Tim Haward, Greg Ewart, Mike Nixon, Graham Manton, Mike Dickinson, David Hamilton, Mick Rance, Mike Graves, Brian White, Ken Taylor, Don Werner, Brian Ayto, Trevor Harvey, Barry Coop, Ernie Armstrong & Charles Donnison.

Its not all golf !!!! for the past ten years or so Stoke Seniors volunteers have manned the Halfway House for all home matches and for the weekly competitions throughout the autumn, winter and spring.

"Recently the two duty seniors decided to provide the Ladies who were following the 08.15 starters with a nice feminine welcome. So instead of the normal 'seniors' mugs, cups and saucers were laid out, (despite twice the washing up per recipient of beverage!), and a pot of tea made ready under a tea cosy (tea towel). The brewer of the tea even warmed the pot before the water hit the teabag. 

The first lady to be served did not look terribly impressed by this display of gentility, even more so, when an earwig swam out of the spout and did a lap of honour, Becky Addlington style, round the surface of the tea.  Ah well, you can't win them all!"

Dennis Whight retired as Stoke Rochford Seniors Treasurer at the AGM on 19 Jan 2011 after eight years in the post.  Prior to that Dennis had been Stoke Rochford Seniors Secretary for eight years from 1993 until 2001.

Senior Moments - we all have them but !!! 

Joe Lindley always seems to be able to go one better !!   Joe loaded his car to go to Stoke to play a Winter League match.  He keeps his clubs next to the vacuum cleaner in his garage.  When he checked his boot before driving off from home he found he had put the vacuum cleaner into the boot instead of his clubs.  

Nov 2010 

Stoke Seniors - Famous or Infamous??
Fred Bellingall kindly drew our attention to the website www.englishgolf-courses.co.uk and if one follows the links to Lincolnshire and then Stoke Rochford you will find the following description -  "Stoke Rochford is one of the most picturesque golf courses in the Lincolnshire area. Common features include huge, colourful trees which seem to change colour with every passing day, well-maintained rolling fairways, pure white bunkers and, of course, outstanding views from almost every hole on the course. Designed by Major Hotchkin, Stoke Rochford is a mature course built in rolling parkland. The modern clubhouse is complete with all the necessary facilities and will house many a cherry golfing party. The pro-shop is fully equipped and can provide trolley and buggy hire. The club is home to the infamous Stoke Rochford Golf Club Seniors."

Our dictionary describes infamous as being famous for something bad. I wonder how  we earned that reputation.

52 Match Plate 

Stoke Seniors lost at home to Burghley Park on 30th April 2003, little did the team believe that their next home defeat would be over three years and 52 matches later.  The long unbeaten run comprised 51 wins and one half and ended on 8th June 2006 when Oundle won 4½-3½.   Commencing in 2007 to commemorate the 52 match run and Oundle ending it, the two teams play annually for the '52 Match Plate' on a two leg aggregate score basis.

Some bother too much about dress at the golf club - but not all - this is the footwear of one of our regular members just going out to play  - he assures us he has another identical pair at home.

Cull 1.        One of our friends from Oundle having visited the website sent us this e-mail- "Incidentally, I see your course is closed for "shooting" on 23 Jan. Is this a cull to control the Seniors` population? The Oundle Committee is planning something similar here as we`re 'breeding' faster than any other section!"

Cull 2.      The Secretary of one of the larger Seniors Sections discussing a forthcoming fixture at Stoke said "Stoke is one of our most popular fixtures, most of the members want to play there but some don't put down for it as they think the course is too hilly, however, we make them play as we consider it our annual cull."

 Senior Moments.     1. Wilf Stephenson received an urgent call from AH (past captain) asking him to sub for him in the match at Stanton as AH had overslept and wasn't likely to make the tee time.  Wilf duly obliged only to find that on arriving at Stanton Stoke had a full team - apparently AH was never in the team. 

2. Joe left home at Oakham to play in a Seniors Open.  When he arrived at Newark G.C. (40 miles north) he discovered that the Open wasn't there but at Radcliffe on Trent -(15 miles south).  When he eventually reached Radcliffe he found to his dismay that he had taken his kit from his car and left it outside the clubhouse at Newark !!

MAURICE PUGH - Brought fame to himself and Stoke Rochford Seniors when he achieved his seventh hole in one on the same hole, the 12th at Stoke - on February 26th 2001. He was featured in the Daily Press, on Television and turned down the offer of appearing on GMTV. He apparently received a phone call from an Australian reporter who interviewed him live on Australian radio.

The pot calling the kettle black - Joe to Seniors Captain 2005 -"Oh dear - Adrian has forgotten his change !!"

"Are you sure I'm not in the team, its in my diary?" (Joe to Seniors Captain having turned up to play at Leicestershire GC - May 2011)

Joe with tee peg behind his right ear and pencil behind his left ear explained that he got into this habit when as a young man he was working as a carpenter and to forget your pencil meant going down the ladder to fetch it. He added "Once when I came out of the shower I still had a cigarette behind my ear!"