President’s Report – George Davis
Gentlemen, how time flies.
I am now at the end of my term as President of the Somerset Golf Captains and, I have to say, it has been one of the highlights of my golfing life. I thank you all for the support you have given me over the past three years.
Thank you.
We have, over this period made a number of changes to committee positions, thus reducing the workload of the Secretary. We now have a Fixture Secretary, Treasurer, and Web Master, the latter keeping our website up to date. Each fixture is run by one of several Match Managers.
It gave me great pleasure to be part of the team which recently retained, for the third consecutive year, the Six Counties Trophy at Saunton. Our thanks must go to Roy Parmiter who managed the team for the three successful Captains: Chris Warcup, Jim Scott and Andy Carter. Very well done to all involved.
Over the last three years our Dinner Committee has done an excellent job, and, Captains, you have played your part by supporting superbly. Taunton Rugby Club has already been booked for the 2019 Dinner.
Thanks too to Jim Scott, our 2017 Captain. I hope it was a year to remember for all the right reasons!
To my Vice-President, Mike Usher-Clark, many thanks for your help and advice over the past three years. My very best wishes go to you for your term of office as you take on the Presidential role.
Finally, I would like to thank, on your behalf, the Committee members, past and present, who have worked unstintingly to enable you all, as Somerset Captains, to enjoy playing golf at the many different courses made available to us.
Thank you.
Captain’s Report – Jim Scott
Gentlemen, in Somerset I have held numerous position in Golf both at Club Level and with the Somerset Golf Union.
As I stand before you at our AGM, I wish to reflect on my year as your Captain.
In our matches against other Counties we have had a reasonable year, it so happens that in 2017 we played more away matches than home matches.
Travelling to Counties as far East as Sussex, as far South as Cornwall, as far North as Warwickshire and as far West as Gwent, gave all those Captains who were selected for the teams, an opportunity to play at Golf Clubs they had not previously experienced.
The highlights of my year were of course, retaining the 6 Counties Trophy and winning the 4 Counties Trophy, congratulations to all who played.
I enjoyed the company of all Captains selected to play with me, I enjoyed their company and I trust they enjoyed mine.
The Annual Dinner at Taunton Rugby Club was enjoyed by one and all and ended my year on a high note.
In closing I wish on your behalf, to thank all the Committee Members who worked hard to ensure that all our Members enjoyed themselves.
Secretary and Treasurer’s Report – Mike Usher-Clark
Due to my medical inability to play golf and at the President’s request, I have temporarily fulfilled the responsibilities of this combined role and it has been an eye opener. We all take the organisation and support for matches for granted and yet behind the scenes I have learned that during the season, as soon as one event is over the details of the next beckon.
The organisation of matches
Overall there is a much lower level of requests for team places than a while ago. We get about half as many match requests as compared to ten years ago. However this is still a great workload to process and we are moving to cut down the paperwork and use IT and email ever more. Hence gathering the details from as many members as we can, to create a database, which can in future be managed electronically via the website. Working electronically will reduce our operating costs. More about the website development later.
We have found that team selection for the whole season and having a Match Manager for each fixture, has overall been successful and involved more people in running our affairs. There is still a drop out factor and I would like to thank those stalwarts who will always turn out at short notice. Comment has been made that some people have played a lot. Please join me in thanking them as without those stalwarts we could be embarrassed by not having a full team. Please also join me in thanking and congratulating our Match Managers.
We have added another fixture to our list which is a match against Hereford and Shropshire. When we play away this will be combined into another mini tour with the match against Warwickshire.
Website
The website just launched is our third generation and specified to take us large steps forward.
It will be the basis of members details, match requests, team selection and notification, sales of our clothing and general member communication via email.
The teething troubles upon launch are, or very soon will be, corrected. This covers primarily, logging in and match requests.
Committee Organisation
We have split the roles of Secretary and Treasurer, and sought to streamline our operations.
Cheque signatories are now two from four for additional Security.
We have adopted online banking
We have adopted Debit cards which Match Managers use to settle the fixture costs for home matches.
The Committee has been enlarged to formally include the key jobs.
Finances
The public details of our bank account have not been released for several years but full details are always available to members.
With less attendance the income from the Spring and Autumn meetings has declined
Our stocks of clothing and glassware are sufficient for a few years but an additional purchase of particular sizes must be undertaken. The income for this accumulates progressively from sales.
Although costs are rising, the Committee feels that the funds can absorb the increases for this year and therefore I am pleased to say that the Committee feels that we can sustain our £30 match fee for the coming season.
Election of Officers
The following were proposed, seconded and elected without opposition.
President – Michael Usher-Clark – Worlebury GC
Vice President – Bob Acland – Mendip Spring GC
Captain – Andy Carter- Stockwood Vale GC
Captain Elect- John Beer – Taunton Vale GC
Secretary – Jim Scott – The Mendip GC
Fixtures Secretary – Roy Parmiter – Long Sutton GC
Treasurer – David Andow – Weston super Mare GC
(The co-option of Stephen Butterfield of Cannington was announced.
He will fulfill the role of Chair of the Dinner Committee)