The AGM is the opportunity to hear the club's' current men's and lady's Captains, Treasurers and the General Manager report on the activities of the previous year and the incoming Captain's outline their plans for the coming one.
Any member is welcome to attend and can raise questions (submitted in writing before the meeting) for the officer's to respond to. The meeting is administered and managed by the General Manager.
This year, the AGM was on 10th January and the reports of the Lady Captain, Treasurer, Incoming-Captain and General Manager are given below;
1 LADY CAPTAIN 2013 - Linda Clark
Hello everyone, I’d like to start by giving a short review of the highlights of 2013 for the ladies Section as we have had success not only for individuals within the club but also for teams playing against other clubs and in county competitions.
The county autumn meeting was won by a team of our ladies and the Ann Maclaurin trophy (which is a county pairs competition for an adult and a junior) was also won by Mill Green.
All our main competition days this year had good weather, which always helps to lift everyone’s spirits and enables them to play their best golf. Our championship had probably too good weather and the ladies found themselves sweltering in the heat which made the 36 hole event exhausting. So much so, that we have carried out a survey among the ladies to see if the format for 2014 should be changed and the cttee will consider the results of that at their first meeting in a few weeks time.
Despite those challenges, Babs Gaskell won the event and Aly Nedza was the net champion so well done to them. Aly was also our “Lady Golfer of the Year” so 2013 was a great year for her and reflects the hard work she has put into her golf.
We not only enjoyed the competitions but also the great food we had at those events. Chris and his team have done a fab job this year and along with Sarah’s hard work in preparing table plans and menus they have made sure that our evening celebratory dinners have been a great success. So my thanks for their help and good work. I love it when people go that extra mile and I hope they know how much we appreciate their efforts.
Whilst mentioning staff I’d also like to thank Shaun on behalf of the ladies who feel that he has been like a breath of fresh air here, always prepared to listen and to help where he can. He has achieved a lot in his time here and we all hope we will have him with us for many years to come.
Our most improved golfer in 2013 was Ellen Hulme who cut her handicap from 30 to 14 so we look forward to more good things from her in the coming year.
The league teams A&B had a more difficult year than they have in recent times and although individual games were close the overall match results didn’t always reflect that. I would like to thank Jacqui Dixon and Babs Gaskell for their work as team Captains. They are both stepping down this year, Babs to move abroad and Jacqui to organise mixed matches. The ladies wish them well and also wish Aly Nedza and Karin Abeles good luck and lots of success as they take over those roles this year.
The Pearson team under the captaincy of Leah Bretton narrowly missed going through to the quarter finals last year as a result of the countback of all countbacks and are organising themselves for the 2014 season and looking forward to greater success.
We had good results in our friendly matches both those against other clubs and those against the men, millers, tigers and for the first time this year against the staff. It is a joy to see the good spirit in which those matches are played and how lovely to sit among the good humour and chatter at tea afterwards. Thanks to Caroline Tweddell, Sue Burb and Karen Bond for organising those matches.
I’d like to thank the ladies for their generosity in raising money for charity this year, We are able to donate £3,785 to Herts Young Homeless and £650 to the hospice that cared for Shiela Hendry – a much missed lady member who passed away in November. We are also donating £450 to the disabled golfers association as a result of the “inspire a generation” project.
People have asked if I have enjoyed my year as captain and I hope it has been obvious from the way I have behaved that I have loved every minute – well most minutes – I said to Sue that our aim should be to make the most of the good days and roll with the punches on the others. I think we’ve done that.
But I am really just a figurehead for the committee and the real work is done by them. It has been a pleasure to share my year with such a committed, knowledgeable and supportive group of women and my special thanks to those who step down this year at the end of their term of office – Alison Shanks, Jan Houston, and of course Liz Sargant our past captain – make sure you leave that past captain’s parking space tidy for me please!..
It’s also been a pleasure to share my year with the men’s captain Brian Smith and Dennis Durling the Miller’s captain. Apart from being supportive of the ladies, by providing starters for our competitions and helping in a number of ways behind the scenes I’ve really enjoyed playing in mixed events with them and we have become great mates during the last couple of years as we’ve shared our time as vice-captains and captains. We are like the 3 amigos and I must thank Lesley for loaning Brian to me all year. I shall be very sorry to give him back.
