Captain's Blog
June 2025
It's Saturday morning as I write - June 7 - and I was expecting to be welcoming large numbers of you to my Captain's Prize Day and all the social and golfing enjoyment that goes with such an occasion. Although it's a shame that we've had to postpone it, I have my fingers crossed that July 13 will be a glorious day and that not too many of you will be on holiday or otherwise engaged; please put the date in your diary!
As you might be aware, on Friday four of us - the president, a vice president, the manager and I - all played together as part of FRAMS. We were celebrating the date - exactly 100 years ago - of the first ever real match at Highwoods which was an exhibition match in which four professionals (two of whom were Open Champions!) christened the course. The standard on Friday might not have been as high as it was on that inaugural occasion but there was some good golf played by all of us - the Thacker putting stroke was on song; the Munro driver made its presence felt; young Smedley played a couple of astonishing shots, including driving into the ditch at the 8th, which meant we had to play my ball from near the 150 yard marker (greensomes, you see) and he hit that shot to about 4 feet! Andrew's face when I missed the birdie putt was a picture of controlled disappointment - something that greensomes teaches every golfer who takes part. A good way to celebrate the occasion anyway.
Trish and I are now more than halfway through our year as captains and recently things have been hotting up a bit in terms of our time commitment. We're having some good times, I'm happy to report. One of my own 'champagne moments' came in the Triball match with Nevill and Lamberhurst, held at Lamberhurst. With 12 players on each side there were 36 stableford scores to total up and in the early stages I was being kept in the loop, having finished my own three ball with the other two captains and having changed into my smart club blazer for an evening of enjoyment of the Lamberhurst hospitality. As expected, the home side were posting some good scores and Nevill looked likely to be third. Highwoods were, though, still in the race - just. Then, against my expectations (and those of the other captains) the last few men in our team made a late thrust for the tape - and we overtook the leading home team! Probably my proudest moment so far as Highwoods Captain came when the trophy was presented to me by the captain of the holders. The whole day was conducted in a spirit of friendship and warmth and I look forward to playing in the match again next year - if selected of course.......
Another side of the slow play discussion (see BLOGS passim) was shown to me recently. Just as there are players who play slower than everyone else, there seem to be some players whose natural pace of play is faster than everyone else's. The sensible time for a competition three ball or a fourball better ball (where people pick up and don't always have to putt out) is generally agreed to be about 3 hrs 50 mins. My concern is simply to try to help people - ALL people - achieve a comfortable progress around the course. If, however, you feel that others are getting in your way - even if they're playing at the recommended pace - there are two solutions to your problem - a) play more slowly or b) go out first in competitions. There are very few players that I'm aware of who have this "I want to get around as quickly as I possibly can" approach, so I hope this provides a small crumb of advice where it's needed.
Our representative teams have been doing their best to uphold the competitive name of Highwoods - things are looking up in the Inter Club League and our KO teams have been giving a good account of themselves. As I write, the scratch team has a tough match coming up at Selsey. I've been particularly grateful to Ed Lawrie, Mark Elliott, Micky Grimes and Ben Skelton for their hard-working leadership on the club's behalf. Also, Gerry Donohue and Steve Jones have been efficiency personified in their roles as match managers for the seniors and Peter and Sue Mead are doing their usual sterling job with the mixed matches. There are still plenty of matches left and lots to play for - even Trish and I are starting to get used to playing together in mixed matches (her patience is sorely tested but she hides it well!).
Our course is justifiably becoming a bit of a "course celebre" - one of the golfing magazines visited recently and we should all look out for the resulting article. Just a few days ago, my early morning tour with Jamie, to choose the pin positions for "my" day, reminded me again what a fabulous place Highwoods is. Keep on enjoying your golf and please don't forget to attend to all your divots and pitch marks.
Denis D
PS I hope you like the picture of your captain modelling the latest club colours. Taken after a good night out.....
As you might be aware, on Friday four of us - the president, a vice president, the manager and I - all played together as part of FRAMS. We were celebrating the date - exactly 100 years ago - of the first ever real match at Highwoods which was an exhibition match in which four professionals (two of whom were Open Champions!) christened the course. The standard on Friday might not have been as high as it was on that inaugural occasion but there was some good golf played by all of us - the Thacker putting stroke was on song; the Munro driver made its presence felt; young Smedley played a couple of astonishing shots, including driving into the ditch at the 8th, which meant we had to play my ball from near the 150 yard marker (greensomes, you see) and he hit that shot to about 4 feet! Andrew's face when I missed the birdie putt was a picture of controlled disappointment - something that greensomes teaches every golfer who takes part. A good way to celebrate the occasion anyway.
Trish and I are now more than halfway through our year as captains and recently things have been hotting up a bit in terms of our time commitment. We're having some good times, I'm happy to report. One of my own 'champagne moments' came in the Triball match with Nevill and Lamberhurst, held at Lamberhurst. With 12 players on each side there were 36 stableford scores to total up and in the early stages I was being kept in the loop, having finished my own three ball with the other two captains and having changed into my smart club blazer for an evening of enjoyment of the Lamberhurst hospitality. As expected, the home side were posting some good scores and Nevill looked likely to be third. Highwoods were, though, still in the race - just. Then, against my expectations (and those of the other captains) the last few men in our team made a late thrust for the tape - and we overtook the leading home team! Probably my proudest moment so far as Highwoods Captain came when the trophy was presented to me by the captain of the holders. The whole day was conducted in a spirit of friendship and warmth and I look forward to playing in the match again next year - if selected of course.......
Another side of the slow play discussion (see BLOGS passim) was shown to me recently. Just as there are players who play slower than everyone else, there seem to be some players whose natural pace of play is faster than everyone else's. The sensible time for a competition three ball or a fourball better ball (where people pick up and don't always have to putt out) is generally agreed to be about 3 hrs 50 mins. My concern is simply to try to help people - ALL people - achieve a comfortable progress around the course. If, however, you feel that others are getting in your way - even if they're playing at the recommended pace - there are two solutions to your problem - a) play more slowly or b) go out first in competitions. There are very few players that I'm aware of who have this "I want to get around as quickly as I possibly can" approach, so I hope this provides a small crumb of advice where it's needed.
Our representative teams have been doing their best to uphold the competitive name of Highwoods - things are looking up in the Inter Club League and our KO teams have been giving a good account of themselves. As I write, the scratch team has a tough match coming up at Selsey. I've been particularly grateful to Ed Lawrie, Mark Elliott, Micky Grimes and Ben Skelton for their hard-working leadership on the club's behalf. Also, Gerry Donohue and Steve Jones have been efficiency personified in their roles as match managers for the seniors and Peter and Sue Mead are doing their usual sterling job with the mixed matches. There are still plenty of matches left and lots to play for - even Trish and I are starting to get used to playing together in mixed matches (her patience is sorely tested but she hides it well!).
Our course is justifiably becoming a bit of a "course celebre" - one of the golfing magazines visited recently and we should all look out for the resulting article. Just a few days ago, my early morning tour with Jamie, to choose the pin positions for "my" day, reminded me again what a fabulous place Highwoods is. Keep on enjoying your golf and please don't forget to attend to all your divots and pitch marks.
Denis D
PS I hope you like the picture of your captain modelling the latest club colours. Taken after a good night out.....