Saturday 20th December - Same Story, Different Day

Not much to report but..............

Course Update

Posted on December 19, 2012 by branston

Following the inspection this morning:

• the 18 hole course is closed
• 8 holes are open on the 9 hole course – the 1st hole is closed.

There will be another course inspection tomorrow (20th Dec) at 7am.

LADY CAPTAINS CHALLENGE 2012 - in aid of The British Heart Foundation and Prostate Cancer

Well, each Captain trys to think of something different each year to raise money for their chosen Charity and this year is no exception.

So after much deliberating, my challenge is on Sunday 3rd February 2013 at Branston Golf Club (hopefully)...............

A ROUND OF GOLF (medal) BLINDFOLDED, FROM FIRST TEE SHOT TO LAST PUTT

Live updates (per hole) on Facebook and Lady Captains Blog

Invitation for everyone to come along and see the 18^th played

Presentation afterwards to confirm time taken and winners

  

PLEASE send an e mail leaving your contact details 

if you would like to pledge towards the challenge 

tierney.kim@gmail.com

 

PLUS, a chance to win a CASH PRIZE. 

When you send your pledge, have a free guess at how long you think the round will take from the FIRST tee shot to the LAST putt 

2 guesses – 1 using a buggy and another guess if we have to walk …….

Regular updates on the Blog to let you know how the practice for the challenge is going..................

Friday 30th November - Less Water but more Ice.....

The 18th, from the patio, putting green in sight at last.

The 18th from the pathway

The 18th from the patio

The 17th from the patio, at least we can see the Ladies tee now...

 

Picture taken of the first fairway from the Lodge

Thursday 29th November - Seniors Annual Dinner and Dance

Mr Captain Colin Shaw, me, Seniors Captain Jim Black

Another chance to see the Caberet that we enjoyed on the Annual Golf Presentation Night 24th November. (I have plenty of good pictures, £1 a photo in aid of the Captains Charity!!!!!!)

Many thanks to the Seniors for extending the invitation to Mr Captain and myself and for their hard work in raising over £1100.00 for the Captains Charities for 2012, The British Heart Foundation and Prostate Cancer.

Many thanks also to the Rotary Club of Bretby, for their donation of over £200.00. 

We left the party around 11pm in full swing, nothing senior about this group - 

.....hopefully the chandeliers will still be intact by the morning......

Branston, Monday 26th November

Click on this link to see more pictures of Branston today

Friday 23rd November - Guess What.....we've had some more rain - our signature 18th...,

Thursday 15th November - FROGS MILLENIUM

The long awaited day for the FROGS and its the end of season Millenium with a great turnout of over 25 Ladies attending.


A great day for everyone and a misty start meant that for a change, we all played the back 9 instead of the front 9.


This is a day to recognise all the hard work put in by Ann and her team and for them to give something back to the Ladies that support this group during the year.


With prizes for 30+ handicappers, nearest the pin and longest drive (in 2 Divisions) there was a chance for everyone to win something. The overall Trophy was won by Margaret with prizes also available up  to 7th place.

Click on this link to see more pictures of the FROGS MILLENIUM day

Sunday 11th November - Mixed Fun Competition

A great start to the Winter Season with yet another popular mixed fun competition. With over 70 playing and tee times from 10am to 12.30 ish, it was going to be touch and go if we all managed to play the full 18 holes. With the light fading by 4.30pm, it was only the last 4 teams that couldnt get a full round in. So with a little help from Mr Peter Past It, we decided to call use the 15th as the cut off point as it was nearest the pin for the Gents anyway.

A couple of temporary greens, one being the 10th which was nearest the pin for the Ladies but alas, no-on hit the green so the prize has been donated to the FROGS Millenium match. Well done to Colin King for the longest drive on the 12th and to Sean Allsop for nearest the pin on the 15th.

Team prize for best 2 scores went to Dave Wilshaw and co and a very warm winning speech. Many thanks to my playing partners, Brian, Ivor and Pat, a great day was had by all.

Saturday 10th November - Mixed Friendly Horsley Lodge

Brian, Me, Yvonne and Bob

After rain stopped play several times this year, we finally got to play our home match with our friends from Horlsey Lodge and the sun was out to stay.

No wind, no rain and just clear blue skies and a chance at long last to play with hubby Brian.

Some great company for us, last years Captain and Lady Captain Bob and Yvonne and some friendly rivalry to keep the match alive.

A marginal win by Branston 4 1/2 to 3 1/2 and hopefully a chance to play our away match in Januray before our season ends.

