JSGC DHEKELIA NEWSLETTER

JSGC DHEKELIA

EDITION 5 SEASON 14/15 [March to June 2015]

1964 - 2014

THE 2014 – 2015 CLUB CHAMPIONS IN THIS EDITION P2 Outgoing Captain’s address by Mark Pegler P3 From the new Club Chairman Dicky Wright P4 Message from 2PWRR by the incoming Club Capt. Ned Miller P5 Outgoing Lady Captain’s address by Susie Rance P6 An opus from the outgoing Vice-Capt. Peter Parish P9 Trivia Golf by Brian Rance P10 Farewell to Maria Anderson by Susie Rance P10 Notes from the Club Manager Chris Harper P11 Grounds by John Harper P13 Notes from the Club Pro Tony Laslett P15 Scoreboards P51 Photo Caption Comp and results P53 End Bit

2015 Club Champions Sue Walsh and Morgan John TX2 Newsletter page 1

Outgoing Captain’s Address Mark Pegler As most of you are aware my time as Captain has not been without incident, unlike a civilian Golf Club we are governed by military rules and regulations that at times caused me the desperation of a political party whose poll ratings were rock bottom ... However, on the plus side, it has been an honour to be your Club Captain, and it is with that in mind that I wish to thank all of you for your support and encouragement throughout my tenure. My Captain’s project was to improve Leeway fairway and redesign the bunkers, this now accomplished, I believe that the changes are very noticeable. We have played a lot of Competitions at Dhekelia during 14/15 season, including hosting the Armies, the Air Force, the Inter Services, the AGA and visiting Clubs. None of this can happen without the input of several people, both Committee and non-committee members. In particular, a very special thankyou to Pete Parish, who at the ripe old age of 70 has been my irreplaceable Vice Captain when no other member felt confident in taking on the challenge! On behalf of the Club Membership I sincerely thank Pete for all he has done, not only this season but for many past occasions. In the light of which, and as the outgoing Captain, I dutifully propose that in recognition of Peter’s service to the Club, the incoming Captain, along with his team, consider renaming the Road Hole as “The Parish Boundary” [Thanks to George Livesey for the idea]. As most you will be aware it was Peter’s initiative to change the old Road Hole from a par 3 to a par 4. I wish the incoming Captain, Ned Miller, all the very best and hopefully he, along with the new Committee, enjoy a successful season for 15/16. Thank you.

Mark Pegler TX2 Newsletter page 2

A FEW WORDS FROM THE NEW CLUB CHAIRMAN Capt. Richard Wright I have the pleasure and honour, to have recently taken over as Chairman of JSGC [D] and would like to introduce myself. I am Richard Wright (or known as Dicky to my work colleagues) and currently 2IC Dhekelia Support Unit. I am a keen golfer and have been playing for some 35 years. Like most, I aspire to reduce my handicap, which will only be achieved by getting out and learning how to play the course. I am married to Tracey who doesn’t play. Try as I have she still refuses (some would say that’s not a bad thing!) however she will join me during Club social events. Having been on the island for a mere 2 weeks now, I must say as a first impression, how much of a warm welcome we have both received from all whilst we have been at the Club, which is a great credit to all staff and members. My immediate priority (NLT 1 Jul) will be to re submit the grant application for funding in order to move forward with the Club’s aspiration to replace the current browns with Astro Turf. We will keep our fingers crossed that the grant board will look favourably on the Club’s bid. I would like to thank John Henry for his continued dedication in capturing current topics and information for TX2, as this is such an important means of distributing information on Club business to those on and off the Island. I look forward to meeting you all on the course or in the Clubhouse very soon. Enjoy your golf and your golfing friendships.

Regards, `

Richard Wright Chairman JSGC [D]

TX2 Newsletter page 3

A Message from 2 PWRR Penned by the incoming Club Captain Capt. Ned Miller [Second Battalion Princess of Wales Royal Regiment]

Firstly, I would like to thank the outgoing Committee along with all the Club Members for the fantastic welcome 2 PWRR Soldiers received in August 2014, which set the scene for a fantastic season. Our first introduction to the Club and its course was on a sweltering August day where we went up against a select Club team who were acclimatised and battlehardened to the heat that took its toll on the Soldiers. Inevitably, the Club team triumphed. Nonetheless, it was great day that saw 15 new members recruited from the RIB. We hope there will be a return fixture before the start of the new season where again, we can battle it out with the select from the Club. Be in no doubt that the Battalion would have provided more Club support throughout the 14/15 season but for our heavy commitments to certain current activities. I would like to say it's been very comforting to everyone in the Battalion to hear that so many members are asking about the boys who are away so a big thank you to you all. I know many of you are questioning if Goldie (John Goldsmith) is really in the Army, he plays so much Golf, more Golf than the retired members. Nevertheless, I can assure everyone that he is a Serviceman. We're looking forward to our new season, and with the boys back in time, are hoping to get over 20 new Club members, possibly 25. Once again, on behalf of the Battalion I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the Club for the warm welcome over the past season, looking forward to seeing you all throughout the new one. Best Regards

