Sidmouth’s senior golfers welcome new captain

The final seniors competition of the year was postponed on November 29, and rearranged for this week, but was finally cancelled last Monday.

Those of us who spent our childhood in Scotland will have been astonished by the concession to thick snow, ice and a temperature only a few degrees south of zero, but the Herald Sports Editor’s response that us golfers are woosses has wounded. It is shorts on the fairways from now on!

However, despite the absence of golf we still held our Christmas dinners on two evenings, with wives and/or girlfriends our special guests, and both evenings were again a great success. Due to the number wishing to attend these have been spread over two evenings for several years now, although this does mean that we were only able to hear Ray Gunston’s speech and Colin Paddon’s jokes once, unlike their wives, who were able to enjoy them twice.

During his welcome, Ray Gunston paid tribute to the support of the ladies in our lives and, as is the tradition, each discovered a welcome thank you gift from the seniors when they took their seats at the table. In fact the ladies were so thrilled by this recognition of their continued sacrifice that a few of us are thinking of staying home with them more often.

He also thanked the seniors for their support during his year, which contributed significantly to the �750 he was able to present to the Club Captain Nick Bater for his chosen charity.

Ray also advised that the seniors section continues to grow and thrive, with more seniors than ever applying for club opens and friendlies across the county. He was also able to recognise the principal competition winners: Annual Medal Chris Ashley, Annual Putting Peter Harrison, Knock Out Cup David Hoare, Charity Trophy John Billingsley and Monday Cup Carroll Dunn. He also reminded us that he had won the Winter Eclectic, which delighted us all, I think.

Another fine evening in the clubhouse was brought to a close when Colin Paddon was congratulated on his appointment as Seniors Captain, and presented with his 2011 Seniors’ Captain sweater.