Hello and welcome to this week's newsletter,

Last Sunday saw the December Cup and junior AGM played in tricky conditions. The competition was won by Tim Leyshon with 38 points, the only score under handicap on the day with Callum Brookes finishing runner up with 36 points. Tim winning meant the trophy stays on the Leyshon's mantle piece as his brother Oliver won it last year.

The 9 hole competition was won by Leo Bonser who will have his handicap chopped again after coming in 3 under.

Lemons Christmas Stableford

Yesterday 16 Lemons and myself braved the elements and played their annual Christmas stableford. The challenge this year was also to beat me which I'm glad to say nobody did. I managed to scramble 34 points which, considering I couldn't feel my hands for the front 9, I was quite pleased with and I managed to pip my playing partners Tony and Malcom. I would like to thank them for the invite, the lunch, Steve's jokes and also for allowing me to work with them throughout the year in the master classes. Best of luck for next year.

Seniors Texas Scramble

Last Friday, 5 December, the senior's section at Saffron Walden Golf Club started the Season's Festivities in style. 60 players braved a fine but cold day to play a Texas Scramble, a team event of four players per team enjoyed in a competitive spirit but very much for the fun of it with suitable refreshments at the half way house.

The winners were Bill Hall, John Sherry, Peter Still and Nick Rouse. Everyone then had a splendid Christmas dinner in the club house supplied by the club's excellent catering staff. The day's proceedings were concluded with John Stewart, Senior Captain presenting a cheque for £2650 to Karen Shefford from Accuro, a local charity being supported this year by the senior's section.

At the AGM I put forward the proposal of the new Academy structure. The aim is to get more children playing on the course. Currently we have a healthy junior section, but we would like to regularly get more than 25 at a time in competitions, and those who are eligible to play in Mens competitions as well. We are going to do more work with local schools to get the kids down here and have more structure to the weekend classes following the passport to golf programme and smart pro system for the older children.

We are also going to start our own girls section within the academy. On Saturdays the girls make up about 25% of our pupils, the task now is to get them becoming members and playing out on the course. We have had great success at county level this season and have even gone on to represent the county at national levels, but we don't want to rest on our laurels and we want to push the club further forward over the next few years.

If you would like any more information on this then please call me on 01799 527728, or click here to get in touch.