Women's Captain's Blog, 7th August 2025

This week on Wednesday, 6 August, we had our Women’s Invitation Day when we ask women, who we have met through matches or know as friends, to play with us in a fun team competition. There were 18 different Clubs participating, and we had two Captains playing in addition to myself: Michelle Bassani from North Middlesex, and Sally McAlister from Porters Park. We played a Stableford format, 85%, with a 45 handicap cap, with the best two scores of four to count. It was a beautiful, warm day with bright sunshine. The greens were lush and varied in speed, and the bounces on the fairways continued to be unpredictable, presenting challenges for guests and members alike.

The winners were:

1st: Sue Agapiou, Angela Balnave, Lorna Cooke (Warley Park) and Joanna Aumayer (Brickendon) - 92  points

2nd: Ruth Goulding, Nikki Chodurek, Jo Fayle (Barton-on-Sea) and Jacky Austin (Royal Jersey) - 87 points

3rd: Kathleen Hall, Carole Wallis, Ann Kane (Enfield), Mary Sells (Crews Hill) - 87 points

NTP for guests on Hole 1: Kaz Chapman (Manor of Groves)

NTP for members on Hole 5: Una Kilgallon 

NTP in 2 for all on Hole 14: Sally McAlister (Porters Park)

Many congratulations to all the winners!

Today’s success depended on the contribution and support from a number of people. My heartfelt thanks go to the following: Sharon Saunders, for the flowers; Mandy Lawson, for selling raffle tickets, taking both cash and credit card payments; Anne Herlihy and Pat Jobber, for doing the registration and sorting the raffle; Pat also for making a cake, as well as Chris Robertson, Kathleen Hall, Lesley Avent, Mary Kemal, Rita Kapur and Sue Nugent – all cakes were delicious and very popular at our hut stop; Helen Savage for preparing the cards and sorting the winners; Ruth Goulding, for opening and closing the hut and ensuring we had teas, coffees and juices. And of course, a huge thank you to Roy and the team for a mouth-watering buffet; and to Sonia and Natalie for serving us all with their usual efficiency.

I was delighted that everyone’s generosity enabled us to raise £490 from the sock and bottle raffle for our Captain’s charity this year, The Nightingale Cancer Support Centre

I really enjoyed playing with my team – Sharon, Robina Cohen from Finchley and Sally McAlister from Porters Park. And having spoken with so many people after the competition, I know you all enjoyed the experience of playing with guests. It is interesting to see the course through the eyes of others.

Next week, we play the two medal rounds of the Rafferty Cup (for those with a HI of up to and including 36) on Monday, 11 August and Wednesday, 13 August. There is an Alternate medal on the Wednesday; and a 9-hole Stableford.

On Wednesday, 20 August there is the Club Championships, Handicap and Scratch, over 36 holes with the same handicap limit as the Rafferty.  An alternate medal can be played on Sunday, 17 August or Wednesday, 20 August.

On Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August, there are two Club competitions, the Martin Dench Texas Scramble and Wilson Putting Vase. Teams of 4 welcome in any combination.

Our final Stableford of the month is on either Sunday, 24 August or Wednesday, 27 August; with a 9-hole Stableford on the Wednesday.

There are two Mixed Competitions coming up shortly – the return Women’s Invitation to Men on Sunday, 10 August, which is a Greensomes; and the Lambert Trophy, a Foursomes, which is a Board competition, on Sunday, 17 August.  There are meals after each. If the weather holds, there will be a barbecue on the terrace after the Women’s Invitation.

A successful New Members’ evening was held on Thursday, 31 July. The networking opportunity provided them with useful information about the Men’s weekend competitions and how to get to play. There was just one new woman member attending, and the wife of one of the new men who might be interested to join in the future. Ruth and I gave them an explanation of how things are run at the Club, but both work so their availability is limited.

I am delighted to see that the Summer Foursomes Knockout for women in Divisions 3 and 4 has proceeded apace and there is to be a final between Christina Galloway with Sally Minks against Shanta Balram and Ann Jones.

The Women’s Professional Golf Open played at Royal Porthcawl at the weekend was exciting and inspiring.  Charley Hull, who started the competition thinking she wouldn’t even make the cut, ended up coming joint second having briefly been close to winning. With a calmness many of us would envy when facing such disappointment, she said, ‘I just missed the putt... There’s always next year!’

Indeed, there is but let’s enjoy what we have left of this year first!

Happy August golfing!

Alison Towndrow
Women’s Captain
 

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