The Craigavad 2022 Review

| Veterans' Golf |

| Veterans' Golf |

Veterans' Golf

by Des Walmsley and Jonathan Hegan

With regard to our internal activities we got the season underway on 15th March with the Start of Season Competition when 31 players enjoyed good weather and some excellent golf with that intrepid octogenarian Jim Tinsley winning with an incredible 45 points, followed by your scribe with 42 points and Arnie Wright on 41points. Lindsay Todd won the 1st nine with 22 points and 'new boy' Barry McDonald the 2nd nine also with 22 points. John Monteith was nearest the pin on the 4th while Angus Creed had the longest drive. Wednesday 22nd June saw us decamp to Kirkistown to escape Lady Captain's Day and enjoy excellent weather. Robin Thompson was the worthy winner with 42 points followed by John Ballagh on 41 points and Robert McIlwaine on 36 points. Jonathan Hegan took the 1st nine with 22 points while your scribe surprised everyone with 21points on the 2nd nine. There were no 2's but we all enjoyed a convivial meal after the golf. Our Portstewart outing on 27th July attracted a lower than normal 14 participants who enjoyed benign conditions resulting in some good golf. Alan Andrews won with 43 points from Lindsay Todd who, on count back, just pipped Graham Crothers to second place with 41 points. Hugh Taggart took the 1st nine on 21 points while your scribe, after a disastrous period managed the 2nd nine with 22 points. There were no 2's but 4 gross birdies achieved by Lindsay Todd (2), Hugh

Des Walmsley, Abby Beckett and John Ballagh winner of the Macafee Trophy

Angus Creed, Neal Shaw, Stewart Reid, Peter Stewart and Mervyn Woods

Taggart and John Ballagh. The food and hospitality were excellent with fresh scones and cream when we arrived and a very pleasant meal after golf and prize-giving. The Portrush outing was played on 15th September when 23 veterans enjoyed a typical North Antrim day with a mixture of a cool breeze, a couple of showers and some sunshine on the Valley course, which as usual, was in great condition. The golf was of a fairly high standard with David Dunlop winning with 39 points from Peter Thallon on 37 while Philip Pallin took 3rd place on 34 points. Terence Carr won the 1st nine with 20 points while Des Walmsley was very surprised to take the 2nd nine with a poor 17 points albeit after count back. Terry Carr, Peter Thallon and Philip Pallin all recorded 2's. Golf and prize-giving was followed by the usual excellent meal. The End of Season Competition for the Macafee Trophy was held on 4th October when a significantly reduced field of 22 players (there were nine last minute withdrawals due to various ailments) competed for the trophy. The original heavy rain soon abated to provide reasonable conditions for some good golf with over half the participants scoring 33 points or better. The deserved winner was John Ballagh on 42 points from Barry McDonald on 39 and Michael McCrudden with 38. Angus Creed took the 1st nine and Stuart Knox – another new recruit – the 2nd nine with a commendable 22 points. Our President Michael Park had the longest drive while Neal Shaw was nearest the pin on the 4th and James Morrow had the only 2. In the evening we had a most convivial dinner in the Harrison Room which

volunteers who book tee times for fourballs on Tuesdays and Saturdays on a rotating basis. This works well with some 20 regular players and a number of reserves. A league table is maintained and monthly prizes awarded. In addition the scores are aggregated to produce an overall winner who, this year, was David Dunlop. We are all most grateful to Robin and his volunteers for all their work on our behalf to effectively provide us with hassle free golf in this BRS world. We have had a most enjoyable year and have had the pleasure of welcoming some new Members to our ranks. We have also been fortunate that the course has been so playable throughout. Our thanks therefore go to Paul Revill and his green staff; to Andrew Ferguson for the admin of our competitions; to Naomi for her administration skills in the organisation of the Veterans' League; to Tracey, Jayne and the bar/ catering staff for looking after us so well in the Clubhouse; to Stuart Thom for facilitating our various competitions and league matches; and to our Captain who has been most supportive. The Veterans' League is about having fun and enjoying the camaraderie of like minded members of 13 other clubs. If you are over 60 and not in full-time employment you are welcome to join. The Convenors' baton has now passed to David Dunlop and Kenny Graham who we hope will enjoy the role as much as we have. We wish them and all our fellow veterans every success for the 2023 season.

included wives/partners and a few non combatants. The food was excellent and the wine flowed as we lamented our failure to win the league again. Following the meal Jonathan Hegan presented a summary of the season followed by a few kind words from the Club Captain, and fellow veteran, Sam Beckett while his wife graciously presented the Macafee Trophy and the other prizes. The final event, the Christmas Competition, was held on the 15th December. The weather was bitterly cold with the fairways covered with frost and most greens totally frozen. Some 15 hardy souls entered, but even with the competition reduced to 9-holes, only ten completed the event. In fact with most greens being sheet ice it was nearer to ice hockey than golf with some players needing 6 putts on occasions! However when the finishers arrived back in the Clubhouse they were informed that the competition had been cancelled and that there would be a draw for the prizes. So bad luck for the Captain who was rumoured to have had the highest score! Following a few hot whiskeys and a most convivial lunch the prize draw was won by John Moorhead and, in the spirit of the event, everyone left with a prize. You will also, no doubt, be delighted to learn that four of our 'star' players, Howard McNally, George Robinson, Robin Thompson and David Megaw won turkey competitions while Jim Tinsley and Gordon Greenfield each won a ham. Not bad for veterans! In addition to our 'formal' competitions referred to above, we have a rolling

Des Walmsley, the Captain and Jenay McCartan from Alzheimer's Society

A fter last year's historic win of the Belfast & District Veterans' League this year's result was somewhat of an anti-climax with 7th place on 28 points, some 6 behind the winners Clandeboye on 34. Belvoir and Bangor were joint second on 33 points with the final outcome only being decided by the result of the very last match. However we had great fun with some 55 Members participating in at least one of the 26 matches. As usual we won most of the home games (10 out of 13) but only two of the away legs with four halved. So many thanks to our 13 captains and especially Dick Milliken, Ansley Tolland and Philip Pallin whose teams secured emphatic wins against Helen's Bay, Knock and Holywood. This year we were the organising club and hence hosted the 'Fixture Meeting' in February and the 'Finals Day' on 27th September when representatives from all 14 clubs played in a fourball betterball competition with a shotgun start. This was followed by a lunch and prize-giving including the presentation of the Malone Shield to Clandeboye as this year's league winners.

club chooses a local charity which all players contribute to in lieu of green fees. This year we chose the Alzheimer's Society and are pleased to report that a total of £15,925 was raised of which Royal Belfast contributed £1,855. So well done everyone. Indeed over £235,000 has been raised for charity since inception of the league in 1991. Cliftonville is the organising club for the current year and we are looking forward to another enjoyable season. And with some exciting new 'younger' Members now joining our ranks there is the possibility of repeating our 2021 success!

The other aspect of the league is charity whereby the organising

monthly competition organised by Robin Thompson and his five

Des and Janet Walmsley, Howard and Hilary McNally and John Ballagh

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