Over 150 ladies packed in to the Annual General Meeting of the County at Stonehouse Court on Monday 4th December.
There were achievements to celebrate, thanks to be given and farewells made.
The President, Carole Stratford, made a presentation to outgoing Secretary, Debbie Casling. Debbie has been a wonderful asset to the County over the last 5 years, always cheerful, professional and efficient and we were grateful to her for staying on whilst we found a replacement. No surprise then that this has been a difficult task! The Secretary's role will be divided into 3 parts, Competition Secretary for the North, Competition Secretary for the South and an Administrator. Carole explained that we are slowly getting people in to position, but as we have been unable to find someone to do the Administrator's role voluntarily, we will have to pay someone to fill this position.
The audience listened intently to Captain Andra Knight's report of the success of the First Team winning Inter County Match Week at Wrag Barn and then coming so close to "doing the double" at County Finals at Felixstowe Ferry. Andra and retiring Coach Kirsty Taylor both spoke very warmly about our young players. Kirsty would be retiring today after 7 very happy years with the County Team, The President made a presentation to Kirsty, wishing her well for the future. Andra hoped that some of us might take a trip to Cornwall in July to support the team playing at St.Enodoc.
Our County Junior Organiser Janice Saunders had lots of positive news to give us, outlining a very full Junior Programme and the team's fabulous win at the South West Girls Match Week at Exeter.
It will come as no surprise that all this activity and travelling continues to make a big hole in our reserves and there were suggestions from the audience as to how more income could be generated; using the Tesco counters scheme or dedicating a competition at your Club to the County.
There was important news from our Handicap Advisor Sue Gibson on the changes to Handicap limits for Men and Women on 1st January 2018. Sue also touched on the Rules Modernisation currently underway, hopefully to be implemented in 2019.
Carole Stratford handed over her blazer and President's badge to Sue Rawles. Sue made a small presentation to Carole, thanking her for being "a lovely President", for all her hard work with the Teams, at Competitions and Meetings. We hoped that her time in office was also full of smiles, laughter and friendship.
Coming from the world of Handicapping, staked trees, worm casts and rabbit droppings, Sue said how she was honoured to be President of this wonderful County.
After the Presentation of Trophies, Carole wished to congratulate Jenny Clink on her forthcoming appointment as President Elect of England Golf in 2018.
We all know that golf is good don't we..... but quote of the day came from Debbie Casling speaking of her work with a stroke patient who said that "golf was better than all his physio sessions"!
Sue Rawles
5th December