Bob Beeson reports I was driven to Woodbury Park by our Fixtures Secretary which was most welcome. As is becoming customary, I forgot certain items - this time my phone with cards & cash along with my specs !! Once again, the Fixtures Secretary came to the rescue with some cash but I soon found out when going to pay for the buggy and purchase drinks that cash was no longer king and payment by card was the only way. Much to my relief, I was introduced to this year's Woodbury Park captain and my playing partner, Karl Halford, who kindly volunteered the use of his discount card along with the facility to use his card for … [Read more...]
President’s Day at Saunton – 15th May 2025
Blue sky and bright sunshine welcomed almost a hundred members to Peter Dunstan’s President’s Day playing on Saunton’s East course. Having seen the carnage at the recent England Golf Captains qualifier, play was from the yellow tees which, it was hoped, would be a less daunting prospect for most compared to the whites. With many players not having played from the yellows before, some teeing grounds proved difficult to locate! With the fairways hard and running following the recent dry spell, the driver was left in the bag on many holes, and not just by the longer hitters. The greens too were fast and firm with chip and runs often being … [Read more...]
Devon v Sussex (23rd April) and Hampshire & IoW (24th April) – Tour
Bob Beeson reports… Well, eventually 16 (nearly) able-bodied Devon Captains made their way to overnight accommodation at the Premier Inn Chichester before moving onto Lewes for our first match of the 2025 season against Sussex Captains. After a team briefing, a glass of liquid libation was taken with the compliments of John Smith, one of the walking wounded who could not make the tour, and we were joined by another late replacement, Neil Sear, midway through our meal. I had been told that Lewes was situated on a hill but nothing prepared us for entrance to the course. After the sat nav told us to do a U-turn, we only just managed to … [Read more...]
President’s Day 2025 Start Sheet
Captain v Vice-Captain at Stover – 10th April 2025
The traditional curtain raiser to the season was played in wonderful weather at Stover, Captain Bob Beeson’s home course. Although still chilly out of the sun, several brave souls had dusted off their golf shorts. After a light lunch, the 2025 Stover Captain, Alan Green, welcomed all and explained the day’s course changes due to work being carried out on the 5th fairway and the new 7th green not being in play. The teams were then announced by the Captain & Vice-Captain, Dave Smith, and the first of ten matches teed off at 12.37. The course was in excellent condition considering the weather we have experienced over the … [Read more...]
2025 Annual Dinner and Charity Presentations
Bob Beeson reports … This year’s Devon Golf Captains dinner was a most enjoyable evening hosted by the Captain, Bob Beeson, ably assisted by his Vice Captain, Dave Smith, along with the instigators of the night, Graham Heaman and Steve Spicer. Excellent food and wine was backed up with first class service and we were made to feel so welcome back at Sandy Park. Entertainment was provided by Tank Sherman, an old favourite with Devon Golf Captains. He lived up to his reputation for providing a fine night of comedy without offending anybody. Tank assisted with the auction with all proceeds going to the Exeter Chiefs … [Read more...]
2024 Christmas Newsletter
Captain’s Day at Libbaton 2024
Malcolm Jordain writes ... One of the uppermost thoughts for Jeff Laing was, as always, would the weather be good? His prayers or hopes were to be rewarded with a very good day for golf, not too hot with a fair wind adding to the golfing test ahead! Jeff and Ian Black welcomed us all with cards ready with current playing handicaps, a Titleist golf ball, suitably printed with the day’s event. Added to this a ‘Return again voucher’ to play the course again as a fourball, much appreciated. Jeff also included a ‘Nearest the pin’ on some holes. The consistent feature, always present at Libbaton GC, was of course the friendliest of welcomes … [Read more...]
Devon v Devon Juniors at Libbaton
Jeff Laing writes ... Having decided on a new approach to our matches against Devon Juniors, all our future matches will be played at the incumbent Captain's course and will take in the last week of school summer holidays to allow for what is always an entertaining and refreshing match to take part in. This year's venue is one of North Devon's challenging parkland courses, Libbaton GC - a course which was new to many of our juniors as Devon County are reluctant to move much further north than the A30 for their matches. It was obviously going to be a very fine day with light winds and blue sky. The course was in excellent condition … [Read more...]
Devon v Somerset at Weston-super-Mare
Jeff Laing writes ... With only 3 matches to go before my captain's day, having collected my passenger, we took the relatively short journey to our next away venue at Weston-super-Mare GC to be welcomed by our hosts, Somerset Captains. As always familiar faces, together with some very welcome new players in our hosts' team, soon got together for our lunch of sandwiches and chips. Following lunch play got under way, once we had absorbed the views of what must be one of the flattest courses in the UK. As predicted by the home captain, the greens were of good pace and with the MacKenzie greens offering acceleration with a downhill putt, a … [Read more...]