Other than the few remaining winter league competitions, the 2014 golfing season has come and gone, and we are once again fast approaching Christmas and the festive season.

 

I was told by a past captain this year that the time would fly. He was right and it only seems like yesterday since my Captains Day in mid June.

 

After the excellent weather of the 2013 golfing season we were again lucky to get a repeat for 2014. My Captain's Day was therefore played in perfect conditions as was the Ladies Captain's a week later.

 

The favourable summer conditions also enabled Jason Podris and his team to prepare the course to a high standard and numerous members have commented to me that they have never seen the course in better condition during the golfing season.

 

The 2014 golfing season again saw the Fortwilliam club teams do battle with the opposition in most of the interclub competitions. Many hard fought matches went to the eighteenth green.

 

Fortwilliam did bring home some silverware in winning the East Antrim Junior League Cup by defeating Greenacres and Team Manager Brian Pollock and his team deserve credit for this achievement.

 

The Fred Daly Team as usual also gave a magnificent account of themselves in reaching the semi- final only to suffer a heartbreaking loss against Belvoir.

 

On behalf of the club I send best wishes to Junior player John Joe McAuley who was injured in a serious car accident somes months back. Thankfully he is now on the mend and we wish him a full recovery.

 

The interclub competitions are only a part of the golfing calender and the lifeblood of the club’s golfing activities are the weekly competitions for the clubs silverware followed by the winter league. The club members have given overwhelming support to both these events.

 

I wish to thank our President Howard Hillis for his support of the Holt Shield team and the Vice Captain Jim McDonnell for representing the club at most of the Fred Daly competitions.

 

I also especially thank the Honorary Secretary for his constant support and invaluable advice throughout the year.

 

My thanks also to all Team Managers who worked tirelessly to prepare and organise the teams.

 

I thank the Ladies Captain Alice Kelly for her support during the year and also the Ladies Section for their support at my Captain's Day Dinner.

 

I also thank the Club Officers, Council, Club Conveners, House Maintenance, Jason and the greens staff, Marian and her catering staff, Gerry and his bar staff and last but not least Ricky Duckett and his team from the Pro Shop who always provide a first class service.

 

Before we reach the Christmas break there is still the silverware prize presentation on 29th November and the completion of the winter league. That will be followed by the Winter League prizegiving where nobody attending goes home empty handed

 

I look forward to seeing the members at these events.

 

At the start of the year there were serious financial issues that had to be addressed as a matter of urgency. In reponse to this situation, Council had to implement an Emergency Turnaround Plan that regrettably has resulted in some staff redundancies and has also had a significant financial impact on club members.

 

Thanks to your support, the cash flow crisis that faced the club has been averted. We thank all members who have responded to our request for early payment of fees and also those members who have come forward and provided short term loans for the club. We believe that we have now turned the corner but Council will continue to monitor club finances closely to ensure we complete our financial recovery.

 

Once we are confident that the club has returned to a sound financial footing, we will be in a position to review the austerity measures that had to be put in place. With continued support from members, we can look forward to the new year with optimism.

 

Finally the most important part of this Christmas Massage is to wish all club members and their families a peaceful and Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

 

 

Jim McGinn