Captain’s Blog – no 2 (April 14th)
Firstly, and most importantly, I hope all members and their families are keeping safe. We are living in the shadow of the pandemic with the grim reality of ever rising infections and deaths projected nightly into our homes making the need to continue with the lockdown clear. Frightening times!
So how has the lockdown been for you? For me, it’s so far so good but there’s still a long way to go!
My first thoughts are to count my blessings. I am so lucky to live with Isabelle here in Barrow, have a reasonable size garden and be able to enjoy the local countryside and wildlife (in our once daily exercise period). The fine weather has certainly helped.
In the past, gardening has seemed a bit of a chore, difficult to fit in between everything else, but in the last three weeks it has become a positive experience. With no time pressure, it has become a welcome distraction and provided a sense of purpose. Certainly, our garden has never been so tidy at this time of year.
We have always been keen walkers but in recent years have rather neglected some of the walks on our doorstep. We are rapidly rediscovering many of the local footpaths and thoroughly enjoying getting a different perspective of very familiar places.
Complimenting our appreciation of our garden and the local countryside, has been our interest in wildlife, particularly birds. We are by no means expert birders, more enthusiastic amateurs keen to try to identify birds we see in the garden and the surrounding countryside (and indeed on the golf course). So, armed with binoculars, a pocket bird book and a very limited knowledge of birdsong we have been keeping a list (the first sign of an obsession?) of bird species we have positively identified in and around Barrow during the lockdown. Currently, this stands at just over 50, it is surprizing how quickly the numbers rise. Many of these are very common species we take for granted but there are some that have particularly pleased us. Birds come in all sizes, of the larger birds we spotted a Peregrine (we think) in the trees opposite our house and before that the first sighting in our garden of the smallest bird in the UK, a Goldcrest.
From a birding perspective this is a really interesting (exciting?) time of year as many birds return to the UK to breed in our summer having undertaken amazing migration journeys. The more I learn about bird migration the more remarkable it is! In the last few days as well as the first swallows and house martins we have identified willow warblers, black caps, white throats and of course numerous chiff chaffs.
Enough of trivia, what about golf? We are being kept amused by the constant flow of ‘funnies’ on the various ‘WhatsApp’ groups. The Golf Ladies group is very good and the PHGC (competition committee) group is always interesting! Thanks.
Last week Isabelle and I walked from home, almost exclusively on footpaths, to Oscroft and across the golf course. It was a lovely day, the green staff were all hard at work and the course looked great. So, we really have something to look forward when the lockdown finally ends.
I have just watched an Annika Sorenstam masterclass on the short game, I am now resolved to spend time practicing what she recommended in the garden. I’m sure that’s the missing ingredient that I have been searching for!
Enough of my ramblings. I hope everyone is keeping busy and sane. Until the next time, stay safe.
Dave
Captain's Blog (2020) #1
Despite the forced cancellation of the AGM, the club decided that the Captaincy would be transferred as originally planned. So sometime in the last few days Karen Green assumed the Lady Captaincy with Sue Dunne as her Vice and I assumed the Club Captaincy with Gordon Wallace as my Vice. The AGM paperwork will be circulated to everybody in the next few days.
Understandably at this extraordinary and very worrying time, golf related matters are not anyone’s top priority. My overriding thoughts are that all members, staff, owners and their families stay safe and hope and pray that we all get through this.
My intention was to publish a regular Captain’s blog to reflect on golfing and social events at the club. Clearly, this is currently a redundant idea. However, there are a few golf club related issues I would like to address in this, my first blog.
Firstly, I would like to congratulate Pam and Ian on their very successful Captaincies. Despite suffering a very wet year both have provided very positive leadership of the club, organised many excellent events and generated some great memories to help us through this period of lockdown. They will be a hard act to follow!
Secondly. This is a desperately difficult time for the club and I would ask all members to show commitment to it. The membership of PHGC has always been very loyal and supportive and there is a really strong sense of community and camaraderie within the club that can help us all at this difficult time. The one thing we can all do, to help safeguard the club and the jobs of the staff, is to pay our membership fees promptly. I know Richard and the staff would really appreciate this.
In this context there are some very positive things to report from the club. 1, The work on the extension to produce the new members area has continued and is nearing completion. 2, The green staff, under the leadership of our new head greenkeeper Andy, (who has joined us from Wilmslow GC) are continuing to work. With the benefit of the good recent weather and absence of golfers(!), I understand they are making excellent progress in restoring the course following the atrocious winter. Before the lockdown, the Members Council, Andy and Richard had a really positive discussion about course maintenance and the course presentation standard (agreed last year). Consequently, I am excited about the future of the course!
With your continued support, the future of PHGC is very bright. So, to those of you who have renewed your membership, thank you. To those who haven’t yet renewed please help us secure this future by re-joining ASAP. Thanks.
Despite, there being no prospect of any golf for some time I do intend to produce regular blogs just to keep in touch. So, until the next time, keep safe and stay positive – there is much to look forward to at PHGC!
Dave Hughes (PHGC Club Captain 2020!)