Ned Miller TX2 Newsletter page 4

A message from the outgoing Lady Captain Susie Rance [SEASON 2014-2015] At the Ladies AGM end of season 2013-14, none of the ladies were prepared to take on the following season Lady Captain position. So my dear friend Randi Steele proposed me, which was hurriedly accepted. So I started my third tenure as Lady Captain, which was of course was a great honour. Disappointingly however, it transpired that the Ladies Committee was dissolved, no longer permitted. Consequently I thank all the non-committee ladies who tirelessly helped me through my tenure. As JSGC (D) was hosting both the RAF Championships as well as the Army Championships the season started in September, a month earlier than in the past. This season saw another major change with the Ladies’ medals being played on weekends rather than the usual Thursdays. The highlight of the year was winning the Rebecca Plate; we thrashed our Epi friends on our own course, winning the Plate outright on the Epi course. Well done to all the winning ladies. Our star of the year must go to Sue Walsh, who was our Lady Golfer of the Year. No longer necessary to hold an end of season Ladies AGM we filled our time with a very successful round of fun golf followed by a sit down meal at one of our sponsor’s restaurants, Caesar’s Palace, where we ate, drank and danced. So now the season has ended, my thanks to all the ladies for your support, I am very pleased to hand the Lady Captain gavel over to Mandy Brooks who I am sure will look after our ladies interests. To Mandy, all the very best, you are taking over a very good group of ladies.

Susie Rance Lady Captain 2014-2015

Ed Note: Susie held the Lady Captaincy in seasons 2009-2010, 2012-2013 & 2014-2015 TX2 Newsletter page 5

Vice-Captain, Club Treasurer & FOG 2015 Co-Ord Dear Members, it seems like only yesterday when I was writing an article about the Anniversary Ball in 2014 and here we are 1 year later playing catch up once more. They say that only women can multi-task but I think I have had a good go over these past 12 months; I must have a strong feminine side!! So having been brow beaten by that well known liberal lefty John “Red” Henry, I put some paper in the machine, switched on the aged brain, got “her inside of the doors” to make coffee and settled down to pen the following opus.

Chapter 1 “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times” (Apologies to C Dickens Esq) I certainly had no secret or public desire to be ViceCaptain again, especially at the ripe old age of “several”, however needs must when the devil drives so with Gary Clive standing down at short notice and an extreme paucity of candidates yours truly stepped up to the plate. Straight in with organizing the Inter Club Teams, officiating for the Captain in his absence (which was a lot LOL) and preparing the ground for FOG 15. I also found time to do a bit of Treasuring, attend countless meetings, Chairman briefing etc, etc!!!

Chapter 2 “Don’t ask what your Club can do for you but ask what you can do for your Club” (The late Lt Col “Bob” Pickford MBE RIFLES) I would be a liar to say that I enjoyed every minute of my sojourn during the past months, there have been several issues which I would sincerely wish not to have witnessed or been involved in but, “C’est la Vie”.

TX2 Newsletter page 6

It is a real privilege to be an official of the Golf Club and if you have never sat on any of the Committees then the loss is only yours! By serving the Club in various ways one gets to see how things are done and also be able to influence matters in most areas. As V/Capt, FOG 15 Co-Ord and Treasurer I sincerely hope that I have achieved, in some small measure, to represent you the members, your interests and helped to improve the status quo whenever possible.

Chapter 3 “It’s not the winning but the taking part that counts” (Olympic Ethos 2012) As Vice-Captain, the responsibility for Inter club activities rest with the Office. Over the years the number of participants for various matches has decreased dramatically and on occasion I found it difficult to field a team at all. I wholeheartedly encourage you to have a go, being part of a Team helps you to a greater commitment and increases the passion you already feel for Golf. The mere fact of going to other Clubs allows an individual to broaden their skills and by interacting with likeminded folk, social aspirations are raised accordingly. The Club Management actively supports these events and subsidies are available to assist with travel costs etc.

