Senior Captain's Drive-in and Jack Wisbey (Stableford) Cup 2024
29th January 2024
Captain Mike's Big Day
A good crowd turned out for Capt Mike’s drive-in. The coffee to warm us up before we went out was welcome.
Even more impressive though was the sight of the WP staff busy redecorating the clubhouse just for his arrival. We can obviously expect Mike’s influence and power to go a long way this year! Although it was also true that the staff dress standards were very casual indeed - so we can also expect a very relaxed dress year.
Even more impressive though was the sight of the WP staff busy redecorating the clubhouse just for his arrival. We can obviously expect Mike’s influence and power to go a long way this year! Although it was also true that the staff dress standards were very casual indeed - so we can also expect a very relaxed dress year.
Capt Mike's playing partners
The Captain’s Fourball ( Capt Mike, Vice Capt Ken, ‘its all over’ Ex Capt Kev and current Club Capt Steve) gathered for his big show of the year. Kev drew his club of choice for his drive-in and to determine the winner(s) of the drive-in board distance.
The big drive-in moment: personal fortunes to be decided by Captain Mike's pitching wedge
Its been said that Mike is ‘loaded’ so being handed a ‘wedge’ by Kev came as no surprise! But it has to be admitted that he did rather well with it - see the outcome later.
What can you say? Not bad for an old guy - A bit of a collapse at the end of the swing but .........it seems to be working.
Seniors Captain's Lunch and The Jack Wisbey Cup
It was a comfortable day for golf, although having come back after a 10 days or so warm break elsewhere I was surprised by just how wet it was still. The speed of play was good (for most), with the Capt’s group claiming to have got round in just over 3.45 hours.
Not all could stay for lunch, but some came to lunch who hadn’t played, so it evened itself out. A good meal of lasagne, chips (which actually arrived this year) and a bowl of green salad (some thought it was a table decoration!), followed by an apple crumble, was enjoyed.
As you can see the meal was good enough to keep everyone awake and smiling!
Not all could stay for lunch, but some came to lunch who hadn’t played, so it evened itself out. A good meal of lasagne, chips (which actually arrived this year) and a bowl of green salad (some thought it was a table decoration!), followed by an apple crumble, was enjoyed.
As you can see the meal was good enough to keep everyone awake and smiling!
Captain's Welcome
Then came the Captain’s welcome and the announcement of prizes for the day.
Capt Mike welcomed and thanked all for attending and making the day memorable. He went on to explain how he had come to the decision to join WP, after having previously been a founder member at South Essex GC (Now The Heron). Lock down had made him think about moving clubs and he tried out a number in the area before deciding on WP as his next golfing home. Mike’s rationale was along the lines that he had somehow got the impression that WP was nice place and very friendly. Very lovely thing to say.
(Mind you the rumour is that he asked every club if there was any chance he would get to be Captain and they all said ‘well, maybe at some point’, whereas WP Seniors said ‘yes absolutely - how about next year!’ And apparently the other strong factor was that we had the best support structure for failing old codgers! All only rumours of course! ).
Mike then did the customary joke. Not sure I can comment on that without risking a prosecution so I’ll leave that alone!!
Capt Mike welcomed and thanked all for attending and making the day memorable. He went on to explain how he had come to the decision to join WP, after having previously been a founder member at South Essex GC (Now The Heron). Lock down had made him think about moving clubs and he tried out a number in the area before deciding on WP as his next golfing home. Mike’s rationale was along the lines that he had somehow got the impression that WP was nice place and very friendly. Very lovely thing to say.
(Mind you the rumour is that he asked every club if there was any chance he would get to be Captain and they all said ‘well, maybe at some point’, whereas WP Seniors said ‘yes absolutely - how about next year!’ And apparently the other strong factor was that we had the best support structure for failing old codgers! All only rumours of course! ).
Mike then did the customary joke. Not sure I can comment on that without risking a prosecution so I’ll leave that alone!!
Drive in Charity Board Results and Auction of Signed West Ham Shirt
As mentioned above Kevin as ex-Capt was asked to do the draw for the Drive-In club, and he kindly picked a Pitching Wedge for Capt Mike. Mike hit it heroically to just 19yds short of the ditch (no one knows why the measurement was "to the ditch" rather than "from the tee"!). Anyway, the Drive-In charity board raised a healthy £420, of which £210 went to the Captain's Charity (Prostate Cancer UK), and £105 each to the lucky winners Anne Peppercorn and Ivan North.
