1 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
The Shrimper THE NEWSLETTE R FOR MID KENT GC MEMBERS
November
2018
CHALLENGES FOR 2019 With Autumn rolling into Winter, Mid Kent looks forward to 2019 - aware of the challenges a new year
brings both on and off of the course - but confident in the ability of a new Club Captain & Lady
Captain, a refreshed Board of Directors and competent full time staff to move the Club forward. This
Shrimper covers the traditionally lively drive in of the Club Captain, Paul James, and Lady Captain,
Grainne Hyland and the appointment of 3 new Directors—Dave Ellis, Richard Jago and John Rice.
We summarise the changes to golf rules and the challenges faced by a strong board, especially club
and course development with their associated financial issues.
MKGC Club Captain 2019 - Paul James MKGC Lady Captain 2019 - Grainne Hyland
2 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
Introducing MK Captain 2019 - Paul James
53 years old, Paul has a current handicap of 10 but has
been as low as 5.
He left school at 16, starting work as an apprentice in
Chatham Dockyard. This work came to a sudden and
unexpected stop as after 6 weeks apprenticeships were
out of the blue scrapped and Paul was out of work! He
took a job in a video shop and 3 days a week in the MK
Pro Shop with Bob Lee.
This lead him to joining MK as a social waiting playing
member. At 18 years of age, he became a 5 day 36+
member and after a few years, in 1986 became a 7 day
member.
How come he was a milk man?! Well, at 17 having
passed his driving test, he applied to be a milkman – he
didn’t mind getting up early and this gave him all day
free to play golf!! After 18 months, his employers, the
Co-op, decided to franchise their milk rounds and their
asking price of £2K was a step too far for a young Paul.
So it was time for another career change. Influenced
by a friend’s father, at 19 age he started a 4 year tiling
apprenticeship with Wingrove. Once qualified at 23, he
turned self-employed, started his own tiling business
and has never looked back since!
On the golf course, he has represented MK in both A &
B teams and was part of the West Kent Trophy winning
team this year. With a young Nathan Jennings, he won
the Lord Donaghue Trophy at Princes which is a
scratch stableford foursomes.
At MK, over the years he has won the Directors Cup,
Countrymen’s Goblets, Whitbread Trophy, Lean
Cuisine, Pascoe Cup and Jubilee Cup to name but a
few. He has also won the Courage Cup with his Vice
Captain Neil Parham.
Paul likes to respect tradition whilst bringing forward
new ideas. He hopes all members will enjoy his year,
their golf and the club’s social functions. Out side of
golf, as a child he always supported Chelsea but when
his older brother showed him a signed photo of the
West Ham Team, he converted to a Hammers
supporter. Strange …. or what?!
MKGC Club Captain 2019 - Paul James - drives in
Club Captain Paul James - modern man , respector of tradition
3 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
Drive in - cometh the man, cometh the milk man .. blowing bubbles!
West Ham supporter, blowing bubbles!
Proud Family Man
4 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
Captain’s Prizegiving 1 - Finals Day October 7th 2018
Doust Trophy - Barney Foreman Queensland Bowl - Kirsty Galbraith
Pascoe Cup - Saj Bhatti Pilots Cup - Peter Brisley
Porter Plate - Jamie Maguire Muggs Cup - Tom Gillis
5 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
Captain’s Prizegiving 2 - Finals Day October 7th 2018
Mid Week Match Play - Craig McArthur Courage Cup - Cliff Abel & Paul Taylor
Dan Knight & Harry Woolmer - winning both the Pinder & Penman Cups - a Mid Kent first!
Mixed Tuffs - Dan & Karen Watkins
Mother & Son - another Mid Kent first?
Mixed Tuffs - Runners Up - Martin & Tina Smith
First time in the Tuffs and they took the final to the 19th!
6 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
MK Men’s Autumn Locker Room
September Saturday Monthly Medal 01/09/18
Sebastian Brett won division 1 going out in 32 coming back in 35 with 5
birdies and 11 pars beating Grant Rayner by 2 shots.
