The Captain’s Footprint

 

Dear Fellow Nomads

 

It was very encouraging to see such a nice big field at P.E.G.C.129 players, and I sincerely hope we can sustain these playing numbers. Despite the windy conditions there were some good scores and everyone seemed to have enjoyed a good golfing day. A hearty congratulations to those members ties. 5 Year ties went to Marlon Foot, Brian Desfountain, Gerrit Botha and Barry Davies. Mike Fowler and Kevin Berrington received their 10 year ties. Well done to Alan Young on receiving his 15 year tie and to a dedicated Jim Walter congratulations on receiving your 25 year tie.

 

A big thank you to Port Elizabeth Golf Club for making their facilities and course available to us. I had the privilege of playing with fellow Nomad and captain of P.E.G.C. Ross Hickson and it was with great pleasure that we took money off our immediate past captain Dave Pearson and his partner Andries Taljaard. The course has come on very nicely after the recent rains and it is apparent that the new greenkeeper, Pierre Moolman ex Bushmans Sands, is very hard at work in his new position and the Nomads wish him a long and happy stay. As usual we were well looked after by the catering and bar staff and a special thank you to them,our needs are always met with a friendly smile. Well done again to our ladies Jean, Bev, Theresa and Cherryl for all the, behind the scenes, hard work, we really appreciate your efforts and cannot thank you enough.Thanks to our starter, Roy Newman and his team, the day went ahead without any problems and also to my team Duke, Greg and Orion the prize giving went off smoothly and quick.   

I see that this ugly little thing called dress code, or the lack thereof, is rearing its head again and that was very apparent on Sunday. Gentleman, we are a great club with very proud traditions and there is nothing worse than seeing Nomads wearing chinos with Ping socks. Orion Meyer, our Equipment Officer has plenty of stock available and the last thing I want to do is embarrass someone by asking them to leave due to inappropriate dress.

There are also a number of people that have still not responded to Howard Lipman’s request to notify him of your home club. As per our constitution,7.3.1,you have to be a member of a recognised golf club in order to be a member of Nomads so I urge you to let him have these details a.s.a.p.

 

It was rather disappointing to see that we could not fill our total allocation of members going to Nationals and this will certainly affect the allocation for 2009 when Nationals will be hosted by Natal. To those of you travelling to Bloem I wish you a safe journey, good golfing and I am looking forward to spending the week with you. Entries for Zim Nationals are available from our match secretary Jean Newman and most important to note the closing date for entries is the 14th of March and no late entries will be entertained.

 

Our next game is at St Francis on the 16th of March where we will be playing the first round of the Gary Player knockout competition and also hosting the OMIPSA competition. I wish you well and in closing ask you to spare a thought for your fellow Nomads Peter Sobek and Sergei van Niekerk who are undergoing treatment for cancer.

 

Yours in Golf

Marlon Foot         

 

 

Vice Captains Report – Duke’s Divot

 

It is my intention to introduce you to your AMEF committee members at our next game.I trust that they will all be there. Andrew Mentis Endowment Fund Beneficiaries for 2008 are: Greenwood Primary School Partially-Hearing Unit and Quest School for Learners with Autism. Each school has a different need as per their circumstances and the AMEF committee members and I will be working through those programs as we move into the year. As you can see the emphasis this year will be on children with hearing problems. Please remember that any Nomad who is aware of an institution which is need of assistance which Nomads can deliver, please contact your current JVC .Nominations for 2008 were well underway at the end of 2007. You may not commit Nomads and the process would be for those institutions to apply for assistance in writing to Nomads.

Our first fund raising day will be our Race Day on Friday, 4th July, I am yet to decide whether we go to Arlington or Fairview. Please understand that Arlington restricts our numbers and many more Nomads would like to attend this day, in that case we may have to go to Fairview. The day starts at about 11.00 hrs , includes a marvellous four course lunch, drinks on the house and we all go home when the bar closes at 17.00 hrs. Wives and girlfriends are welcome. You are, however, required to wear Nomads jacket and tie on the day .The idea is that you book a table for eight with friends and Nomads and enjoy the day. Please feel free to approach any one of the AMEF committee members for a provisional booking. Ticket prices will be available in the next magazine if not before. I have an idea that we were restricted to 8/9 tables last year, so book early. Preference will be given to those parties who supported us last year.

See you all at St Francis Bay on the 16th March.

Yours in Nomads,

Duke Nel.

 

Junior Vice Captain’s Report - Greg’s Gazette

 

Fellow Nomads,

 

We are now well into the Nomads year and the game at Port Elizabeth Golf Club was most enjoyable. Thanks to my playing partner, Barry Harmer, showing me around the course, we were able to pull off the “best playing pair”!

 

In my last Gazette I reported back briefly on the Easterns Challenge hosted at Graaff-Reinet Golf Club in January 2008, which we won! As we had our Eastern Cape Nomads Altar at prize giving we were able to secure another badge for the club.

 

I have had initial discussions with the Fish River Sun and our Border compatriots and we are well on our way to putting together a great Rough Ryder Cup and Frontier Trophy weekend in July 2008. I have had a few queries already and aim to open the entries in May 2008.

 

Remember this is the next leg of the “Away Tours” competition. Earl Berman leads this competition and Dennis Jones has some work to do if he wishes to defend the “Sampsons Away Tours Trophy” (shown left).

Recently, at a committee meeting, I was tasked with setting up an Eastern Cape Nomads website, as many of the other clubs have them and it was felt that it could be a useful communication tool. I have included the address to the site below. Should you have any comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

www.easterncapenomads.co.za

Good luck for your round at St Francis Bay on 16 March, bearing in mind this wisdom: “Some golfers lie awake at night and brood on what went wrong; I'd rather think of what went right. It doesn't take as long.”

Yours in Nomads,

Greg