It is not long to go until the City golf course is open again, and we are sure that you are all keen to step on the first tee and hit your first drive in the middle of the fairway, just short of the water hazard! The Seniors Section Committee want to share their plans for the next few months:

Membership and Subs

We currently have 93 potential members of the section for 2021. This comprises those who were members last year as well as those who have recently expressed an interest in joining. Due to Covid restrictions we were unable to arrange our AGM in January, and this will now be held later in the year when we are able to all meet up. In the meantime we need to collect subscriptions to fund this year’s activities and the cost is unchanged at £10 for the year. This can be paid by handing it in to the Pro shop in a named envelope, or directly to any of the Seniors Committee members.

League Match – April 27th

The Seniors Section runs a team in the Northumberland Seniors League, and we are grateful for AXA Roofing for sponsoring the team shirts. There are 12 matches planned for 2021 - the first is at home against Bedlingtonshire Golf Club on Tuesday 27^th April. An entry form will be posted on the Locker room noticeboard from 12^th April for any members wishing to be selected to play in this match. The maximum WHS handicap has been set at 28 by the League for 2021. A full list of League fixtures will also be posted on the Seniors noticeboard.

Seniors Open – June 1st

The Seniors Open is a prestigious event with 140 competitors from across the North East playing at the City Course, with tees from 9:00 to 14:40. The Seniors Section has, in previous years, supported this event by providing a Meet & Greet welcome to visitors and generally helped the Club with hospitality arrangements during the day. We have also used this event to raise funds by selling raffle tickets. If you are able to assist the Committee by giving an hour or two of your time this would be really appreciated.

Seniors Section Competitions

The four regular events have been placed in the Club Diary – all Tuesdays – so make sure that they are in yours as well! These events are free to enter and there are lots of prizes, lite bites when we can offer them, and they are a lot of fun. More details on how to enter nearer the time.

                MAY 18^th              JOE FARLEY CLASSIC

                JUNE 22^nd            BILL ELDER

                SEPT 14^th              SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

                DEC 7^th                  XMAS BASH

Future events

Each year the Seniors Section organises an Away Day visit to another golf club, and we will advise details once this has been arranged. We also would like to organise a fund-raising entertainment evening in the Autumn, when Covid restrictions are lifted and we have full access to the club-house.

Committee Contact Details

Tony Dancer     07894906160  (thornclose@hotmail.com)

Alan Johnson    07812517488  (jonna1944@hotmail.com)

Dave Fletcher   07966263933  (fletcher_d10@sky.com)

Jim Kirby            07954342420   (jimekirby@hotmail.com)  

Welcome,

Because of Covid and Lockdown, the rescheduled Xmas Trophy Competition, due Tuesday 26^th Jan 2021, is regrettably CANCELLED. Monies spent on prizes, etc., will now go forward to a future competition.

On a POSITIVE side, we as your Senior Section Committee, would like to invite gentlemen reaching 60, or over, to join our growing group. Last year we increased our membership by over 40% up to nearly 90!!

A nominal subscription (£10) is paid annually and this covers 4 Senior Section Trophy Competitions plus lite-bites afterwards, trophies, and of courses prizes. The Competitions are in the Club Diary now for 2021 (make sure that they are in yours: May 18^th Joe Farley, June 22^nd Bill Elder, September 14^th Senior Championship and December 7^th Xmas Bash). We have a Day Away event later in the year, and this year aim to have a fund-raising entertainment evening in the Autumn.

The Seniors, as a whole, have a League team in the Northumberland Senior League every year. The fixture are out, but with Covid, as in 2020, the season is maybe under threat again!!

We communicate with you by E-Mail, Club Website, and (when open) on our notice board in the locker room.

We have an annual AGM usually in January, but later in the year this time.

Finally we hope to see you soon and wish you all a healthy and safe New Year 2021, and hope to get back to some normality and playing golf!!

Tony Dancer, Chairman

Committee Contact Details

Tony Dancer     07894906160  (thornclose@hotmail.com)

Alan Johnson    07812517488  (jonna1944@hotmail.com)

Dave Fletcher   07966263933  (fletcher_d10@sky.com)

Jim Kirby            07954342420   (jimekirby@hotmail.com)  

Seniors Section Update December 2020

This is an update at this stage.

Despite COVID-19 and its lockdowns, we were able to organise and play 3 out of 4 of our Senior Competitions, plus an Away Day at Longhirst.

The casualty was the Xmas Trophy Competition due to very wet weather conditions at the last minute!! This has been rescheduled for TUESDAY 26^th JANUARY, with a deadline for confirming entry a week before. The draw we made already can be forwarded plus four extra members who wish to enter. Details of the draw and deadline to follow.

Any savings financially due to COVID-19. E.g. lite bites, etc., have been pooled into more prize monies.

The four regular events have been placed in the Club Diary – all Tuesdays.

                MAY 18^th              JOE FARLEY CLASSIC

                JUNE 1^st                SENIOR OPEN (cancelled in 2020)

                JUNE 22^nd            BILL ELDER

                SEPT 14^th              SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

                DEC 7^th                 XMAS BASH

Plus an AWAY DAY and a FUNDRAISING EVENING with entertainment to be arranged!

At this stage, I would like to thank the other three members of your Committee for their ideas, advice, and energies for what has been a very difficult year all round. I wish you all a Happy and Healthy safe New Year for 2021, and hope to get back to some normality with golf and life soon.

Regards, Tony Dancer

Senior Section Away Day – Tuesday 6^th October

…. held at Longhirst Dawson Course.

Alan Johnson had organised the event. We had 4 teams of 4 for a Texas Scramble. A bacon sandwich and tea or coffee to start.

1^st tee off time 10:30 on another beautiful blue sky and sunny day with a medium breeze!

The course was in very good order with challenging undulating greens. The winning team was P Smith, J Mackie, A Johnson, J Jones with a good net score.

Nearest the pin on the three par 3’s was G Reid, P Langton and D Fletcher.

Big thanks to Alan for his time on the day.

HOWEVER, only 15 out of 16 from a membership of 86 were involved! (Later apologies from the missing person).Gentlemen, you missed a great day and friendship. Next time?

Next event – Xmas trophy, 8^th December. Let’s make it a great turnout after a difficult year!

Regards,

Tony Dancer

Longhirst Golf Club – Tuesday 6^th October

The arrangements for the Away Day are as follows:

Please try and arrive for 9:30 for coffee and bacon roll on arrival. The format is Texas scramble and the 1^st tee off is 10:30.

1. P Smith, J Mackie, A Johnson, J Jones
2. D Fletcher, D Lowery, L Walton, I Maddison
3. T Gill, G Reed, M Inch, K Ridden
4. D Yates, S Anthony, P Langton, T Dancer

There will be a prize for nearest-the-pin on all Par 3’s

The cost has reduced to £25 per person, as due to the latest Covid restrictions there will be no food provided on completion.