DUGC Annual General Meeting
Held at Chevin Golf Club
1st March 2010
Present:
J Beddington P.McGrath C.Ibbotson D Hartley
N Ibbotson G.Turner A.Beastall A Broadhurst
T Payne AR Barrington C Annison B Skelston
J.Outram T.Watson T Buckley C Hunt
A.Barton M Fowler S Humpston A Burrows
J Rawson F.Bullough M Wain P Beardsley
J.Barker N.Harvey P.Longden G Allen
D Hardman
Apologies:
I Neal C Barker G Gray D Wall R Straw P Arnold
Minutes of Last Meeting
The Secretary read out the minutes of the last AGM held on 2nd March
2009 and these were accepted as a true and correct record, proposed by D Hartley and
seconded by P Longden.
Matters Arising
None.
Executive Report
The Secretary pointed out a couple of minor changes to the fixtures the first being that the Champs of Champs event at Woodhall Spa will be a 36 hole event played over 2 days and the Junior Champ of Champs will be played over 36 holes but on one day and finally the players end of season will now take place at Shirland and not Matlock as stated in the report. With these changes the report was accepted by the meeting, proposed by Sam Humpston and seconded by John Barker.
Presidents Report
The President gave the following report
My first year has been extremely enjoyable, but more than a little hectic. My thanks to you for your assistance throughout the year.
Finance
The state of the Union’s finances is good and as always well managed, controlled and reported by our Treasurer, Ian Neal. For 2009 the accounts show a surplus of £2,754 against a deficit last time of £1,233. This was mainly due to increased members subscriptions and increased entry fees for the various competitions.
The levies for next year have been increased for both the EGU and ourselves. The EGU increase is based on a small inflation level plus a loss from decreasing membership. The EGU estimate that the loss in national membership at upwards of 50,000 over the next few years from a peak a few years ago of 750,000. Our own membership decreased by 5.7% which is higher than budgeted for.
Some clubs are facing serious pressure from the downward numbers and a few may go under in the next year. Oddly far more people are playing but less are members of Clubs. The EGU are attempting to address this with a loyalty scheme whereby non-club member players purchase the card for a reasonable fee and then each time it is used a small fee goes back to the EGU from the participating club – maybe 50p a time. We will have to see how it goes. The EGU certainly needs some additional income source to keep up with its spending.
Our own levy has risen an additional £1 this year with 50p of that to go into our centenary year fund
Results
Men’s teams
Our first team had a much better year than in the recent past and there is certainly a growing confidence in the players from the lows of recent years.
The start of a more formal coaching approach and the formation of the Coaching Committee has shown immediate benefit – the first team have started winning again and the results have improved.
This year in a very tight West Midlands league our 1st men won two of the five matches putting the team in third place (fourth on point’s difference) which is a great improvement on the bottom position we have held for a few years.
Under the Captaincy of Neil Ibbotson the 2nd’s had a similar 2009 to 2008 winning 3 out of the 6 league matches finishing tied second place (again 4th when individual matches are taken into account).
Seniors
Our Seniors county team played 10 inter-county matches under the Captaincy of David Wall, winning 4 drawn 1 and lost 5. Virtually the same as last year.
Some 26 players represented the County through the year – again similar to previous years - which shows the continuing high level of interest at Senior level. Players come from all parts of the County – from the top at Glossop to the bottom at Burton-on-Trent
The Seniors most successful day came at Stanton-on-the-Wolds in the EGU Senior 6 man qualifier. Led by Captain Dave Wall, who came in with a fine individual performance of 72, the Team came second to a very good Staffordshire side.
Juniors
Last year our Juniors enjoyed great success in all age groups and since John Slater isn’t here I will include my comments under the Junior Delegate Report later.
Coaching
Over the last year the coaching committee set up by my predecessor, John Flanders, has become fully established with now a full complement of committee members. The committee was set up to consist of the President, Secretary, the two men’s team captains, and the Junior Organiser plus two additional places. These two places have been filled by nominations from members at Executive meetings during the year. These being John Barker and Nigel Furniss.
John Slater’s departure left us with a considerable gap in the coaching structure. The coaching committee has now considered the format for Derbyshire Coaching for the future and later in the meeting Peter and I will be putting forward the latest proposals.
