November 23rd, 2023

Pannal Golf Club’s Course Manager Neil Horton, in his weekly report to members, expressed his frustration with the continuing wet weather. He reported “with this week's rainy weather and the inevitable course closures, we're back to square one when it seemed like we were just drying up at the end of last week. Considering the situation, we are holding up well, and the new drainage is removing a lot of water.”

As a consequence, social events have recently been at the forefront. The Pannal Ladies' Annual Dinner was held on Tuesday 14th November. Nearly 70 ladies were welcomed by Ladies' Captain, Clare Davies, before sitting down to a delicious dinner after which there was the presentation of trophies and annual awards - a real celebration of a successful year. Ladies' Club Champion for 2023, Julie Parry, gave a vote of thanks speech to round off an excellent evening.

There was some golf played on Friday November 17th when Men’s Captain Martin Boyle entertained his special guests to 13 holes ahead of the Men’s Annual Dinner. A very friendly fourball better ball Stableford resulted in a win for Otley captain Steve Moorcraft and his partner Pannal Men’s Vice President Lindsay Mckenzie.

Later that evening over 100 members and guests enjoyed a three course dinner followed by a toast to the Club given by Jonathan Plaxton, Secretary of the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs and a response from Martin Boyle which included congratulations to all the 2023 trophy winners. Men’s Vice Captain David Everingham welcomed the guests, in particular the Guest of Honour, 1989 European Open winner and current BBC Radio and TV golf commentator Andrew Murray. He entertained everyone with stories both from his own playing career and from “inside the ropes” as a media reporter. He even included some reminiscences from his childhood when he and captain Martin Boyle attended the same primary school in Didsbury, Manchester prior to careers taking them in very different directions. All in all, a most enjoyable evening.