Vets Captain's Update 26th July 2022

Fellow Vets

I didn't send my usual update last week as there honestly wasn't much to tell. However, since then we've seen several team matches played of various sorts in a packed calendar! So I've a lot more to say this week!

As you may know both our friendly last Monday at West Malling and the August Medal were postponed due to the extreme hot weather that was forecast. The Ladies went out earlier on Tuesday in our Vets slot with my blessing (and your co-operation) to play an Annodata national singles knock out match against last years winners and managed to beat them soundly. They have expressed their appreciation!

On Thursday we played our scheduled friendly away at Dulwich & Sydenham Hill. On their well manicured and watered course they managed to thrash us soundly 6-0 to avenge their 4-2 defeat at Cherry Lodge earlier this year. We could only take comfort in their hospitality and their particularly excellent catering! That same day our League team played at West Kent and treated them to a 3.5 - 2.5 win, a great result for us away from home.

Friday saw 26 of us visiting Chelsfield Lakes GC for my Captains Away Day event. Tea/coffee and generously filled toasted bacon rolls fuelled us all up for our round on a very parched course which played even shorter as a consequence but with greens in good shape, running true although slow in pace. 7 scores of 40 points or more and only 6 scoring less than their handicap showed how easy many found it. There was even a tie for nearest the pin! Well done to the winners who all won engraved whisky glasses which I presented following our lunch. The results (with winners' pictures) will be posted on the website shortly here: https://martynheath.wixsite.com/vets/2022-competitions

Yesterday, (Monday) our Vets league team played yet another away match, this time at Royal Blackheath where they managed to halve it 3-3. Those of you familiar with the old way of scoring will know it would have been a win for Cherry Lodge but in this case it was 3 points each and honours even. The reserve match was won though so a 4-3 win for Cherry Lodge in Captain Dennis's eyes, albeit not the leagues!

The Vets League Match reports are available on the website here: https://martynheath.wixsite.com/vets/vets-matches

Today there was no competition but we hosted Redlibbets at Cherry Lodge for our return friendly fixture with them. Thanks to some good performances from a stronger team (including several of our league players) we managed a 4-2 win which evened out our loss at their course in June.

We have now played 10 of our 16 slated friendlies & won 3, halved 2 and lost 5. We need to up our game for sure, me in particular!!

Vets Friendly results sheets are all available on the website here: https://martynheath.wixsite.com/vets/results-statistics

There is no competition next week either as it's maintenance week. So during your social golf rounds please remember to give priority to the greens staff as they go about their business in trying to keep our course in the best condition they possibly can.

There is also no competition the following Tuesday (9th August) but there is a home friendly scheduled against Nizels that morning. As I'm away (again!) on holiday between 28th July - 13th August, Malcolm (my vice captain) will step up in my place (hopefully) and select a winning team as he recovers from Covid. We all wish you a speedy recovery Malcolm!

On Tuesday 16th August is the Vets Captains Charity Trophy (the Dan Cameron Jug) which will run concurrently with the rescheduled August Medal - booking is open and places are still available. In the evening is my Charity Dinner so please do come to that if you can, partners are invited of course and they'll be a singles table too. This will be our only Vets Dinner this year so I hope to see you all there! Please sign up on the Vets notice board with your meal selections. Full details on the website here: https://martynheath.wixsite.com/vets/charitydinner

Tuesday 23rd August is our pairs scramble competition which is already pretty full but again some spaces left.

I have some Cherry Lodge Vets logo'd baseball caps now available to purchase - a good way to keep the sun off your head as well as looking good too! They are £12 each which includes a £2 donation to my charity. Please get in touch with me if you'd like one - first come first served.

That's it from me for a while now. Enjoy this great golfing weather!

Kind Regards

Keith

Keith M Vaughan Williams

Cherry Lodge GC Veterans Captain 2022

# 07767 665317