Captain's Blog
David Colgrave
Captain’s Blog - Par Date Monday 21st April 2025
Fellow Members of Settle & Giggleswick Golf Club.
Well the season is now officially underway and we have been blessed with some wonderfully clement golfing weather over the last few weeks.
It has been fantastic to see a busy course and so many players, home and visitors, enjoying our little gem throughout April.
The opening event was the Captain’s Drive in on Saturday 5th April and it was a marvellous social event with sunshine, plenty of participants and lots of laughs. Big thank you to everyone who attended and to my fellow Captain, the Toffs’ John Read and to Jemma Vickery who represented the Ladies, we all managed to get the ball off the tee and down “a fairway”! There was also a decent sum raised for the club and the Captains’ charity.
Competition season has also got underway and I am pleased to report that the initial three “Comps” have been well attended…
Mixed Summer 9 hole Stableford 09/04/25 – Winner Alan Strickland 24 points, 2nd place Frankie Eccleston, 3rd Place Karen Strickland. Well done Alan, I’m sure that handicap will be dropping soon!! Good to see a strong representation from the Ladies’ section too.
April Monthly Medal 13/04/25 – Winner Tony Runciman net 72, 2nd place Kris Attewell, 3rd place Joseph Thornton. Congratulations and welcome back Tony, good to see a returning member of the club enjoy success early season.
Bernard Cox Trophy 19/04/25 (sponsored by our friends at The Golden Lion) – Winner John Read 41 points!!, 2nd Place Frankie Eccleston (consistent Frankie!), 3rd place Ernie Armstrong. Brilliant performance JR, that practice every Thursday clearly pays off!
The results of all competitions and entry to them are via the HowDidIDo app. If you would like to get involved drop me, or Peter Johnson (Club Secretary) a note and I’ll point you in the right direction. davidcolgrave@btinternet.com or pjjohnson317@btinternet.com
Details of all club socials, fixtures and competitions can be found on our website Events Calendar | Settle & Gigg GC
With regard to “preferred lies” for comps and general play please refer to the notices in the changing rooms.
Whilst I would urge all members to obtain a handicap and give competitions a try, I understand that many of you would prefer to play socially with friends and take a low key approach to our wonderful sport. That’s wonderful too and you can still meet up with other members at our social events.
In fact my favourite memory of golf this month happened on Sunday morning, a friendly knock with John Holliday and Eddie Kidd (the doyen of Settle & Giggleswick Golf Club). The weather was wonderful, the company was wonderful and we all hit some tasty shots. No trophy at stake, just some fun in the sun.
Gents, I have provisionally booked the Huntworth Trophy Away Day at Northcliffe Golf Club. It’s on Friday, the 15th of August. We have five Tee off times booked from 10:30 am and a one course meal at 3:30 pm. I’ve also booked two buggies(I can book more if required) Green fees are £35 per person (reduced from £45) and the meal will be £15. Please sign up in the lobby if you’d like to attend. I’ll organise some prizes, should be a great day!!
Go well everyone. DC
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Captain’s Blog - Par Date Saturday 8th March 2025
Fellow Members of Settle & Giggleswick Golf Club.
Well the 2025 season is almost upon us. When I posted the last blog it was the end of January, bitterly cold and horribly wet. The last few days have seen sunny spring weather and we wait in anticipation for the firm fairways, true greens and stunning sunlit vistas from our spectacular tees that characterise our very special golf course.
The committee have been working hard preparing for the coming season and our fixture list is almost complete.
I’ve played a couple of rounds recently, the course is improving and drying out nicely.
This evening I’ve been writing my Captain’s letter for our handbook and thinking about a theme for this year. “Fun Participation” is how I’d like this year to feel.
Golf is a testing sport, full of ups and downs, but we play because we love it. Golf can be frustrating but also exhilarating; but no matter how we are playing it should be fun, play with a smile and a laugh and enjoy the special companionship that comes with sharing a round with friends and competitors.
Participation is crucial, we need as many members as possible supporting events, competitions, away days and socials. It genuinely doesn’t matter what your standard of golf is, don’t just play on your own, come and join in, there is no judgement or pressure. You’ve joined a wonderful club, so make the most of being in a club – join in!!
The first official fixture of 2025 is the Captain’s drive in on the morning of Saturday 5th April. This is a friendly, social 9 hole event, with food and fun, open to everyone, with or without a handicap. The main purpose of the day is to raise money for the Club Charity – Cancer Research UK. Please support this event as much as possible, I’d love to see loads of you attending. Nearer the time you’ll be able to join via HowdidIdo or just email me and I’ll make sure you are included.
A final thought, whether it is about volunteering to help with running Settle & Giggleswick Club or participating in events. Ask “not what can your club do for you but what you can do for your club”…
DC
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31st December 2024
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Captains Blog: Par Date 31st December 2024
Fellow members of Settle & Giggleswick Golf club.
Firstly, a huge thank you for the opportunity to Captain our fabulous, friendly club again. I will do my very best to ensure an enjoyable and successful year.
As I write it turned dark just after 4pm, there is a gale blowing outside, heavy rain falling and the weather forecast for the next couple of days is poor to say the least! Not easy to imagine the sunny spring and summer days of golf that will arrive in a few months’ time, but they will come, and we’ll all enjoy the privilege of playing in the stunning surroundings of the Yorkshire Dales, on our gorgeous (but tricky!) course, with no queues… I can’t wait!
Not much to report on at present, we had the annual Turkey Shoot, the final competition of 2024, a few weeks ago, fittingly won by outgoing Captain Nigel Green. Congratulations Nigel and well done for a fantastic year as captain!
Over the next month or so we’ll be working on the fixture list for the coming season and making plans for the key events across the year.
I hope to see as many of you as possible out on the course in 2025. Whether you play golf with mates, on your own or maybe you enter the odd social event or competition, one thing is consistent across all golf at our club… it is always friendly, so please join in and have fun.
Finally, a gentle reminder, we are a golf club run by volunteers. I’m massively grateful to members who already give a little of their time to support the club, whether in roles on the committee or helping out ad hoc on course maintenance or at social events. However, we could always do with a few more. Please contact me or a member of the committee if you’d like to help out in any way.
Looking forward to a wonderful year of golf ahead.
David Colgrave
Captain