Good Morning/Afternoon I hope you all had a merry Christmas and new year.

As this is my last report as your Captain I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support throughout my year and wish you all a Happy New Year and enjoy your golf.

I started my year hoping to perhaps please 70% of the membership knowing it’s not possible to please everyone all of the time.  (And I hope I have managed that?).

My year seems to have flown by my last function as Captain is to putt out next Saturday on the 18^th green at the Captains Drive in before handing over to next year’s Captain Peter Chapman who will drive off the first tee.

 Not much has changed since my last report so I will keep this final report as brief as possible but there are thanks to various people I must make including all you members.

KNOCKOUTS

For the first time at SDM I introduced a Winter Foursomes Knockout Competition as a trial ( A comp which I hate by the way ) as usual with SDM members the entries exceeded all expectations so I think Peter will be keeping this competition in the SDM Calendar.

This is a good opportunity to thank Peter for his work in organizing the Knockouts for the last two years but also for his support as Vice-Captain.

Peter has fulfilled every task I have presented to him and has been instrumental in making my year very enjoyable.

SOCIAL

I would like to thank those of you who attended the recent presentation night especially when you have not won anything.

The Christmas SDM Dinner and Dance was also a great success this event is traditionally where we have the presentation of the incoming Captains shirt a very good night and thanks to Gary for organizing this and all the other successful events throughout the year

My own view is just like the competitions the social events are instrumental in making SDM a club to be a member of. (A big thank you to Gary)

MY CHARITY

 For those of you who don’t know MADRUGARDA is like a hospice and we may all have a need of its services one day.

We managed to raise over 1600 hundred euros plus a bucket of brown coins not yet counted.

 Thank you to all those who contributed to my charity not least Mags Taylor who managed to raise over 300 euros with her jam making.

I had a lot of fun in the way of dishing out fines for all sorts of reasons.

COMPETITIONS    

Lynn has done an excellent job in organizing the competitions a task I had for two and a half years and know what a tough job the competition secretary is.

My own view is the competitions are instrumental in making SDM a club you would like to be a member of.

Two competitions not resolved in time for the Presentation night were the

FOUNDATION CUP. WINNERS Richard Emrich (men’s) and Lynn Cook (Ladies).

ORDER OF MERIT.  WINNERS Per Lars Tonstad (men’s) and Judi Murphy (Ladies).

HANDICAP SECRETARY

Thank you to Mags Taylor for a great job and support throughout my year not forgetting the always popular Christmas carols supported by a grumpy conductor and husband David Taylor.

Thank you to you both.

SECRETARY

Many thanks to Richard Emrich who looks after the General running of the club.

PRESIDENTS CUP

Not forgetting our chairman George Cook a big thank you to George for his support throughout the year and of course in guiding the interleague to promotion and look forward to another successful year in 2016.

Presidents Day finally got under way after several rain checks with usual suspects

Judi Murphy, Andy Richardson, Bob Coe, And Peter Hatherley taking first place and the Trophy

Well done to that team.   

TREASURER

Many thanks to Gill Edwards for looking after our funds and insuring that SDM is financially in good shape for 2016 full report will be available at the AGM 2016.

Gill has the job of counting all those coins after every comp very time consuming but hopefully we will have in place a new entry and accounting system that will make the job easier in 2016.

LADIES DAY

Thank you to Eileen in organizing the ladies section and also in encouraging the new ladies to play and making everyone welcome.

I’m sure all you ladies will join me and thank Eileen for all her work.

MENS THURSDAY MATCH PLAY

Once again many thanks to Dave Tweed who has done a fantastic job in organizing the men’s Thursdays

Dave has already secured extra tee times for 2016 in response to the ever growing number of entries.

Once again thank you to Dave.

WEBSITE

Thank you to Steve Edwards as editor of our website and keeping us all informed with news and photos of all of our events.

Also thanks to Damir who makes sure that everything on website is working.

We also hope to have an electronic score board in place via projector and laptop in this New Year.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE and FISCAL COMMITTEE

Thank you to a couple who look after things in the back ground.

Stuart Deans Chairman and Kath Deans Secretary thank you for the work especially with the AGM coming up shortly.

SUMMARY

My swan song and final report has your Captain is to thank not only yourselves as members but also the Pestana Staff who look after us so well and of course Alberto and the green staff in making Silves a great course for us and visitors to play.

The club is still growing with over 150 members and many more new members under review

My own view is over the last few years the club has gone from strength to strength due to the great strength we have in the officers of the club.

However without the members support we have nothing.

Peter Chapman will be your Captain in 2016.

I’m certain SDM will be in safe hands in 2016 and Peter will do a great job and will serve you well.

 I hope you give Peter the same support you have given me throughout the year.

It just leaves me to say thank you to you all in making my year as Captain a very enjoyable one with many memorable moments.

Thank you to you all and I wish you all a Happy New Year

Ray Groves

SDM CLUB CAPTAIN