Race to Dubai
As the season comes to its climax, Europe's top golfers are all jockeying for position to see who can finish number 1 on the order of merit. Whilst this is going on though spare a thought for all those golfers who are fighting for their golfing lives at the other end of the scale. I know quite a few of our members attended the British Masters at Woburn last week and would have seen quite a number of these unfamiliar players, journey men, the players that are on the cusp. In my mind they are the ones who have it all to play for, it is perhaps these players hovering nervously around that cherished, but dreaded 110 mark on the order of merit who have the most to lose.
Whatever happens in the few remaining events of the year I'm sure there will be some very happy and sad stories that will unfold.
Pictured here is Dave Middleton at Woburn offering tournament host Ian Poulter some words of advice.
Captain Ray warms up for Turkey
The Links were well represented at the PGA East Region Captains Day Pro- Am at Bishops Stortford GC on Monday 5 October. In continuous rain, at times heavy, for almost five hours the Links Team of Ray Bolton (Captain), John Yuill (Club Champion) and Bob McAlister (Seniors Champion) performed well in the company of professional David Salisbury. With 11 birdies and an eagle offset by a couple of bogeys the team finished on 11 under in second place behind the winners Great Hadham GC on 16 under. This was a good warm up for Ray for when he and Richard team up and head off for the PGA Captain/Pro finals in Turkey in November. Well done guys.
What has the Club Secretary been up to?
Our Club Secretary Matt Hartley and junior member David Marris won the Ron Freeman Trophy last weekend. The Ron Freeman Trophy, traditionally played at the Links, is the County Foursomes Matchplay Championship and attracts the best scratch golfers from all over Cambridgeshire.
Matt and David managed to beat a strong pair in Kevin Diss and Steve Jarvis from the Gog Magog GC who were last year's winners. Ron Freeman was a well-respected figure in Cambridgeshire golf back in the 1960's, he was a past Links Club Chairman and Club Captain and also a County Captain. The trophy was presented to CAGU in his memory by Sam Goddard of Saffron Walden and Andrew Blows from The Gog's in 1967. Well played Matt and David.
Exciting Partnership with leading Golf Travel Company GolfBreaks.com
Whilst I was at the PGA Golf Show last week at Harrogate I was introduced to the CEO of Golf Breaks.com Darren Bragg. As the name implies Golfbreaks.com are travel experts for golfing breaks in the UK, Europe and other exciting destinations Worldwide. They have teamed up with Foremost Golf, a group that I am member of, to offer great value breaks and holidays services for my members. I am at present finalising plans to take a group away for a week's break next April to the USA to Kiawah Island golf resort (the 1991 Ryder Cup venue) and 2 days at the US Masters in Augusta combined. I will also be looking to take a group to The Belfry for a short 2 day break next June. We are very aware that quite a number of our members go away on golfing breaks, so if you are an organiser of a group or just even looking for a short break for your own fourball we will be very happy to help. Watch this space for full details of the above trips.
12th Hole Bunker update
Rob and his team are now 2 weeks into the 5 week project on the 12th hole bunker revamp. The bunkers and turf are settling in well with the turf already rooting. From the picture below you will see the turf having its first cut and being striped up. When you play next I'm sure you will agree it has made a real feature of the dip and bunker that has looked rather untidy for some time. Weather permitting the aim is to have all bunkers sanded up and surrounds fully ready for play within 5 weeks of the start date.
Help needed for Junior Charity Day
Next Friday 30th October we will be holding our Junior Charity Day. Junior Vice-Captain Jack Nunn, has been given the task to organise the event this year and will be raising money for his chosen charity, Cancer Research. To help bolster the monies raised we are still looking for help from potential hole sponsors and donations for the draw and raffle. If you can help in any way please drop your donations into either the Pro Shop or Secretaries office. Thank you in advance.