AMSM   February 26^th 2011

In-coming Captain’s Address:

Mr Captain, Members of the Committee, Gentlemen . . .

May I begin by thanking this year’s Mens Captain, Brian Eccles, for his kind and encouraging good wishes for the year ahead, both on behalf of myself and my Vice Captain, Brian Lockett., and congratulate him on a successful year as Mens Captain.

It is indeed an honour and a privilege to be elected to office in this club – a position that I too never dreamt I might attain when I arrived here in 2001 following the closure of Civil Service Sports Club on Boroughbridge Road, and with it my retirement from York Senior League cricket.

I have Andy Carlton to blame for that – as I joined this golf club on his recommendation without ever setting foot within its boundary and never having played golf in my life before.

I said ‘blame’.  I should of course have said  ‘thank’.  As one door closes, another opens, and I could not have wished for my new sporting challenge to be undertaken in a more friendly and supportive atmosphere than I found here amongst the members of Forest of Galtres Golf Club, and I do thank you all most sincerely for that.

Our course is amongst the best in the area and we should be proud of that. Our professional, Alastair, ably assisted by Nick Marchant, has transformed the Pro-shop and his teaching is giving us all,  the skills we need to improve our game. But most of all our strength lies in our membership, and the more of us there are, the more the club will continue to improve. Not just more members, but especially we need to seek ways to make our club more attractive to ladies and to juniors. No easy task in these difficult financial times, but something to which we all need to apply our minds.

Certainly these and other issues need to be addressed and I am sure you all have your thoughts as to where our priorities should lie in the months and years ahead, but let me assure you that your committee and myself will continue to work tirelessly, in cooperation with the Proprietors, on your behalf to further improve this club and its facilities.

Finally, if I could end with a small and very early advertisement . . .

As Brian has mentioned, The Mens Captain’s Away-day is now established within the Fixture List, and this season the event will take place at Cookridge Hall Golf Club, Leeds, on Saturday September 24^th.

Many of you will know that this is an excellent venue and I do hope you will be able to join the party for this event.

So, many thanks again for your support and I look forward to serving as your Mens Captain for the coming year. 

       Thank you.

         Dave Mather

            Captain 2011/12