Well hello there…………..it's nice to see you all again!



We had a really enjoyable week with the county boys at South West Week. I was impressed with how well behaved the lads were, how polite they were and how well you get to know them over the course of the six days. Somerset were the winners all week - wow great golf guys. Some of them looked a little worse for wear after Thursday night and a celebratory night out in Bristol, but they still won their matches on Friday. It was a really impressive week of golfing talent and we loved having them here.

It's nice to have all our members back though……………………….we've missed ya!

As there hasn't been that many club competitions this week, the club news section is a little thin on the ground. I'm sorry, I hope to fill the page up a bit more next week!

The results of a wet and yucky June Medal were as follows: 

first (div 1) John Nelson-Smith and in second Dave Pope , and first (div 2) Grant McCall, second Dan Britton.

The weather did not really improve much for the Failand Rosebowl on Sunday. Winning this competition was the lovely Greg Gough and Claire Fairman with Laureen and Mike Clew in second place.

Good golf in not so good conditions - who turned the tap on?!

Jimmy played well in Gullane in the St Andrews Links Trophy. His final position was 21st, scoring 221 over three days (5 over par for the whole tournament). He also flew down to B&C to play in South West Week, so he has been a busy boy! This week he plays at Carnoustie in the British Amateur Championships, so fingers crossed for a great result.



I have really had a great week this week - some unexpected excitement and some lovely presents again!

So he did it!! Woody we salute you. Winner of the Lyoness Open - prouder than proud of you buddy. 

Paul has been inundated with congratulations calls - Woody's manager at Octagon rang Paul to tell him it was all his work. I bawled like a baby. I am so so proud of my husband. Congratulations Chris. When you were younger you once described me as your second Mum and I have you in my heart buddy. You've grown up in front of my eyes and I am proud of your achievements. 

We had our school games event training with our Golf Foundation regional development officer Martin Crowder and we are now completely ready for our tri golf festival on 24th June. There will also be a mini inclusion festival after the main tri golf festival - England Golf have asked to film us running an ordinary festival and also an inclusion group, so we decided to combine the two for a day long festival. I apologise in advance for any noise which is likely - they all get a bit excited! Phew we will all sleep well that evening! I was very sad to hear that Martin is being promoted (not sad he's being promoted!! I mean I am sorry to lose him) - we will be getting a new officer for the West Midlands which our area falls into so I wait with interest to see who will be next in line. 

I had the most incredible news this week - it gave me the biggest ever lump in my throat (and all who read my newsletter regularly know I am prone to cry at the drop of a hat!). With the help of some incredible members, we have been able to secure £3500 per year for three years, to continue our work with disabled children and young people. O.M.G!

You can't imagine how excited and tearful and deranged I felt after hearing this! I am forever chasing funding so that we can give these kids a better experience and hearing that we will be supported for three years in doing this made me melt like a frozen popsicle. The people who have helped me get this funding know how incredibly grateful I am to them - there are some really wonderful souls in this world and I am indebted to them for caring as much as I do about these children.

Because I also care about this club, and because you are all such incredible supporters of us and our work, I am always aware of how generous you all are. We reserve the range, we ask you to listen to 120 children screeching at our festivals, we borrow your facilities and you never complain.

So I am donating £1000 to the golf club, to say thank you for all you guys do for us, for all the times you stand by us, for all the stress we cause you (we're sorry!!) and because we love you. 

I also had a visit from Ronnie Allen. On an already emotional day, this immense gesture sent me barking mad! Ronnie bought me six boxes of gifts for the inclusion festival in September. SIX BOXES!!!!!!!! I love him. There were baseball caps, backpacks, boxed tee sets, a massive bag of tees, shirts and clothing, groove cleaners and much more. I was sooper dooper excited (Ronnie will vouch for that! I think he thinks I'm mad!) so I have a prize for everyone who attends the inclusion festival. That is quite something else, Ronnie you are the best.

I also received a delicious bottle of wine from Mike Wilks, he knows the way to this girl's heart! (ha I am not sure I should be proud of that but at least I am honest!). Mike I am always grateful to you for being my friend and I hope you have a great time in Corfu. You deserve a fabulous week away. You come back soon and give me a big Mike hug!

       

Another big thanks to Alex Light, who has donated some US Kids golf clubs to our bank of junior equipment - this is always gratefully received, so thanks Alex, we appreciate it!

