As newly elected Captain of Helsby Golf Club for the season 2022/23 I would like to welcome all new members to the club and thank loyal members renewing their membership again for their support this year. I was delighted to be elected to serve for a year as Captain and along with the other newly elected officers will do my best to represent the club as all my predecessors have done. I have been inundated with cards and goodwill messages and thank everyone for their support at the beginning of the golfing year.

Over the past few years the club has rightly focused on prioritising work on the golf course itself. This is paying dividends with returning visitors and societies wanting to play on our excellent parkland course and greens. We also have a very full membership in all sections for this coming season. This is of course testimony to our Board of Directors ; Secretary and office staff ; previous outgoing officers who remained in post for two years to steer the club through a pandemic together with the wonderful efforts of our artisans ; green staff and other employees on the hospitality and catering side who work so hard for the club all year round.

The Club have a new young and enthusiastic golf professional in Josh Hall who has recently taken over from John O’Neill and we wish him well this year. I am sure the members and club will do everything to help Josh make a success of his new role and improve the practice facilities for golf tuition wherever possible.

Growing up, the golf season always seemed to start in early April when the Masters at Augusta hosts the first major in America , however this year March produced some lovely spring sunshine for the Captains drive in which heralded the start of the golf season at Helsby Golf Club. It is right that at the drive in the Captain toasts the members and club itself and wishes all members whether playing or social members a very healthy , happy and successful year for 2022/23. I echo these comments here and for any visitors thinking of playing a round at Helsby or joining the club would urge you to come and see for yourselves what a great course we have and what a friendly club we are.

My charity for the year is the Golf Foundation who have a stated aim of taking golf into schools so children who would not otherwise be able to afford or get access to the game can be encouraged to try it out. I hope you you will agree that participation in this age group is vital and will lend support to this worthy cause.

I extend my best wishes to all.

Martin Edmunds
Captain 2022/23

Little did I realise 2 years ago that I was about to be asked to take on the role of Lady Captain Elect of Helsby Golf and even less did I realise that due to Covid I would probably be the longest serving Lady Captain Elect in the history of our Golf Club. Never had it been on my agenda to be your Lady Captain and I am privileged and proud to have the opportunity.

I have attended many AGMs in the past but not often one with as many as 82 members present. It was good to see so many members interested in the wellbeing of their golf club and to see the new captains installed into office. It was quite overwhelming to receive so many cards and wishes of good luck. Thank you to all concerned.

The Drive-in followed two days later on Saturday 26th March. We were fortunate in that the weather could hardly have been better for the occasion. The golf course had benefited from a period of dry weather beforehand and it played really well for the Drive-in competition. The Drive-in was a quite unforgettable experience. So many people, wherever I turned there was a familiar face. All sorts of thoughts flash across the mind as you prepare to hit the ball it’s not possible to have an air shot with the driver is it
A couple of practice swings for the camera then the big moment. Somehow all was well, the ball was on its way down the fairway and the gathered audience let out an enormous cheer. All much to the relief of your new Lady Captain! The Captain, Martin Edmunds and Junior Captain, Josh Carter were similarly cheered on by the audience.

My partner for the Drive in Greensome Competition was Liz Fudge, the 2019 Lady Captain. The usual partner would have been the Immediate Past Lady Captain, Chris Marsden. However, as many of you know Chris recently sustained a nasty skiing injury which makes golf impossible for a while. We all wish Chris a speedy recovery.

The same evening 75 members and friends enjoyed the Drive-in Dinner and Dance. A lovely meal was served up by Dave Brinkley and his staff. Thanks must go to everyone that contributed to the success of a very memorable weekend. Danny Bennett and the Greens team for preparation of the golf course, Match and Handicap for organising the golf, the House Committee for arranging the evening event and by no means least of all the staff inside the clubhouse.

On 30th March we held the annual ladies AGM and Coffee evening. This annual event is much looked forward to by the ladies in that playing partners for the forthcoming competitions can be arranged and the Captain and President arrive later in the evening to run the traditional putting competition! Numbers were a little down on usual due concerns over Covid which is understandable but an enjoyable evening was had by all.

Moving on to charities, the money raised at the Drive-in for guessing the length of the drives will be split between the Captain’s and Lady Captain’s charities. My charity for this year is North West Cancer Research incorporating Clatterbridge Hospital. I have been involved in fundraising for this charity for many years. The charity provides funds that help in the research into cancers that affect so many families living near here.

Finally, my main objective is to promote a happy and successful golfing year for all our members.

Pauline Ford.
Lady Captain