A note from the new Captain!

Hello to all members and non-members, old and new.

Well, isn’t life a roller coaster of ups and downs? After breaking my back in a motorbike accident when I was 21, I never thought in a million years that I would even be able to play golf at all, let alone become the Captain of a club! It is only six years ago that I discovered playing golf was even possible and ever since that day on the range when I hit my first shot high and straight past the 100 yard marker I knew I was completely hooked and no amount of subsequent duffers could put me off! I couldn’t wait to get out onto a course and join a club. I approached several clubs but was refused permission to take my buggy onto the greens by some of them. However, when I approached Brailsford, I immediately sensed a more welcoming, friendly atmosphere and when the club even offered to store my buggy for me I was absolutely thrilled. Initially, I just played the course by myself but through the friendliness of the members it wasn’t long before I was invited to join the Monday morning group  which gave me the chance to meet and play with all the other members. The rest, as they say, is history!

So, it is with great honour that I accept this captaincy. It is extremely rare for a wheelchair golfer to be made Captain of a golf club which reflects the philosophy of inclusivity of this club. My partner in crime, the Vice Captain for this year, will be Errol Butcher, between us we aim to develop this policy of inclusiveness by trying to attract as many people as possible to come and play at the club regardless of ability. We would also like to promote more fun competitions as well as more mixed events. We are particularly looking forward to meeting the new members, with the hope of reintroducing something similar to the old Monday morning shot gun start. We think this is the ideal way of integrating new members into the club. We would also like to encourage more social events such as the previously successful fish and chips night along with other initiatives such as quiz nights. Obviously a lot depends on the COVID situation but at least we now have the green light to (hopefully) return to the golf course from the 29th March.

I am delighted to confirm the Captain’s Charity I have chosen to support is The Handigolf Foundation, which provides buggies and promotes golf for disabled people, without whom I would not have been able to take up golf. All being well, with the lifting of lockdown restrictions, I will be hosting a Handigolf competition day and inviting other Handigolf members to the event. I am delighted to be following on from the out going Captain, Jeff Dodds who, despite an unprecedented difficult year still managed to put on a very successful charity day and raised a wonderful sum of money for Macmillan. On behalf of all the members, thank you Jeff.

Finally, thanks too for Ben and his team for working hard throughout the winter to make the course even better for us to enjoy. I look forward to seeing you all very soon!

Greg Jackson