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Lady Captains' Speeches
Fairway Tales and Rough Lies - book
Tee Parties - the Lady Captain's handbook
Running a Golf Club Ladies' Section

Lady Captains of Tewkesbury Park Golf Club

January 2008
The Lady Captain for 2008 is Sue Lockwood.

Sue says:
l live in a small village near Inkberrow, Worcestershire and travel 24 miles to play golf at Tewkesbury Park where l have been a member for 8 years. l still work part time as a District Nurse and Nurse Advisor for Older People in Pershore and Bredon, so juggling work and golf is sometimes quite stressful - but l love it! My chosen charities for this year reflect my work involvement, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Alzheimers Society.

l feel very honoured to be Lady Captain for 2008 at such a warm, friendly and relaxed club in such beautiful surroundings. Although we are only a small section, we have some very talented and committed ladies who are always helpful and encouraging to others.

January 2007
The Lady Captain for 2007 is Jenny Williams.

Jenny says:
I joined the golf section 4 years ago and almost immediately was asked if I would like to join the committee and to be treasurer - a position which I thoroughly enjoyed.
At home I've got 2 sons - the eldest in his 1st year at Exeter University studying physics; the youngest is at Bournside school in his GCSE year. As a consequence, Mr Lady Captain can't even contemplate retirement - but then he's probably the reason I began playing golf - as they say, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!"

My hopes for the section during my year as Captain would be for:
A continuation of its reputation as a friendly club - supported by varied social activities and well run competitions.
A few more new members - attracted by both the course and the club's social side.
The eradication of slow play - the bane of all golfers!
Continued investment in the course by the hotel.
Recognition for the excellent green keeping staff, and support for the Club Pro and his team.
A successful fund-raising year for my chosen charity - Leukaemia Research.
An enjoyable year's golf for all members and visitors to Tewkesbury Park.

January 2006
The Lady Captain for 2006 is Penny Ashbridge.

January 2005
Maria Burton is the Lady Captain of Tewkesbury Park Golf Club for 2005. Maria talks about her Lady Captain's Drive In which was the first one to be held at the Club for the ladies section.

"My drive-in went well. We sold tickets at £1 each for people to place in the ground with a tee peg where they thought my ball would land. Some floated them on the pond and some put one as far away as the tennis court!! Although I didn't hit the green (hooked it left to avoid spectators on the right) it was still a tidy shot, as I am not used to an audience.

We raised £39 for the Tsunami Fund and after the shot-gun start competition, we came in for bacon butties and bucks fizz. As this was an historical break-through for Tewkesbury Park it went well. Certain things might need tweaking next year, such as having the drive-in after the competition, enabling more people to attend. Nine o'clock in the morning is a bit early to go and watch some female hit one shot!"

We hope Maria enjoys her captaincy and has a good year.

January 2004
Karen Laughlin is the 2004 Lady Captain of Tewkesbury Park Golf club. Karen became a keen golfer around 6 years ago when it became apparent that if she wanted to see anything of her husband she needed to take up the sport as well. She used to be an avid squash player and runner but with advancing years has now taken up yoga, occasionally visits the gym and even less occasionally goes skiing.

Karen is a Doctor of Philosophy and can tell you all about ash deposition in fluidised bed combustion!! She runs her own energy and environmental consultancy company and manages to fit the golf in around working for clients all over Europe.

Karen has been told by previous captains that her golf will suffer during 'her year'. She hopes to prove them wrong and to reduce her handicap by 2 shots (15) by the end of 2004. I'll let you know if she manages it.

November 2002 - 2003
Sara Foster is the Lady Captain for Tewkesbury Park and will remain in her post until February 2004. Sara has been a leisure member of the Club for 24 years and is an active participant in Squash. For the past 5 of those years Sara has been a golf member.

Sara found the time to train to become a qualified chiropodist. Since then she set up her own business and now works from home in Stoke Orchard, near Tewkesbury and has a large number of satisfied customers. Its good to know that Sara is on hand to sooth aching feet caused by a long round of golf!

November 2001 - 2002
The Lady Captain for the year's term of office (November 2001 - October 2002), is Glo Slatter. Glo plays off a handicap of 12 and has been a member of Tewkesbury Park Golf Club for 13 years. She has captained the Ladies Squash 'A' team, which are in the Premier Division of Gloucestershire, for 20 years.

Glo is a farmer's wife and lives in a beautiful old farmhouse near Tewkesbury overlooking the valley through which the Severn and Avon rivers run. She runs a Bed and Breakfast and is a great cook for anyone wishing to have a scrumptious evening meal cooked on the Aga in her large kitchen. Tewkesbury is an old market town with its own Abbey and lovely "black and white" houses dotted along the main street. There are many golf courses within a 10 mile radius of the farmhouse. Please email Glo for further details about Bed and Breakfast.