Wayne Sparks won division 2 going out in 39 coming back in 42 with 1
birdie and 8 pars beating Clive Pattison by 1 shot.
David Ball won division 3 going out in 44 coming back in 44 with 5 pars
beating Thomas Gillis by 1 shot.
September Sunday Medal 02/09/18
Marco Boffa won division 1 going out in 39 coming back in 36 with 1
eagle, 2 birdies and 7 pars beating Alex Collins by 1 shot.
Lee Howell won division 2 going out in 39 coming back in 41 with 5 bird-
ies and 5 pars beating Danny Pearce by 1 shot.
Christopher Roedel won division 3 going out in 45 coming back in 43
with 5 pars beating Richard Crush by 1 shot.
Chairman's Prize 15/09/2018
Scott Lane won with 3 birdies and 12 pars beating Ryan Heggs by 1
point.
September Midweek Medal 17/09/2018
Tom Murray won going out in 42 coming back in 44 with 5 pars beating
Alan Robertson by 2 shots.
Men’s Presidents Putter 22/09/2018
Alex Rayner won beating Robert Nash by 1 point.
October Saturday Monthly Medal 06/10/2018
Andrew Haines won division 1 going out in 37 coming back in 38 with
13 pars beating Nathan Bal by 2 shots.
Toby Johnson won division 2 going out in 37 coming back in 42 with 2
birdies and 8 pars beating Russ Copus by 2 shots.
Tom Copus won division 3 going out in 50 coming back in 44 with 1
birdie and 3 pars beating Matthew Finch on count back.
Houghton Cup (5 Club Competition) 13/10/2018
Nick Brown won going out in 44 coming back in 43 with 5 pars beating
Stuart Hornby by 1 shot
October Midweek Stableford 22/10/2018
Steven Cowell won with 6 pars beating Peter Snow by 1 point.
Stanley Putt Salver 27/10/2018
Craig Hunt won with 2 birdies and 6 pars beating Scott Harris by 1
point.
November Winter Stableford 04/11/2018
Lewis Deakin won with 6 pars beating Bruce Galbraith by 2 points.
Chairman’s Prize - Scott Lane
President’s Putter - Robert Nash
September Midweek Medal - Tom Murray
September Sat Medal Bronze - Dave Ball
7 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
MK Ladies - Autumn Meeting 1 - 20th September 2018
MK Ladies Autumn Meeting Double for Julia!
Julia Ridley pulled off the double - as well as a nett 74 in the Spring
Meeting, she shot a sparling 65 in the Goldsmith’s Cup for an
aggregate 139 across the two meetings to win the Silver Salver.
In Division 2, Gill Todd came up trumps to take the White Salver -
nett 77 in the Spring and 70 in the Autumn meeting.
The prizegiving provided a fitting tribute for a successful year lead
by 2018 Captain, Aileen Johnson.
Aggregate Cups
Division One - Silver Salver Julia Ridley
Division Two - White Salver Gill Todd
Division One 1st Prize & Goldsmith’s Cup Julia Ridley
2nd Prize Brid McInerney
Front 9 holes Dawn Halson
Back 9 holes Chris Galbraith
Division Two 1st Prize & Autumn Cup Gill Todd
2nd Prize Audrey Witten
3rd Prize Caroline Greenfield
Front 9 holes Anne Oxtoby
Back 9 holes Julie Manderson
Afternoon Team 1st Sati Padda, Anne Oxtoby, Sue Preston
2nd Aileen Johnson, Dawn Halson, Wendy Knight
9 hole competition Sheila Baker
36+ Handicap Prize Sharon Wells
Putting Silver Janet Harbroe
Bronze Caroline Jackson
Goldsmith’s Cup - Julia Ridley
Silver Salver - Julia Ridley
Autumn Cup - Gill Todd
2nd Division 1 Brid McInerney 2nd Division 2 Audrey Witten 3rd Division 2 Caroline Greenfield
8 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
MK Ladies - Autumn Meeting 2 - 20th September 2018
Division 1 Front 9 - Dawn Halson Division 1 Back 9 - Chris Galbraith
Division 2 Back 9 - Anne Oxtoby Hcp 36+ - Sharon Wells
9 Hole Competition - Sheila Baker Hole in One On LC Drive In - Nicola Sehmi
9 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
MK Ladies - Grainne Drives In
10 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
MK Shrimpers Net
September Medal 10/09/18
Ron Collins won with 1 birdie and 9 pars beating
Alan Robertson by 1 point.