Junior Presentation Evening

Junior Presentation Evening on Friday 16th November 

Please check your diaries as we want to show the Juniors that they are appreciated and welcome at the club but also to showcase what they have all achieved this year. 

Tickets on sale at reception and the evening will include food and a fun race event.

Sunday 4th November = Ladies V Juniors, Matchplay

 
A few years since this competition has taken place, 2005 was the last match but all to play for today. So it was daggers and dawn with 9 juniors in total and 9 ladies ready and waiting to take them on. A 12 midday start and the juniors by all accounts were practicing by 11.30.

Some lovely autumn weather and we were hoping that we would all get to the 18th unless of course the Lads had to make an early exit from the comp...........

So all systems go, matchplay with myself off last with James Bailey on his way to join his team from a morning at Dudley:
 A great day for everyone with some fun along the way. Many thanks to my playing partner, James and some pictures of the day

Just a narrow win by the Juniors, 5 - 0 (in case you wondered what the final score was)

The very talented James Bailey and me on the first

  
                     Joe Marler,                        Versus            Cherry Loomes

                     Alexi Smith                                                      Sarah Shaw

                     Tom Alford,                                                       Jenny Ellis

                     Ben Heywood                                                   Carol Alford

                                                      

                     James Wilkinson,                                              Glen Walker

                     Owen Tweed,                                                    Helen Dickerson

                                                                                       

                     Charlie Rycroft,                                                 Margaret Wright

                     Tom Bates,                                                       Di Horsley

                   
                     James Bailey                                                    Kim Tierney

Friday 2nd November, Branston Babes on Tour

Anita, Jane, Lynne and Rachel

 Having a well earned break, a few of our Branston Babes embarked on their annual pilgrimage to the spend a glorious weekend in the only place worthy mentioning in that wonderful wastelands of West Midlands - namely Windmill Village, near Coventry.

Fond memories for me as it was the location of my Lady Captains Away Day(s) earlier this year and judging by the photos, it looks like the weather was kinder in October than it was in July.

Sunday 22nd October - Lady Captain v Lady Vice Captain

1st team out, Rita and Jane (LVC team) Donna and Desley (LC Team)

Chris, Annabelle, Margaret, Wendy, Yvonne, Me and Janet

A fun day at the end of the golfing season and it was topped off with some great warm weather, short sleeves for some as we met just before 12 for the first tee time.

The usual custom is for the Lady Vice Captain to provide her team with something to wear and the photos proved that Bec's trip to Tesco's was well worth it.

It all started rather lady like but it didnt last long

With my team playing in all black (and white) we managed to do the pre match Haka after some guidance and demonstration by ex club Captain Gill S  (so this is how you get to play off 5.....)

Many thanks to my playing partner Margaret who parred the 5th with a great long putt from off the green. We both had a slow start but found our game on the back 9, only to lose 4 and 3 to Bec and Jo H. However, with 8 teams playing, it was a draw, 4 matches each and the photo's proved what a great day we all had.

Irene, Bec, Jo and Nat

Lynn and Anita (shame its blurred..)

Sandra, Bec, Nat and Lynn

Scary or What................Glen, Jane, Barbara, Bec, Rita and Carol

Andy, Bec and Mandy

 

 

FINALLY, A COUPLE MORE PICTURES OF NAT....

AND THANKS TO EVERYONE FROM MYSELF AND BEC FOR A GREAT DAY

Saturday 20th Otober - Branston Masters

For the first time, the Ladies took part in the Branston Masters, replacing our Grand Medal.

For the Ladies to qualify, they must win a club competition, club major, medal or stableford during the preceding season. Additionally, for any competition where there are over 20 ladies taking part, then this will include 1st and 2nd place.

A lovely day, no wind, no rain, just what we've been waiting for.

Many thanks to playing partners Nat, Anita and Helen and well done to Carol A again, 2nd win in 7 days coming in with net 70 and a longed for handicap reduction to 17.

Sunday 14th October - Past Lady Captains

A chance for all the Past Lady Captains from Branston to meet up for a round of golf followed by a good meal and a few glasses of wine.

A great day for me knowing that very soon I would be a 'Past It' and join this group of illustrious Ladies.

First to Carol, well done and runner up Gill.

Saturday 13th October - Ladies Pink Ribbon Day

 A new competition, non qualifyer and a chance for us to recognise the work that is carried out by a group of Ladies with a long standing link with the Club.

The Pink Ribbon Ladies meet regularly at Branston and host a variety of events including lunches, balls, fundraising events plus a wide range of speakers are invited to attend to give talks on a variety of subjects.

