THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE THOMSON WIRE-ROOM GOLF SOCIETY Nos nunquam permissum a bonus fab ula exsisto afflictus per verum February 2018

Picture: Barry Ford A CRAIKING TIME WAS HAD ne sign that a good time was had is always Owhen the whip runs out. As it did at our Presentation Night, at the Tipperary Bar, in Fleet Street. Fortunately for our pockets, we were at the end of the evening anyway, and the guv’nor was trying to move us out so that the staff could re-stack the furniture for the breakfast trade. Matchplay Champion, Mike Gove, seems to be over the What was missed out on, though, was the food. Not moon to be picking up the Rose Bowl. only was it brought down from the kitchens too early, but apparently it was placed down the end of the room, where no-one knew it was there. Not unless they took a trip to the karzee that is, and would have had to walk past it. However, notwithstanding, we will no doubt be wending our way back there again later this year, if they’ll have us.

Name Points Date attained D. Long 52 22/02/18 B. Ford 50 17/02/18 M. Childs 41 06/02/18 A. Charlton 40 06/02/18 C. Drew 38 19/12/17 B. Webber 37 06/02/18 K. Wood 33 23/01/18 L. Wingrove 33 17/02/18 T. Chambers 31 28/11/17 D. Tredget 30 09/01/18 M. Golden 18 08/11/17 K. Floyd 18 14/11/17

February 2018THE SCOTCHMAN Page 3

Unlike previous years, the society’s finances for 2017 shows signs of coming under pressure. The year’s balance is down by over £220. There are reasons for this. In 2016 there was a large residue from the Weekender whip and a little profit from the Turkey Trot. In 2017 the weekender residue was only £15 and no turkey Trot event was held. The biggest factor though, was the loss of active members resulting in £130 less in subscriptions. Overall expenditure was up by just over £100. This was due to increases in trophies, prizes and engraving. The Presentation Night expenses and attendance were remarkably similar to 2016 (we must all be drinking the same amounts). As stated earlier, the Society could be struggling in the next few years. At present we only have 18 actively playing members. We currently have four memberships in abeyance. As an ageing society we need some fresh membership. As we get older the income generated by our current membership will become less and less. I therefore will be proposing an increase in subscriptions at the AGM held at the Spring Meeting. My proposal will be to increase the fees to £50 per annum, and £40 for those of State Pensionable age. This makes an increase of £10 across the board. This to come into effect from 1st Jan 2019. This should help the Society to continue, and possibly allow for an increase in prize monies for the four Major trophies, which have been static for some time. If we could recruit more members it would make the future of the Society more optimistic. It would also create greater participation at all the events which would please the Hon. Secretary by making all his hard work more rewarding. Tony Chambers (Treasurer)

T.W.R.G.S. ACCOUNTS FOR 2017

INCOME 2017 2016 EXPENDITURE 2017 2016 Cash in account on 31/12/16 £ 406.10 £ 332.05 Spring Meet deposit £ Nil £ 50.00

Subscriptions received for ‘17 £ 460.00 £ 190.00 Hon.Sec’s expenses £ 48.72 £ 32.52

Subscriptions received for ‘18 £ 190.00 £ 190.00 Presentation Night expenses £ 485.50 £ 487.00 Refund of Spring Meet deposit £ Nil £ 50.00 Trophies, prizes & engraving £ 251.36 £ 164.99 Profit from Spring Meet £ 11.50 £ 3.00 Prize monies £ 135.00 £ 135.00 Residue of Weekender whip £ 15.00 £ 71.56 Total £ 920.58 £ 869.51 Profit from Captain’s Day £ Nil £ 4.00 Extraneous Donations £ 30.00 £ 30.00 Total £ 1102.60 £ 1275.61 Less expenditure £ 920.58 £ 869.51 Balance in hand on 31/12/17 £ 182.02 £ 406.10

I, the undersigned, having examined the books of T.W.R.G.S., verify these figures as a true record. Sir Philip Green Grabbit & Skarpa (Independent financial Auditors)

