From: Flight Lieutenant Jamie Nickless RAF
Royal Air Force Boulmer
ASACS Staneval Team Alnwick Northumberland NE66 3JF Tel: 95818 Ext 7701 Fax: 95818 Ext 7704 Email: [email protected]
Reference: BMR/1451/44/PEd
Date: 25 Oct 12
Gp Capt McLean
RAF BOULMER GOLF SOCIETY - POST SEASON REPORT
STATION GOLF COMMITTEE
1. The following personnel form the RAF Boulmer (GPTN Stn Code: 95818) Golf Society:
a. OIC – Flt Lt Jamie Nickless, Ext 7701
b. Dep OIC – Flt Lt Nick Smith, Ext 7160
c. Captain – Sgt Mick Hardcastle, Ext 7124
d. Dep Captain – Flt Sgt Dean Littlewood, Ext 7163
e. Treasurer – Flt Sgt Eddie Budd, Ext 7346
f. Dep Treasurer – Sgt Andy Cryer, Ext 7007
g. Secretary – Sgt Daz Finney, Ext 7163
h. Dep Secretary – SAC Stuart Sullivan, Ext 7742
i. Handicap Secretary – SSgt John McCaffrey, Ext 7544
j. Competitions Sec – Vacant
k. Dep Competitions Sec – SAC James Wallis, Ext 7743
l. Coaching and Development – Sgt Mike Farrell, Ext 7342
1 GOLF SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
2. Membership of the RAF Boulmer Golf Society had grown steadily throughout the year despite the poor weather during the Summer and now sits at 80 members (all ranks from LAC to Wg Cdr) including three females. The handicap breakdown of members is as follows (only 45 members hold handicaps, the remainder are strictly recreational/occasional players):
a. Div 1 – 5 members.
b. Div 2 – 8 members.
c. Div 3 – 20 members.
d. Div 4 – 12 members.
e. Div 5 – 0 members (all female members do not hold handicaps).
RAF REPRESENTATION
3. The only member of the RAF Boulmer Golf society to represent the RAF is SAC James Wallis. James has attended the RAF development squad trg camp in Spain in March 2012, he represented the RAF against Lincolnshire at Woodhall Spa in Apr 2012 and also attended the Inter-services selection at Woodhall Spa in Aug 2012.
OTHER COMPETITION PARTICIPATION
4. RAF Boulmer has three entrants to that RAF Championships in Jul 2012. Flt Lt Martin Hull, Flt Sgt Dean Littlewood and SAC James Wallis participated in the Championships, with only SAC Wallis making the cut. He eventually finished 17th.
5. Additionally, a large number of RAF Boulmer golf society personnel entered the RAF Northern Region Championship at Goswick G.C. (Berwick-upon-Tweed) in May 2012. Two members (SAC James Wallis and Sgt Mike Farrell) qualified for the Inter Region Matchplay Finals and the Northern Region were eventually crowned winners.
6. Furthermore, RAF Boulmer entered two teams into the RAF Inter-Station Qualifiers for the Northern Region at Scotscraig G.C. in Aug 2012. The scratch team (comprising of Flt Lt Nickless, SSgt McCaffrey, Sgt Farrell and SAC Wallis) qualified for the Inter-Station Finals (at Luffenham Heath G.C in Sep 2012) in first place and were eventually crowned champions. The Handicap team (comprising of Flt Lt Hindson, Flt Lt Minshull, Flt Lt Smith and SAC Sullivan) qualified for the Inter-Station handicap Finals (at Sleaford G.C. in Sep 12) in second place and eventually finished fourth in the handicap competition.
UP-AND-COMING TALENT
7. RAF Boulmer’s most promising young talent is SAC Stuart Sullivan who has reduced his handicap from 21 to 12 this year. In the course of the season, SAC Sullivan won the Northern Region Championship (nett prize), the Station Championship (nett prize) and was part of the Inter-Station team that came fourth overall in the nett competition.
2 OTHER SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES
8. A group of 7 golfers from RAF Boulmer golf society participated in an OV to La Manga, with the aim of improving golfing techniques and participating in a series of matches against La Manga residents. These personnel (Flt Lt Nickless, Flt Lt Hindson, Flt Lt Cuthbertson, Sgt Farrell, Sgt Ashworth, Cpl Baldwin and SAC Wallis) participated in the weekly stableford competition at the end of the visit, with Hindson claiming the top prize with 43 stableford points.
9. Throughout the season a wide variety of RAF Boulmer Golf Society members represented the station in the North Yorkshire Golf League, competing against RAF Leeming (2 teams), Linton-on-Ouse, Fylingdales, Catterick and Spadeadam. RAF Boulmer finished 3rd in this year’s final league table.
RAF GA FUNDING
10. This year the RAF Boulmer Golf Society obtained funding (£150) from the RAF GA iot provide coaching and support to beginner golfers across the Station. The money was allocated to the employment of a local PGA professional who was contracted to deliver a series of beginner sessions each Tuesday evening. Unfortunately, due to inclement weather conditions, the first three sessions were cancelled, then as the course conditions continued to deteriorate, interest seemed to be lost. The RAF GA Funds remain in the RAF Boulmer Golf Society Fund with a view to implementing an identical programme next year, hopefully better weather conditions will result in a more successful outcome.
DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE SEASON
11. RAF Boulmer already has a very healthy golf society membership; however, in order to encourage as many service personnel as possible to compete, the Station has an annual championship, annual singles matchplay tournament and annual doubles matchplay tournament.
12. Additionally, an annual “Ryder Cup” equivalent competition is contested between the commissioned and non-commissioned ranks at a local course, with the non-commissioned team winning this year’s competition which was held at The Roxburgh Golf Club in the Scottish Borders.
Original Signed
J NICKLESS Flt Lt OIC Golf RAF Boulmer
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