The SENIORS Page

An Outline of the Seniors Activites

• Roll ups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Average of 17 (winter) and 20 (summer)
• Four Away Days per season (see below)
• Two matches per season against the Ladies
• Summer Knock Out
• Winter Singles Knock Out
• Winter Doubles Knock Out
• Seniors Championship
• Seniors/Ladies Fun Day (December)
• Christmas Dinner
• Away Matches (see below)

Ready To Do Battle

Most Tuesday and Thursday mornings throughout the year will find a healthy collection of smiling seniors "rolling up" to do battle at around 09.20 for their first tee time at 09:30. In a typically organised fashion some ingenious method of drawing teams for the day will be mixed with friendly banter.
This and other pictures (supplied by Roger Adamsom) of the group can be seen in the Slide Show Page (choose "Seniors & Ladies" from the dropdown menu)

2010 – After a Year Andrew hands over

In the Seniors 2010 AGM Andrew Barratt (outgoing captain) proffered a hope that Stocks members of a 'certain age' (Seniors come as young as 55) may unite to further enrich the Seniors section and the club as a whole (pointing out that with very few new members joining the club the section relied on existing members for support).

Andrew also reported that the year had never-the-less been lucky to enjoy (besides the healthy monthly qualifying comps) various other lively events including the mixed social meetings with the ladies section (singles and mixed doubles ko's, an away match against Shendish Seniors (Stocks won 4 and 2), two matches against the ladies section (Snrs retained the shield) and a Christmas BBQ (in Sept. at the Captain’s house with outside catering and live music!) not withstanding a winter and a summer eclectic competition).

Andrew also commended the excellent support from the seniors section for the various charity days held during the year and particularly for the support for the owner’s plans for the new clubhouse.

The meeting also proceeded to agree that the section should hold an annual charity day in aid of PACE and that members would pay an additional £5 on top of the cost of the meal, to go to the charity. The Captain concluded by thanking his committee, Brian Tredgett and John Dalton for all their help during the year, pointing out that it was apparent that the Seniors section had always maintained an excellent record of both organisation and conduct.

Prizes were awarded to the following: Mike Doyle – the Brookes-Maidman shield; James Brown – the summer singles k.o. and the Championship Veterans trophy: John Jackson – the Championship best nett score and the Seniors championship to Geoff Kirk.

Captain′s Report - The First 100 Days!

Just received the following input from Andrew Barratt, (June 10th, 2009)

"After my first 100 days as Stocks Seniors’ Captain, it seems an appropriate time for a State of the section report.
The Seniors section continues to maintain a full and varied schedule of events including two qualifying competitions – a Stableford and a Medal each month. We have also enjoyed 2 of our monthly social meetings with the Ladies section involving a mixed team comp. followed by refreshments in the Spike Bar.
In April we played the first of our two annual matches against the Ladies section – 2 ball better ball format - which resulted in a clear win for the men (although I prudently allowed my opposite number and her partner to save a bit of face by beating my partner and me in a closely fought match).
We have held two away days with our Society, membership of which is open to all present and past Seniors section members. Both, sadly, were plagued by extremely windy conditions – so much so at Ellesborough that one group retired to the clubhouse after 12 holes to seek sanctuary, thinking they had no chance of winning anything. A pity really, since one of their group, with 19 points after 12 holes would have been in with a real chance, conditions being so difficult!
The second away day, in May at Harpenden, was also hit by strong winds which made scoring difficult, but was enlivened by the jovial presence of Peter Lane, now well and truly settled and enjoying life as that club’s pro. He asks me to send his best wishes to all at Stocks.
The next away day is at Aldenham on 14th. July, and the last is at West Herts at the end of September.
Any Stocks member over 55 is very welcome to join us – we meet for social golf (always a team comp. unless it’s a Qualifier) every Tuesday and Thursday at around 9.15a.m. for a 9.30 tee off. There is a schedule of the month’s events posted on the door of the Starter’s Hut.
We operate a social handicap scheme to maintain playing handicaps within the social events reflecting weekly performance (cut one shot for 38 points or more, 2 for 41 points and over – get a shot back after 3 successive rounds of 34 points or less) which helps spread the winners out, We also hold a summer and winter eclectic.
There is a warm welcome for future seniors who find themselves free on one of these two days and fancy a round to join us – you will find us a very welcoming bunch. After the golf, we presently retire to Ivinghoe for refreshments.

Marlene has Eyes for Issies Cakes

Whilst David takes a Captain′s Pose

Andrew also attached a couple of photos from a recent social event (with the ladies). Dave Howard has been off golf for many weeks following a replacement hip op. but we try to ensure he still comes to the social bits of our activities - here he is in a typical ex-captain's pose! And Issy Wilkinson and Marlene Howard are seen in the other picture enjoying the Seniors hospitality - following the May social event, much to her chagrin, Issy became the first lady to be cut one shot for Seniors' social golf under our handicap rules (she scored 40 of her teams points!)"

Changing of the Guard March 2009 and 2008 Winners

Roger Petts handed over the Seniors Captaincy to Andrew Barrat and the year's major prizes to:

John Jackson wins Best Net: Seniors Championship

John Ryan wins Best Vet: Seniors Championship

Mike Doyle wins the Brooks-Maidman Shield

Rod Wendelken (& Norah Crammond) win the Mixed Doubles

Geoff Kirk wins the Senior's Championship (pic from archives!)

Mike Doyle was also Seniors Championship RU

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2009

At the Seniors’ section AGM held at Stocks on Tuesday March 3rd. presentations were made to trophy winners (see pics above). The new Seniors’ captain is Andrew Barratt.

There will be qualifying competitions held twice a month during the summer, one each month off the yellow and one off the white tees respectively.

Members are reminded that to hold a live handicap (and thus be eligible for club comps.) they must play in at least 3 qualifiers BEFORE the start date of any club comp.

For social golf roll-ups – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 18 handicappers and over will play off of the YELLOW tees and those with handicaps of 17 and below will play off the WHITE tees.

At the invitation of Shendish Manor, a match is to be organised in August at Shendish.

The Seniors’ subs are fixed again at £5 for the year.

Away days are organised in March at Ellesborough, May at Harpenden, July at Aldenham and October at Ashridge (the latter awaits confirmation)

Any Stocks member over the age of 55 is very welcome to join the Seniors’ section.

The full calendar of events can be seen on the Diary Page.

2008 Summer KO & Matches with the Ladies

The 2008 Seniors Summer Singles Knock Out competition winner was Roger Adamson after a close fought battle with Rod Wendleken in the final.

Over the summer season the Seniors play two matches against the Ladies. In the Spring the Ladies beat the Seniors 4 1/2 to 3 1/2, but in the second and final match the Seniors reversed the result and won 4 to 2 making the overall result a 7 1/2 to 6 1/2 win for the Seniors. These matches over the years have been a very very popular event- tightly fought games followed by a good lunch and bringing two starnds of the Club together.. They have been so successful in fact that it is planned to continue the event whatever happens to Stocks!

Good Use of the OLD PRO SHOP

This picture (provided by Roger Adamson) shows the Old Pro Shop (currently named the ′Spike Bar′ I believe) being well used for a Seniors Prize Presentation.
They′re obviously more organised than the rest of us - we still haven't retrieved our trophies (and boards) from ′storage′ (Andrew Barratt kindly provided us with loft space)
Hopefully we′ll all get a chance to display them in the new Club House in the near future?

Seniors Committee

The Seniors committee consists of Andrew Barratt, John Dalton and Brian Tredgett.
Please feel free to email Andrew Barratt who is happy to field any any questions.