THE VALE Golf Club seniors section played their weekly competition which was followed by their AGM at which outgoing captain David Rimell handed over the mantle to his successor Derek Lambert.
On a cold, frosty and occasionally sunny morning, 72 seniors braved the conditions to play an AM/AM competition on temporary greens after a shotgun start.
The outgoing and incoming captains played well as a team with John Millward and Erle Andrews to secure fourth position with a score of 99.
First place went to Larry Taylor, Mike Roberts, Bob Evans and Brian Leggott with a score of 108, second were John Jarvis, John Turner, Will Reading and John Scott with 103 and third were Mike Hughes, Martin Holland, Adrian Duggan and Richard Browning with 100.
Mike Coote won nearest the pin.
The highlight of the ensuing AGM was David’s presentation of the new captain’s blazer to Derek, who was was delighted to announce Andy Jinks will be his vice-captain and the captain’s charity for 2017 will be Motor Neurone Disease.
David also announced that the combined efforts of the seniors section in 2016 had raised more than £4,000 for his captain’s charity, The Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust.
A presentation was made to David by the seniors section in appreciation of his year’s excellent captaincy.
Three members retired from the committee and three members were appointed in substitution by a unanimous show of hands.
EXACTLY a week later the Vale seniors gathered to witness the new captain’s drive-in, play a Texas Scramble and enjoy a Christmas lunch.
New skipper Derek Lambert and the players gathered on the tenth tee to witness Derek’s first drive after which, on a damp course occasionally sprinkled with light rain, players dispersed for a shotgun start.
The Vale staff must be congratulated for the excellent overall condition of the golf course as, despite the inclement weather, good golf was played by all teams.
Top spot went to Jim Rushworth, Mike Hughes, Martin Rees and Roy Bond with a nett score of 65.7, runners-up were Derek Lambert, Andy Jinks, men’s captain Andy Wilkinson, Tony Hampson and ladies’ captain Audrey Sidwell with a nett 66.74 and third were John Millward, John Briggs, Tom Hutchinson, Nic Fieldon and Mick Lewis with a nett 67.68.
John Turner and Richard Fletcher took the prizes for nearest the pin and longest drive respectively.
Some 110 golfers then sat down to an excellent Christmas lunch in good company and a convivial atmosphere before the annual winners presentations were made by retiring captain David Rimell.