BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED
LADIES NEWSLETTER
Volunteers
Needed to
Support
Junior &
County Golf
Junior Girls
Manager.
Last year we initiated a
Junior Girls Academy for the
twenty-two Junior Girls who
are members of Bedfordshire
Affiliated Club and we now
have a number of
enthusiastic Junior Girls
learning to play golf. To help
them on their journey your
County needs a new Junior
Girls Manager. The position
involves collaborating with
the Professionals based at the
club, working with a board
Director and several willing
helpers ! If you want to ’put
something back’ and are
interested in this thoroughly
rewarding post, please
contact:
Margaret Seabrook -
07778 503459
Liz Bagshaw -
07778 560056
Claudine Tate -
07899 758370
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 2023 PAGE 1
COUNTY COMPETITIONS 2023
On the next page is a list of all the women’s county fixtures for 2023.
Now that we have a unified golf union, we are taking the opportunity
to hold some women’s and men’s events on the same day and at the
same venue, where the format is the same. This allows us to maximise
use of the course and catering for the host club and also optimises the
use of support facilities, such as County Officials and Referees. All of
these competitions will open in Intelligent Golf shortly and all should
be available for entry by Saturday 14th January.
2023 Women’s Knockout Foursomes
Thanks to those of you who have already entered. The knockout
foursomes remains open for entry in intelligent golf until February
13th. The first round can be played from February 14th. The cost to
enter per pair remains at £6. This pair’s competition is open to anyone
with an individual handicap index up to 48.0 and we’d love to have as
many pairs as possible, so find yourself a partner and join in.
Everyone is welcome.
Reminder - Entering And Paying For County
Competitions Has Changed
As part of creating a unified golfing union for Bedfordshire, we have
now moved to a single way to enter competitions which is online and
a single shared bank account for competitions. As a result, any bank
details that you have saved in your banking apps / mobile banking are
no longer valid. To avoid money going to the wrong place or getting
“lost”, please don’t use any existing BACS details. Competition
payments will all now need to be made by PayPal as part of entering a
competition online using the county website. Paper entry forms are
also no longer needed.
What should I do if I don’t have a PayPal account?
Don’t worry if you do not have a PayPal account, you will still be able
to enter county competitions. You can still enter using PayPal simply
with your bank card details. This will be a one-off transaction and you
will still be able to proceed with entry. If this is still problematic,
please pay using the NEW BACS details and drop Breege a note to let
her know. If you have any queries, please contact Breege
(breegetraynor@sky.com / 07768 821162).
www.bedfordshiregolf.org.uk
 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 2023 PAGE 2
Competition Date Venue What’s New For 2023?

Spring Meeting NEW - Spring meeting has separated from

th
Handicap April 13 Cainhoe Wood the Championship and will be a new 18-
Championship hole medal Handicap Championship.

NEW - Will be held at the same time /

Women’s venue as the Men’s Championship.
County June 3rd / 4th John O’Gaunt Mixture of 18- hole medal followed by
Championship match play. Time commitment reduced to
2 weekend days.

Women’s
NEW - Will be held at the same time /
Seniors June 26th Bedfordshire
venue as the Senior Men’s Championship.
Championship

Pavenham
Women’s 4BBB June 19th No change from 2022
Park

Women’s 18H
Stableford July 3rd Aspley Guise NEW - Replaces the 36H Stableford.
Foursomes

Mixed
September 17th Cainhoe Wood No change from 2022
Foursomes

Women’s
October 5th South Beds No change from 2022
Autumn Meeting

Women’s Exact date

Venue TBC No change from 2022
Seniors 4BBB TBC

R&A and USGA Announce 2023 Rules of Golf Update.

There are 5 key changes to the Rules of Golf. For full information, go to the Bedfordshire County website
(https://www.bedfordshiregolf.org.uk/rules) where you can also download the Rules book. The R & A will not
be producing the small "Players Edition" for members as they are expecting players to download the App or the
Rules book.

NEWS FROM OUR CLUBS Bedford and County Golf Club

Rita and Terry Farmer kindly One of our
donated two Teddy Bears for ladies – Carrina
the club to put into a draw to Pinney – was
raise money for Children In once again on
Need. One each was won by Elf duty – at
Lucinda Holden and Simon Center Parcs –
Dickens. Lucinda sent hers to bet it was fun.
the Children’s Ward at
Bedford Hospital ready to be a
Xmas present for one of the
children. The draw raised £64.
 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 2023 PAGE 3
We started our build up to Christmas with the senior ladies
opening December with their 10-hole Christmas special
followed by a lovely turkey lunch and mince pies kindly
provided by Heather Haddon. It did rain a bit but nonetheless
everyone enjoyed it – double points on the par 3’s made it an
interesting format, but Rita Farmer coped with it all very well
and won with a great 29 points.

