Women's Captain's Blog, 18th September 2025

Can it really be my penultimate blog already?! What will I do now on a Wednesday evening after the day’s competition when I usually sit at my laptop and describe the week’s events. Many of you will not be surprised to hear that I have plugged the gap already and will be restarting Pilates (on Zoom) on October 1st! Until then, I shall crack on with news of our section and events in the Club.

On Sunday afternoon ,14 September, eight intrepid business women competed for the Grace Lawrence Business Women’s Cup. This was a Stableford open to all players in full or part-time employment, or self-employed. I say intrepid as the weather conditions were challenging to say the least with persistent and often heavy rain. Not all seemed dressed for the occasion, but spirits remained high, helped a little for some by a hot drink at the hut. (Brandy unfortunately not available!)

The winner was Lucy Bidmead with 35 points; and the runner up was Mary Kemal with 31 points. Justine Macleod scored a two on the 13th. Many congratulations to the winners.

This Wednesday, 17 September, was the Autumn Meeting: an individual medal competition for Divisions 1 and 2  in the morning, followed by a 9-hole Team Competition in the afternoon for Divisions 1-3. The weather forecast was dire but, in the event, after some light early morning rain and in spite of the heavy, threatening clouds, it remained dry. The course has changed almost overnight: fewer wild bounces, less travel on the ball, little delineation between fairway and rough, more green grass and less bare patches. A challenge for all which some managed to handle better than others but we still had some good scores.

The winners were:

Scratch Prize: Val Weaver 85

Division 1:   
1st  Ros Margey 70
2nd  Cela Selley 72
3rd   Louise Fickling      73

Division 2:   
1st  Angela Balnave 65
2nd Kate Malleson 71
3rd  Carol Dodd 71

NTP  Div1 on Hole 7: Helen Gilbert

NTP in 2 on Hole 14: Ruth Goulding

Three people got a two: Janet Connor, Ros Margey, and Val Weaver.

The afternoon Stableford competition, best 2 scores of 4 winning team were: Helen Savage, Margaret Herlihy, Sue Nugent and Alex Towndrow with 41 points.

The Lisney Trophy, which is presented to the player with the best nett aggregate scores of the morning rounds of the Spring and Autumn meetings, was Ros Margey with 141. (I had originally been informed that there was a tie so apologies for the misleading announcement made on Wednesday after the meal. Ros is the undisputed winner!)

Many congratulations to all the day’s winners, and particularly to Ros on her two consistently good medal scores.

We handed out various other prizes including for the Summer Foursomes for Divisions 3 and 4. Sally Minks was there to receive her runner-up prize (partnered with Christina Galloway); and Shanta Balram received her winning prize (partnered with Ann Jones).

On Monday, 22 September, we have the Women’s Committee Cup, Mrs Shaw’s trophy, from 8am. with a lunch after (fish pie and apple strudel).To be eligible to play in this you need to have been a past or present Committee member for a full calendar year. So far, we have 18 entrants.

The final Wednesday competition of my year, on September 24th, is the Autumn Cup for Divisions 1 and 2, and the September medal for Divisions 1 to 3. Both competitions can be played on Sunday, 21 September. And there is also a 9-hole Stableford on the Wednesday.

The Final Medal competition for those who have won a monthly medal between March and September in all 3 Divisions is to be played on Sunday, 28 September or Monday, 29 September. Helen has put a list up of the winners and you play again just once, choosing someone from that list to partner you. There is one overall Medal winner.

There is also a final Stableford competition played on either the following Sunday, 5th October or Monday, 6th October.

These dates are not negotiable. If you are eligible and want to enter you have to be available to play on one of those dates.

Sign-up has just opened for the new Women’s Captain’s Drive-In on Wednesday, 1 October. This is a Stableford and is open to all Divisions. Please sign up and support Umar in her first official playing engagement of her Captain’s year. Sharon is collecting money and taking guesses for the length of Umar’s drive down the 18th which takes place after the morning’s competition. Please be generous as much of the money collected goes to Umar’s Charity for the year - Noah’s Ark Hospice for Children.

The Sunday before Umar’s Drive In is the Club Captain’s Drive In. You can sign up in pairs for this; and there is a carvery after Sean Nugent’s Drive In, which is almost full.

Two other key date dates for your diary: the Club AGM on Thursday, 25 September; and our Women’s Section AGM on Tuesday, 30 September. Please come to our AGM and support our Club, bringing your comments and questions. What we cannot answer on the night we will follow up after. Our Secretary, Hazel Goodyear has emailed you the AGM papers; and the notices of nominations for new Committee members are on the Locker notice board.

You have recently received an email about the Women’s ParTee evening on Tuesday, 14 October at 6:45pm. Please sign up for a fun evening, meeting some of our newer members, with a quiz, plus a complimentary drink and nibbles.

One more golf news item: Sharon is organising the Pearson matches for 2025/26 and the sign-up sheet for the first two is in the locker room. These are matchplay competitions for players with a Handicap Index of between 13 and 30. Please sign up if you are interested, and the 5 players who have had the best playing record before each match will be selected for the team. You can sign up if your handicap is over 30 but you will be capped.  

And one social item: next Wednesday evening at 7pm, we have stylist, Sarah Goates, returning with The Comfy Clothing Wardrobe to share her expert style tips and a showcase of versatile looks. Discover how to transition effortlessly into the cooler autumnal weather with layers, textures, and wardrobe staples that balance comfort with elegance. Come along and get some new ideas for your Autumn clothing. Tickets are £10 for members and include a glass of fizz.

As I have already found my final quote for my last blog, I thought I would pick something for my penultimate blog with an Autumn reference which has a resonance for me. It seems that we rather suddenly came out of summer and fell into Autumn, but with the leaves clinging on in spite of the blustery winds. There is, however, that distinctive seasonal change in the air and that shift to Autumn will also bring a significant difference to my life. I shall pay heed as ‘Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go…'

Enjoy your Autumn golfing!

Alison Towndrow
Women’s Captain

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