Westerham Vets

If you enjoy the game of golf and are 55 or over then we invite you to join Westerham Golf Club’s thriving Veterans’ section.

There are golf games on most Tuesdays and Thursdays, including such favourites as Stableford, Medal, Texas Scramble, 1-2-3, Yellow ball. Those that are Qualifiers will have an effect on your Handicap Index. Small charges are made to enter some events and these go towards the cost of prizes, trophies, engraving etc.

There are also numerous competitions and matches throughout the year, including regular matches against many other great golf clubs. These add variety and interest and are always enjoyed by those who play in them.

The green buttons below enable you to download a calendar of our events and to learn how we use online resources to help us organise our activities.

 
Fixture List
Online Resources
 

If all this appeals then please contact the Vets General Secretary, David Parker (davidp.sec.westvets@gmail.com), to get started.

The following are some of our competitions and events in which you would be most welcome to participate:

Friendly Games

On most Tuesdays and Thursdays, we play a non-qualifying game (e.g. Stableford, Texas Scramble, 1-2-3, Yellow Ball etc.) and usually £2 in the kitty will enable you to play in the day’s scheduled event generally off the yellow tees. The kitty is used to fund prizes, trophies and Vets events. The prize if you win, is often a share of the money, it will not change your life and if you don’t, you will hopefully have enjoyed the company.

Note: Your score in a non-qualifier will not result in an official handicap adjustment but may be noted and considered for active/competition /handicap review in the light of your general play. Further, the winner of any cash prize non-qualifying event must play off 2 shots less than their official handicap for the next two non-qualifying individual events that they play in. Players who come second must play off one shot less than their official handicap for the next two non-qualifying individual events that they play in. A record is kept but it is the responsibility of each player to play from the correct handicap in these non-qualifying individual events.

In addition to these friendly games there are numerous different competitions and matches which are arranged throughout the year that you may wish to enter. These add variety and interest and are always enjoyed by those who join in. Qualifying competitions are played on both Tuesdays and Thursdays to allow everyone the chance to keep their active/competition/handicap. The fixture list is posted on the notice board near the changing room and issued to everyone with an email address on a monthly basis by the secretary, showing a rolling two-month schedule.

The very small fees charged to enter some competitions go towards the cost of the trophies, engraving etc. Following are some of the competitions that we run and that you would be welcome to enter:

1Qualifying Monthly Medal
A qualifying Medal round is played each month from March through October. There is a trophy for each monthly winner which is presented at the Annual Dinner and Presentation evening.
2Qualifying Stableford
Two qualifying Stableford games are played each month from March through October and one or more in the winter months if conditions permit.
3Vets Club Championship
This is our ‘blue riband’ event - a 36-hole stroke play qualifying competition played over two days (Tues/Thurs of the same week) in September. The player with the lowest gross score after two rounds is declared the Vets Champion and wins the trophy. The victor’s name is added to the ‘Vets Club Champion’ Honours Board. There is also a keepsake for the player with the best net score and for the gross and net best score runners-up.

General notes on qualifying competitions:
1. Players MUST ALWAYS PUTT OUT. On no account may anyone be “given” a putt in any qualifying competition 2. Your score in a qualifying competition may result in an immediate adjustment to your handicap. 3. If you are a new member and haven’t yet been given a handicap, you are welcome to take part but will not be eligible for prizes.
4Annual Singles and Pairs Competitions
These are Vets knock-out competitions that run throughout the summer months. All matches must be played off the white tees. There is a small entry fee for both competitions. Pairs competition partners are drawn at random by the Competitions Secretary from those who enter. The players then arrange their own matches at a time to suit themselves though each team or player must complete each round within the time limit posted in the competition notice. The winners’ names appear on the Club’s Honours Boards.
5Eclectic Competition
Every score achieved during all medal rounds played by participating players will count towards the Eclectic Trophy. Individually, the best score on each hole is transferred to their eclectic score card. The competition ends after the last medal competition in October of each year and the player with the overall best eclectic score card following the relevant handicap adjustment wins. To be eligible, players must sign-up prior to commencement.
6Matches against other golf clubs
During the season there are many matches both home and away against the senior sections of other clubs. All are followed or preceded by a meal, for which a charge is made. Dress code for lunch is determined by the home club. Teams comprise of up to sixteen players, all of whom are expected to dine. Everyone who plays with the Vets’ section is eligible providing they have a Handicap Index. If you wish to play in any of these matches, then all you need to do is sign up when notice of a match is given.

The Captain will select the team to play and if you’re selected you will be notified. It is important to note that if selected we rely on you to turn up for the match. If due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances you find yourself unable to play, you must notify the Match Manager as soon as possible so that a replacement can be found.
7The Derry Cup
An anagram of “Ryder” (because it is played in the same format as the Ryder Cup). This is a winter competition generally played in January and/or early February between the younger (The Moderns) and the more senior members (The Ancients) of the section. The age of the Ancients is determined by calculating the average of the players’ ages within the whole section. If you have reached or are above this average age you represent the Ancients.

