Nigel Rose

Tuesday, 16 February 1999

Nigel Rose

Dear Nigel

I understand that you were unfortunately not happy with your allocated “Swindle Handicap”. I write now to attempt to explain (and hopefully convert your doubts).

The philosophy of the morning swindle has always been based on providing a friendly yet competitive and enjoyable opportunity to play golf with a variety of like minded fellow members. Unlike the early morning swindle we have always collected monies that are allocated to prizes for the best efforts of the day and have maintained our own system of “handicapping” – thus providing a recognition for individual achievement based on past (swindle) performance. It has also always been agreed to attempt to distribute the rewards as evenly as possible and that has always meant that bouts of brilliance such as your recent games have resulted in “large cuts” in handicap. In the last 5 games there have been 3 of you with cuts of 2 or more points (e.g. Tony Wright who 5 games ago was on 12.1 and is now on 10.1 and Rens Dantuma who was cut 2.5 shots) – You are welcome to study the full list. You are, incidentally, by far the greatest winner.

A number of us last year were playing of as much as 5 shots under our club handicaps and even lost another shot if we attempted to query the justice of it all!! I will not attempt to rule with the iron fist of Mick Ellis – for one I wouldn’t get away with it! My hope is to apply simple reason.

I have (and will continue to keep) a record of each individual’s scores and money wins and that list will be available to all. I’m not sure of the best place in this letter to confirm your latest indication of success – but still a shot on the 18^th – a handicap of 9.5 - so have done it here!

My objective is simply to attempt to provide a fair and pleasurable arena for friendly & competitive golf matches.

Please bear with me on this and be assured that I hope you continue to enjoy the occasion. Also let me offer congratulations on your superb scoring and hope that I will be in the position to offer you yet more prestigious cuts in games to come! If you wish to discuss this or any related matter please give me a call.

All the best

Richard Gale

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