November Newsletter The clocks have gone back, daylight is getting shorter and Christmas is just around the corner but the golf is still going strong at URVGC. The course is still in superb condition and looking fantastic with the trees changing to Autumn colours. However, we all know that leaves falling is the result, all the more reason to keep your shots straight or hit provisional balls when errant shots find the trees. Course Information Winter Rules are now in play so Pick & Place of your ball on any closely mown area through the green is now allowed. Closely mown means any area of the course cut to fairway height or less and Through the green means the whole area of the course except the tee and green of the hole you are playing and all hazards, you must place your ball within 6 inches of where it lies. LKM Trophy Member Gary Eastwood approached me last year and asked if he could sponsor a new competition and trophy for 2016. I managed to find a free weekend amongst the clubs busy schedule, both of us wanted something a bit different so we came up with the idea of a new fun team format. I hope you all agree that the format of best 2 stableford scores out of 4 in each team fulfilled that remit successfully, it was very well supported was enjoyed by all. It produced some great scores on the day and a very close competition with only 7 points separating the top 10 teams. In 3rd place with 89 points on countback was the mixed team of Jo & Bradley Kite with new members Rob Lee & Holly Heasman. In 2nd place and just missing out with 92 points was Barry Friend, Ian Beattie- Burrows, Andy Nichols & Steve Ince. The inaugural winners of the lovely new trophy was embarrassingly myself, Marc Seager, Stuart Hauxwell and our supersub and mascot Jack Barlow with 93 points (It makes a change for me not filling that role in the photos). It was a double celebration for Jack as a few days after capturing the title he finally got married to his sweetheart of over 20 years, congratulation Jack and about time too. A big thank you must go to Gary Eastwood and Tony Hughes for arranging the day on behalf of LKM Recycling, and especially for all the fantastic prizes up for grabs. Unfortunately all the hole-in-one prizes went without being won but it certainly gets
the heart racing if you hit one close. It was great fun and I will look forward to this annual competition for many years to come. 1st Call Windscreen Bowl The 1st Call Windscreen Bowl is our flag competition where members have to play their golf ball until all remaining shots have been used. The furthest around the course wins the title. Only 5 players finished the 18 holes with Peter Ribbens, Dusty Miller & Marc Seager having 1 shot left, this left Marc in 3rd place by out driving Peter & Dusty. Paul Wallace finished in 2nd place after having 3 shots remaining but comfortable winner was Ron De Vries with 6 shots remaining. Despite a couple of wasted shots in the trees his ball finished at the bottom of the cup on the 1st green, Well played Skip! Grand Slam Winner 2016 The 1st Call Windscreen Bowl was the 5th and last tournament in the Grand Slam collection and it finished in a tie between Mike Evans & Marc Seager both on 20 points. A countback system was used to determine a winner and that lucky man was Mike Evans. Congratulations Mike on your consistent performances throughout the season. Unlucky Marc, it was very close but no cigar. Ian Cull Memorial Trophy Another great day was had by 96 players in the texas scramble competition played in the memory of Ian Cull, for those who were not aware of Ian s connection with the club, he was one of the builders that built our clubhouse and died suddenly at the very young age of 23. The weather was again very kind to us and as usual we all enjoy a texas scramble playing with our friends, all the more reason for a laugh and some friendly banter. This certainly didn't stop some great rounds and I believe some record breaking scoring. The top 6 teams finished with nett scores in the 50s and in 3rd place with 58.2 was our resident Telly Tubbies team of Sean Marden, Dave Allen, Sean Coultrip & Peter Ribbens. In 2nd place with a great score of 7 under gross and 56.4 was yours truly with Dusty Miller, Stuart Hauxwell and our late sub Holly Heasman proudly winning her first ever trophy. I honestly thought it was enough to win the competition, that was before I heard about the amazing score from the Dream Team of low handicappers (and Marc). Mike Evans, George Cannon, Lee Adgie & Marc Seager shot the lights out on the back 9 and I have
never heard of a team scoring a 15 under par gross 57 and a nett score of 54.8. Huge congratulations guys and I will leave everyone with these stats: they were only 5 under for the front 9, they then needed only 26 shots to cover the back nine with 4 eagles. I m glad their first 9 holes were just average!! URVGC League Teams Whitbread League Our men's whitbread league team played their Championship Day at Rochester & Cobham GC this year but unfortunately the league & cup double eluded them. Reports of the greens and course being in poor condition did not help our men play their best which was a great shame for what is normally a great day, the team finished the day in 4th place but as usual for Upchurch were winners in the bar with everyone having a great time. Vets Invicta League Our Vets Invicta League team played their final game of the season needing a 3-0 victory to win the league but unfortunately that scoreline just escaped them. In a tight game away to Pedham Place GC our men fought hard for a 2-1 win which left them just short for this year, we finished runners up to Birchwood GC. A great fight back after a disappointing start to the campaign but we will try