Dear Members, Social The Quiz Evening held on Friday 20th February saw 16 teams participating in a very enjoyable and challenging event. A very big thank you must go to Brian and Gill Cooper for organising yet another successful night. On Saturday 21st February New Productions, a group of young entertainers, one of whom is the son of Past President Terry Reynolds, performed another wonderful evening of songs and dances. Their performances are of a very high standard and in their repertoire sang hit songs by Fleetwood Mac, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. For anyone who has not yet seen this group we hope that they will be returning later in the year when you will have another opportunity to see and hear this talented group. Saturday 7th March was the 60’s and 70’s Disco which was an excellent evening enjoyed by all who attended. Marcus provided great food for all of these events. Don’t forget the Michael Bublé Tribute evening on Saturday 18th April when food by Marcus will again be available. Bob and the Ladies on the dance floor. Brian embarrassing the birthday boy Tom Wood. Ladies The ladies continue to grace and support Club social events with their presence and in good numbers. The Ladies are holding a Charity Coffee Morning in aid of The Air Ambulance On Wednesday 25th March, 10:30am – 12:30pm Entry Fee £3.00 per person, which includes coffee and a slice of cake There will be a Tombola draw and donations of bottles, champagne to onions, gardening plants etc. or any suitable prize will be gratefully received by the Lady Captain or any Ladies Committee member. If there are any ladies who do not have a partner for the Mixed Seniors Open on 27th May and wish to play in this competition please see Seniors Captain Terry McCarthy who will find them a partner. Finally if anyone has any ideas how we can attract new lady members please let us know. Juniors The annual Juniors versus Seniors Match was again played after a two year absence with a new trophy for the competition to be competed for. We must admit that it was a pleasure to play against such talented youngsters. The ease with which they swing and strike the ball brought back memories of decades ago when we too were lithe and supple and could nearly do the same, or are we just daydreaming? Driving off the first tee. The Talented Junior Team A Past Captain, and Roger Cox no one will ever know it was you, was admonished by Junior Organiser Pete Prescott after trying to fix his match by offering the opposition a sample of the single malt that he had. It was quite a surprise that at the end of the match the Seniors had won and that their name would be the first on the new trophy. It was a pleasure playing against such talented youngsters and we must thank all the Juniors who participated and Pete Prescott and Terry McCarthy for organising the match. The Course There has been extensive work on three of the bunkers on the 14th green. The bunkers have been reshaped and turfed in keeping with the original ‘Colt’ design. Some of the temporary winter greens were giving cause for concern due to the weather conditions of late. We have had frosts followed by heavy rain which meant that the rain could not soak into the ground as it was still frozen just below the surface. Fortunately the weather is becoming milder and this problem is disappearing. Three more trees have been felled around the 10th tee. This is to improve the light to the tee and this with the new irrigation system will help promote growth and strengthen the grass on the tee. The course is looking good for this time of the year and the greens are proving to be quite fast. This certainly promotes optimism for an excellent course for the forthcoming season. Work on the Tenth Tee Clearing the Debris More light on the tee. Oxley Park’s Tree Fellers Work on the 14th Bunkers Excavating the bunkers. Reshaping the bunkers. The reshaped, bereft of turf, bunkers. The newly re-­‐turfed though sand-­‐less bunkers The reshaped smaller Captain’s Charity Bunker. The newly re-­‐turfed smaller Charity bunker. These bunkers will remain GUR until the new turf has attached itself firmly to the ground and must be treated as PLAY PROHIBITED areas. Remove your ball from the bunker or new turf and place at the nearest point of relief, on established ground, no nearer the hole. Club House Development We are afraid that at present we are in a state of limbo waiting for solicitors, both the clubs and developers, who are still checking contracts. Please rest assured that as soon as anything positive is known we will inform you and hopefully we will then be able to call an E.G.M. Franchise Those who have experienced the food that Marcus has prepared since taking over the kitchen will agree that it is superb. Marcus has ensured that food has been available for every social event that has taken place at the club since he has taken over. The Valentine’s Dinner in February was excellent and it was a brilliant evening being well supported by many members. This is the quietest period of the year for the bar and catering but with the changing of the clocks to Summer Time on the 29th and with the new competition playing season having begun the club will be much busier. We are sure that if Marcus wishes to put on any lunches, theme nights or meals for special occasions our members will support his endeavours. Mothering Sunday was another great success with a fantastic selection of menus being available and the event being oversubscribed. Here is Pat Rogers, with husband Cliff and friends, celebrating her birthday at Oxley Park at the Mothering Sunday lunch 15th March. Left to right:-­‐ Margaret and John Gamston , Norah and Cliff Hurley, Pat and Cliff Rogers Seated at the table are four Past Captains and two Past Presidents. Competition Results Thursday Medal 5th Saturday Medal 7th H. A. White Cup 15th Division 1 1. S. Morgan 2. G. Mason 3. D. Jenkins Division 2 Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 M. Penny D. Turner G. Kitson P. Morris T. Butler G. Palmer R. Hale R. Dean A. Churm D. Turner C. Rogers N. Ayres D. Cooper D. Carney S. Darnell Our P.G.A. Professional and Honorary Life Member Les Burlison, with his wife Sue and brother Brian are leaving Oxley Park Golf Club on Friday 27th March after thirty two years of service. Roger Cox first met Les back in 1977 when he joined George Stowe, Oxley’s Professional at the time, as an Assistant Professional. Les remained with George until he left to join Ron Hinton as an assistant at Enville taking over from his two sons, Paul and Phil who now run Chesterton. Les remained at Enville for the next four years, then joined Dudley Education Authority teaching golf to the various schools in the area. He continued in this post for about a year before applying successfully for the Professional’s post at Oxley Park. Monday March 19th 1983 Les took over the role from Richard Brown who had stayed for only ten months whilst Richard’s predecessor, Simon Parker, had stayed for only a couple of years. This makes the thirty two years Les has been at Oxley Park even more remarkable. Only Richard Lambert of Walsall has a longer service record than Les. Amongst Professionals in local courses only Danny Scullion of Ingestre and Adrian Sadler of Whittington, before his retirement, came close to Les in longevity of service. Les also served on the County Junior Committee for ten years, five years on the Staffs P. G. A. Committee and three years on the Staffs Executive Committee. Les and Sue married in 1985 and have four children, two girls Sally and Hannah and two boys Tom and Robert. Because of their golfing prowess we feel we can speak more about Tom and Robert than the girls. Tom, a scratch golfer and Oxley Park Club Champion in 2008, who, before going to university, represented Staffordshire at County level and now works for The Galvin Green Golf Company. Robert, Oxley Park Club Champion 2012 and at +3 handicap has represented Staffordshire and England at all levels, is currently an England International who hopes to try for a tour card as an amateur in the Autumn. If he doesn't secure one he hopes to get on the 2016 England squad. As well as Sue and Brian Les has had other assistants. Danny Bateman, son of Dave Bateman, who now runs a successful golfing outlet in Cannock selling golfing equipment and also teaching and Piers Ward who, after spells of teaching at The Three Hammers and in America, is now teaching at Perton Golf Club, which brings us back to the two people we know best of all Sue and Brian who is also a qualified P. G. A. Professional. Sue and Brian have given outstanding service over the years and have been accredit to Les. In conclusion Oxley Park will have been a golf club for 102 years this September and Les Burlison has been our Professional for almost a third of this time and is therefore an important part of the club’s history. We are sure that everyone will join with us in thanking Les for all his hard work, loyalty and dedication. We wish Les, Sue and Brian good health, happiness and good fortune in all the years to come. Roger Cox Jim Will March 2015