Chapter 4 “Fair Play” (Shakespeare, the Tempest) There has been much debate, normally over a refreshing beverage at the 19 th Hole, as to how we feel about handicaps, others playing skills, abuse of rules etc,etc. Everyone has an opinion and for what it is worth this is mine. (Pattaya Golfers take note) We should all try to bring to Golf a sense of fair play and instil the same sense in others. Courtesy and politeness are essential ingredients to being a good sportsman. It is well to remember the following as stated on the back cover of the official rule book. “Play the ball as it lies, play the course as you find it, and if you cannot do either, do what is fair”. TX2 Newsletter page 7

Chapter 5 Finale “Age shall not weary them” (Laurence Binyon) It would not be appropriate to close this “Opus Minimus” without a salutation to the “Old and Bold ex-servicemen who form the backbone of our great Club here in Dhekelia. As space is prohibitive I only managed to fit in four of our highly distinguished “Old Guard” one of whom was “Best Recruit. See if you can guess who?

From R to L: Malcolm Newell (Dads Army) Peter Parish (Irish Army) George Colville (Army Barmy) Gordon Hubbard (Salvation Army) Keep the Home fires burning with the WFA (Winter Fool (sic) Allowance?) Ed Note: For the uninitiated, not being in “THE circle”, Peter’s “Pattaya Golfers” expression in Chapter 4 refers to a Golfer’s annual outing to Thailand’s eastern Gulf coast and not a golfer’s tummy bug. Also for you edification, Peter also wrote (sic) in the above test box that doesn’t, as I thought, refer to being poorly without a “k”, but is in fact a Latin adverb [“Thus sic erat scriptum”] meaning “thus was it written” … or, if you like: “written like that on purpose” Thanks PP, you’re a real star.

Yours in Golf

Peter Parish Vice-Captain 2014-2015 TX2 Newsletter page 8

TRIVIA GOLFING FROM THE GOLFERS MANUAL. A Texas Scramble is a form of play whereby a team of three or four all drive, choose the best ball and place their ball in turn at that spot, from which they then play their second shots. The process is then repeated until the first ball is holed, and a score is recorded for that hole. Variants of the Texas Scramble include: The Drop Out Scramble – the player whose ball is selected is not allowed to play the next shot. The Delaney Scramble – the team may not choose more than two shots from anyone player at each hole. The Ambrose Scramble – the team must use at least four tee shots from each player. The Idaho Scramble – the team must select the worst – placed ball each time. Not in the Golfers Manual is The Dhekelia Scramble – which is a mixture of both The Drop out Scramble and The Ambrose Scramble. WE DON’T HAVE TO BOOK A ROUND AT DHEKELIA Golf is not a safe passion. More people die early by playing golf. In Japan it is proven that golf is eight times more likely to kill a man over the age of 60 than jogging. The golf death rate is higher than mountaineering, tennis or that most of vicious sports, croquet. It is claimed that almost 5,000 people a year die on golf courses in Japan. Japan, where ten million players fight to enjoy themselves on only 2,000 courses. This is equivalent of 350 people playing on every course every day of the year, assuming only one round per player per fortnight. As the average round takes at least four hours in Japan, it would require a fourball to start every five minutes to enable everybody to get their one round every two weeks. No wonder more Japanese die in the midst of their golfing passion than in the midst of any other kind of passion imaginable. So for Health and Safety reasons for us elder persons, it is better to play golf at Dhekelia.

Brian Rance TX2 Newsletter page 9

A Farewell to Maria Anderson A tribute by the Lady Capt. Susie Rance Maria joined the Joint Services Golf Club Dhekelia 22 years ago in October 1993. Her golfing achievements are numerous as shown on the competition Boards throughout the Club House. Maria has had 4 Hole in Ones at Dhekelia, the first in 1994, and the second four years later in 1998. She waited seven years for a third in 2005 and a quick four years to bang home her fourth in 2009. Maria has won seven major competitions. Viz:

Maria Anderson

CORONATION FOURSOMES Season 1994 /95 playing partner Pat Davidson Season 1999 / 00 playing partner Margot Watt ALL WINNERS Season in 1999

FOLKARD VASE Season 1996 / 97 and in 1999 / 00

ECCO LOVING & LIVING CUP Season 1995 /96

VOLVO CLASSIC AM-AM Season 2001 / 02 playing partners J Sewell, Jill Leigh, and W Hampson.

Not only has Maria won Competitions and Trophies she has also won our hearts, we wish her well with Andy in Holly Tree UK.

