Beryl Blizard Drives In, November 2011

All the ladies turned out in their blue club colours to cheer on Beryl Blizard as she drove in as the new Lady Captain. In keeping with Beryl's love of the sea Judith kitted everyone out as naval ratings, and provided Beryl with an Admiral's hat as she was piped onto the tee. We all wish Beryl good luck for her year as Captain.

Holiday to Botley Park

Having planned this golf break 16 months ago, the forecast did not look good as the weekend arrived, we were to expect torrential rain and thunder on Sunday, the tail end of a hurricane on Monday and only light rain on Tuesday. Correspondingly I packed all wet weather gear and a selection of quizzes and games to keep everyone entertained if all golf was off.

However, by Sunday morning the rain was called off, the hurricane veered to the North, and all we had to suffer were some stronger than usual gusts of wind and a couple of brief but heavy downpours on the Tuesday. Still teeing off a bit later than intended we held our Sunday Texas Scramble over 9 holes, which gave everyone time to settle into their rooms and get changed for the evening meal.

After everyone enjoyed some drinks in Ann's and my room we had a very tasty meal in the cavernous Fair Oak suite, together with another party of ladies from Wrexham. We each made presentations, and Christine, Carol A, Ann B and Shirley were triumphant in the Texas Scramble, and received rose shaped bath buds and a box of celebrations.

On Monday we played a stableford aggregate and had a chance to play the whole course. It was interesting and not too hilly, with a couple of lakes to cope with, but an enjoyable round of golf although the scores weren't very high. We all came in wind blown, to enjoy a brief rest, a party in Joan and Heather's room, complete with grotesque mushroom mascot created by Betty, and then a meal in the more pleasant surroundings of the Hawthorne Room. We had a very good meal, with several choices of menus, and I presented the prizes to Teresa and Margaret, who just beat Molly and me on a count back, with 48 points.

On the third day the golf got more serious, with the competition for the individual stableford prize. Unfortunately, the downpour and a couple of misbehaving buggies, meant that 6 ladies abandoned their game half way and couldn't compete for the main prize. After we'd all dried off, and ordered sandwiches I presented the prizes, and embarrassingly found that my 30 points was enough to win first prize, and with 25 points on Monday I also captured the Alston Trophy, Beryl kindly presented it to me, and I thanked myself and of course everyone else for a great holiday. Special mention to Carol A and to Margaret and Teresa for some very good golf.

We found the Botley Park hotel very comfortable and accomodating, the staff were helpful and the meals very good. We enjoyed the course and would love to play it again. Our coach drivers from Epson Coaches arrived comfortably early on both occasions, and gave us very good journeys to and from Southampton.

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday as much as I did

Charity Day 31 July 2011

We held another successful Charity Day, with a fun game of golf in the morning, and then a lovely lunch in Rose's pretty garden, together with stalls and games. We Walzted round the golf course, taking 1,2,3 scores for every three holes. Having chosen this game, I, embarrassingly, went and won it, but it was all down to my partners Ann and Beryl of course. We sold mulligans, and charged 5p for every bunker shot, then everyone generously contributed to the bric-a-brac, cake and vegetable stalls, and we raised over £300 for Ovarian Cancer Action. Many thanks as usual to Rose and her sister Eileen for all the work they put into the lunch.

Druce Trophy 7th July 2011

Well done to our team at the Druce Trophy at Chobham Golf Club! On a very wet morning Laine and Viv put up with torrential downpours to bring in a promising morning score of 98, and in the drier conditions of the afternoon Judith and Elaine improved the score by 14 shots putting Coulsdon Court in 6th postition ahead of most of the other clubs in Surrey and only 2 1/2 shots behind the winners, Wentworth and Wimbledon Park. A fabulous effort and much praise to our girls.

Captain's Day 15th June 2011

The theme for my Captain's Day was weather, and 32 ladies played round in pleasant mild conditions just missing the misty rain that arrived in the afternoon. Viv had designed some pretty format cards that included the score card, with flowers and animals and a bolt of lightening. Deidre had followed the weather theme with lovely menus with photos of snow, sunshine, clouds etc on them. And my prizes were all to do with the weather, art umbrellas for the first three - Elaine, Carol A and Judith, garden thermometers, sun visors, sun tan lotion and mini fans. Beryl and Deidre had produced a great spread for the Oasis bar on the 10th, and Eileen and Mary helped serve everyone as they came round.

When everyone had finished their round, we tidied ourselves up, and had a delicious meal with a choice of menus. The hotel did us proud and we were pleased to welcome some old friends who had not been able to play golf, Mary and Eileen, Doreen, Jenny, Jean and Helen.

The club very kindly presented my with a beautiful standard rose and a card signed by everyone

Outing to Kent and Surrey

Our club outing this year was to the Kent and Surrey Course at Edenbridge, a very beautiful course with lots of wildlife around, including a very noisy cuckoo. A challenging course with water on most holes, but Molly Britton came out top with 34 stableford points. The club made us very welcome and provided a delicious meal for a very reasonable price. And everyone enjoyed their day out.

Hector Fudge Trophy

The Hector Fudge Trophy brings together all four Coulsdon Court clubs for a team competition. Instigated to celebrate Hector's 50th anniversary with Coulsdon Court, it has now been going for 14 years, and Hector's still here! Four teams of four players compete for the trophy and this year the Veterans team wholeheartedly beat off the opposition with an aggregate of 140 points. Following the game everyone enjoyed a meal in the hotel with guest of honour Hector Fudge.

Congratulations to Laine for her Hole In One on the 3rd hole during the knockout on May 4th

Spring Meeting 2011

We had glorious sunny weather for our Spring meeting. 29 Ladies went out for the morning round and most headed back on the course for the afternoon greensomes.