Ron Collins 41 Alan Robertson 40 Steve Barnes
37
October Medal 08/10/2018
John Roots won with 2 birdies and 3 pars beat-
ing Kevin Harding by 1 point.
John Roots 41 Kevin Harding 40 Gerry Lynch 36
November Medal 05/11/2018
Alan Robertson won with 2 birdies and 6 pars
beating A P Forman by 2 points.
Alan Robertson 40 A P Forman 38 Clive Taylor
38
Jamboree - The 18th September saw Mid Kent
successfully host the Group 4 league Jamboree.
Once again teams from all over enjoyed a fabu-
lous day helped enormously by the weather,
lovely course, wonderful food and generous help
from our staff and members.
On the day Sheerness took the victory with an
aggregate score of 197, runners up Sitingbourne
with 196 and Mid Kent posting a fine 195 to take
3rd place.
Congratulations go to Group 4 season league
winners Sittingbourne; this was a perfect
opportunity to present their trophy for the 2018
season as part of the Jamboree proceedings.
Shrimpers AGM Friday 12th October
Around 31 members attended the meeting
where Finance, league reports and membership
numbers were among the topics. A copy of that
meeting can be emailed on request from Steve
Webster (Secretary)
Dave Ball the new Shrimpers Captain is due to
take over in 2019 from Jeff Francis and
announced his vice Captain as Steve Davies.
Jamboree Score Board
Group 4 Season League Winners - Sittingbourne GC
Jamboree Winners - Sheerness GC
11 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
MK Shrimpers Net
Top Left - Bob Haines wins the Cobb Cup 2018
Top Middle - Lewis Trophy winning team Steve Tomkins and Peter Windeatt
Top Right - Ron Collin 2018 Costin Putter winner
Left - July medal and Owen Jones trophy Success for Donal Monks
MK West Kent Trophy Winners 2018 - Captained by John Budd
12 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
MK Juniors
Junior Club Championship
Oliver Lewis Perkins finished his year as Junior
Captain with a fabulous gross 140 in the Junior
Club Championships.
The Junior Handicap Cup went to Lloyd Holland
with a nett 140, whilst Justin Chenu became
Cadet Champion with a promising 53 points.
Ollie Does it Again in the Hinge Trophy -
further to his successes earlier in the season both
as a Junior and now a 5 handicapper Men’s
monthly medal winner, Ollie Lewis Perkins won
the qualifying round of The Hinge Trophy at
Littlestone Golf Club shooting a 2 under gross 69.
In total, six MKGC members played in the all age
competition, three at Littlestone and three at
Cinque Ports. Lloyd Godwin shot a gross 72 &
Harry Woolmer a gross 76 at Littlestone whilst
Dan Knight shot a gross 79, Sebb Brett a gross 77
and Alex Collins a gross 79 at Cinque Ports.
This means all 6 of the Mid Kent members go
through to Princes on January 2nd 2019 qualifying
in the top 25 at their respective venue.
The top 40 at Princes will then play at Royal St
George's where the combined score from Princes
& Royal St George's will ascertain the overall
winner.
Junior Club Champion 2018 - Oliver Lewis Perkins
Junior Handicap Champion - Lloyd Holland
Cadet Champion - Justin Chenu Cadet Runner Ups - Patrick Chenu & Toby Booker
13 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
Course Manager Darryl Manion reports to November Board Meeting
Congratulations to Darryl Manion who has been appointed as our Course Manager for an initial
period of 12 months.
Darryl has been with MKGC since April 2000 and has done an excellent job when asked to manage
the greens team on two occasions over the past 15 months.
He is keen to maintain and improve the course to a standard we all expect and the Board of
Directors ask members to give Darryl and his team their full support.