As October is widely known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we decided to have our own day to raise the awareness and with just under 40 Ladie playing in our Pink Ribbon Day it was again one of the biggest turnouts we've had this year.

A slightly different format this year for a change, each Lady signed in to play in either a Stableford or a Medal competition. There were prizes for first and second place in the Stableford, the medal competiton was split into 2 competitions with again, first and second place for best gross and best nett. So a chance for everyone to win something and a format that would suit everyone regardless of their handicap. 

The Pink Ribbon Ladies held a raffle in reception and raised over £200 for their charity and a small sale of Christmas Cards and Cake in the St Andrews Room where we all signed in, raised around £50 for our club charities. 

Well done to Wendy W and Penny for 1st and 2nd in the Stableford, Gill S and Bec for best gross and seen here, Helen and Anita for best nett.

Matchplay Championship -The Road to Dubai

The Matchplay Championship is established as one of Europe’s largest amateur golf tournaments and we applied to play in the 2012/2013 qualifiers.  A great opportunity for amateur golfers...and it only costs £25 per person to enter!

http://www.matchplaychampionship.co.uk/

We took up the challenge this year and played our second round match today at Branston against Emma and Steve from The Nottinghamshire (formerly Cotsgrave)

http://www.thenottinghamshire.com/

With rain forecast, it was the usual conditions we have come to know and love at Branston however for once, a slight breeze and no need to put the brolly up. Great putting by Emma  however it was all over by the 17^th, an early exit for us from the tournament so back to the clubhouse to chill.

A bottle of wine later, it was the great end to a lovely day. New friends made and hopefully we’ll all catch up again in the New Year, this time maybe the girls take on the boys!!!!

Good Luck to Emma and Steve in the next round, we’ll be watching.....

Rusty Duck Challenge - Sunday 7th October

 The eagerley anticipated annual event which sees the mighty arm of the Management taking on the Committee members, matchplay format

Thanks to my playing partner Gilly, we took our opponents Russ and Luke almost to the end but were just beaten by the 16th.

Some confusion before the match started, but even so the result was inevitable; it didnt really matter.

Once again the professionals were no match for the steady, committee members who once again rose to the challenge and walked away yet again with the coveted Duck.

Last seen, Rusty was safely in the arms of Mr Captain who was deliberating where to write the results.....

Thursday 4th October - Lady Captains Day Part 2

....this time with the FROGS (Friendly Round of Golf Society) and a great turnout with 22 Ladies playing just 9 holes in glorious sunshine.

Prizes for everyone and many thanks for all the ladies who contributed to the raffle, we raised over £50 for the club charities. With prizes in 2 Divisions for the overall stableford, best scores on 4 holes and longest drive there was something for everyone.

• A great score from Sarah S with 23 winning Division 2 and Jo H winner of Division 1. 
• Prizes for the best scores on 4 holes to Jane W and Carol Ward. 
• Longest drives to Emma B and Jenny E and nearest the pin on the 8th any shot before the water to Penny.

A great day for me and thank you to all the Branston Ladies for my gift presented on Lady Captains Day, today was the first outing for my new putter, christened at Branston with the FROGS.

A recent adjustment to the Staffordshire County Shield Trophy which is for handicaps 25 - 36 see's Branston Ladies taking pride of place at the top

A win by Branston Ladies in 2011 meant that with no more room on the shield, a larger frame was required to enable the current winners and future winners to have the recognition that they deserved.

The original shield now sits on a larger frame and the latest club winners takes pride of place at the top middle of the new shield

Presented today to a proud County Shield Captain Ann it was a fitting end to a lovely day.

Wednesday 3rd October - Little Aston Golf Club

Great weather and a truly lovely course. Never played here before but an invitation from the current Lady Captain Sally to play in a 3 Ball Alliance was too good to turn down. 

I met Sally earlier this year when Branston hosted the annual match between the Staffordshire Ladies Vets and Branston Gents on a very wet and windy day in July.

We had a great day today, came in third, just 1 point behind 1st and 2nd.

Lady Captains Day - 30th September

Trudie, winner of nearest the pin on the 10th

James, Junior winner of nearest the pin on the 18th

A serious moment for our lady golfers with their Lady Vice Captain, centre front.

Lady Captains Day - September 2012

Thanks to everyone who took part today, especially my special guests, Branston Juniors with acting Captain for today Ollie Read (front left)

With regular Junior Captain Luke Speed hard at work and unable to join in, it was a great end to the day with all the juniors finishing in style (and in the dark) around 7pm.

A few pictures below and more to follow in the next few days.