Competition Results

With the season now well in flow, we have some competition results to offer up. Firstly the Men’s Medal Winners Cup, congratulations to Steve Gay.

Pos	Name	Nett Score
1st	Steve Gay	65
2nd	Martin Twigg	73

Next up is the Spring Cup, this is a men's medal competition and with great pleasure I offer my congratulations to Mark Riley. With a scintillating back 9 of just 35 strokes, Mark walked away with his first singles competition in 3 years, by some 4 shots.

Pos	Name	Nett Score
1st	Mark Riley	66
2nd	Martin Davies	70
3rd	Steve Lythell	72

A special mention here for Paul Brewis; Paul shot a nett 70 however, due to carrying 15 Clubs, duly got disqualified; Here is a point to note though = he got cut .3 as he shot 1 under the CSS...... see life is fair!

Finally, the Spring Trophy, a ladeis Medal competition. It is with a great sense of pride and joy that I annouce the winner Stephanie McDonald.

Pos	Name	Nett Score
1st	Stephanie McDonald	73
2nd	Denise Beasley	75
3rd	Clare Surgeon	75

As Sping Cup/Trophy winners Mark and Stephanie will be entered as the Manor of Groves representatives into the HSBC Amateur Match Play Championship.

Would like to take a moment here to thank our sponsors HSBC who provided Food/Beverage; Ball Markers and prizes.

Special thanks also to the Club Staff for ensuring enough food was available for all the competitors.

The Seniors Winter League

The Seniors Winter League came to its conclusion recently, the competition runs through the winter and climaxes (not a word one should use around the senior section) in 2 Semi Finals and eventually a Winner.

Well this year saw a popular winner and at the sprightly young age of 80 let’s raise our glasses to Eddie Hunt! Congratulations young man on what I can only assume, knowing the senior members, was a fiercely cut-throat competition

Eddie is pictured here with current Senior Captain Ron Heaps.

Mixed Season Starts

Sunday saw the start of the MOG Mixed Friendly Matches with a trip to Heydon Grange.

Date	Opponents	Score
22 April	Heydon Grange (a)	2.5 & 2.5

The Senior Season is underway

With the Senior Season now well underway, here is an update on the results from the first 3 Matches:

Date	Opponents	Score
2 April	Gt Hadham (h)	Won 5 & 3
11 April	Three Rivers (h)	Won 5.5 & 2.5
20 April	Chesfield Downs (a)	Won 5 & 3

Point about SSS raised to Hertfordshire Golf Union

Just in case you Guys and Gals dont think that the committee are working on your behalf, here is discussions between us and HGU about our SSS.

I am privileged to be appointed the Vice Captain at the Manor of Groves for 2007.
In my small time in the post I am constantly being harassed by members from both my club and local clubs about the (bandits) the high handicaps we have at our club. Due to the current SSS rating of our course (par 71 SSS 70) we find it extremely difficult for our members to achieve a cut. It should also be noted that we only have 250 members and not all participate in our competitions; therefore with small fields in all our qualifying competitions the CSS is consistently below 70, it is not unusual for it to be 69. This is of course compounded by the fact that the majority of the entrants into our qualifying competitions are Cat 4 golfers and in the CSS calculation their cards are discarded.
This led me to downloaded the USPGA Guidelines to Course and Slope Ratings. I was a little shocked after completing this assessments and the relevant calculations the slope rating was calculated at 135. When converting this I found that a 13 handicapper coming from another club would receive an extra 3 shots.
I would like to work with the HGU in a possible reassessment of the Manor of Groves, as we are finding other Courses in our area reluctant to play against us due to what they fell is our unfair handicaps.

Look forward to working with you on this request.

Yours
Colin

And of course the response:

Colin

The EGU have devised a modified assessment procedure which is being implemented this year. We are to attend a training seminar on 26th June 2007 and until that time we have been instructed not to carry out any course assessments. We have noted your concern and will contact you as soon as weare able after that re-training day.

Look forward to seeing if we can alleviate your problems!!

John Newton
County Secretary
Hertfordshire Golf Union

Committee Meeting Minutes - 18 April 2007

MANOR OF GROVES GOLF CLUB
MINUTES OF THE MAIN COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE CLUB HOUSE ON 18 APRIL 2007 AT 7.30pm.

At the start of the meeting the Captain welcomed all new Committee Members to the first meeting of the year. He also thanked CM, JC, GL and Steph McDonald for their help for on setting up for the presentation day.

Present.
Graham Purnell (GP), Captain
Colin McDonald (CM), Vice Captain
Clare Surgeon (CS), Lady Captain
Jean Clarke (JC), Lady Vice Captain
Steve Lythell (SL), Immediate Past Captain
Bob Walker (RW), Secretary
Jan Dixon (JD)
Val Walker (VW)
Dick Watt (DW)
Giuilia Lawless (GL)
Mark Heffer (MH)
Dave Green (DG)
Ted Surgeon (TS)
Derek Filler (DF)

Apologies.
Alan Goodman (AG).

