Hi Everyone,
A belated Happy New Year and a warm welcome to old and new members and friends to our new website home within the Bedfordshire Golf Union website. This move has been necessitated by the sad passing of John Hill our previous website organiser and facilitated by David Corfan, Society member and County Competitions Secretary.
I feel sure that none of you need to be told that the past twelve months have been a challenge for all of us. I for one was looking forward to a very busy year as Captain of our Society with the prospect of playing 23 matches plus our annual trip to Greetham Valley.
Unfortunately due to the imposition of lockdown on March 23rd my year was confined to four events beginning with the AGM at Pavenham GC on October 15th. Following that was the South Leicestershire and Rutland golf day and dinner at Kirby Muxlow GC on October 25th attended by myself and Richard Kensal. The golf was very nearly rained-off but we both enjoyed the day. Our Christmas meeting was held at John O Gaunt GC on December 2nd. The golf competition was played over the Carthagena Course with 42 players, some of whom, full of festive spirit wore their Christmas jumpers etc. Mick Firth won the prize for the most outrageous costume and Martin Stackman won the golf event with 39 points. My final event was the Hertfordshire Golf Day and Dinner held at Arkley GC. Once again the weather was foul and a waterlogged course determined that the golf was cancelled, however Chris Foster and I enjoyed the dinner and speakers.
I very much hope that you have all stayed safe and that the vast majority of you will have received at least your first Covid 19 vaccinations. Sadly a number of our members have passed away during 2020;
Mr T. S. Bali (known as Lucky) Past Captain of Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands GC
Mr. Ernie Borbas Past Captain of Beadlow Manor GC
Mr. Seamus Laffan Past Captain Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands GC
Mr. John Hill Past Captain of Dunstable Downs GC
Mr Clive Allan Past Captain of Beds and County GC and Past County Secretary
Mr Jim Dell Past Captain of Beds and County GC
Mr Derek Eaton Past Captain of Leighton Buzzard GC
2020 also saw the retirement of our President Mr. Alvan Davies and the closure of The Bedford Golf Club. It has certainly been a very challenging time for Golf Clubs in general. Hopefully now that we have seen some promising signs of the pandemic coming under control we can look forward to our courses re-opening and our Society fixtures re-starting. With that in mind we are hopeful that we might be able to hold our first fixture with the Ladies on March 24th at Mount Pleasant GC followed by our Spring Meeting on March 31st at Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands GC.
Fingers crossed for a better 2021 and I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Mike Davies
Captain