There have been a few special events which I’ve been part of this year – firstly we held a competition to reflect the Solheim Cup and played in the same format and on the same day as the competition started. Our ladies played as the Europeans and a team from Chesfield Downs played as the Americans. As with the real Solheim cup. the Europeans won and we had such a great day that we will repeat the event in 2015, this time hosted at Chesfield Downs again to coincide with the real competition. It’s been great to have forged a stronger relationship with the ladies at Chesfield Downs and having introduced Sue and Rachel to their equivalents there, I hope that will continue and bring even greater benefits to both clubs for many years to come.
I was also thrilled that my idea to celebrate the clubs 20th anniversary was so warmly welcomed by Brian and Shaun and that along with Dennis we could all plan and deliver such a successful and enjoyable event for the members.
But it wasn’t only our anniversary in 2013 it was also the anniversary of the tv series Dr Who and it made me think about how similar being captain and being Dr Who is.
- For both the captain and for Dr Who, you know at the beginning that there’ll be a different one along in a while.
- Both the captain and Dr Who face a few monsters along the way but come out the other side of those encounters stronger and wiser
- When the transition happens, the character of the Doctor takes on a new body and new personality and that happens with captains too ! The requirements of the role go on but are delivered equally successfully by a different person
- All the doctors are supposed to be different aspects of the same character and that is the same with different captains who all bring their own skills and characteristics but still fulfill the needs of the section.
- And finally, just as you don’t forget who was Dr Who when you were small enough to hide behind the sofa to watch it , neither do you forget the person who was captain when you joined and one of our new members wrote on my leaving card that I would always be “her captain” which has kind of made it all worthwhile.
You have the Income and Expenditure Statement in front of you and you will see that many of the figures are in line with last year. So I will just highlight a few items.
Under Income the income and costs for Away Days are higher than last year due to the introduction of both a Vice Captain’s Away Day.
We have incurred a loss over friendly matches. This is partly expected as many of the matches are reciprocal, (i.e. we pay for the visitors’ food) and since we play most clubs every other year the profit/loss situation is bound to vary. However we are gradually moving to a Pay-as-you–go system, where both home and away team members pay for their own food and this should eliminate much of the profit/loss problem.
Other Miscellaneous Collections/Donations includes the money given in memory of Sheila Hendry and also the money raised at Shaun’s Race Night last March for Inspire a Generation. As Linda has said this money is now to go to the Disabled Golfers Association.
Fundraising Events have produces fewer funds for the Ladies Section, mostly because money from one of these events was sent to the hospice in memory of Sheila Hendry.
Moving on to Expenditure there was no subsidy applied to the Presentation Dinner this year as funds were not available to do so.
You will see that the carried forward reserve figures are largely tied up in stocks that we are holding, comprising Medal Glasses (£146), Voucher Stocks (£817) and Lady Captain’s Brooches (£500).
For the forthcoming year we will try to contain costs at approximately the current level so that we do not have to increase the competition entry fees for our Lady Members.
And finally I would like to thank Linda, Sue, Karen and Caroline for collecting and passing on money from the friendly matches and to Babs, Jacqui and Leah for doing the same for the Scratch and Pearson matches. This process was without exception remarkable smooth and I thank them for their efficiency. Also I thank Shaun and the office and pro shop staff for their assistance in collecting and looking after money for me.
But my particular and heartfelt thanks go to Sue who has guided me through the process of learning this job with such patience. She has spent hours sorting out the dreadful things I did to her immaculate spreadsheets and always with such good humour. I sincerely thank her.
My only qualification for doing this job is that I am fairly numerate. So, if there are any questions I will do my best to answer them but please remember that I am no accountant.
3 IN-COMING LADY CAPTAIN - Sue Burbidge
Good evening everyone.
I would like to start by saying a very big “Thank You” to everyone who has helped me during my Vice Captaincy year. The support has been amazing and very much appreciated so please do keep it up.
Back in 2007, when I was press-ganged into becoming the Ladies Treasurer I didn’t realise that I’d still be on the Committee in 2014 - and I certainly never imagined that I’d be standing here now about to give my speech as the incoming Lady Captain.
Although nerve
racking, it is an honour and a privilege to be taking over the baton from
Linda. She’s done a fantastic job, as have the other 19 Lady Captains before
her. I only hope that I can live up to everyone’s expectations and continue the
task.
Fortunately,
Linda will remain on the committee for a further year so I’ll be able to pick
her brains as and when needed – if she’ll let me? Last summer, with some gentle
persuasion and the aid of a little alcohol, I persuaded Rachel Dunsdon to be my
Vice Captain and I look forward to working with her and drawing on her vast
knowledge and her golfing skills.
