Fortwilliam Golf Club   – Message from Incoming Captain –   Jim McGinn                    

 

 

In my vice captains acceptance address in 2013 I stated that I was both proud and honoured to have been nominated to that role and, now as your incoming captain I again express those same sentiments.

 

I wish to thank our now immediate past Captain Pat Toal for nominating me for this honour and privilege and to our council and numerous other club members for their encouragement and support in taking on this daunting challenge.

 

Last year I also stated it was with no small measure of trepidation that I was following in the footsteps of Pat Toal, a man who, by his long and dedicated service to Fortwilliam is a walking legend within our club.

 

Since that time I have had many occasions to assist Pat during his distinguished year as Captain and my trepidation quickly turned to admiration, not only for the sound advice and encouragement he imparted to me as vice captain, but for the professional and methodical way he carried out his duties as Captain.  Pat has been a credit to the club as Captain and I am not at all embarrassed to say that I now take his place with much more confidence due to his wise council over the last year.

 

I congratulate Howard Hillis who has completed his first year as our president, also outgoing Ladies captain Claire Loughrey and outgoing Junior captain Sean Joe Rooney. I was privileged to attend many team and other club events with all three throughout the year and they all also served the club with distinction and deserve our appreciation.

 

I congratulate our new Lady Captain Mrs Alice Kelly, our new Lady Vice Captain Mrs Jean Corr and new Junior captain Paddy McDermott                      .

 

Finally congratulations to those who were elected to council at the AGM: Vice Captain Jim McDonnell, John Molloy, Alan Bermingham and Dominic Loy and I wish them success in their new role.

 

To those that have departed council Dennis O'Sullivan (distinguished trustee), Joe Whitson, and Kieran McCrystal I record my thanks and appreciation for all they did on the clubs behalf.

 

Regrettably it has become the norm since 2008 for the incoming captain to comment on the prevailing difficult financial climate which in turn directly impacts on our club. Each year also we go forward in the hope that we have turned the corner but regrettably it is no secret the difficult times are still with us.

 

I have had first-hand knowledge of the club officers and council members thrash out and grapple with our difficulties at monthly council meetings and numerous other subcommittee meetings so I can assure you that all that can be done is being done and still the efforts constantly go on.

 

At the heart of the clubs efforts to not only run the overall golf club but to battle the economic problems are the club conveners and committees.

 

It is during the committee sessions that much of the hard background work is done.

 

This year some of the traditional committees have been renamed and given remits that reflect the council's stated intention of both controlling and monitoring costs in addition to aggressively promoting the club to attract new members, retain existing members and increase revenue from other sources.

 

It is also the officers and council intent to continue the battle with the twin elements of increasing revenue and reducing cost until we get back on an even keel. 

 

Last year we welcomed Jason Podris as our new course manager and he impressed us all with his initial strategy for the progressive improvement of our course. I think I speak for all when I say that over the last year Jason and his team put words into action with an impressive programme of course improvements culminating in the completion of the Phase 1 drainage programme.                                                                               

 

In his incoming Captain’s address last year Pat Toal also set out his vision of enhanced inclusivity within our club. The outworking of that vision has resulted in the former members bar being renamed and officially opened to all members and their guests and the former mixed lounge and Shaftesbury room have also been renamed to enhance flexibility for functions and meetings.

 

I feel these changes have proved a success but i accept that such change especially in golf clubs can be slow. In any case I will endeavour to promote the principle of further inclusiveness within our club at all times.

 

A particularly memorable feature of my year as vice-captain was being privileged to attend most of our team matches often in the company of our captain Pat Toal. Although the Fort did not bring home any silverware our teams gave an excellent account of themselves. This was particularly evidenced in our teams’ progression through the various heats and stages well into the golfing year.

 

Of particular note was our magnificent Holt Shield team reaching the final once again only to be outclassed by the narrowest of margins to a very good Carrick team and the Senior Cup team reaching the Ulster Final. Distinguished performances also came from our teams in Barton Shield, Ulster Cup and Fred Daly Junior team. All our club teams played with total commitment guided by the efforts of M & H convener Bill McLernon and team managers and I confidently predict that this year will be no different. The team matches are a key part of the clubs golfing calendar so I ask you all to support our teams in the 2014 season. 

 

Finally I wish to record that I am proud to be your captain and it is my intention to represent all club members equally and to the best of my ability during my time in office.

 

 

Jim McGinn