Seniors’ Matches: end of season review
Facts and figures – the results
• 22 matches were played against 12 clubs. 8 were won, 8 lost and 6 halved.
• The most comprehensive win was at home to Came Down (5-1) and the biggest loss was away against The Isle of Purbeck (51/2-1/2).
• Remarkably either a win or a half was achieved in one or both fixtures against all of the clubs that we play against with the exception of West Wilts (a biennial fixture).
• Away wins or halves were achieved at Wareham, Canford Magna, Came Down, Highcliffe and Rushmore.
• Defeats or halves at home were conceded to Knighton Heath, Wareham, Canford Magna and West Wilts.
Facts and figures – the players
• 55 seniors made bids for the 22 matches (plus 2 postponements)
• Making the most bids: Bob Clark (22); Brian Cullen (20); David Thwaites (20); Dave Keig (17) and John Wighton (16)
• Achieving the most wins*: Bob Clark (12); Hedley Rodgers (9); Dave Keig (7) and Brian Cullen (7)
• Achieving the highest percentage of victories*: John Cousens (80%); Hedley Rodgers (75%); Peter Routh (67%); Bob Clark (67%) and Dave Keig (54%)
• Achieving the lowest percentage of defeats*: Hedley Rodgers (8%); Micky Briggs (13%); Peter Routh (17%); John Cousens (20%) and Tony Hart (20%)
• Achieving the highest percentage of halved matches*: Martin Jelbart (50%); Tony Hart (40%); Micky Briggs (38%); John Wighton (33%) and Mike Bartlett (33%).
* for seniors playing a minimum of 5 matches
Facts and figures – bidding for matches
• Clubs receiving the most bids: Weymouth (a) 21, Sherborne (h) 21, Rushmore (a) 20, Sherborne (a) 19, Rushmore (h) 18 and Weymouth (a) 18
• Clubs receiving the fewest bids: Knighton Heath (h) 7, Canford Magna (a) 11, Knighton Heath (a) 11 and Highcliffe Castle (a) 12 received the fewest bids and required some pleading and arm-twisting to make up a full team plus reserves. The health of the current inter-club friendly format
• It is not a secret that the health of the current format (4BBBB match play followed by a formal communal meal) had become a source of concern. In recent years the numbers of seniors bidding for places on the team has dwindled slightly, the number of fixtures has been reduced as a result, a survey of other clubs revealed the fact that we were not alone in occasionally struggling to build teams, and our membership were invited to complete a questionnaire last December.
• The questionnaire results were illuminating. On the one hand it was evident that there is a group of seniors completely committed to the current format (they have been much in evidence this season). On the other hand, there are others who do not participate because for one reason or another they dislike the long day and/or the formal elements of the post-golf experience. And there are still others who prefer the counter attractions of senior opens and reciprocals at our neighbouring clubs (here I ought to confess that this group used to include me).
• Given all of the above, it has been an uplifting experience to attend matches this season and to witness at first hand the camaraderie that develops during a match.
• Clearly these matches are enjoyed by those who participate in them and so it is good to be able to report that the inter-club friendly format appears to be alive and kicking; we must strive to ensure that it remains so for as long as senior golfers are willing to support it.
Should we offer an alternative format as well?
• It concerns me that, within the Section, there may be a number of golfers who would enjoy the inter-club match-play format but not the post-match formality. Our questionnaire hinted at this situation: seniors who prefer to leave their jacket and tie in the wardrobe and then hold a chip in one hand and a sandwich in the other after a round of golf.
• If there are enough seniors who fall into this category then, perhaps, we should arrange a match or two for them.
• If this appeals to you, please could you let me know. I imagine that we would need a nucleus of 12-15 seniors expressing an interest before I could go in search of fixtures.
The Canford Magna question
• The sad news that Canford Magna GC is to close before the start of the 2016 season means that our fixture list is reduced. Discussions are ongoing with West Wilts (currently a biennial fixture) and Dorset Golf & Country Club to address this problem.
Looking forward to 2016
• Anyone interested in receiving a copy of the 2016 fixture list (as it currently stands) is welcome to ask me for one
• There is a new club shirt made in a lighter material available to purchase
• Home matches will start an hour earlier at 11.30 am to enable seniors to return home earlier.
• We will follow the example of most of our opponents and use the yellow tees in our home matches thereby placing greater emphasis on accuracy and less on length … hopefully.
• We look forward to more post-match meals of the style and standard prepared by Huckleberry’s, our new caterers, for our recent and final encounter with Canford Magna. It was truly excellent.
Roger Denning Seniors’ match secretary 5 Nov 15
