March 7th, 2024
Every golfer in the UK is only too aware of the severely adverse conditions which have prevented them getting on to their course. This is underlined by the rainfall figures for Pannal for the first two months of the year. The 2023 total for January and February was 116 mm (4.6 inches): for the same period this year it was 219 mm (8.6 inches), in other words almost double. Despite this various winter work programmes are underway to ensure the course is at its best once the better weather arrives.
The ladies did manage a 13-hole Fourball Betterball competition on Tuesday February 27th which was won by the combination of Vanda Mckenzie and Betsy Haldon with 29 points. Close behind on 28 were Ruth Skaife-Clarke and Ladies’ Captain Clare Davies who needed a card count to leave Julie Parry and Sandra Taylor in third.
Although there was no other competitive golf in the past 7 days, on Wednesday February 28th Men’s Vice Captain David Everingham hosted one of the Club’s most important events when the Juniors’ Presentation Evening took place with many junior members, their parents and carers and other members present.
Congratulations went to all the competition trophy winners this year with a special mention to Will Hixon and Bella Mountain winning the Townsend Award, an annual bursary to support entry costs into county and national junior competitions. Bella Mountain also won the Cusens girls merit cup.
David Everingham announced that the Junior Captaincy from 2024 will be realigned with the school year, from September until the following August. In addition, a new role of Junior Vice Captain will support the Junior Captain and the Vice Captain becomes the following year’s Captain.
Everybody present congratulated Will Hixon on his appointment as Junior Captain 2024 to end August when he is then heading off to the USA on a golfing scholarship. The Junior Vice Captain for 2024 is Sophie McCormack. Finally, a vote of thanks was given to retiring Junior Organiser Tim Matthews as juniors welcomed his successor, Simon Stalker.
