In his first official event as the new Greetham Valley GC President, George Grant gave a sparkling welcome to everyone, for what turned out to be a wonderful evening, enjoyed by well over 150 members and their families.

He was superbly supported throughout the proceedings with his 'A' Team, who all gave speeches and presented prizes with splendid gusto - Hon Secretary Radley Wardaugh, Captain Steve Anderson, President George Grant and Lady Captain/Junior Organiser Liz Haughton.

The Captain's Charity

Captain Steve Anderson gave an impassioned thank you to all members who contributed to his chosen Charity – EMICS (East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme) – a network of volunteer doctors with specialist training in pre-hospital emergency medicine, who assist East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) at the scene of life threatening emergencies. EMICS is a registered charity which incredibly, receives no government or NHS funding.

Their doctors and staff are all volunteers, and their help is free of charge to the NHS. All donations to the charity are used to purchase the medical equipment carried by each doctor, without which they would be unable to treat casualties.

The Captains presented a cheque for £2,800 to Dr Tim Gray, who gave just one instance of how they save lives, when he related the story of a newlywed couple coming home from work one evening, when the husband collapsed without warning.

He had suffered a massive brain haemorrhage and thanks to the intervention of two EMICS doctors, he was rapidly transferred to the neurosurgical unit in Queen's Medical Centre where his life was saved.

You can learn more about EMICS at www.emics.org.uk and if you are able to donate even a few pennies, it could make all the difference to one of your loved ones in the future.

The Greetham Valley GC Poppy Appeal also raised a creditable £267 during the year.

Players of the Year

First Team Captain Richard Wilson, who led his team to success in their quest to survive in the first division of the South Lincolnshire Scratch league, announced his Player of the Season, who turned out to be a young man transitioning from our excellent Junior squad of golfers.

The recipient was hailed as the youngest ever recipient of the award and also the most forgetful player in the team – almost fulsome praise but not quite – congratulations to Joe Sargood for an amazing run of performances this year!

Second Team Captain John Peyser introduced his Player of the Season as Darren Haughton, who played exemplary golf throughout the campaign and was a pillar of solidity for the team throughout a tough season.

Other notable mentions went to Gilly Grant, Captain of the winning Ladies' Scratch Team and Handicap Team Captain Angela Wheeler (who Annie McCulloch deputised for magnificently).

Serial winner Ellie Haughton who is now at University in Tennessee, USA, via Sporting Scholarships USA, won the 2019 Women's Lincs County Championship.

Junior Section Review

Club Junior Organiser Liz Haughton, who was ardently supported by her husband Darren and Club PGA Professional Neil Curtis throughout the year, delivered a wonderful overview of the tremendous strides made with the Junior Section of the Club, who now have an awesome 40 boys and girls of all abilities, ranging in age from 6-18 years old. They really are the lifeblood and future of our Club, so all this amazing work is vital.

The Juniors' development programme follows the Golf Foundation's Junior Golf Passport learning programme, which is endorsed by the PGA. Liz also thanked sponsors Smithers Purslow, Consulting Engineers and Surveyors of Glaston, Rutland, for their continued support.

Liz also graciously acknowledged the genuine interest and support shown by the Hinch Family, PGA pros Neil and George, Greetham General Manager Sean, Hon Sec Radley, the Management Committee and all Members for the encouragement they give the Juniors.

Last but not least, she commended the parents who support and encourage their children in such loving and unpressurised fashion, resulting in the kids being an absolute credit to all.

As for competition results, Liz told us about our two teams in the BCCS National Junior Matchplay Tournament. Our youngest team of Jonathan, George, Archie and Yasmin narrowly missed out in their match at Peterborough Milton GC, whilst the older team of Joe, Izzy, Luc and Isabella had to travel to the beautiful links of West Lancashire GC, where they stayed overnight and enjoyed a silver service breakfast before play commenced. After 18 holes, the matches were tied, so it went to a play-off, when the home team played a brilliant up and down to carry them home. Some small consolation was that our team lost to the eventual runners-up!

As last year's Junior Team County Champions, Joe, Luc and Izzy went on to represent Lincolnshire in the English Junior Club Final at Woodhall Spa GC, which was played over two days; although the course defeated them, they still finished a very creditable mid-table for the championship.

Success didn't end there though, as our Young Sixes team, managed by our PGA Assistant Pro George, followed last year's win with a runners-up spot in the South Lincs League!

The Juniors had no less than three holes-in-one this season! Henry aced the third on the Academy Course, whilst Yasmin did the same at both Greetham and Peterborough Milton GC – impressive stuff indeed!

The Junior and Adult Open has gone from strength to strength and fielded no less than 80n entrants this year – fantastic stuff!

Liz paid particular thanks to Junior Captain Luc Affleck who she cited as a true gentleman who always stepped in when she was unable to give her full attention. Luc has been a great captain and will be a hard act to follow!

On a sad note for the Juniors but a positive one for the Club, our Junior Champion (who also plays in the Clubs 1st Team), Joe Sargood, is moving into the ranks of the Men's section of the Club. He has been inspirational and supportive throughout his time in the Juniors and he was wished well for the future.

As for life after the Juniors, we were updated on the progress of former members, such as Tom Haynes captaining the Nottingham Trent University golf team; Ellie Haughton becoming Lincs Women's County Champion before starting her new life at University in Tennessee, USA, where she has been a key member of the team that has played in Indiana, Tennessee and Florida already.

