Roderick More's speech to the AGM on retiring from the Captaincy.

John Hutchinson is standing down after completing 4 years on the Committee......On behalf of all members and of our present and previous Committees I would like to say a very big thank you to you, John, for your commitment and skill. John chaired the Property Committee for 3 years and was the leader of our highly successful kitchen refurbishment project. In the last year he and his Sub Committee have had great success in attracting an exceptional number of congenial new members, many of them younger, some with low handicaps. It has been a job well done.

I would also like to thank George Tremlett who remains on the Committee but, after six years, is handing over responsibility for our Juniors to John Jeffrey. The Junior’s section is one of the Club’s greatest successes and much of that is due to George’s enthusiasm and dedication.

John and George have been just two members of a splendid Committee that has worked together as an effective, relaxed and united team. They have given me their total support and their friendship. No Captain could have wanted more. There are also many unelected members who give of the time and skill for the benefit of us all and their contribution is much appreciated. Finally we are blessed with wonderful staff and I thank our Secretary Barry Morgan, Phil James, Judy Luff, Ian Mowbray and David Murdoch and all those who work with them.

Cornelia Kenington is now with her family in Kenya but, in her absence, I would like to say what a pleasure it has been to have her as Ladies Captain during the last year. . She has helped me in many ways. I now congratulate Gail Lloyd and Sonia Meredith on their recent appointment as Ladies Captain and Vice-Captain.

It has been a great privilege to serve the Club as a Committee member and Captain and it is now time for me to melt away which I do so gladly, safe in the knowledge that I have an excellent successor. I have been extremely fortunate in having Gordon Musk as my Vice-Captain. He has shown great loyalty, enthusiasm and dedication to the Club. He has now served on the Committee for 4 years and has extensive experience of Committee work. He understands what are the essential qualities of the Club yet knows that we must be forward-looking and entrepreneurial if we are to prosper.

The new Captain's speech to the AGM

Gordon Musk

It gives me great pleasure to be able to express publicly my admiration for the manner in which Roderick More has served Liphook Golf Club. Throughout his years on the General Committee he was unstinting in his efforts to support each of his captains. His opinions have always been based on careful thought and concern for the well-being and future of the Club. No matter how strong his opinions he is always willing to listen and respect the views of others and to be swayed by sound argument and advice. His contribution as a Committee member was immense.

When Mike Friend proposed Roderick as our Captain last year he highlighted Roderick’s determination, enthusiasm and unswerving loyalty to the Club. One year of his very productive captaincy has passed, and I should like to add resilience to the list of qualities which Roderick has exhibited throughout his captaincy.

Just after assuming office Roderick and his wife, Jo, faced the turmoil of a house move. Then, almost immediately after settling into their new home, Jo became very worryingly ill and was taken to hospital. Despite the concern and pressure during that difficult time our Captain continued to work tirelessly on behalf of us all, never losing his patience or sense of humour.

The resilience which Roderick showed during this period of his captaincy was truly remarkable.

Thankfully Jo regained her health and Roderick has been firing on all eight cylinders ever since.

Throughout the year your Captain has led his team from the front in a most professional and successful way. He never hesitates to get his hands dirty at the coal face, leading, but being actively involved with, his team in all facets of the Committee’s business. It has been a pleasure and an education to serve as his Vice Captain.

Roderick, we owe you a debt of gratitude for the time and effort you have given for the benefit of the Club and its members.

Also, I should like to acknowledge the support you have received from Jo….. Her sweet nature must have been the perfect antidote to some of our more prolonged and argumentative Committee meetings.

On behalf of everyone I thank you for all you have done for our Club.

Now may I speak a little about my captaincy in the coming year. Liphook is a very special club and I feel honoured and privileged to be elected as its Captain. I thank you all for the trust you have placed in me.

Having served five captains during my time as a Committee member I have had the opportunity to see clearly how each of them operated. The style of each was so very different and so it will be with mine. However, there was one very important common factor exhibited by every Captain and that same factor exists strongly in me too. We all have a very deep respect for this Club, its traditions and its members.

When I became Vice Captain I was advised by one member that I should remember that the best captains of this Club were the ones who did nothing.

I am the first, and I am sure Marsha, my wife, will be the second, to admit that I like an easy life, and there are times when I wish it were possible to just sit back and let the world go by. However, I feel that I should be letting you all down if I just sat back and did not work hard for what we all hold dear about Liphook Golf Club.

May I quote two extracts from the golf publications which we find each month in the entrance hall. “

“Stand still as a business for any length of time these days and you are in grave danger of falling back behind the competition.

The leisure industry is as competitive as any, and golf clubs are one of the key sectors that are having to raise their game in order to attract new customers and retain their existing ones.”

... and:

 “Protecting your assets is one of the key factors behind every successful business’s long-term survival – and golf courses are no different. Take your eye of the golf course – or let the clubhouse fall into disrepair - and customers will soon make up their own minds about the product.”

With warnings like those ringing in our ears you can be sure that the Committee and I will be working hard to ensure that the reputation and quality of our course is maintained as high as ever, that the ambiance and standard of our clubhouse and its facilities are upheld and that we maintain our membership levels but also attract young and low handicap golfers.

In the Captain’s Comments in the Annual Report you will note his (and all his Committee’s) concerns that the costs of running the Club are escalating well beyond the Government’s published rate of inflation. Quoted examples of the cost increases in essential services to the Club show this most graphically. Your Committee has, and will continue to, run the finances of the Club in the tightest manner possible and will actively seek ways in which the Club’s income generation may be improved. However, I must emphasise that a 5% subscription increase this year may not be sufficient in future years.

I promise you that my Committee and I will not be seeking change for the sake of change, but be assured that we shall not be treading water either. Our aim will be to ensure that the short, medium and long term quality of our Club and its standards are safeguarded, and we shall work hard to maintain that very special atmosphere of comradeship which I believe exists within our Club.

I offer congratulations to Gail Lloyd and Sonia Meredith on their appointments as Ladies’ Captain and Vice Captain with the hope that they, and all the lady members have a thoroughly enjoyable year.

My charity this year will be the Alzheimers Society and money raised will be channelled into the research for a cure of this terrible condition.

Finally, may I wish you all a year of good health and rewarding golf.

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