Somewhat belatedly, having ignored for some years the grants that were available from the EGU, the Coaching Committee applied for an EGU grant for U14/U16 coaching. We received £2,500, which would otherwise have gone begging, and this is being used now for junior coaching. Last year was in fact the last year that such grants were paid direct to Unions, and in future all EGU and any other National grants will come through the Counties’ Golf Partnerships.
County Card Scheme
The scheme has now being started with information sent out by our Secretary to all Clubs. The start date is 1st April and first the take up looks promising.
The more that you can do to promote the scheme within your clubs the better for our finances. Don’t forget if you get to thirty members the cost to all drops from £15 to £10 each.
Derbyshire Golf Partnership
Derbyshire Golf, as it has been renamed, is up and running. Peter has been very active as its Chairman which has required an amazing amount of work. He has been greatly assisted on the Committee by our Derbyshire Ladies especially Ann Riley from Chevin. Also our Professionals Mike Ronan and Andy Carnell and John Barker from the Derbyshire County Council and his colleagues from Derbyshire Sport and Sport England. Nigel Furniss was appointed to the position of County Development Officer and he is now well into the job of encouraging golf at all levels but especially girl and boy juniors and ladies.
Dinner
From my point of view the last Friday’s Dinner Derbyshire Cricket Club went extremely well with a usual attendance of around 190. We were made most welcome by the Chief Executive, Keith Loring, and his staff.
Golfmark
Congratulations to Chapel-en-le-Frith who have won the Golfmark Club of the Year Award for the second year running this award goes to a Derbyshire club. A great achievement and my congratulations to them. I have written to them on behalf of the Executive.
Finally
Finally to all of you here tonight I would extend my thanks to you and to all your Clubs since without your contribution and the generous use of your courses and facilities, we could not function as a County Union.
I wish you all success in 2010.
Captains Report
Sam Humpston gave the following report, I am not going to go through last season results they can be seen in the annual report. I wish you all a successful year and I have to say that I am really looking forward to the coming season.
We have had a couple of coaching sessions throughout the winter and the squad have a couple of friendly matches coming up against Leicestershire & Rutland and Yorkshire and we would very much like to see members of the executive coming to support us at those matches.
Junior Delegates Report
The President gave the following report.
The Juniors have enjoyed great success in all age groups.
The U14 boys are the Midland Golf Union’s U14 6 man 36 hole Team Champions after beating all the other Ten Midland Counties by some 15 shots.
Broughton Heath’s Josh Thorley and Kedleston Park’s Bradley Moore tied 1st on 135 – one under standard scratch. Josh winning on countback.
Josh Thorley also played for England U16’s 3 times in regional matches.
And together with Chesterfield’s Mark Porter, Josh and Bradley have been included in the EGUs West Midlands Regional Junior Coaching Squad for 2010.
Our U16s, Captained by Luke Burton of Ormonde Fields, were undefeated in the West Midlands league area and only lost one friendly game all season.
The full U18 side had a tremendous year.
They started the year with victory over Yorkshire boys at Chesterfield. Yorkshire had brought a virtually full strength side. One point down at lunch after the foursomes, our lads won the first seven singles and with the seventh match halved, the match was won.
In the EGU Midlands U18 10 counties 6 man team 36 hole qualifier at Maxstoke Castle the U18’s came second by just one stroke with Craig Young (then still under 16) winning the individual on a score of two under par. A superb performance. This year, 2010, the players themselves expect to go one better since the side is virtually the same as last year. With this year’s 6 man at Horsley Lodge that is a distinct possibility.
The U18s went on to win their West Midlands League by winning the first 3 games - against Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Shropshire and Herefordshire. In the Midlands League final against Lincolnshire at Gog Magog they lost right at the end by the odd point to a very strong Lincolnshire side. As always it was down to a couple of putts going against us.
The quality of golf and sportsmanship from both sides in all the games was exceptional, and all of our players are a credit to the game, their clubs and Derbyshire. This in no small part to their Captain, Jake Harrison.
The majority of the team will continue as juniors this year.
With seven of them playing for our first and second teams last year it bodes well for the future of Derbyshire Golf.
During the year Jake Harrison Captained the EGU Midland Boys both against the England U16s and Derbyshire.
However the leading player of all ages this year was Kedleston Park’s Nick Newbold.
Amongst his achievements were
- represented England U16 Boys on three international occasions
- 5th place in the Dutch Junior Masters
- Internationals against Scotland and Ireland when England won both these matches. Nick being unbeaten in his singles.