Below is a summary of Darryl’s report to the November Board -
Greens - are continuing to show improved signs of recovery and are still holding good growth rates
due to the sustained temperatures. Bare areas around the perimeters have been over seeded again.
The Air-2-G2 has been brought in. This works in a similar way to verti-draining however you will not
see so many holes and the machine injects air through the tines to fracture the rootzone and aid root
development. This should help our greens root deeper and become stronger over the winter and into
next spring where we would like to continue this process and carry it out again.
Tees and Approaches have all been verti-drained barring par 3’s which will be completed when we
do the greens. Each area is showing a good amount of continued recovery and we are pleased with
the current playability. The verti-drain will help increase rooting space and were hoping that these
will grow deeper into the profile and make our surfaces stronger and healthier.
Some tees are showing increased signs of heavy wear from the summers play for example 7&4 and
as we go into winter markers will be moved forward and the bottom tee on 7 will have to be used.
If predicted weather conditions come to fruition over the winter we may have to look at the possibility
of hand mowing tees and approaches. This will help to reduce wear and tyre markings over the
course as it is a walking job.
Worm Casts - now that we are into winter, you will also start to see more worm casts covering tees
and approaches. Unfortunately, there is yet to be a new product manufactured and tested to replace
Carbendazim which had been banned in August last year. We are swishing and brushing these
areas as often as we can to try and remove the unsightly casts from the surface.
Fairways - will continue to suffer throughout the winter with worm casts for reasons as explained in
the previous section. Aeration will hopefully commence in November (conditions allowing) and will
continue into the new year for all areas of the course.
Rough - The long roughs have been cut down with the hired in ventrac machine including the reser-
voir and we will be spraying them in spring to kill of any weeds that may grow up. This should help
avoid any accidents with wild parsnip like we have had this summer on the right of 15.
Trees - Tree felling has been booked in November when all trees agreed and passed that the green-
keeping team cannot fell due to safety will be brought down. Other trees marked for removal will be
done in house by the greenkeeping team over the winter.
Leaves - so we begin the great battle of winter! Leaves are causing havoc for the team and golfers
alike. We are well aware of the situation however, due to the current conditions and the rate of
growth our surfaces are getting we are still committed to mowing these areas as a priority. Leaves
are blown from tees and greens first thing in the morning and when possible, a tractor blower is sent
out to clear the remaining areas.
14 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
England Golf - New Rules of Golf unveiled
The new Rules of Golf come into force on 1 January 2019. These include:
• Dropping procedure: When taking relief (from an abnormal course condition or penalty area, for
example), golfers will now drop from knee height. This will ensure consistency and simplicity in the
dropping process while also preserving the randomness of the drop.
• Measuring in taking relief: The golfer’s relief area will be measured by using the longest club in
his/her bag (other than a putter) to measure one club-length or two club-lengths, depending on the
situation, providing a consistent process for golfers to establish his/her relief area.
• Removing the penalty for a double hit: The penalty stroke for accidentally striking the ball more
than once in the course of a stroke has been removed. Golfers will simply count the one stroke they
made to strike the ball.
Major proposals introduced in 2017 that have been incorporated into the modernised Rules include:
• Elimination or reduction of “ball moved” penalties: There will be no penalty for accidentally
moving a ball on the putting green or in searching for a ball; and a player is not responsible for caus-
ing a ball to move unless it is “virtually certain” that he or she did so.
• Relaxed putting green rules: There will be no penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits
an unattended flagstick in the hole; players may putt without having the flagstick attended or re-
moved. Players may repair spike marks and other damage made by shoes, animal damage and oth-
er damage on the putting green and there is no penalty for merely touching the line of putt.
• Relaxed rules for “penalty areas” (currently called “water hazards”): Red and yellow-marked
penalty areas may cover areas of desert, jungle, lava rock, etc., in addition to areas of water; ex-
panded use of red penalty areas where lateral relief is allowed; and there will be no penalty for mov-
ing loose impediments or touching the ground or water in a penalty area.
