2010 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND ANNUAL DINNER

The 91st Annual General Meeting was held at Ruddington Grange Golf Club on Wednesday 31st March 2010. There were 43 members present. The President, W.Bro. John Bassford (Radcliffe), welcomed W.Bros Steve Mather and Richard Gutteridge, our two Assistant Provincial Grand Masters.

Charity donations were increased by £100 to £1,100. Donations were made as follows: Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance £150, Nottingham Hospice £150, Lifeboats £150, Alzheimer Society (Nottingham Branch) £150, Teddies for Loving Care £200 and the British Lung Foundation £300.

W.Bro. Tony Breeze (Lady Bay) was elected as the new President. The following were elected: W.Bro. Brian Ross (Pax Magna) as President-Elect, W. Bro. Mike Bardill (Old Elizabethan) as Treasurer, W.Bro. Derek Prudham (Bramcote) as Secretary, W.Bro. Richard Marvin (Dame Agnes Mellers) as Match Secretary, W.Bro. Kevin Shaw (Broxtowe) as Auditor and W.Bro. Peter Wells (De Vere) as Provincial Charity Representative. W.Bros. Roger Cheetham (Duke of Portland), David Smith (Magnus) and Roy Whitehead (Broxtowe) were elected onto the Committee.

A very sincere appreciated was given to W.Bro. Bill Haynes (Dame Agnes Mellers), who for the last five years was Match Secretary and organised the matches with other provinces with much enthusiasm and skill.

Two items were raised by members. One concerned donations from lodges. It was confirmed that donations from lodges were used to cover some of the expenses of running the Association. Such expenses include insurance/engraving of trophies £174.25, printing/stationary/postage £109.43 and bank charges £39.86. The other item concerned handicaps. This would be discussed at the next meeting of the committee but for the forthcoming season, the current practice would continue with ‘inactive’ handicaps used as for social golf.

The AGM was immediately followed by the Annual Dinner, which was attended by 60 members and guests.

The 2011 AGM and Annual Dinner will be held on Friday 1st April 2011 at Ruddington Grange Golf Club starting at 6.30 pm.

MATCH WITH LINCOLNSHIRE The match against Lincolnshire took place on Wednesday 28th April 2010. On a warm but very windy afternoon, 24 very keen Masonic Golfers assembled at Norwood Park Golf in Nottinghamshire for this Annual Golf Fixture.

The Nottinghamshire Team, who were captained by WBro Tony Breeze (Radcliffe), battled in all six matches against a very strong Lincolnshire side and managed to beat Lincolnshire for the first time in three years with a score of 3.5 to Notts and 2.5 to Lincs.

After four hours of golf on the very demanding Norwood Park Course, a meal was enjoyed by all 24 players with the Nottinghamshire team going home extremely happy.

Next year’s fixture was discussed with enthusiasm and may be played at The Lincolnshire Golf Club, Torksey or at Holme Hall Golf Club at Scunthorpe.

SPRING MEETING The Spring Meeting was held at Bondhay Golf Club on Tuesday 11th May 2010.

The weather was sunny but with a cold wind. The ground was dry resulting in the ball bouncing down the fairways and, sometimes, off the back of the greens. The fairways were in excellent condition. The greens were very fast with tricky slopes to read. On the fairways the many bunkers, and off the fairways, the many trees caused lost strokes.

Don Heathcote (Ashfield) won the Hayward Clarke Cup for the best score with 31 points. Roger Cheetham (Duke of Portland) won the Smart Cup for those with a handicap of 19 or more - by scoring 28 points.

Other awards were: 1st Division (1-18 handicap) Paul Needham (Mansfield) 27 points 2nd Division (19+ handicap) Peter Hallam (Pax Magna) 27 points Best 9 Out David Howard (Clumber) 16 points Best 9 In Derek Prudham (Bramcote) 16 points Longest Drive David Howard (Clumber) Nearest to Pin Roger Cheetham (Duke of Portland)

SUMMER MEETING The Summer Meeting was held at Rufford Park Golf Club on Thursday 24th June 2010.

The weather was very hot. The fairways and greens were in excellent condition.

Roger Cheetham (Duke of Portland) was a convincing winner and won the Butcher Cup with a score of 41 points.

Paul Needham (Mansfield) won the Jeff Gayton Trophy (highest total score on the four par 3s) with 10 points.

Other awards were: 2nd David Smith (Magnus) 35 points 3rd Peter Pickering (Mansfield Manor M) 34 points Best 9 Out David Stoakes (Broxtowe) 20 points Best 9 In Terry Byrne (Dukeries) 18 points