The matches are Foursomes, Four-ball better ball and Singles, with the winning team being the one accumulating most points over the three games. A one-course lunch at a small charge follows the Singles at which the Derry Cup is presented.
8The Earl Spencer Trophy
Introduced in 2011, this is a three-leg home and away friendly against the seniors of The Addington Golf Club. Teams consist of twelve players chosen from Vets’ Committee members and a selection of players who have made a significant contribution to the Vets’ Section during the year. The first leg format is Foursomes, the second leg is Four-ball better ball, and the third leg is Singles. The team with the most points after the three meetings wins the Trophy. A one-course lunch at a small charge follows each meeting.
9Captain’s Charity Day
This day is organised by the Captain for the benefit of his chosen charity. The idea is to raise money with the help of the section members by making up teams from either inside or outside Westerham membership. Individuals/Groups/Companies can sponsor holes, offer up prizes for the auction, the raffle or simply donate/gift money for the charity. We have a proud record in raising money for many deserving bodies including Valence School, Help for Heroes, Hospice in the Weald and The Children’s Trust.
10Matches with the Ladies Section
There are two events with the Ladies Section, usually held in the spring and autumn. The format is a three-ball comprising two Vets and one lady with the best two Stableford points scores to count on each hole and totalled after 18 holes. Lunch is provided at a small charge and the presentation of modest prizes follows the competition.
11Annual Two Day Away Golf Event
The venue for this will be a hotel usually within a two-hour drive of Westerham. It includes dinner, bed and breakfast and two rounds of golf. It is organised by the Captain and volunteers. Following two rounds of golf the player with the highest number of Stableford points is awarded the Ron Hughes Cup. The cost is c.£180 but the organising group always comes up with a good deal and the event is well supported.
12The Annual Away Day
Organised by the Vice-Captain, this is a Stableford individual and team competition which takes place at a not-too-distant golf course. It is followed by a meal and presentation of prizes. The cost varies accordingly to the venue.
13Seniors Team Open Competitions
We encourage our section members to compete in Seniors Team Open Competitions at other clubs, and sometimes one is also arranged at Westerham. Information on these events is circulated to Vets at intervals.
14Association of Kent Veteran Golfers
We have a strong link with the Association of Kent Veteran Golfers (www.akvg.com) and typically 100 of its 750+ members meet to play in events organised at selected Kent golf clubs. Membership of the Association is currently £3pa (50+ Vets are members) and the match fee including lunch is £50. Charitable donations raised by the Association each year are presented to the Kent Air Ambulance Trust.
15The Christmas ‘Sponsored Hole Competition’
Held in mid-November, members are invited to pledge a modest prize for achieving a challenge on a selected hole on our course. This is a very popular competition with as many prizes as players – so it normally results in everyone winning something.
16The Past Captains’ Salver
This event recognises and celebrates the services rendered selflessly by Vets Captains. Currently, no fewer than 16 Past Captains continue to engage in Vets’ activities. They are joined annually by the current captain and committee members to play a singles Stableford competition for the Salver, followed by a 3-course lunch and presentation.
17Saints’ Day Events
Matches are played to celebrate the UK’s four Saints’ Days: The Celtic Cup in March (St Patrick’s team v- St David’s team); St George’s Day in April (England v- Rest of the World); St Andrew’s Day in November (Royals v- Ancients).
18Annual Dinner and Presentation Evening
This takes place in early/mid-December and is a highlight of the year. Members are encouraged to bring guests as well as their partner to enjoy a 3-course festive menu during which trophies are presented to the winners of the year’s competitions. After the outgoing captain is thanked for his services, the Entertainments Committee stages a musical ‘extravaganza’, ending with carol singing by all.
19The AGM
This meeting provides the opportunity to air all your good ideas and discuss them in open forum. It will help you familiarise yourself with our activities and shapes the future of the section.

Held usually in January, it is where the principal officers of the committee are elected (namely; the Match, Competitions, Rules & Handicap, and Section Secretaries, Treasurer, Auditor, and Liaison Officer). The Captain and Vice-Captain are appointed by the committee. The immediate Past Captain serves for a further year; other members can be co-opted by the committee.
20Club Professional
Frazer Amy, our Club Professional, provides individual lessons to all members of the club and at a modest cost and group lessons to our section members. He also provides us with rules advice. Newcomers will find his coaching and advice very helpful.
E-mail: proshop@westerhamgc.co.uk or tel. no. 01959 567100.

In Conclusion

Whether you want to play regularly or just turn up when you fancy, you will always be made welcome by the Westerham Vets - a friendly and sociable group of golfers. We can’t always guarantee you a low score, but we can guarantee you an enjoyable game of golf played in beautiful surroundings.

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01959 567 100     info@westerhamgc.co.uk

 
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