MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Held in the Clubhouse on Tuesday, 17^th March 2009

PRESENT: 33 members attended.

The meeting commenced at 7.40 hours.

1. Minutes of 2008 AGM

Andrew Pibworth pointed out an error in the Minutes. Item 8. The Three Clubs Match was 11^th June and the Seniors Open was 23^rd July.

The minutes were then

Proposed by John McCarroll

Seconded by Joe Gallagher and unanimously approved.

2. Apologies for Absence

John Lee, Kenneth Lamb, Richard Abel, David Jinks, Terry Mitchell, Alex Browne, John McGrady.

3. Chairman’s Address by Joe Gallagher

Joe welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for their support. He said how disappointing it was after last year’s events around the pipeline and new maintenance provider that there is uncertainty and confusion around course reinstatement and future plans. The committee had been attempting to clarify points without much success and felt let down by the London Borough of Hillingdon and Mack Trading Ltd. He said it had been refreshing that so many members had found time and energy to help with these new challenges and it is that combined spirit that will ensure Harefield Place remains a great Club. He said that we needed to plan together an approach that ensures no company can come in and destroy the club spirit and many years of success.

Joe announced with sadness the death of Honorary Member Eddie Holyoake who passed away on Saturday, 14^th March 2009.

4. Secretary/Treasurer’s report and Presentation of Accounts for

1 February 2008 to 31 January 2009

Anne James presented the accounts which had been audited by S Browne. The financial year began with approximately £1,200 more than the previous year but in May last year £45,000 compensation from Transco was received.  Income is down on last year mainly because of half price membership and no joining fee. This was to encourage existing members to re-join and attract new members during the pipeline disruption. This offer is continued this coming year.

Expenses are up on last year by approximately £10,000. The increased expenditure was due to the purchase of club shirts £2,500, the purchase of a laptop for the handicap secretary £500, no entertainment last year and at the Dinner and Dance in November a magician was employed and these costs totalled £500. Food is up by £2,000 because there was no Past Captains last year and more home matches this year.  Also the Club had more success in the Clapham Common and the expenses incurred in reaching the Final amounted to £550.

These extra matches also accounted for an increase in green fees. The subscription figure is also up because the Middlesex County Golf Union let the club pay last year’s subscription late so it comes into this financial year which was another £2,000.  At the end the financial year there is  £31,852 in the bank.

The accounts were proposed by Joe Gallagher, seconded by John McCarroll and unanimously approved.

5. Competition Secretary’s Report

Peter Thorpe requested that all games should be played on time. Summer competition sheets would be put up next week.

6. Handicap Secretary’s Report

Andy Hills proposed that there should only be two divisions in future 0-11 and 12-28. This was seconded by Joe Gallagher and unanimously agreed.

The EGU qualifiers for this year were Peter Thorpe and Steve Carter who would represent Harefield Place Golf Club on 27^th July at Sudbury Golf Club.

Andy reported that the green keepers had now put two sets of white markers out on the first six holes and one set on the rest.

7. Senior Section’s Report

Andrew Pibworth reported that playing numbers are slightly reduced to 27 members. They won back the Three Clubs Cup from Ruislip last year, again by a margin of a single point. The first match v Haste Hill away, is next week on 25^th March.

The Inter Three Clubs Seniors Match is at Haste Hill this year on Wednesday, 10^th June. The Harefield Place Seniors Open is on Wednesday, 22^nd July. The Surridge Cup starts on Monday and Tuesday, 6^th and 7^th April. Fixtures are on the website and wallet sized fixture cards are on the Seniors’ notice board. The Seniors’ section can always do with more volunteers to play in matches.

8. Junior Section’s Report

Mick Gallagher thanked the membership for supporting the Junior Section. There were probably about 10 active members. Sorry to report that Phil Howard had been made redundant so would be unable to help with Junior coaching. He thanked Phil for his help and it was suggested contacting Phil to see if he would still help with the junior coaching.  The section will start meeting again in April. The Golf Mark scheme was now in progress and would therefore be set up for any future organisers of the section.

Ellis Cole had won the Junior Championship last year.

Clive Peter offered his help with the Junior Section.

9. President’s Address

John McCarroll thanked everyone for attending the meeting. He congratulated the Clapham team for getting to Final with special thanks to the Captain of the team, Clive Peter. The Open had been a successful day and had been well supported. He thanked Andy Schyns for helping out with green-keeping before the event and congratulated him on winning the Open. He then went onto to explain the unfortunate reasons behind the resignation of last year’s Captain, Peter Burton after the annual match against Ruislip. He thanked Bob Fergusson for taking over before his year was due to begin, especially having to start his year with hosting the Dinner and Dance. Bob was warmly applauded. He finished by saying that the Club had a very enthusiastic team this year with Bob Fergusson as Captain and Steve King as his Vice Captain.

10. Election of Officers

The following proposed committee was put to the meeting and the election of officers was unanimously agreed as:

11. Captain’s Address

Bob Fergusson reported that the fixture list was complete for 2009. Two teams had been entered in the Clapham. The organisers were as follows:

Peter Smith - A Team

Keith Bott -  B Team

He also confirmed that Steve Browne would run the Middlesex Sixes and Gary Morris would run the Tigers

The Captain’s chosen charity for this year is Meadow School. £350 has already been raised from the Quiz Night held on 7^th March.

12. Changes to the Constitution

(i) The proposed change to two divisions was covered under the Handicap Secretary’s report.

(ii) The Committee proposed the following change to Rule 19 - Handicap Allocation to New Members:

New Members joining HPGC with an EGU recognised handicap

These new members would be eligible for all competitions with immediate effect on joining the club as long as the handicap is verified by their current golf club secretary.

New members joining HPGC with no handicap

These new members would receive a handicap from our handicap secretary, on completing 3 handicap assessment cards. They would be eligible to play in Division 1 and/or Division 2 monthly and midweek medals from day one. They would also be eligible for all other club competitions after completing four Division 1 and/or Division 2 competitions.

This rule change was unanimously agreed by those present.

13.       Update on Pipeline and Mack Trading

Steve Browne reported that Murphys had finished the pipeline work but the reinstatement has been omitted as instructed by London Borough of Hillingdon who are pursuing this as an opportunity to landfill. There had been a presentation at Haste Hill Golf Club on Friday, 13^th March by Mack Trading. The committee would oppose any plans to landfill and a sub committee was set up comprising of Steve Browne, John McCarroll, Bob Fergusson, Russell Johnson, Neil Tilley, Keith Reynolds and Andrew Pibworth who would report to the committee at their monthly meetings.

Steve had drafted a letter to the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust concerning the possible landfill and it was agreed to send copies of the letter to John Randall MP for Uxbridge, the Labour Group, Secretary Uxbridge Rovers Fishing Club, Chairman of the Ickenham Residents Association, London Borough of Hillingdon and the Press.

It was agreed that a letter should be sent to all members of the Club advising them of the landfill possibility.

14. Any Other Business

(a)  Peter Edwards was thanked for producing scorecards for the course and it was agreed to reimburse him for any expenses incurred.

(b) Winners of the Monthly and Midweek Competitions collected their medals.

Joe Gallagher thanked all those for attending.

The meeting closed at 21.25 hours.