Sherry, mince pies, tea and coffee provided by our Lady Captain Maria Wootton were enjoyed by the ladies of Leek Golf Club. Our thanks to Lady Captain, also to Tracie and the bar team for their welcome support. It was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves and even better to see Frances Lilley back to visit us.

The Christmas Competition was well attended, and the weather held fine despite being a little chilly. Lady Captain had provided some lovely Christmas themed prizes in the form of Snowmen bottle jackets, they looked very festive. Winners were as follows; Christine Birch in first place scoring an admirable 21 points, second place went to Janet Hardern scoring 20 points, and Jenny Cordon in third Place with 19 points (winning on countback from the Christmas fairy). Well done ladies.

Lady Captain also drew the raffle for the Christmas Hamper, helped by Frances. This was won by Pip Nadin. The Christmas Hamper raffle raised a fantastic £180 for Douglas MacMillan, the Lady Captain’s Charity. Thanks to all who contributed, it’s an excellent start for a very worthy cause.

There was a tricky Christmas quiz which was won by Karen Griffiths and her team, also improving the score with a bonus 5 points by singing. The session thus concluded with a fine rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas lead by several ladies (including Karen), and praise must go to Jenny Cordon for her supporting miming act to keep us going.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Christmas Fairy (Lady Vice-Captain)

Tuesday 7th December saw 2022 Lady Captain, Maria Wootton, host both the LGC Ladies’ Section Christmas meal and 2021 Trophy Presentation. 36 ladies sat down to a delicious Christmas dinner followed by mince pies and coffee, all prepared and served by the very capable team in the kitchen, lead by our House Chair, Nick Wittich. Tracey along with husband Chris, Harrison, Charlie, Robbie and Simon were all congratulated on a successful meal which ended with Myra Williams making the toast to Lady Captain and wishing her a successful season in 2022.

Lady Captain then announced the following results, and the relevant trophies or vouchers were presented by Nora \Boulton (Past Captain 2020/21).

NON-TROPHY COMPETITION WINNERS

Division 1 Birdies Winner (24) - Joanne Peacock

Division 2 Birdies Winner (3) - Hazel McCrady + Janet Hardern

9Hole Gross Eclectic (25) - Wendy Geston

18Hole Gross Eclectic (57) - Joanne Peacock

LGC LADIES’ COMPETITION BOARD ONLY WINNERS (Acknowledgement of success)

Captain’s Day for Ladies - Lynne Ball

President’s Day for Ladies - Wendy Thornhill

LGC LADIES’ COMPETITION TROPHY WINNERS

Lady Captain’s Day - Gill Damjanovic

Past Captains’ Trophy - Jayne Baxter

Centenary Trophy - Natalie White

Kath Dean Trophy - Georgina Taylor

Bayley Trophy - Lesley Powell

Medal Final Trophy - Jayne Baxter

Nancy Close Trophy - Harriet Davies

Bess Richardson Stableford Trophy - Pat Beeson

Mary Freeman Senior’s Trophy - Hazel McCrady

2010 Trophy - Jayne Baxter

Kath Balay Trophy - Natalie White + Janet Hardern

Nicholson Trophy - Lynne Ball + Joy Briggs

Miller Trophy (Best Nett score 45) - Harriet Davies

Haybowl Plate - Jayne Baxter

Haybowl Trophy - Jen Cordon

Rushton Trophy (Best 4 Gross Medal scores 70, 73, 68, 73) - Joanne Peacock

April committee meeting is cancelled and we will all communicate by e mail. The meeting in May will be decided later.

Friendly matches, county matches, ladies alliance and all ladies competitions on Tuesdays and some Thursdays are all cancelled in April and May. Friendly social games are allowed and should now be booked online. Shoes can be changed on the car park. I will also postpone my fashion show in May.

Finally it is with sadness I have to tell you that Margaret Yeomans has resigned from our committee by email.

Lady Captain

In 2020 you will be able to enter competitions on line for the following competitions:

Sue Turner Monday 6 April Trentham

Staffordshire Girls County Championship Thursday 16 April Leek

Spring foursomes Monday 27 April Bloxwich

County Championship Sunday10 May Sandwell Park

Bronze Alliance Monday 13 July Trentham Park

Bronze Div competitions (individual & team) Monday 10 August Barlaston

Silver Div competitions (individual & team) Monday 10 August Barlaston

Autumn Greensomes Monday 14 September Branston

Centenary 4BBB Monday 28 September Sandwell

County am am Monday 12 October Great Barr

All competitions should be open to enter from 31 January 2020. Closing dates and details of individual competitions/rules are on the website. If you need any help then contact County Rep (Karen Wilshaw). Occasionally a competition may be oversubscribed (and subject to a ballot eg Sue Turner). Monies will be returned directly to individuals if this happens.

All entries will be via the website www.staffsgolf.co.uk

You will need to go to Ladies Section of website. Click tab marked “competition”; click on on line entry drop down; click competition you would to enter and follow instructions through to payment (this is just like booking opens or tee times at other clubs).

When the closing date has passed you will no longer be able to enter on line. You will receive your tee time by email or text sent to you directly (whatever you requested at time of booking). The start sheet will be published on the website. The Mactier Cup Final (Monday 24 August Aston Wood) will be subject to an LGC qualifying competition and LGC will be pay entry fee.

I am pleased to announce that I am Lady Captain for 2020. I didn’t hesitate when I was invited once again for this honour. I was Lady Captain before in 2007.

My charity will be UK Sepsis. I chose this because a friend Sarah Day lost her young son Dylan to sepsis last year. The family live locally and I was touched by their plight.

On December 3rd the ladies had their Xmas dinner and prize presentation. Over 50 ladies thoroughly enjoyed the Xmas dinner. Compliments to our chef! Also thanks to Helen Charles and Chris for looking after us so well. Well done to all the ladies who won their trophies this year.

On December 10th I held the Lady Captains Xmas 10 hole competition. Afterwards I served the ladies with mince pies, Sherry and Baileys. Thanks to the 24 ladies who battled the wintry weather with some good scores. The winners were:

Silver Division:

1st Angela Broadhurst

2nd Karen Wilshaw

Bronze Division:

1st Gill Armstrong

2nd Janet Gilbert

Gill also won the Birdie prize

Lesley Powell won the prize for the best Xmas outfit

The presentation was followed with a talk by Sarah Day. She bravely told the members of her tragic experience of sepsis. She hopes this raised awareness of sepsis and how it is affecting so many families. She does this daily with her formation of Dylan’s Army to raise this awareness.

She then went on to draw the winning ticket for the Xmas hamper I had made to raise funds for sepsis. Sheila Hollins from our ladies section won this. Thanks so much to Leek golf club members, my family and friends for donating and raising the amazing sum of £353. Thanks also to our new captain Arthur Doherty for 2020 in accepting my invitation to introduce himself to our ladies section and help with the presentation.

There was a lovely atmosphere in the clubhouse which was well attended. Some sadness too after Sarah’s talk. Many thanks to her for making the effort to support my charity.

I would like to wish you all a Happy Xmas and a successful golfing New Year.

Nora Boulton - Lady Captain 2020