Running a Golf Club Ladies' Section
This booklet is designed to assist women who are about to get involved in the running of a Ladies’ Section, usually for the first time. This may be because they are concerned with setting up a Ladies’ Section as part of a new golf club or because they have simply been elected to the Ladies’ Committee at an established club CONTENTS The booklet consists of over 60 pages covering some 15 different sections, each dealing with a different aspect of Ladies’ Section administration. After an Introduction, we deal with subjects such as:-
Organisation of Ladies’ Golf nationally Rules and Officials Conduct of Meetings Scratch Scores and Handicaps Fixture Lists and Competitions Financial County Organisation Running an Open Competition.
A sample of the appendices covering the following topics: Golf Club Comittee Responsibilities Ladies' Section Rules A Lady Captain's Duties A Ladies' Secretary's Duties A comprehensive manual ideal for the prospective Captain or Committee Member. For more details about how to buy a copy (only £13.50 each including p&p) click here
Lady Captain Speeches
You may have been asked the question "Would you like to be my Vice Captain?" and before you know it you have the daunting task of making your incoming Lady Captain speech. If this thought unnerves you, perhaps the following may be of help to you. It was kindly sent in by an incoming Lady Captain and gives some excellent pointers for a speech.

First of all I would like to respond to the kind words of encouragement that Linda has given me for the coming year by expressing my appreciation of the dedication and hard work she has put in during 2006. I have been fortunate indeed to serve as Vice Captain to Linda who is to be congratulated on the time, effort and enthusiasm she has devoted to her Captaincy. The feeling of those in the Ladies Section is that, despite working, she has maintained a high profile at all events involving the ladies. We all know of her effort with the Grand Draw that has raised generous funds for her charity. As a lasting reminder of her year I would like to present Linda with a replica Captain's badge. Thank you for everything you have achieved this year Linda. This feels a little like my first day at Secondary School not, because of the nerves, but the fact that my blazer was bought for me to grow into!! I hope I'm not going to grow any more. Despite this I am looking forward in the coming year to working together with the Men's Captain, the Vice Captains and in further responding to the requirements of the members but, of course, especially the ladies. My primary aim is to encourage lots of them to participate in playing in Friendly Matches, entering some of our Major Honours Board competitions in addition to regular Medals and Stablefords. I think that the role of the lady Captain is always to encourage ladies to play the game and make friends with the wide range of golfers within their club. I would like to welcome Joan as my Vice Captain who I know will be a great support to me. A secondary role is to raise funds for a chosen charity. Mine will be ………….. Our major event will be the holding of the Club's Ladies Coffee and Golf Day in May. Our club exudes a strong spirit of friendship and support which I appreciate and my undertaking the Captaincy is to offer something in return for all I have experienced. We have all joined the club because of our love of golf and I am keen about playing a role in ensuring that all members enjoy to the full our superb golf course and clubhouse. I will attempt to carry out the duties which my role affords with competency and enthusiasm and I look forward to your support in making 2007 a successful year for the club and all its members.
Another contribution from a past Lady Captain which I think succinctly says it all
................. being informative, keeping up to date with the world of Ladies golf and most of all enjoy the position and look forward to your "post Captain year" when your handicap comes down and you win competitions!!
Christine – Captain. Yes, that’s correct Club Captain not ladies captain!!
Christine Lannaghan is a member of Allt-ygraen Golf Club located near Swansea, Wales and has been an active member of her club organising trips and supporting the club in every way she can. Christine works full time as a school teacher enabling her to play more golf in the summer months. The membership of the club is approximately 160 – 170 of which there are a small number of ladies who are members. Both the men and the ladies play in the same competitions, Stablefords, Medals etc., which take place on a Saturday. Before each competition commences there is a draw for partners – this is pretty unique in itself! Christine was first approached over 12 months ago – by the men, if she would consider being the Club Captain and after investigation to find out whether this was indeed legal, Christine was asked formally to be their Captain. The captaincy will pass to Christine on 13 January 2006. All is not sweetness and roses, however. There is a Stones League in which Clubs from the Swansea and Neath areas take part. Only players with a handicap of 18 plus can be in the team. It does not stipulate anywhere in the rules that team players have to be male. Yes, you guessed it, Christine has applied to be a team member. Being only a small ladies section this is an opportunity to play in matches at other clubs. Although the majority of the members including the men, welcomed the ladies to take part, a small minority are against it and the argument continues. My money is on Christine! Good luck to Christine in her year of Club Captain and I am sure it will be a success.

Fairway Tales and Rough Lies - by Duncan Smith
"Fairway Tales and Rough Lies" is a book written by Duncan Smith. It is a satirical, non-too reverent expose of life in a typical golf club and the chapter about The Lady Captain is excellent. Here is an extract from the book - the remarks are directed at the club secretary. "How dare you refuse to close the tee 40 minutes before the ladies' club championship starts; what right do you have to tell me it's none of my business when people can or can't play..........I'm the Lady Captain". Another extract "........the complete absence from the wardrobe of their long-suffering soul mate of any clean and immaculately ironed shirts, together with a totally depleted fridge......." If you would like a copy of this book (price £6.99) please click here for details. It would make a great present for a Lady Captain or for any male and female golfers!
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Tee Parties - The Lady Captain's Handbook
"Tee Parties" gives a clear, concise guide to running a club event. Peg Nikoden, the author, guides you effortlessly step by step through the entire process and has written the only how-to book of its kind. This book should be in the library of every golf pro-shop, country club manager's office and ladies' locker rooms. The book costs $24.95 plus $16 postage from America (total cost approx £24). For more details email pnjnikoden@comcast.net). This would make a great present for an incoming Captain!!