again next year. Junior Section Come and support your club juniors on Junior Presentation Night Friday 25 November, open to all at 10 for Adults and 5 for Junior non members, with a meal and disco in the Rivers Restaurant. Tickets will be available from Tony Perrera or your Captain from October so let's get as many members as possible supporting our junior section, it is always a great night! Summer Matchplay Finals Our Men's Summer Matchplay competitions have come to an end last month. The singles final was contested by 2 of URVGC big hitters Allan Craig & Stuart Hauxwell. This game was unfortunately a little more one sided with Allan playing good steady par golf and Stuart struggling with the hooks resulting in quickly going 4 down. Allan then stayed 4 ahead for much of the game and finally crossed the winning post with a 4&3 victory on the 15th green. Congratulation and well played Allan on
your great campaign and unlucky Stuart, you're good form deserted you on the day, its runner up and bridesmaid once again. The pairs final saw the youngsters Connor & Cameron Lang taking on the oldies Barry Friend & Ian Beattie-Burrows. I must say it was an honor and privilege to referee such a fantastic match, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ian & Barry came flying out the blocks and quickly built a 3up lead with birdies and chip ins on the first 6 holes, the brothers then hit back with birdies and a chip in of their own to fight back to 1 down at the turn. The back nine was a very tight affair and all square for much of it, Ian & Barry then won 2 quick holes to find themselves 2up with 2 holes to play but the young men still wouldn't lay down taking the game up the 18th hole. Ian finally put the match to bed on the 18th green sinking a 3ft putt to win the title with a 1up victory. Very well played to both pairs in an exciting final and congratulations Ian & Barry on your win, commiseration Connor & Cameron on your fantastic effort, I'm sure your time will come! Howdidido Matchplay Pairs Commiserations to Marc Seager & Alan Senior, flying the flag for URVGC in the Howdidido Matchplay Pairs Competition. They played the Southern Area Pairs Final Day at Woodbury Park in Devon but missed out on the Morocco prize, they did however finish with a creditable 34 points playing off ¾ handicap. Congratulations guys for getting so far. A few weeks later the news somehow reached all parts of the UK, alright just Suffolk with the following appearing in the Ipswich Star newspaper.how??? Deal Town FA Vase heroturned-golfer Marc Seager competes in Morocco Matchplay southern pairs final An FA Vase-winning footballer-turnedgolfer from Rainham has just missed out on a place at a tournament final in Marrakech. Marc Seager, 44, helped Deal Town to the trophy in 2000 at Wembley after a 1-0 win over Chippenham, before managing the likes of Whitstable Town, but has now turned his hand to golf. Joined by his Upchurch River Valley clubmate, 59-year-old window cleaner Alan Senior, a 17-handicapper, as they scored 34 Stableford points in the Morocco Matchplay southern pairs final at Woodbury Park in Devon. FA Vase Hero Marc and I found this hilarious and makes him sound like he's gone from semi-pro football to semi-pro golf, not quite yet mate but the amount of victories and placing you've had this month then it won't be long!
P.W.R.R. Friendly Match IPC Marc Seager captained a team to play the 2nd leg of the new Challenge Trophy match against Prince of Wales Royal Regiment. Despite losing the match at Canterbury GC our men claimed a 6-4 aggregate score over P.W.R.R to become the 1st winners of the trophy. Poult Wood Challenge Match Our men completed a comfortable 5-0 win at home to Poult Wood GC and thus winning the shield for another year. Another match played in great spirit and the friendly rivalry will continue again next year. Xmas Raffle Xmas Raffle is now up and running, with many prizes up for the grabs which include cash prizes with the top prize this year, a fantastic 250. Now, that would be a great start to anyone s festivities, so make sure you don t miss out and buy a ticket, they re only a 1. This is my last fund raising project of my year to top up the Captain's Charity and it is currently standing at 5200. A huge thankyou for everyones contributions over the year to help me reach a fantastic figure but I m sure we can push it over the 6000 with one last big push. You have to be in it to win it, Draw to be made on Sunday December 11th following the Turkey Trot. Xmas Party Night Your Captain has booked 50 tickets for a Christmas Party Night at Upchurch in the Rivers Restaurant on Saturday 17th December. It would be fantastic if you and your partners could join me for a great end of year party to finish 2016 in style, I promise there are no raffles or fundraising, just friends getting together for a few drinks, a laugh and a boogie. The live band playing on the night are called 'Legacy' and the cost per head is 27.50 including entertainment. I only have 50 tickets available and they will be sold on a first come first served basis. So please, organize your groups as quickly as possible, reserve your places and let me have your 10 per head deposit with menu choices. Other News Congratulation and good luck to Paul Wallace who has gained a place in the 2017 London Marathon. He will be raising money for The Oliver Fisher Trust so please help our Wally in his fundraising quest, any donations small or large are very welcome. The just giving page details are below along with a blog he is writing to let us know how much pain he is in whilst training. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/runwallyru n2017 https://runwallyrun.wordpress.com/ Julian Austin - Club Captain 2016