Sadly after this the snow came down and we lost the rest of our
planned Xmas Competitions.

If you would like to come and join in the quiz

please do – just ring the office on 01234 352617.

As I am sure you know each year Bedford hold their

annual Sports and Physical Activity Awards evening
where they recognise the achievements of local people
across the various sports in different categories. This
year we had 3 people up for awards – Connor Tallentire
(Young Sports Personality of the Year) Kai Williams
for the Young Volunteer of the Year Award and Steve
Vinnicombe for Coach of the Year. There were a lot of
very worthy candidates in the frame, so we were
delighted when our nominations for Steve and Kai were
successful, and they were winners on the night – very
well done both.
The snow on 12th December
came one day late for the annual
visit of Santa Claus to Bedford
& County! But it was freezing
and foggy so pretty wintry! As
well as a lovely 3 course carvery
for big people, little guests were
treated to a visit to see Father
Christmas (thank you Alan
Willis!) to receive their present.

BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LTD -. WWW.BEDFORDSHIREGOLF ORG

 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 2023 PAGE 4

More news from our Clubs Bedfordshire Golf Club

The Senior Ladies Section, very efficiently run by Senior Organiser Sue Brierley,
held their AGM, trophy presentation and lunch on December 1st.
Eleanor Mapes completed an awesome feat in winning three trophies namely, the
Elspeth Plumb, the over 70's Trophies and the Jane Colson Silver Salver.
Marie Wright won the Spring Trophy. Lady Captain Sue Marsh won the Rose Bowl
and Chin Fern Griffiths won the Young Seniors Eclectic Trophy.
Wishing all our County friends a wonderful golfing year in 2023 – we look forward
to playing with you and a diary packed full of golf and social events at Bedfordshire.

Sadly the end of the year meant saying goodbye to Grace Belcher and Ladies
Captain Chris Garratt whom many of you will have known, played with and shared
many a story with. Both had suffered short illnesses this year and our ladies' section
is very much depleted without them both. Our thoughts are with their families and
close friends.
Grace Belcher
Obituary by Margaret Seabrook
Sadly, Grace passed away just after her 85th birthday
on Saturday, 3rd December 2022. . Grace was an
out-and-out sports person who took up golf later in
life. Without lessons, she used her top spin
forehand tennis shot to keep the ball on the fairway
and as arthritis limited her swing the old short
hockey swing came in useful. She was a great team
player and represented the club in as many shield
and friendly matches as possible. No one wanted to
be drawn against her in the handicap knockouts as
she was a determined match player who never gave
up!
Chatting on the golf course gave us
all a window into her fascinating
life in Kenya. Her family owned
many thousands of acres but had to
leave in 1974 with very little and
start again in the UK. Grace loved
meeting people and played in lots of
county competitions, and to her
delight she won the County Cup one
year. She was also a great supporter
of anyone in the County
Competitions, she watched Sally
Shayler win the County
Championship many times. She
caddied for me in the County
Championship and loved telling
stories of how I needed a caddy, yet
I was so much younger than her!
The funeral service will take place
at St. Laud's Church, Sherington,
Thursday, January 19th at 11:30
Chris Garratt 4th Aug 1947 – 22nd Nov 2022
Chris joined Bedfordshire Golf Club in the early 1990s when it
was still located at the old course in Biddenham. Her husband
Bob had been a member of the club for a number of years and
he suggested she join so that they would have something they
could do together - they both loved the Club and it was a huge
part of their lives.
Chris and Bob made many friends over the years and they
always enjoyed competing in mixed competitions either together
or with others and they particularly enjoyed mixed social
golf. Over the years they went on lots of golf breaks and
holidays with their friends from the club, both in this country
and abroad and they always had great fun. They loved going to
the social events at the club – New Year’s Eve Dances, Barn
Dances, St Patrick’s Day, Burns night, etc. They both loved to
dance and could always be found on the dance floor strutting
their stuff!!
Chris was on the ladies' committee for a number of years and
was Treasurer for a time before she became Ladies' Captain in
2012. She worked extremely hard for the ladies' section during
her time as Ladies' Captain and particularly enjoyed her Ladies'
Captain’s day and everyone who was there will remember her
generosity and the fun that was had by all. Sadly, Bob died in
2016 but Chris continued to play golf and attend social
events. She also took up Bridge and played regularly at the
club. Although by this time her mobility issues meant she had
to use a buggy she was determined to carry on playing the sport
she loved, making new friends along the way.
She will be remembered for her stoicism and determination as
She will be remembered for her
well as her kind, caring nature and sense of fun.
stoicism and determination as well as
her kind, caring nature and sense of fun.
The funeral was held at Bedford Crematorium on Tues
20th December at 12.15 pm
The funeral was held at Bedford
Crematorium on Tues 20th
December at 12.15 pm
 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 2023 PAGE 5
News from The Millbrook Golf Club
Saturday 10th December we played our Christmas Mixed Friendly
Scramble. There were 6 teams of 4 playing on a very cold and
frosty day so we all had plenty of layers on. It was quite a
challenge as the course was hard and frosty in parts so we had
some peculiar high bounces on the fairway and balls skidding
across the greens – all good fun! On finishing we all retired to the
clubhouse for a well earned drink and a delicious Christmas meal
followed by coffee, mince pies and sweet treats.. The winners
were Maggie and Pete Johnston and Ruth and Carl Burgess,
2nd Carl and Rebecca Packeer, Sandra Gallacher and Tom Noble,
3rd was Simon and Alison Gaulton and Rob Impey and Jen Wright.
It was a wonderful day organised by Monica Miles Stanley who
made sure everyone went home with a prize. (Picture of the
winners)
Saturday 24th December Christmas Eve we played our Turkey
Shoot which is one of our biggest events of the year and was
postponed from the 18th December due to heavy snow. We
started with bacon rolls and coffee served from 7.30am with a
shotgun start at 8.30am. There was a very good turn out of 124
players playing in pairs betterball 85% of course handicap. When
we finished and came in to the clubhouse for a welcome drink
we had nibbles, mince pies and sweet treats. Prizes for 1st to
12th place were given out with the 1st prize winners Rob Impey
and Paul Masters getting a turkey and hamper each. The
Christmas Draw was next with prizes ranging from Moto Caddy
Electric Trolley, joints of meat, Under Armour clothing and
Over the past year we drink. It was a great day with a great atmosphere and a good way
had a competition for to start off the Christmas celebrations. Four ladies played, Alison
our ladies to send in Gaulton, Val Freed, Claire Delo and Pauline Getgood (picture).
photos of our golf
course through the
seasons ,the winner
was Pauline Getgood
who received a bottle
of wine.