Laine won the Scratch prize with a round of 88. For the first time we divided the field into three divisions, Silver, bronze 1 and bronze 2. Judith won the silver division first prize, a big potted sinetti (cineraria), Teresa took away her sinetti for bronze 1 and Shirley won bronze 2. All the prizewinners won plants or planted bowls

We enjoyed a good meal provided by the hotel with three choices of menus, and all enjoyed a thoroughly good day

Charity Barn Dance 26th March 2011

We all had great fun at the Charity Barn Dance held at the Coulsdon Manor on Saturday 26th March.

David Jex put us through our paces, and Pilgrim's Way provided the music and everyone who could got up and danced.

To watch our videos on Youtube, click here for Corrie's one, and here for Dot's.

The hotel provided a splendid meal of chicken and chips and apple pie.

We held a grand raffle to raise money for the Captain's Charity, Ovarian Cancer Action. Prizes were generously donated by local businesses and members of the club and we raised £450 for the charity from the raffle and an auction for a flight in a glider with Surrey Downs Gliding Club.

Holly and Ivy Christmas Game

Amazingly we found a window in the snowy weather to play our Christmas 13 holes on 15th December. Thirteen hardy members put on their fancy dress and hit into the fog, to complete their rounds. We were refreshed by Santa's helpers, disguised as Ann J and Mary, bearing mince pies and mulled wine to warm us up on the 6th, and amused by Betty, Teresa and Sheila B dressed as three holy sisters. Beryl narrowly beat Betty and Sheila B to the Holly and Ivy trophy since they all came in with 24 points and the result was decided on a countback.

After the game we all put on our finery and enjoyed a delicious Christmas meal in the hotel, though due to a fault in the heating we had to hide our finery under our coats to keep warm. Apart from that a good time was had by all and the chef excelled himself with the menu again. We racked our brains to find answers to the advertising slogan quiz and raised over £200 in the raffle for the Captain's charity.

New Captain Corrie Hibberd Drives-in

With the help of all the members ringing bells, Corrie drove-in as new Captain for 2010/11 with a respectable shot, which landed within a foot of Rose Hardy's marker.

Fortified by coffee and Baileys, sausage rolls and mince pies, ably served by Doug, Melvyn and Tom and Corrie's son Nick, the members braved the mud and had a dry round of golf, which was won by Angela Stanley with a score of 35 points. Jan Suter came second and Sheila Marshall third.

Prizewinners received wooden bowls and platters with "ethnic" designed serving spoons and knives.

Ed Stewart accepts a cheque on behalf of PHAB

During her year as captain, Annmarie has run many fund raising events at the club to raise money for her chosen charity, PHAB - Physically Handicapped, Able Bodied.

On Wednesday 3rd November Annmarie was proud to present a cheque for the impressive sum of £1710 to the Vice President of the charity, Ed Stewart.

Congratulations to Philippa Standish for her Hole in one on the temporary green on the the 16th hole in the Texas Scramble in October!

Holiday to Thorpeness

Twenty-six of us spent a thoroughly enjoyable three days, staying at the Thorpeness Golf Club from 12th to 14th September.

We played a texas scramble on the first day to get to know the course, and Anne Clark, Heather, Betty and Deidre triumphed with a very respectable nett 54.

After a delicious meal and a good night's sleep we tackled the course again in a Stableford Aggregate competition. The three woman team of Annmarie, Betty and Elaine tamed the course with 66 combined points.

More good food, a smallish amount of wine, (believe that if you like) and another night's sleep and we were out again defying the drizzle, which in the end disappeared, and it was every woman for herself in an individual stableford. Judith was on top form and won with 39 points, which also helped her claim the Alston Trophy for the best score on two days.

Then it was back in the coach and back to Coulsdon through torrential rain, and a rather misty windscreen.

A very enjoyable holiday was had by all, and huge thanks to Annmarie for all the effort she put in to making the holiday such a success.

Charity Day 4 Aug 10

Annmarie had devised a fun day for all to raise money for PHAB, her charity.

Teams of 4 played together, recording the best 1 score for the first 6 holes, 2 scores for the next 6 and 3 scores for the last 6.

We almost got round before the rain appeared, and when that shower was soon over we repaired to Rose's garden, for sandwiches, scones and Pimm's, along with a bring and buy stall, cake stall and fund raising games.

After a sunny spell the thunderstorm ultimately arrived and we poured into Rose's house to finish off a most enjoyable day. Linda, Heather, Viv and Corrie won the golf with a most respectable 93 points, helped along by Linda's eagle 2 on the 7th hole, for which she was presented with a glass eagle donated by Judith.

Many thanks to Annmarie, and Rose and all their helpers for putting on such an enjoyable day, and raising money for PHAB.

Invitation Day 2010

The sun shone on our invitation day this year and we welcomed 22 guests to our course for a very successful day. After several sunny weeks the ground was hard and the balls running and some very impressive scores were carded.

Linda Oram and her guest Erica Pickard from Purley Downs picked up first prize with a most impressive 78 aggregate points. Carol Heath and her sister Mary Bransom from Croham Hurst were second with 74 points, and Heather Lancaster and Peggy Wilson from Beltchingley came third with 70 points. Heather also won the 50th Anniversary Quaich awarded to the home player with the most points on Invitation Day.

The prize table was a treasure trove of candles, clocks, glasses, cruet sets and other items which brought a gleam to the occasion. Luckily there were enough prizes for the 16 birdies which were holed on the day.

Congratulations to Evelyn Brodie for her hole in one on the 6th hole during the May medal competition!