Matters Arising from the meeting of 10th January.
Honours Boards - RW reported the final errors/corrections are with Dave Jackson for reprinting.
It was confirmed that juniors with handicap 18 and under may play in weekend medals/stablefords before 11am and juniors would be allowed on the course weekends between 10.30 and 11am if times are not booked and earlier if spaces are available and subject to the discretion of the starter. Note that members over 16 years of age have full members rights.

Matters Arising from the AGM.
Derek Filler asked about posting of Committee Minutes. These will be posted on the Blog but there is no objection to Committee Members making these available to other members subject to the removal of any contentious items.
Stuart Mortimer asked about 5 day members having full voting privileges. RW to write to Stuart Mortimer explaining that our constitution was developed by taking advice from the EGU (they provided a model constitution for proprietary golf clubs), the Hertfordshire Golf Union and at least 4 other clubs. In none of these cases were 5 day members allowed to vote. We have also posted an enquiry on the EGU Community, an email based question and answer service, and no clubs responded saying their 5 day members had voting rights. Stuart will be advised that if he so wishes he can put a proposal forward at the next AGM.

Correspondence.
None.

Unresolved issues and information from the Handicaps and Competitions Committee.
None

Financial Matters.
RW said that AG asked for the committee to agree to support the scratch team with up to £500. All agreed. GP asked, on behalf of Dave Bristow, if some of this could be used to subsidise scratch team shirts. All agreed.

AOB.
GL asked if the Head Greenkeeper could be asked to paint lines in front of greens restricting buggies. RW suggested that this should be done via a comment card.

VW said that last years Captain’s photographs are now ready. SL agreed to arrange for collection. VW asked that GP and CS arranged for their’s to be taken. RW said that Del Hollyoake had agreed to put them up.

VW suggested that we write to Mick Charles expressing our disappointment at him not being re-elected to the Committee and thanking him for all his hard work and enthusiasm. RW to write to Mick.

DF asked why no one from the management or the Head Greenkeeper where at the meeting as they used to attend last time he sat on the Committee. RW explained that their presence achieved nothing as no actions resulted from their presence. James Jude had also said that the business would not attend meetings. RW will forward by email to James Jude any issues that remain unresolved by direct contact with MOG staff or by use of the comment card system.

SL suggested that because of the changes to the 5th hole (infilling of bunkers) we should consider swapping stroke indexes for holes 5 and 6. RW explained the hole difficulty is only one of several factors to be taken into account when selecting stroke indexes recommendations for which are to be found in appendix I of the CONGU Unified Handicapping System (copy attached). CM commented that stroke indexes are really about match play, not stableford. After discussion the majority voted to keep the stroke indexes as they are.
SL asked what the Club logo was since the shop was now producing clothing with the MOG corporate logo on. After discussion the majority voted to keep the old ‘grape vine and columns’ logo as the Club logo.
SL suggested that since the Colts Cup has been suspended due to lack of interest (only one entrant last year in spite of extensive advertising) she we abandon the Guides and Browies competition since it only attracted 6 players (3 pairs). It was pointed out that there were originally 10 entrants (5 pairs) and that this year had been unusual, with many ladies on holiday. It was agreed to monitor the situation next year.

MH asked about the issue of diaries and bag tags. RW suggested he take the matter up directly with the golf club manager, Andrea Goodhew.

It was agreed to distribute uncollected mementos of the day of the Spring Cup/Ladies Spring Trophy – 28th April. RW to post a notice and telephone members who have left the club inviting them to attend.
It was agreed that the new date for the Ladies Challenge Trophy would be 30th June (formerly the date for Captain’s Day) and Captain’s Day will now take place on 21st July. RW to notify events (Sarah Corbishly) re changes in venue/food requirements and the golf club manager (Andrea Goodhew) re changes in golf course booking requirements. RW to post a notice advising Members of the diary changes.

GL and JD agreed to deal with social events, CM and JC with scrambles, CM with Captain’s Day and RW and VW with Invitation and Open Day.

CM put forward a document relating to a structure/contingency plan should RW resign as Secretary. It was agreed that a sub-committee would meet to discuss the proposals.

Meeting closed at 9.30pm.

Stroke Index

Understandably so, there have been murmurs around the club about the changes to the 5th hole. These murmurings (speak up so we can hear you!), are around the stroke index and the fact that many members now believe that 8th hole is more difficult than the changed 5th.

Well here is something for you to ponder, the Stroke index is designed for match play and not strokeplay, therefore there has to be a balance of when the lower handicap player gives shots to the higher handicap golfer.

For your info, and in case you cannot get to sleep at night, here is the official line from the English Golf Union.