Junior Prize-winners

Junior Academy Player of the Year (Judged by PGA Pro Neil Curtis and assistant PGA Pro George) - Tom Dorsett

Most Improved Junior - Isabella Condie (3 best nett scores in County Competitions, Lincolnshire Junior Girls 2nd Team Member, reducing her handicap from 16 to 12)

Ladies Singles Knockout Champion & Junior Player of the Year - Izzy Haughton (who rather rudely beat her own Mum in the final). Izzy was also a key member of Greetham's Scratch League Team, who for the second year running are Lincolnshire County Champions. Having played really well for the Lincolnshire Juniors 1st Team and has now played this season for the Women's County 2nd Team. She also qualified for the Junior Girls' Scratch Matchplay Final at Carholme GC where she was runner-up.

Colin Easson Motors Trophies

Roly Easson gave a typically hilarious presentation of prizes for the Club's longest running sponsored tournament, which have now been running for 27 years. He was supported by his son Ollie who is also a fine golfer and as it turns out, Ford Motors super salesman! Members interested in the latest Ford models can find the guys at Colin Easson Ford just down the road from the Club in Cottesmore.

The ladies and gents winners were as follows:

1st Dee Ginnity & Ken McCann

2nd Ellie Haughton & Gabriel Amies-McCormick

3rd Sue Brand & Neil Baker

Qualifying Competitions

Daily Mail Qualifier 2019 (Ladies) - Susie Ellis and Fay Taylor

Tudor Spring Foursomes (Daily Mail Qualifier 2019) - Dave Morgan and Mark Mousley

PING Qualifier 2019 (Ladies) - Pat Jamieson and Kay Ropson

Peugeot Coronation Foursomes (Ladies) - Ellie Haughton and Izzy Haughton

Anniversary Trophies - Ellie Haughton & Paul Thwaites

Easter Pairs - (Ladies) Dee Ginnity and Fay Taylor (Gents) Wayne Moat and Gary Moat

Grants Greensomes Mixed (any combination) - Ellie and Darren Haughton

Ladies Land Rover Trophy - Jo Robinson

Rover Cup - Connor Mousley

Veterans Cup - Geoffrey Bentley

Stan Holden Trophy - Stuart Dodd

Ladies 60+ - Bev Dolman

Chris Southwell Salver - Paul Clark

Jubilee Trophy - Colin Bateman

Golden Girls - Eileen Pare

Parker & MacDonald-Pearce Trophy - Brian Parker

Hodgkinson Trophy - Kevin Burdall

Pat Holloway Trophy - Sophie Beardsall

Sturgess Volvo Salver - Ian Bain

Whitter Trophy - Keith Heppenstall and Neil Lowndes

Gill Christie Trophy - Margaret Littlemore

President's Charity Trophy - Garry Evans

Meadows World Travel Trophy - Kay Ropson

Moore Stephens Trophy - Ian Brocklehurst, Lesley Young

Douty Cup Mixed Pairs - Trevor Smith and Sheila Douty

Martins Mixed Foursomes - Graham Smith and Sue Brand

John Sparks Salver - Dave Thompson

Bob Ford Trophy - Micky Fish

Barbara Ford Trophy - Sheila Douty

Club Knockout Competitions

Stimson Trophy - Mark and Tom Haynes

Dickinson Trophy - Paul and Sue Clegg

Golf Pairs Trophies - David Byrne and Peter Key

Greetham Cup Ladies - Sue Brand and Annie McCulloch

Begy Trophy - Jack and David Chisholm

Churchill Cup - Pete McCall

Brian Hockey Cup - Graham Smith

Hodgkinson Cup - Izzy Haughton

Rutland Shield Gents Div 2 - Martin Thwaites, Gents Div 1, Dan Kettle

Most Improved Golfers

Ladies Isabella Condie

Seniors Terry Padmore

Juniors Isabella Condie

Stableford Championships

Rabbits' Trophy - Robin Bell

Lime & Stone Trophy - Russel Aust

Season Long Competitions

Martin Boughton Order of Merit - Paul Thwaites

Jackie Friend Order of Merit - Ellie Haughton

Steele & Ellis Trophy - Lesley Storey

Club Champions (Nett)

Clarke Shield( Junior) - Archie Curtis

Oakham Cup - George Brand

Bunny Cup - Jackie Wilson

Dryden Salver - Liz Haughton

Easson Cup - Mark Luxford

Cunningham Cup - Nigel Broadbent

Club Championships (Medal)

Hinch Cup - Mark Luxford

Chris Herridge Cup - Joe Sargood

Fred Aspin Cup - Graham Smith

Waycot Bowl - Liz Haughton

President's Putter - Trevor Smith

Club Champion

Trevor Smith was reluctant to take the Trophy as the competition was restricted to one round due to the inclement weather conditions on the championship weekend.

First Team Captain Richard Wilson delivered a message from Trevor who wished to congratulate everyone who had taken part in the tournament and every other competition throughout the year.

He also asked that his gratitude be expressed to some of our members, without whom the Club competitions would not be able to happen due to the enormous amount of administration required: Radley Wardaugh, Peter Wood, Kev Hingle, Steve Harbour, Gilly Grant, Jackie Friend, Neil Crees, not forgetting the amazing Course Manager Aid Porter and his fantastic greenkeeping staff; finally, Doris and Nathan in the Clubhouse and of course General Manager Sean.

His thanks closed with the promise that he is looking forward to defending his title in 2020, but over the full 36 holes rather than just 18.