THE CLUB MANAGER Chris Harper

S

o, it’s the end of another long busy and mostly successful golfing season. We have a new Chairman and Club officials who are already planning how to make next season even better.

It is also time to say goodbye to members and staff who have or who are leaving us. My personal thanks go to you all for the help and support you have given in so many varied ways. In particular I will miss Kim who has been so effective in running the bar and much of the clubhouse. TX2 Newsletter page 10

She has deserted us for the corporate delights of Sodexo and seems to be thriving! Lauren is already well established as the new Bar Manager and we will be working together to see the Club House provides a welcoming 19 th hole for all members. I already have a long ‘to do’ list for the next couple of months but if you have any ideas or suggestions for any aspect of the Club please come and discuss them with me. You may, of course, find yourself roped in to put them into action! It can be very quiet during the summer and members who are at the Club are asked to keep their eyes open for things that may need doing , be it closing doors, turning off fans, watering plants or reporting faults. Every little helps! Have a good summer, home or away, and prepare for another busy golfing season in just a few months.

At the Joint Captains Day Presentation’s, Sat 13 June, Chris Harper presented the outgoing Bar Manager Kim Laslett with a farewell and a big thankyou bunch of flowers.

Yours

Chris Harper GROUNDS 2014/15 By John Harper This playing season has been the wettest on record in Cyprus - it is still raining in June!! However the more recent hot dry weather has seen the fairways and rough going dormant and brown. The grounds staff have now started regular watering of the course and some areas are greening up again. The fairways will continue to be mown, about every two weeks and the surrounds to the browns as necessary. The browns will be swept twice a week and the pin positions changed reasonably frequently. TX2 Newsletter page 11

Golfers should remember to rake any bunkers that they play from - rakes should by left in the bottom of the bunker, not propped against the margins. The irrigation system continues to be repaired and improved. Work has just been completed to replace three leaking control taps on Plateau. This will reduce the water loss from popups on the fairway and the work also resolved a leaking split in the main water feed pipe. It is hoped that other improvements will be able to be carried out around the course, subject to budgetary constraints. A big thank you to all the Grounds staff, who work hard to achieve the best they can in difficult conditions, using very old equipment. Unfortunately, the application for funds to pay for artificial turf was not successful earlier this year. For the moment we will have to continue with 'sandy browns'. To reduce the environmental impact, the Grounds staff will no longer be using motor oil on the browns. The change will be made to using new vegetable oil. During the summer the Grounds staff will be experimenting with oil type, mixing ratios and handling procedures, trying to find the 'best practice' to achieve an acceptable putting surface for the next playing season. We have already taken very helpful advice from IGCN. The use of new vegetable oil will, however, generate a new cost to the grounds budget, expected to be in the order of several thousand Euros. Ideas, feedback and constructive comments from members are always welcomed. The need for volunteers to shovel sand still remains and assistance at Captain's work days does a lot to help to maintain the course at this Members' Golf Club.

Keep it on the fairway

John Harper PS. A great picture John. [Ed].

TX2 Newsletter page 12

ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITION From the Club Pro Tony Laslett At the start of this season I was involved in a debate explaining the rules of abnormal ground conditions, the relief from animal / rabbit scrapes and when the ball is

adjacent to a tree. Unsure if the message got through to everyone I found this article in the R&A Rules Newsletter and thought it could help throw some light on the subject.

A

n abnormal ground condition is any casual water, ground under repair or hole, cast or runway on the course made by a burrowing animal. A player is entitled to relief from an abnormal ground condition when the ball lies in or touches the condition or when the condition interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing [Rule 25-1a]. If the player has interference as is defined in the Rules, the player is entitled to free relief under Rule 25-1b. In terms of some JSGC [D] members query’s, the key is the Exception to Rule 25-1b and deciding if this applies or not to the situation. The Exception to this Rule states: A player may not take relief under this Rule if (a) interference by anything other than an abnormal ground condition makes the stroke clearly impracticable or (b) interference by an abnormal ground condition would occur only through use of a clearly unreasonable stroke or an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play. It is for the player to prove that the ball is actually in a playable position. For example, if a ball lies in the deep in the roots of a tree and a rabbit hole interferes with his stance, the player should be denied relief as it is clearly not practicable to make a stroke due to the tree roots. Basically, the rabbit scrape cannot be used as an "excuse" to avoid a penalty for what is essentially an unplayable ball. The player must also prove that the stroke he is intending to play is not unnecessarily abnormal. Sometimes it is necessary to play a stroke or have a stance that is not the norm for the player, or to play in a direction other than towards the hole. For example, a right-handed player may have to play lefthanded or the player may have to chip out to the side to avoid a tree or the player may need to amend his stance to play the ball. None of these actions, although abnormal, would be considered unnecessary when a tree interferes with the stroke.