To boost the charity pot John Carter had kindly donated a West Ham shirt signed by the current team, nicely presented in a box with signed authentication, to be auctioned off. Capt Vice had the task of conducting the auction. It can't in all honesty be said that the room was awash with frenzied interest and activity - although a highly desirable item for anyone with an interest in London's best supporter team most guys know that their wives would never countenance such an item being displayed in any space other a man cave. But a good battle did get going between current Bandit Richard F (a MU fan?) and Sharpie (A proper WHU fan). After much tooing and froing Richard came out the victor - unlike the recent WHUvMU game of course). I did wonder at this point why RF had been so keen, as I happen to know that RFs partner is a WHU fan, but I could not imagine that she would allow the shirt to be displayed in their lovely house! But it turned out that he has a nephew who is a very keen WH fan! Anyway I think it raised another £100 or so for the charity. Good job John and well played gentlemen.
To boost the charity pot John Carter had kindly donated a West Ham shirt signed by the current team, nicely presented in a box with signed authentication, to be auctioned off. Capt Vice had the task of conducting the auction. It can't in all honesty be said that the room was awash with frenzied interest and activity - although a highly desirable item for anyone with an interest in London's best supporter team most guys know that their wives would never countenance such an item being displayed in any space other a man cave. But a good battle did get going between current Bandit Richard F (a MU fan?) and Sharpie (A proper WHU fan). After much tooing and froing Richard came out the victor - unlike the recent WHUvMU game of course). I did wonder at this point why RF had been so keen, as I happen to know that RFs partner is a WHU fan, but I could not imagine that she would allow the shirt to be displayed in their lovely house! But it turned out that he has a nephew who is a very keen WH fan! Anyway I think it raised another £100 or so for the charity. Good job John and well played gentlemen.
Competition Results
Next came the outcome of the JW Cup Competition played that morning. Ray and freshman John P had spent all the time up to lunch sorting the cards and results (thank you guys) and Ray announced the winners with Mike presenting.
As you know the JW Cup is won by the highest overall Stapleford score, but prizes are also awarded on the day for the winners and runners up within two HC groups.
For today’s game it was Cat 1 - up to 25 HC and Cat 2 - HC of 26 and above. (Its interesting to note that last year the HC division was 22/23 - how things have moved up!).
Just into form man, Ash, took the main prize with an excellent 43 points playing off 17 HC (and also the Cat 1 1st prize). Well done Ash.
2nd in Cat 1 was that other very much in form man Capt Mike with 42 points playing off 21. It really is beginning to look as if 2024 may see a repeat of 2023 with the ‘Capt' somehow managing to play good golf whilst also managing all the extra duties and responsibilities of office. Is that really allowed?
In Cat 2 there were two players on 39, with Vice Capt Ken taking the 1st prize on a BB9, (HC 27) pushing Don into 2nd place, (HC 29). Interesting contrast was that last year Kev gave Ken the wooden spoon for the lowest score of 18 points - but he was disqualified anyway as he didn’t enter his card!
Nearest the pins were:
8th Gordon
18th John C
Nearest in 2 on the 11th was Dave H (actually in for 2).
The main winners are shown below along with the full results list.
As you know the JW Cup is won by the highest overall Stapleford score, but prizes are also awarded on the day for the winners and runners up within two HC groups.
For today’s game it was Cat 1 - up to 25 HC and Cat 2 - HC of 26 and above. (Its interesting to note that last year the HC division was 22/23 - how things have moved up!).
Just into form man, Ash, took the main prize with an excellent 43 points playing off 17 HC (and also the Cat 1 1st prize). Well done Ash.
2nd in Cat 1 was that other very much in form man Capt Mike with 42 points playing off 21. It really is beginning to look as if 2024 may see a repeat of 2023 with the ‘Capt' somehow managing to play good golf whilst also managing all the extra duties and responsibilities of office. Is that really allowed?
In Cat 2 there were two players on 39, with Vice Capt Ken taking the 1st prize on a BB9, (HC 27) pushing Don into 2nd place, (HC 29). Interesting contrast was that last year Kev gave Ken the wooden spoon for the lowest score of 18 points - but he was disqualified anyway as he didn’t enter his card!
Nearest the pins were:
8th Gordon
18th John C
Nearest in 2 on the 11th was Dave H (actually in for 2).
The main winners are shown below along with the full results list.
A good day for golf and no hitches to the plans or arrangements on the day - so all off to a good start for Capt Mike's year. Kev has timetabled in some 'pro' sessions on speech writing and delivery to boost Mike's confidence and Club Capt Steve has penned in some golf dates to help Mike better understand the role of a Capt in the results table. With those adjustments we seem to be heading for a very good year!!
Seriously, well done Mike - we are all looking forward to a good year.
Seriously, well done Mike - we are all looking forward to a good year.