Rachel’s
move to Vice Captain left a vacancy for a Handicap Secretary and as a number of
ladies retired from the committee at the end of 2013, I wanted to ensure I had
enough ladies with committee experience to support me at the start of my new
role so I was delighted when Geraldine agreed to return temporarily as Handicap
Secretary whilst we identify and train her successor. Similarly, Adele rejoined
the Committee last year for one year only to help us out but has very kindly
agreed to do one more year - this time as Competition Secretary and I’m
thrilled that Brenda Furnival-Jones will be joining the committee as Adele’s
Assistant Competition Secretary.
Two other
very welcome additions to the committee are Liz Pemble as Social Secretary and
Eileen Potts as Business Ladies Rep.
And continuing
on the Committee this year are Hilary Kain who did a wonderful job last year as
Treasurer and Martina Sandham who starts her 4th year as Secretary. I’m
extremely grateful that she agreed to stay but we will aim to identify and
train a replacement so that she can retire at some stage.
The
Ladies section cannot exist without the hard work of the committee members and
other unsung hero’s such as:-
Aly Nedza
& Karin Abeles who take on the roles of Scratch Captain
Leah
Bretton who continues as Pearson’s CaptainJacqui Dixon who takes over organising the Mixed Friendly matches
Rosie Meager who continues as County Rep and
Aly Nedza who continues as Mail on Sunday Captain.
And not
to forget people like Di & Frank Giles, Heather & Roger Blake and
Alison & Peter Shanks who will continue to organise some of the Bank
Holiday Competitions. There will also be other individuals (I hope) but I
haven’t managed to speak to or recruit them yet. So please don’t all go running
for the door.
We
couldn’t function as well as we do without the interaction that we with have
with the Men’s and Miller’s sections and the support we get from them and the
Mill Green staff. I’m looking forward to working with Ken, John and Shaun and I
know that together as a team we will achieve much more than we ever could as
four individuals.
Moving on
to my charity for the year: - I’ve chosen to support two small charities. The
first which most of you will never have heard of is The Keratoconus Self Help
and Support Group and the second is Herts Society for the Blind. Both of these
charities are very dear to my heart and I would like to explain why.
When I
was 17, I was diagnosed with Keratoconus in both eyes. It’s a rare condition
affecting 1 in 3000 people, it’s progressive and there is no cure. Basically, the
cornea at the front of the eye is too thin so the eye bulges forward causing
increasingly blurred vision and as the condition progresses, it becomes
impossible to correct vision with spectacles. The wearing of Rigid Gas
Permeable (RGP) or hard contact lenses is the only way to achieve reasonable
vision but these fit tightly on the eye and can cause discomfort and soreness.
It’s rather like your feet would feel if you had to squeeze them into a pair of
shoes that were one size too tight and then keep those tight shoes on for 16
hours a day, every day. Some people with Keratoconus are able to continue
indefinitely with the RGP lenses but for some, the keratoconic eye gradually
rebels and rejects the contact lens and then the only option is a corneal
transplant - which like any other organ transplant is not without its risks.
In the
early days, I had difficulty wearing the lenses, my eyes were always red, sore
and streaming. I struggled to keep up
with my school work and I got little sympathy from my teachers who thought I
was being vain so told me to take the lenses out and put my glasses back on.
About ten years later a Keratoconus patient put a notice up in the clinic at
Moorfield’s Eye Hospital and fellow patient’s started to meet, talk and support
each other and the Keratoconus Self Help and Support Group was born. Now that
group is a small charity run by patients for patients. There are no offices,
salaries or other overheads to pay so 100% of all donations are used for its
charitable purposes.
The group
supply literature to schools and the workplace to raise awareness and to advise
teachers and employers of small changes that can be made to help those with the
condition. Something as simple as allowing the person with Keratoconus to sit
with their back to the window can be enough to make a real difference. How I wish
the Keratoconus Self Help and Support Group had been in existence when I was a
teenager!
Although
the condition is rare, surprisingly there are 2 other ladies at Mill Green
affected by it, one of whom is Debbie Barnes’s – whose daughter Samantha has the
condition. Her keratoconus has progressed more rapidly than mine and she is
currently on the waiting list for Cornea Transplants so I consider myself to be
one of the lucky ones.