TX2 Newsletter page 13

However, in a situation where there is no need to play left-handed, out to the side or amend the stance and the player is simply doing this so that relief could be gained from the rabbit hole, these actions would be considered unnecessary” and relief would be denied. Again, the abnormal direction of play, stroke, stance or swing cannot be used as an excuse to get free relief. It is worth noting that the player is only entitled to relief from the rabbit hole for the stroke that is feasible to play [e.g. the side-ways stroke away from the tree] and not from the tree itself. If interference exists and relief is warranted, the player would need to establish the nearest point of relief for the stroke that he is intending to play and drop the ball as is required in Rule 25-1b. After taking relief, the tree may still interfere with the player's stance or swing or direction of play. Equally, once relief has been taken for the stroke, if the player is now able to play a conventional shot in the normal manner, he may do so. Decisions 25-1b/20, 25-1b/21 and 25-1b/22 are useful in interpreting this Rule [and particularly the Exception].

I hope that helps

Tony Laslett Club Pro The Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis [ALS] Ice Bucket Challenge Earlier in the season the Club Chairman Capt. Jim Sugrue took on the challenge, kindly helped by the Club Pro Tony Laslett Something most members would have happily done to Jim, not necessarily with clean water however. [Joking!] Well done Jim [Ed]

TX2 Newsletter page 14

SCOREBOARD IN BRIEF [March – June 2015] Columbia Classic Competition Intrepid Dhekelia Golfers Travel to Episkopi A report by Carole Short On the 28th February 15 intrepid Dhekelia golfers set out for Episkopi to play in their two day Columbia Classic Competition. Ladies and Gents’ hopes were high, as always, of bringing home the prizes. However after the first day’s golf and the threat of a few, in fact rather a lot, of early starts for day two we retired to The Aphrodite Club in Erimi to lick our wounds. The accommodation was excellent and a very pleasant evening was spent eating a superb Chinese meal and imbibing rather a lot of liquids. (Some water was included I believe but most included the grape and the hop). After this extremely pleasant evening the chances of even a day 2 prize was not looking likely so it was decided to do a Dhekelia sweep stake for the first and second nett winners of the day amongst our group. In second place was Tricia Cooper and in first place Mike Short so obviously the alcohol from the night before helped hold their heads steady!!! Mike played with the Irish winner of competition and to add insult to injury we to watch the Six Nations Rugby with them they beat us at that too. A great weekend had by all.

the had and was

Carole Short T & T CHAMPS 2015 Winner of the 2015 T & T Championship: Güenter Schuller Runner Up: George Savva The Competition was held on the 4 June followed by an end of season celebrative luncheon held at the Mariandy Hotel where Mike Lilley presented Güenter and George with their T & T TX2 Newsletter page 15 Champ trophies

MONTHLY MEDAL GENTS [Sponsored by Paul Wilkie]

LADIES [Sponsored by Mariandy]

Mar:

Apr:

May:

Div 1

Noel Greene

Nett 70

Div 1

Penny Mulligan Nett 79

Div 2

Nick Triniman Nett 67

Div 2

Tricia Cooper Nett 80

Div 3

John Harper

Nett 74

Div 1

Morgan John

Nett 71

Div 1

Nicola Bevan

Div 2

Melvyn Carr

Nett 69

Div 2

Tricia Cooper Nett 66

Div 3

Dave Barrett

Nett 76

Div 1

Noel Greene

Nett 68

Div 1

Pam Jones

Div 2

John O’Rourke Nett 74

Div 2

Margrit Burri Nett 72

Div 3

Jan Mernelus Nett 74

Nett 74

Nett 69

GENTS MONTHLY STABLEFORD [Sponsored by Caesars Palace] Mar: Div 1:

Apr: Jim Horsman

37 Stbl Pts

Div 1:

Nick Triniman 38 Stbl Pts

Div 2: Terry Waite

34 Stbl Pts

Div 2: John Harper

33 Stbl Pts.

LADIES MORNING FLORENTIA [Sponsored by Florentia] Mar: st

1 :

Apr: June Lynn

Nett 40

1st:

Margot Watt

Nett 36

nd

Nett 36

nd

2 :

Randi Steele

Nett 38

2 :

Carole Short

rd

Sue Fletcher

Nett 37

3rd:

Monika Thronstrom Nett 35

3 :

The $!#