MATCHPLAY DRAW 2018 B. FordV D. Greig REMINDER: First-named has the advantage of the home draw. The away player to give an option of three dates to home player. M. Childs Bye V In the event of match not being resolved, the match will be K. FloydV K. Wood awarded to the home player. The first round is to be resolved by 30th April. The following rounds B. Webber C. Drew V to be resolved by the ends of June and July, allowing for the Final A. CharltonV D. Tredget to be played on Captain’s Day in August/September, should the contestants choose. In any event, the final round to be played on C. Charlton V R. Cliff neutral ground. L. WingroveV D. Long Note: The first round draw is structured on a regional basis of those who applied to enter the competition. M. Childs V Bye February 2017THE SCOTCHMAN Page 4 MOE NORMAN Canadian Legend With the Perfect Swing! urray Irwin “Moe” Norman was a Canadian . Born July 1919 in MKitchener, Ontario, he played briefly in the PGA Tour but due to shyness and a preference to stay in Canada, he stayed in Ontario rather than travel. He developed his golf from childhood at the Rockway municipal course in that city, starting as a in his pre-teen years. He refined his skills competing against talented area players such as and Gerry Just an update from last year’s editions, is that Mike Kesselring. He won back- Gove beat Dougie Greig in their final of the to-back Canadian Amateur matchplay. Let’s see if we can get it finished a little Championships in 1955 and 1956. earlier this year, eh! He turned professional in 1957, In line with Congu rules changes brought in this and played briefly on the PGA year, allowing handicaps to increase up to a max of Tour. However in the 80s, Moe Norman 54, I will be proposing at the AGM that ours be Norman played several events on increased up to 36. In anticipation that this motion the Senior PGA Tour. He had 55 professional wins being passed, I have amended by spreadsheet during his career. accordingly, although you shouldn’t notice any changes by that time. Norman’s play, along with his way of dressing, were both Just a thought for some of you guys who can only described as unconventional. He devised what is known as get a card through their club comps, and then have “The Norman Swing” – very short backswing and very short to hand them in, why not take a piccie of the card follow-through which produced an amazingly accurate ball on their phone camera, and email it to me. That way placement He played extremely fast, sometimes not even you can get scores entered for our regular comps, slowing to line up his putts. He was inducted into the and I can keep your handicaps properly adjusted. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1995. He never took a golfing lesson. It is even said that on one hole his caddy told him he could get to the green with a driver and a nine iron. Naturally, SPRING MEETING: he hit off the tee with his nine iron and then onto the green Friday April 27th, from 8.00am with his driver. In another event, rather than lay up short of a Birchwood Park GC, Wilmington, Nr. Swanley, creek hazard which could not be carried, he bounced his Kent. drive across the bridge which crossed the creek. Norman’s skills as a ball striker are legendary. , Coffee, Bacon Butties, himself a great golfer, once described Norman as the greatest 18 holes, striker of the ball. In January 2005, told Golf Lunch, Digest’s Jamie Diaz that only two golfers in history “owned AGM £43 their swing”: Moe Norman and . Stated Woods, “I want to own mine.” Norman is recognised as one of golf’s most colourful personalities, as well as perhaps the best ball-striker golf has ever known. He played with a unique single plane swing, a swing that countless “natural golfers” have found the easiest and most accurate in golf. In the 1990s, respect and financial security finally arrived. Natural Golf became a sponsor of Norman in 1994 and proved to be one of his most devoted supporters, right through until his death. He conducted clinics for Natural Golf and proudly wore the logo during his many appearances on TV and for articles in magazines. In 1999, Barry Morrow, Oscar winning screenwriter for the movie Rain Man, completed Dance The Green, the screenplay of Moe Norman’s life. Norman died, aged 75, in a Kitchener hospital from con- gestive heart failure, having suffered from the condition since heart bypass surgery six years earlier. He also had a I don’t care about the hole-in-one, it’s not heart attack two years prior to his death going in the trophy cabinet, and that’s that!