News from South Beds Golf Club

South Beds Ladies have been extremely
generous and caring donating items to the Luton
Food bank. This great initiative helps so many
families who need that extra help to provide for
their children and family members.

Ladies Captain, Trish O’Neill arranged for the

donations to be delivered to the local collection
venue, saying how extremely proud she was of
her Ladies and was overwhelmed by their
generosity, even more so that they have asked
for the box to remain available so they can fill it
up again.
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BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTYGOLF
GOLFLIMITED
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LADIES NEWSLETTER
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More news from our Clubs PAVENHAM PARK GOLF CLUB

Pavenham Park Ladies Annual Christmas Open.

Another fabulous day for our Christmas Open. Thompson Golf, our Fantastic Lady Captain Elva, and all the
ladies and their Elves at Pavenham Park once again produced a winning day. The atmosphere was amazing,
Christmas Tee Box Decorations, a halfway house with delicious seasonal fayre, and especially the Baileys Hot
Chocolate. The raffle (all prizes kindly donated by our lady members) raised over £400.00 for the Lady Captains
Charity. Thanks to everyone who took part in making the day another memorable event.
For more photo's from the day visit http://pavenhamparkgolfclubladies.weebly.com/news--events-2022.html

December is always a busy month for the Ladies at

Pavenham Park. Along with our annual Christmas
Open we have our Chicken Chase and Turkey Trot
The Chicken Chase was played on a dry day!!
Although after all of the recent rain the Course was wet
and the Greens quite tricky. :However, some good
scores were returned never the less. Our winners are all
pictured with their lovely prizes, as always, carefully
selected by our Lady Captain Elva.

1st June Russell 40 pts: 2nd Julie Davies 39 pts: 3rd

Elva Lewis 35 pts: 4th Kath Caiger 34 pts: 5th Dawn
Clarke 32 pts: and 6th Heather Stephenson 32pts.

There is much to look forward to in the coming months

and we send our very best wishes to our fellow lady
golfers from all of the other Clubs in Bedfordshire. We
wish you all good health and many happy hours of
golfing.

BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LTD WWW.BEDFORDSHIREGOLF.ORG.UK