When I
get up each day, I’m temporarily “Partially Sighted”. I can’t see anything
clearly unless it’s within a few inches of my nose but I do know that when I eventually
manage to get those two little pieces of plastic into my eyes - I will be able
to see again. But for so many other people locally and nationally their Partial
Sight or Blindness is not temporary, its permanent. Locally a number of those Blind
and Partially Sighted people rely on the support they get from Herts Society
for The Blind who offer a befriending service as well as giving practical help
and advice.
During my
year I do plan to have fundraising events for my charities but I know that many
of you have your own preferred charities and I also understand that times are
still tough so I don’t have any targets and I will not be offended if you
prefer not to support my charities. Please just let me know and I will respect
your choice.
For the 9
hole Fundraiser Day in February I plan to revert to the original concept of
using it to raise funds for the ladies section. I also plan to split any raffle
proceeds from the ladies events between the ladies section and my charities.
Any funds raised for the section will be used to subsidise the cost of ladies
events towards the end of the year.
1) I hope to play a round of golf with as many different lady members as possible and to get to know those that I currently don’t know very well and also those that I have yet to meet.
2) It is my desire that the ladies section will continue to be a welcoming place for ladies of all ages and all golfing abilities.
3) I want to enjoy my year and I hope to lead the section in such a way that all other lady members will enjoy their year too.
Unfortunately,
I am only human and so I won’t always get it right. And when I don’t, please do
tell me – nicely! As much
as I’d love to please everyone all of the time I know that’s not possible but I
will promise to work hard, to give it my all and to try to please as many
people as I can as often as I can.
Thank
You.4 GENERAL MANAGER- Shaun Bakker
Club Captain Brian, Ladies Captain Linda, Committee Members and Club Member’s good evening and once again welcome to Mill Green Golf Club’s 19th Annual General Meeting.
Well its definitely been another busy year and a year that has just seemed to fly by…they say time flies when you are having fun….
2013 ;
Saw us have one of the wettest first quarters I have ever experienced
Saw us have 6 Pub quizzes throughout the season
Saw me answer 38 comment cards and reply too many more emails
Saw our members run and partake in over 112 competitions
Saw us serve 24,000 cups of coffee
Saw us have 35 000 rounds of golf
A particular milestone this year which resonates strongly with me was the 20th Anniversary celebration. I was privileged to play a pivotal part in delivering the event and I have such fond memories of the day from the golf competition to the celebration dinner that evening. Well done to all of you and the contribution you have put into this club over the last 20 years
I would like to start my report by saying a few thank you’s.
A big thank you, to all committees who tirelessly meet every month to discuss ways to improve aspects of the membership. With each committee comes a leader and for this I would like to express my sincere thank you to Brian Smith, Linda Clark and Dennis Durling (Senior Captain). I am overwhelmed by the hard work; dedication and commitment each of you have shown to our club throughout your captaincy.
Brian – It has been great fun working with you this year. Your IT expertise in the absence of Graham Carter will be sorely missed. We had our fair share of golf throughout the year which gave us time to discuss aspects of the club and membership. You have done a great job supported by your committee throughout the year. Thanks for this and I look forward to working with them moving forward. Enjoy the rest.
Linda – Well what can I say, you are a dynamo. Your approach to your captaincy was funny, professional and everything was done for the greater good of the club. I must personally thank you, Sue and the ladies section for all your hard work and particularly the manner in which you have helped us in welcoming new members and making them feel part of the club. It’s this selfless work that makes the ladies section the envy of many clubs in this region, long may it last.
Now that you aren’t worrying about 2 tee starts, the colour of the napkins and what type of bread the sandwiches will be made out of… I wish you well for your next venture and know you will make a success of it.
To our member’s thank you so much for your support and continued loyalty throughout 2013. It has been a tough year for the golf industry nationally due to various factors but despite all this our club has survived will continue to go from strength to strength in 2014.
And to my team at Mill Green thank you so much for all your hard work throughout 2013.
I will now move onto my departmental reports:
1. Golf Operations
2013 witnessed the third successful pro-am at Mill Green. With the top 30 PGA east region players, great prizes, PGA portable tournament office
We also saw The Jamega Tour at Mill Green last year and watched as the leading lights in professional golfers tore up the course with the eventual winner being Chris Hanson on -12 after 2 rounds.
In the shop we introduced price matching on other retail outlets and this has become popular. Members have not only been surprised on how competitive we are but also pleased with the custom fit service, demo days and experience our PGA professionals have to offer them.
