AXA UK Group Pensioners' Federation
Golfing Society
Silverdale Golf Club
Friday, 22 September 2006

A combination of injuries, decisions to emigrate and conflicting appointment dates among those who had played in previous years had the effect of reducing the entrants in this year’s Pensioners’ Golf Competition. The field was reduced to just 9 players with 2 non-players joining the contestants for a late luncheon in the Club House at Siverdale Golf Club after the event.

Those who did play were rewarded by a wonderful mild Autumn day with bursts of sunshine and a golf course in superb condition during its centenary year. Organiser, Keith Smith (who is also Secretary of the Golf Club) is to be congratulated on providing those who played with such a picturesque setting and for all his hard work in making the necessary arrangements to stage the event.

Keith toughened up the golf challenge this year by only allowing players to calculate their ‘Stableford’ points based on three-quarters of their handicaps. This had the inevitable effect of reducing scores which, in previous years, had been based on full handicaps.

On this occasion, the Winner, was last year’s organiser, Brian Clayton with 29 points from a full handicap of 25, followed by Keith Smith, as Runner-up, with 27 points from a 20 full handicap. David Hibberdine was third with 22 points from a full handicap of 19. The assembly also recognised Doreen Sutcliffe as the sole lady contestant as the winner of the ladies section!

Since the entry level on this occasion was so disappointing, the Federation Committee will be asked to consider at its meeting in January whether it might be possible to put in place new arrangements so as to encourage pensioners who play golf in different areas of the country to organise and enter for this event. Up until now, the event has been organised in the North West by members of the AXA Provincial Pensioners’ Association.

One idea would be for other members of Federation to consider organising this event on a rotational basis in different areas so as to draw in other pensioner golfers who have so far not found it convenient to play?

Philip Hoyle