Stroke Index Recommendation

Stroke Index Allocation (Handicap Stroke Table)Rule of Golf 33-4 requires Committees to publish a table indicating the order of holes at which handicap strokes are to be given or received. To provide consistency at Clubs it is recommended that the allocation is so made as follows:
(a) Of paramount importance is the even spread of the strokes to be received at all handicap differences over the 18 holes.
(b) This is best achieved by allocating the odd numbered strokes to the more difficult of the two nines, usually the longest nine, and the even numbers to the other nine.
(c) The first and second stroke index holes should be placed close to the centre of each nine and the first six strokes should not be allocated to adjacent holes. The 7th to the 10th indexes should be allocated so that a player receiving 10 strokes does not receive three strokes on consecutive holes.
(d) None of the first eight strokes should be allocated to the 1st or the last hole, and at clubs where competitive matches may be started at the 10th hole, at the 9th or 10th holes. This avoids a player receiving an undue advantage on the 19th hole should a match continue to sudden death. Unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary, stroke indexes 9, 10, 11 and 12 should be allocated to holes 1, 9, 10 and 18 in such order as shall be appropriate.
(e) Subject to satisfying the foregoing recommendations, when selecting each stroke index in turn holes of varying length should be selected. Index 1 could be a par 5, index 2 a long par 4, index 3 a shorter par 4 and index 4 a par 3. There is no recommended order for this selection, the objective being to select in index sequence holes of varying playing difficulty. Such a selection provides more equal opportunity for all handicaps in match play and Stableford and Par competitions than an order based upon hole length or difficulty to obtain par.

Note 1: Par is not an indicator of hole difficulty. Long par 3 and 4 holes are often selected for low index allocation in preference to par 5 holes on the basis that it is easier to score par on a par 5 hole than 4 on a long par4. Long par 3 and 4 holes are difficult pars for low handicap players but often relatively easy bogeys for the player with slightly higher handicaps. Difficulty in relation to par should not be taken into account when selecting stroke indexes.

Note 2: When allocating a stroke index it should be noted that in the majority of social matches there are small handicap differences thereby making the even distribution of the lower indexes of great importance. The above recommendations supplement those made by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews contained in 'Guidance on Running a Competition'.

Spring Scramble Result

Many thanks to our new captains, yes they were truly blessed with excellent weather for their Spring Scramble and Captains Drive In. Everyone survived the sun and some excellent scores were posted, the winning team are pictured here with our new Captains; Graham Purnell and Claire Sugeon.

Spring Scramble Result

1st	Coombes; Barnfield; The Don; Challis
2nd	Davies; Butterworth; Callen; O'Connor
3rd	Attwell; Smith; Green; Gay
4th	Purnell; Surgeon; McDonald; Clarke
5th	Barker; Lythell; Wheeldon; Cusick

Men's Order Of Merit Standings after 2 rounds

Understandably Rhys Purnell and David Marshall head the Men's OOM following their respective results at the start of April. Here for your info are the top ten:

Men's Order of Merit Standings

1st	Rhys Purnell	39 Pts
2nd	David Marshall	38 Pts
=3rd	Simon Evans	32 Pts
=3rd	Graham Purnell	32 Pts
=3rd	Martin Twigg	32 Pts
6th	Laurence Trevellion	31 Pts
7th	Steve Allen	28 Pts
8th	Chris Leaf	25 Pts
9th	James Barrett	24 Pts
=10th	Wayne Challis	20 Pts
=10th	Brett Trevellion	20 Pts
=10th	John Walpole	20 Pts

Results Catchup

Following a hectic 2 week period its time to catch up on the results. Congratulations to all who won the respective competitions with a special mention to Rhys Purnell!

April Medal 2007

Mens Div 1	Mens Div 2	Ladies Div
Rhys Purnell	David Marshall	Joyce Dexter

April Stableford 2007

Mens Div 1	Mens Div 2	Ladies Div	Junior Div
Rhys Purnell	David Marshall	Hilda Watt	Lloydd Purnell

Easter Bank Holiday Stableford 2007

Mens Result
1st	Matt Butterworth	44pts
2nd	Tony Cook	41pts
3rd	Glen Cutmore	37pts
4th	Martyn Davies	37pts
Ladies Result
1st	Joyce Dexter	31pts

The Mens Winter Eclectic

Let me first thank all those that took part in this the inaugral Mens Winter Eclectic, hopefully you enjoyed this format and we look forward to your support next winter.

So down to the results bit, our congratulations go to Darren Walpole, with an impressive eclectic net score of 58. In second place, congratulations to Martin Twigg with a net score of 59, and in third spot Colin McDonald with a net score of 59.5.

The full results will be available on the Board in the Mens Changing room.

Guides and Brownies

In the Ladies competitions congratulations must go to our Ladies Vice captain Jean Clarke and her Partner Guilia Lawless for capturing 2007 Guides and Brownies, pictured here with our Club Captain Graham Purnell.
Congratulations to Jan Dixon and Denise Beasley for their runners up spot.
It should be noted that Chris Payne has become an honorary Brownie!

Tigers and Rabbits - Result

Congratulations to Ken Mcilwhem and Frank Newell on their Greensome stableford score of 38pts and thus becoming the 2007 Tigers and Rabbits Champions. Pictured here with our Club Captain Graham Purnell.

It must be said in extremely tough conditions that their score left many others in the wake! I dont remember the Manor playing that difficult since last years Club Championship.

We should also mention and congratulate Terry Martinelli and Paul Casey for their runners up spot.

Many thanks to all those who supported this years event, but all I have to offer is better luck next year