Tournaments Archive

President's Day at Dartmouth G&CC started fairly early with my very good friend Chris Morton collecting me at just before 7am for our five minute drive to the Dartmouth Higher Ferry. Arriving at the club a little after 7.30am we set up the reception desk and looked forward to a successful day. The first item I am pleased to mention is the enormous help provided by Brian Mushens. Brian used to lecture in IT and there's not a lot he doesn't know about computers and software, consequently he had set up, using IG, the competition as a qualifier and provided us with the labels for each player's scorecard. This is an enormous help as I … [Read more...]

The last occasion Devon Golf Captains held a tournament at The Warren Golf Club was in 1995 when the well known Mickey Phillips was Captain of DGC. We have returned a number of times for matches and always afforded a very warm welcome. A number of members have contacted me to congratulate Jon Langmead and his team on continuing the tradition. To balance that some people have also been critical of the day and its challenges provided by the course and conditions, it was played in a strong Northerly wind. To acknowledge the help and service provided by the Warren's team is a must, Jodie and Ben in the admin team ran the day as a qualifier and … [Read more...]

On tournament days like this a great deal of preparatory work is required, the only detail that cannot be planned or induced, weather. Arriving at Churston at 7am to be greeted by our Professional Harry Mayers and Manager Matt Gill we were encouraged by blue skies and a good forecast. Shortly afterwards my two good friends Lew Easter and Chris Morton, arrived,, Chris arriving back in the UK at 1am from Greece. Setting up the inevitable laptop these days, Harry had offered to set the competition using intelligent golf to allow the competition as a qualifier, this I accepted with both hands. It prevented me from having to write over 100 cards, … [Read more...]

Arriving at Exeter G&CC at 6.45 am I discovered the club didn't open until 7.am however, the forecast was good and I could already see the efficient Lisa Newbury had already set up the registration desk in the Sports Bar, a good start! Setting up early allowed the players current handicaps to be achieved, using the England Golf App, in my opinion a step in the right direction. I realise the WHS is not to everyone's liking however, on occasions such as this players were processed fairly smoothly and, if they so wished, could set up a qualifying scorecard with the benefit of a measured course, albeit the Yellow tees. The Captain arrived … [Read more...]

John Mitchell - Winner Andrew Bowl. Fellow Captains, I am astoundedbut delighted to have wonThe Andrew Bowl at Brian Waggett's President's Day. May I take this opportunity to thank Brian, along with his team of volunteers and staff at Stover Golf Club for all their hard work. I know my fellow competitors very much appreciated the opportunity they all gave us to get together, to some degree, and enjoy our golf. Devon Captains golf events are very special so to come out as a winner gives me tremendous pleasure and I look forward to further events.Finally may I echo the tributes to Roy Smith and Henry Paget for their sterling service over … [Read more...]

Happy faces but no cigars! This year's event was even bigger with 13 teams, some from as far away as Surrey and Suffolk. The Devon boys were all off earl yon the Wednesday morning which meant some of us had to leave home before dawn to ensure we got there in good time. We teed off in typical Saunton weather, howling gale with rain looking very imminent,the conditions for playing were very tough to say the least. To make things even more difficult the rain of the previous week had made the fairways much softer than we usually see at Saunton, a consequence of this being that the ball didn't roll anywhere near as much as usual making every … [Read more...]

  Well, after many weeks of preparation, worry and then several sleepless nights my Captain's Day arrived. The number of entrants had been a major concern but, thankfully they turned out to be ok with 74 members entering. Not brilliant but much better than we thought it might have been a few weeks earlier. I was amazed how many people couldn't attend due to hospital or doctors appointments, had just had a procedure which prevented them from playing, were on holiday, had gone to Gleneagles to watch the Solheim Cup or had grandchildren they had to look after. All acceptable and understandable reasons. Now living 54 miles away from … [Read more...]

John Burrow presenting Geoff Pascoe with the Andrew Bowl Arriving early at the golf club all seemed to be going swimmingly, players arriving on time in spite of the Devon County Show doing its best to hinder drivers. Weather looking very promising, as forecast, what could possibly go wrong? Our venerable and very respected Secretary Roy Smith had the great misfortune to stumble and fall, whilst returning from the Duckworth Suite where our presentation and AGM would later be held, prior to dinner. Here we must pay tribute to Exeter G&CC staff for their immediate and efficient management of this potentially serious situation. Their first … [Read more...]