• Relaxed bunker rules: There will be no penalty for moving loose impediments in a bunker or for
generally touching the sand with a hand or club. A limited set of restrictions (such as not grounding
the club right next to the ball) is kept to preserve the challenge of playing from the sand; however, an
extra relief option is added for an unplayable ball in a bunker, allowing the ball to be played from out-
side the bunker with a two-stroke penalty.
• Relying on player integrity: A player’s “reasonable judgment” when estimating or measuring a
spot, point, line, area or distance will be upheld, even if video evidence later shows it to be wrong;
and elimination of announcement procedures when lifting a ball to identify it or to see if it is dam-
aged.
• Pace-of-play support: Reduced time for searching for a lost ball (from five minutes to three); af-
firmative encouragement of “ready golf” in stroke play; recommending that players take no more
than 40 seconds to play a stroke and other changes intended to help with pace of play.
Three publications, will help players as well as officials and provide interpretation and guidance in
how the Rules are applied: 1. The Player’s Edition of the Rules of Golf: An abridged, user-friendly
set of the Rules with shorter sentences, commonly used phrases, and diagrams. 2. The Rules of
Golf: The full edition of the Rules will be written in the third person and include illustrations. It is
intended to be a more thorough version of the revised Rules. 3. The Official Guide to the Rules of
Golf: This “guidebook” replaces the Decisions book and will contain information to best support
committees and officials.
15 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
What’s On at your Club
Thursday 29th November
7.00pm Xmas Lights Switch On with a
free glass of mulled wine & mince pie
7.30pm Children’s Party, Candlelight
Supper and NY’s Eve go on sale
Saturday 8th December
Lady Captain’s Charity Quiz 7pm for
7.30pm. Teams of up to 8. £5 pp
includes interval cheese & biscuits.
Sign up on social noticeboard.
Sunday 16th December
3.00pm Music with Miss Vintage
4.00pm Captain’s Charity Xmas
Festive lunch available – booking
essential
Wednesday 19th December
Christmas Bingo 7pm for 7.30pm.
£6 for 8 games, payment in cash on
the evening. Due to the popularity of
this event, tables will need be to
pre-booked. The sheet will be posted
on the notice board on Thursday 29th
November at 7.30pm
Thursday 20th December
Children’s Christmas Party £5 per
child, plus a £10 gift from Santa
Tickets on sale 7.30pm on Thursday
29th November
Saturday 22nd December
Candlelight Supper. Black tie, 7pm for
7.30pm. £33 per person, members
are welcome to bring guests. Tickets
on sale 7.30pm on Thursday 29th No-
vember. Payment will be debited from
membership card. Music by Keeley
Smith, back by popular demand.
Monday 31st December
New Year’s Eve Disco Party
7.30pm for 8pm. Smart casual £25
per person to include buffet or £10 per
person entry after 10pm without food.
Members’ guests welcome.
Payment will be debited from your
membership card.
16 The Shrimper - January 2011 www.mkgc.co.uk
Dingbats - courtesy of John O’Toole
situation going
CUT
A
Things
Please pits
Y Y Y
Males
agreement
tunnelight
NEE
D
--------------------
Dingbats Answers
1. On going situation
2. Little things please little
minds
3. Three wise men
4. Born out of necessity
5. A cut above
6. A round of drinks
7. Hairpin bends
8. Age of consent
9. Light at the end of the
tunnel
The Balloonist
A woman in a hot air balloon realised she was lost.
She reduced altitude and spotted a man below. She descended a bit more and shouted: 'Excuse me, can you
help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago but I don't know where I am.
The man below replied, 'You're in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You're
between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude.' 'You must be
an Engineer,' said the balloonist.
'I am,' replied the man, 'how did you know?'
'Well,' answered the balloonist, 'everything you have told me is probably technically correct, but I've no idea
what to make of your information and the fact is, I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help at all. If an-
ything, you've delayed my trip by your talk.'
The man below responded, 'You must be in Management.'
'I am,' replied the balloonist, 'but how did you know?'
'Well,' said the man, 'you don't know where you are or where you're going. You have risen to where you are,
due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise, which you've no idea how to keep, and you expect
people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in be-
fore we met, but now, somehow, it's my BLOODY fault!