The big success to report this week is the achievement of Mendip pair, James Popham, handicap 2 and Simon Grant, handicap 6, who were the 2014 winners of the Berkeley Hall Foursomes. As such, they qualified as Mendip’s representatives in the Daily Mail Foursomes. During the season, they played in a total of eleven rounds culminating in the National Final held at the Forest of Arden Golf Club where they emerged as Champions. Very well done to the two of them.

On the Ladies front, this week’s qualifying stableford, held in wet and windy weather, saw victory for June Millington, with 35 points, an excellent score in those conditions, followed by Liz Rose, with 34 points, and Jan Fukuyama, with 30 points. The Bowmaker event held on the same day saw victory for the team of new member, Sue Alcock, Chris Williams and Chris Olds, with 35 points, winning after countback from Elaine Kitchenham, Carol Curtis and Nola Russell.

The Ladies Inter Club Team have now completed a very successful season under the Captaincy of Libby Bellew (with assistance from various sources, when Libby was laid low with a nasty back injury). Their final league placing means that they gained promotion to the 2nd Division. A special word for Mary Ware, who won all her matches and for Chris Williams, who is taking over the Team Captaincy for 2016.

A full clubhouse for Mendip’s AGM heard an excellent presentation from Chairman, Ian Fairclough, who commented on the various changes that had taken place during the year and who outlined the Board’s intentions for the forthcoming year. Financially, the club continues to be in good shape, with the Chairman emphasising that capital expenditure plans have to be financed from income generated. Expenditure on improving the course remains the priority and mention was made of how well the new greens team had settled in under new team leader, Richard Gregory. Further changes during the year had seen David Nelson installed as the new Managing Secretary, recently joined by Office Assistant, Claire Bendall.

The Club Captain, Martin Wilkins, gave a review of the year outlining the various team achievements, which had seen the Men’s Team in the Bristol and District League gain promotion to Division 1 and the two Avalon Teams retain their positions in their respective leagues. the Ladies Captain also reviewed the Ladies of year which had seen relegation from the very strong Division 1 for the A Team, but promotions for the B Team and the Inter Club Team.

The members were then introduced to the 2016 Club Captain, David Williams, and 2016 Ladies Captain, Hilary Rowdon.

As usual, the AGM was followed by the Questions and Answers session, which as usual, passed fairly peacefully, an indication that the membership, in the main, are content with the way that the club is being run on their behalf by the hard working volunteers who serve on the board, as well as those members who work to support the various sub committees.

Tony Williams