SPRING MEETING, WOODHALL SPA : 16th – 19th   May 2012

The Spring Meeting will again be held at the superb venue of Woodhall Spa, the Headquarters of the English Golf Union in Lincolnshire.

The English Golf Union is very keen for us to continue to hold our event at Woodhall Spa. They are aware of our changed circumstances and wish to be as helpful as possible with regard to the level of green fees we will be charged. They are also conscious of the fact that we have for over 40 consecutive years held the event at Woodhall Spa. In the light of these two facts, and following some keen negotiating, we have agreed a "Daily Green Fee" of £60 per Member attending (the normal green fee for EGU Members in 2012 will be in excess of £70 per round). I believe this is a very good deal and I hope that Members will show their support of both the Society and the EGU by entering for the event.

The cost of lunches, about £20 for 3 days, will also have to be borne by those attending, and will be collected from you at Woodhall Spa. The cost of the Prize Giving Dinner will partly be met by the Society, but those attending will be asked to contribute £25 towards the cost in advance.

As we have to commit the Society to a certain number of tee times etc by the end of the year the green fee element of the cost of the event (£180 for 3 days (Thursday to Saturday) or £60 per day) will have to be paid to the Society with your entry, together with the £25 towards the cost of the dinner. The entry forms must be returned to me by Friday 16th December 2011 at the latest….earlier entries would be appreciated. If members wish to spread the cost of entry, a non-returnable deposit of £120 can be made now and the balance of £85 (including Prize-giving dinner) paid on arrival at Woodhall Spa.

As agreed at a previous AGM former members of staff and the Society may attend the Spring Meeting as no Bank subsidies will be involved……so please contact anyone you know who may qualify as a former member of staff and indeed any non-bank friends who may wish to join our Society. Ladies are also welcome to play in all Competitions.

The Spring Meeting in 2012 will consist of the following competitive events, which all members of the Society, with an approved Club or EGU handicap, are welcome to enter. The final details of events will depend on numbers entering:

Wednesday 16th May:
The Solomon Cup : A Stableford competition held over the Hotchkin Course. Full Handicap allowance - maximum handicap 24. A Green Fee will be payable, on the day, for this event, entry to which is optional.

Thursday 17th May:
The Beaumont Pease Cup: The first 64 entries received will play in the first round of this Matchplay event on the Hotchkin Course, ¾ full handicap difference - maximum handicap 24.

Any entries received in excess of 64, together with the best first round losers in the Beaumont Pease Cup, will be entered in to the Power Plate Matchplay Event which will be open to both men and ladies, and will be held on the Hotchkin Course.

Friday 18th May:
The Beaumont Pease Cup: rounds 3 and 4 for those surviving Rounds 1 & 2 on the Hotchkin Course.
The Power Plate: Matchplay on the Hotchkin Course.
The Pitman Trophies: A 4 Ball Betterball Stableford Competition open to all members attending, including those not qualifying, or eliminated from, the Beaumont Pease Cup and. Played on the Hotchkin Course.

Saturday 19th  May:
The Beaumont Pease Cup: semi finals and final, played on the Hotchkin Course
The Plate: final to be played in the morning on the Hotchkin Course
The Harding Goblets : A Greensome Stableford Competition open to all members, including those eliminated from the Beaumont Pease Cup and Plate, played over the Bracken Course with a ‘Shotgun’ start.

Additionally there are Trophies for the youngest member of the Society progressing furthest in the Beaumont Pease Cup (The McKie Trophy) and for the pensioner progressing furthest in the Beaumont Pease Cup (The Marlow Salver).

The Society enters a team of 4 in the National Banks Tournament, a 36 hole event usually  held at Walton Heath in Surrey, in early June and the Team is selected from the Finalists, Semi-finalists and Quarter finalists in the Beaumont Pease Cup. The Team has to comprise 2 players with handicaps 12 and under plus 2 players with handicaps 13-20. A modest contribution towards the cost of the event may be charged to those playing at Walton Heath.

Applications to enter the Spring Meeting must be received by 16th December 2011. This will enable the Society to arrange the appropriate number of starting times for the competition.

The Society wishes to encourage more members to attend the event, particularly those who may only want to come for one or two days and play in the subsidiary events and participate in 'social' golf. We believe that this will give those who have not been to Woodhall Spa before a good 'taster' and will hopefully encourage them to return in subsequent years. It is up to all of us regulars at Woodhall Spa to bring along others who have not been before - so please spread the word.

Woodhall Spa is a village about 20 miles from Lincoln. The Hotchkin Course is rated in the Top 100 in the world by American 'Golf World'.

The Spring Meeting concludes with a prize giving dinner at the EGU Headquarters building on Saturday 19th May, and all attending the Spring Meeting are expected to attend. Wine and drinks are to be paid for by those attending.

Entries on the attached Form must be received by John Blackburn by 16th December 2011.

Accommodation costs for the duration of the event need to be met personally. There are many hotels, guest houses and Bed & Breakfast establishments in the village. Details of hotels etc will be sent out to those attending together with the final details of the event in early February. If you wish to book your accommodation before then I can let you have some names and telephone numbers if you do not have access to the internet.

If you have any queries regarding the Spring Meeting, or the arrangements for qualifying, please contact John Blackburn.

I look forward to receiving your entries.

John Blackburn
Society Administrator

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