Captain’s Blog No 5, (19.05.20)
Back on the golf course, fantastic! It has been really lovely over the past few days to get back on the course and great to see so many of you out and obviously enjoying the opportunity to play golf. A huge thank you to everyone at the club who have made it possible. The green staff for preparing the course, what a transformation since the last games in mid March; the shop staff led by Rachel for preparing and operating the play safe, stay safe protocols and to all members for sticking to the rules! Everyone I have spoken to (from a safe distance) has been very positive and felt very safe on the course.
Future plans are clearly dependent on the wider ‘pandemic situation’ and government rules but the plan currently is to stay with the present operating protocol (2 balls, 10 minute tee times and social golf) until the end of May. After that we hope we will be able to introduce some competitive golf. The club is planning to re-introduce the reserved tee times for seniors on Tuesdays and the Ladies on Thursdays in the first week of June with the first Ladies competition on June 4th and the first Men’s competition on Saturday June 6. The Ladies’, Seniors’ and Men’s committees are currently preparing revised schedules. At all stages safe procedures that ensure minimum risk will be put in place.
I think, as a club, we need a big event to kick off the season. So, I intend to run a charity event on Saturday June 13th.
Not the Captain’s Drive In
Individual Stableford open to all members*
Reserved Tees from 7:00 to 1:00
No entry fees, donations to the Captain’s Charity
Lots of prizes, with a strong Welsh flavour!
Captain’s Par 3 challenge on the 9th
Tees can be booked online, booking will open from 7:00 am on Friday 21st May. Initially booking will be for 2 balls but if further relaxation of procedures before the day permits, this will be increased to 3 balls. If all the reserved times are taken, members are welcome to play in the event anytime on the day (it won’t get dark until almost 10:00 pm!). It would be great to get a big turn out to give the season some real momentum, please sign up!
*Event is open to all 7 day, 5 day and flexible members
A word about my charity, Prostate Cancer UK. This is a charity that will be well known to many members and one that is prominent in many sporting circles. As some of you will know I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in April last year. Thankfully I had successful, if rather unpleasant, surgery in June and while there is a significant chance that I will require further treatment in the future I am currently free of any evidence of cancer.
Prostate Cancer UK is a charity that is personally very significant to me. Prostate Cancer is a frighteningly common disease, apparently 1 in 8 men will suffer with it at sometime! Consequently many other members will have had to deal with it and inevitably it will affect more in the future. The good news is that thanks to charities like Prostate Cancer UK who support R&D into improved diagnostics and treatments, outcomes for men with prostate cancer are ever improving.
There is a huge amount of information, support and advice available for anyone who is concerned about or affected by Prostate Cancer. I am very happy to help to point people in the right direction or to talk about things if that would help.
So Prostate Cancer UK is a charity that is hugely relevant to the demographics of PHGC, I know that as always members will be generous in support. In advance, thank you.
Donations can be made either via my Justgiving page;
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/david-hughes-183
or direct to the ‘Captain’s charity account’;
PHGC Captain’s Account, 20-51-08, 53148041
Other news; I have provisionally re-booked the Captain’s away weekend to Patshull Park for Sun/Mon Sept 20/21st. Obviously, this is conditional on the situation nearer the time.
Look forward to seeing you on the golf course in the coming weeks.
Dave