I would also like to thank both Mike Biggs and Joan Little this week. Both these two people are quite amazing, and have supported us from the beginning. This week Joan came to see me to tell me that Frank's tree (in memory of lovely Frank Little, Joan's husband, who sadly passed away a year ago) was doing well and that Mike had been down to put the little plaque on Frank's bench by 13th. 

Frank Little was a very sweet man, who I knew for years as he was so kind to me when I first started at B&C all those many years ago. I was a little scared and a bit intimidated when I started work here as I did not know anyone, but Frank always went out of his way to make me feel relaxed and was always kind to me. Frank also used to be the Junior Organiser here at B&C. 

Paul and I had a chat about Frank last week and he described Frank as a great junior organiser and under Frank's care the juniors had their glory days. How incredible is that? He was a great man. He was married to a lovely lady, what a great combination.

   

Mike Biggs is also a very wonderful person, and he has taken charge of getting Frank's bench and tree in place and looking beautiful. Joan wanted to give Mike a bottle of whisky to thank him but Mike asked that Joan give the money to us to use for one of our inclusion sessions. I was truly touched by this - Mike, Joan, you guys are awesome. I also wanted to show you some pictures of Frank's tree and bench - what a lovely tribute. I took a little walk down to the 13th on Sunday morning, in the early sunshine, to look at the bench - it's beautiful.

I am so lucky to work here - I want to stay FOREVER! 

Unfortunately no cooking this week but here's one I prepared earlier!

What do you mean I didn't make that myself?.............................(ha ha)

I would also like to tell Justin Nott that he is way cool, and I love him xx (ha he knows what I mean!)



If you can remember, the winner of the April medal was Ed Allsopp. This win entitled Ed to tee it up with Paul in the Lombard Trophy qualifier at Burnham. 

They got off to a great start with a birdie at the first, par five fourth also gaining at the seventh and eighth to go out in 33. Further birdies at the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fifteenth put them in a great position for a win and qualification for the Grand Final at Gleneagles in September. 

Ed and Paul both had long difficult putts over the steep ridge at the sixteenth green. Paul went first, making sure to get over the ridge and raced the ball 10 feet past the hole. Ed putted to the top of the hill only to watch the ball roll back down the hill and past his own feet. Unfortunately a three putt by both of them cost them the title, with Clevedon Golf Club taking the spoils. They came a respectable third. So it sucks....but there's always next year!

Andy McGreevy is looking to commence his TPI golf fitness groups again and he has secured a slot at the local village hall to be able to do these. This time it will be open to men and ladies, members and non-members, and he will be targeting all different areas of the body. I am excited to attend myself and we would now like to hear from you if you would like to attend. The sessions would be on a Thursday evening at 6pm for one hour in Failand. All welcome. We are establishing a group before we commit to giving out dates as we need to ensure we have enough demand for it. Please can you let me know, either in the shop or by email, whether you would be interested in attending. More information is available from Andy.

Click here to get in touch if you are interested.



Harry Kennedy recently played in the US Kids Golf European Championship for 2015. Harry was in the Boys 9 section. He managed his first eagle on Day 1 and 1 over par on the back 9 on Day 3 (in 40 mph winds!). Conditions were wet, cold and windy on all 3 days - proper links weather! 

Harry Kennedy came 13th overall in the age group he played in.

He also played in the Wee Wonders on Saturday at Farrington Park - scored 35 (par 27) all pars and bogeys apart from one hole, but sadly not low enough to qualify for the final.

   

Finn Ellis also played, in a different age group, and he came 11th. I am so proud of these boys, they are a great role model for our Junior Section



I also have some seniors section news from Les Meaton:

Here are the results of the Seniors Open which took place on 3rd June with 138 entrants. An excellent day on a superb course. 

Overall winner with 43 Stableford pts was our very own Nick Chapple who will receive the John Hutchings Cup 

Best Stableford Score off Scratch was Paul Dimond from The Wiltshire Golf Club with 31pts off H/C of 5. 

Best Score over 70 years of age was Wyndham Heyring from Cotswold Hills GC with 37pts and in 2nd place was our own Mike Clew with 35pts. 

Les

I am shattered with all the early starts this week, so I will leave you with love in Italian this week!

Hanno una grande settimana e arrivederci a presto! Ti vogliamo bene! 
(Franco your language really is the language of love xx)

Caren, Paul, Luke and Andy