- Reached the last 16 in the British Boys at Royal St George’s beating County Junior Captain Jake Harrison on the way
- Tied first in the European U16 72 hole McGregor championship at Ratcliffe on Trent but unfortunately lost in a sudden death playoff.
He won the Derbyshire Boys Stroke Play Championship and repeated his 2008 victory in the Boys Match Play by winning again at Stanedge.
He then went on to win the Midlands U18 and U16 Champion of Champions at Cotgrave Place and later came 3rd in the England Champion of Champions at Woodhall Spa
He was 2nd in both the Midlands Boys at Kidderminster and 2nd in the Midland Youths at Stoke Rochford
Nick has since been selected for the EGU full U18 international squad for 2010.
For 2010 our junior Captains are
At U18 Captain Joe Biggs (Chevin)
At U16 Captain Jacob Bagshaw (Buxton High Peak)
At U14 Captain Josh Thorley (Broughton Heath)
And we wish them well for an even better 2010.
As many of you will know John Slater has been our County Junior delegate and organiser for some ten years. To him must go credit for the juniors’ successes last year.
Towards the end of last year he was given responsibility through the EGU to be part of the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence.(AASE) John advised that this job is very time consuming and he therefore tended his resignation with immediate effect at last Novembers executive meeting. He had not made any arrangements for the succession to the job of junior organiser and representative on the Midlands Junior Committee. At the meeting the Executive thanked him for his work in the past and wished him well for the future.
Treasurers Report
Please accept my apologies due to a business related commitment in Scotland.
The accounts for the year ended October 2009 show an increased income despite a reduction in the numbers of member golfers in Derbyshire compared to 2008.
Whilst there were again some significant variations in numbers as reported by the clubs the overall total of playing and paying golfers in Derbyshire was 10353 in 2009 compared with 10989 in 2008 a reduction of 5.7% which was a larger decrease than budgeted.
A 50p per head levy is included in income and this has been paid to the Derbyshire County Golf Partnership, the expenditure is shown in Sundries.
Expenditure was very much in line with budgets with expected increases in
1. County match expenses due to the cost of home matches with the larger Counties such as Yorkshire.
2. Junior Golf with increased number of events and coaching.
Deputy President John Flanders waived his honorarium of £275 which explains the reduction here and no claims for Presidents expenses were received in the year, either from John Flanders or John Beddington.
The net surplus for the year of £2754 resulted in a 6.5% increase in the Capital Fund.
Accounts were adopted on the proposition of Gerald Turner and seconded by Norman Harvey.
Election of President
D Hartley proposed, seconded by B Skelston that John Beddington should be elected for a second year as President and this was unanimously accepted by the meeting.
In accepting the Office John thanked the meeting for the honour and looked forward again to the coming season.
Election of Deputy President
John Beddington proposed John Outram stating that John had had a distinguished career in golf both as a player and administrator playing county golf in the 70’s and 80’s was the 2nd team captain and a past captain of Chesterfield This was seconded by G Turner and unanimously accepted by the meeting.
Election of Secretary
Peter McGrath was proposed by John Rawson and seconded by John Beddington. This was accepted by the meeting.
Election of Treasurer
Peter McGrath proposed IK Neal of Kedleston this was seconded by Paul Longden and carried by the meeting.
Election of Auditor
John Flanders was elected as the DUGC’s auditor
Delegates to the EGU and MGU
Peter McGrath was elected as Derbyshire’s voting member at the EGU
The President and Secretary were also confirmed as our representatives on the MGU
Election of Junior Organiser
The secretary explained that we were reorganizing the junior structure to include team managers who would look after the u18, u16 and u12/14 squads and these would report to the Junior Organiser. This was felt to be the best way for us to move forward and supporting these positions were a number of other people such as G Turner, J Outram, J Rawson, G Block and G Naylor. Job specifications for the 4 key roles have been written and agreed and it was proposed and approved by the meeting that John Jenkins of Burton on Trent would become the Junior Organiser for the DUGC.
Dennis Hartley expressed his concern about these changes but was reassured to hear that regular monitoring of the matches and events would be taking place throughout the season.
AOB
None
In closing the meeting the President wished everyone a great year both on and off the golf course and wished both Sam Humpston and Neil Ibbotson every success, he thanked Chevin Golf Club for the use of their facilities this evening.
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