The Team itself continue to have a great name in Hertfordshire for producing great players and perhaps more importantly as golf monthly mentioned recently great life skills and etiquette that is well beyond the junior’s years.
The Academy continues to thrive with Ian, John and Richard all busy delivering coaching from complete beginner to European tour players. The group sessions are very informative and great fun and have been delivered to Millers, Ladies and Junior sections. Lots of handicaps have been cut.
Ian has been recently made an England coach for The Thames valley Region and this is a reflection on the hard work the whole team has put in plus the support from membership on developing junior golf over the past 11 years. Mill Green continues to contribute lots of juniors to The County Boys and girls squads. John Pasby continues to work with the County Academy Programme and Richard Stilwell is fast getting himself a name for being an up and coming coach. George Littlejohn has recently started his PGA journey and is enjoying the challenge of year one.
We thank you for your continued support, Ian and his Team are looking forward to working with you in 2014.
2. Food & Beverage
2013 saw a lot of change in the food & beverage department. We saw the introduction of our new Food & Beverage manager Chris Lee. He has been a great addition to the team and constantly strives to look after the members and guests. Thank you for your kind feedback about Chris and the way you have found him approachable with your recommendations and requests for your matches and events. His remit was to make you feel appreciated, find out what you want and give it to you.
From keeping a close eye on the events and matches I can safely say he has hit that mark in 2013.
We introduced the new ‘barista’ style coffee machine. Thanks for your positive feedback about the new coffee, its definitely much more a quality product and I know the staff have enjoyed using the machine instead of pushing a button. I use it occasionally but am often told my hot chocolates aren’t as good as Cillians.
We look forward to providing you with great service this year and working closely with sections in making the events a huge success this year.
Chris and the teams focus remains on;
- Exceeding member’s expectations
- Maintaining Standards
- Staff Training and Development
2014 initiatives will see us;
- Reviewing and changing the club menu
- Re launching the guest Ale experience where we had different ales over 8 weeks.
- Re launching the coffee loyalty card
- Endeavour to provide a half way BBQ on weekends
3. Course Report
It was a cold and snowy start to 2013 with barely a drop of rain in the month of January, until the last 2 days, when it seemed to drop the whole months allocation in 24 hours. The course handled it well and came through into early Spring fairly unscathed.
The greens in 2013 were probably the most consistent they have ever been due to a more intensive and specific work programme which included;
- Deep scarifying and over-seeding early in the season
- Hollow Coring in Autumn
- Regular aeration at varying depths through hollow tinning and sarel rolling
- Cutting and rolling throughout the season
- Site specific feeding programme keeping them healthy and strong all year round
There was also extensive weed control in the long roughs in 2013 which allowed us to extend a few areas and give more definition to the golf course.
Definition was a key word last year which helped prioritise our cutting regime. With the introduction of the new Ransomes Jacobsen mowers we were able to provide consistent and quality cuts to the fairways, first cut and roughs.
Bunkers were of a more consistent quality over the playing season with the introduction of increased resource but they still remain an area of opportunity for us in 2014.
Overall the course played well in 2013 with more consistent greens and better definition.
What to expect in 2014?
All it seems to have brought so far is rain and unfortunately more than we are used to… at least the 14th lake has been refilled.
Our plans for green maintenance are much the same as last year with deep scarifying and over-seeding around the middle of March then continuing with the consistent cultural programmes such as feeding, aerifying, cutting and rolling. I cant wait to see the surfaces this season…
Re-edging and shaping of bunkers will take place during January and Febraury along with re-allocation of shifted sand by means of a mini-digger. We will also be removing a lot of low branches on trees to aid airflow and prevent damage to machinery. We will be continuing of rough spraying project with the end goal being beautiful, clean attractive rough in the summer months.
Staffing levels remain at 5 core team members with the addition of casual resource throughout the growing season. We will also be incorporating a change in shift patterns which will see more resource freed up on weekends throughout the season and important dates in the diary. You’ve been warned >>> So please don’t have a heart attack when you see 5 staff members in on a Saturday in the Summer.
Summary
As I now approach the end of my report I would like to take this opportunity of wishing Sue Burbidge (our incoming Ladies Captain), Ken Gordon (our incoming Men’s Captain) and John Smith (our incoming Seniors Captain) all the very best for 2014 and I am looking forward to working closely with you and your committees.
I look forward to seeing you all for the drive in on Sunday and let’s get the year off to a great start. Thank you, as always for your support it is greatly appreciated.
Shaun Bakker
General Manager
