the day. Ann and Tina who run reception and make sure everyone in the clubhouse knows what they’re doing. Chef Bev and all the kitchen staff for creating a lovely buffet throughout the day. All the bar staff for putting in extra-long shifts to allow the celebrations to run on to midnight. The greenstaff, led by our ‘The Boss’ Craig, who set-up the course in the best condition I have ever personally seen it… stunning! It was also great to see the boys join the members for a ‘couple’ of drinks in the evening to give the members a chance to thank them face-to-face. Finally, my lads in the pro shop, Adam and Alex put in some serious work to help make sure it was another successful day. My apologies if I have missed anyone out, but a huge thank you to you all, we can’t put on days like this without this whole team behind it.

Let’s look forward to do it all over again next year.

A massive thank you to our Past President...

On Pro-Am day we also unveiled a fantastic new welcome sign on the first tee and for those more observant of you will also have spotted brand new Captain's and President's parking signs relocated by the chipping green. These have very, very generously been donated by our Past President, Mr David Barrows so the club and I would like to say a huge thank you as they have smarted up the whole area of the Club. I know David didn’t want me to make a fuss but I wanted to let him know how much we appreciate it.

Other Competition Results

I missed getting the results to you last week as we were a little busy with then Pro-Am preporations so I have to go back a couple of weeks.

On Sunday, 13 May the men played for the Spring Scratch and the Centenary Cup. The Spring Scratch was tied so under the rules of this event the two leaders; Dec O’Brien and Tom Williams Jnr, had to head out for a sudden death play-off, but up the first hole Declan managed to steal the silverware, not for the first time!

The Centenary Cup was the handicap event and this was again very tight at the top and had to go to a countback and never has the expression ‘never the bride, always the bridesmaid’ rung true! I had to feel for poor old Tom Williams Jnr, as he got pipped again by our Chairman, Brian Dodson, to the title both shooting cracking 66’s.

This Sunday just gone, the gents again headed out in force competing for the Lawson Cup, a stableford competition this time with some very good scores coming in. However, top of the pile was ex-Millwall FC player, Tony Tagg who posted a cracking 41 points to beat Richard Platt on the countback.

The ladies this week played for one of the prettiest trophies in the trophy cabinet, The Dottie Lipscombe Plate, and it was the Spainish contingent again who took this one. Well played Conchita, but also well played to my two ‘ex-Academy Ladies’ in second and third:

First place - Conchita – 36 points.
Second place – Rosemary Campbell – 34 points.
Third place – Sue Osborne - 33 points.

Club news

Bees eventually brought to their Knees, but where was the winning Captain?

16 teams took part in Monday's quiz with John Chard's team "Barking Mad" running out the winners, so ending the unbeaten four quiz run of "Bees Knees". With his usual three co-conspirators away doing other things, John brought in three (very capable) ringers, seen toasting their victory, on their own, at the end of the evening.

The next quiz is on Monday, 25 June. As normal, food is available from 6:30pm, two choices at £5.95, the first question is at 8:00pm and the sign-up sheet is on the entertainments noticeboard.

TREES Quiz Night

On Saturday, 7 July, the club is the venue for a Quiz Night (Quizmaster David Hylton) to raise funds for TREES, the brilliant local charity set up over 40 years ago by club member Laurie Wills. With optional food available from £6 a head (to be pre-ordered), the first question at 7:30pm, it promises to be a fun night. Teams of eight at £5 a head may be entered, lesser numbers can be grouped into ad-hoc teams. There will also be a fund-raising raffle.

To enter a team or be part of a made-up team please contact Barry and Sue Vincent on 020 8393 3599.