It is my love of golf that has led me to take on the role of Captain, despite its many ups and downs. I have really had so much enjoyment specifically playing at and for Elland Golf Club and the competitiveness of the weekly matches and competitions. It's both a privilege and an honour to serve as Captain of Elland Golf Club for 2026-27 and I am proud to represent such a distinguished club with rich traditions.
Moving forward, I intend to ensure we positively promote all aspects of our club, and I am looking forward to working with our Lady Captain - Margaret Lowe, Rabbit Captain - John Greenwood and Junior Captain - Matthew Kaye. I would also like to wish all the best in 2026 to our Ladies, Rabbits, Seniors, Handicap, Scratch and Junior teams as it is always interesting to know how we fair against other teams as the year progresses.
I acknowledge the hard work of our Committees, Greens Team, Bar Team and volunteers throughout the year to ensure that we continue as a successful club. I am also particularly pleased by the environmental progress we have made with the recent installation of our solar panels which will be tracked throughout the year, as well as the support with new equipment for our excellent greens team; with golf teams that we played against in 2025 giving very good feedback on the quality of our course.
In addition, I would like to encourage our members and their guests to continue attending our presentation evenings and our variety of social events. To date we’ve already managed to combine many an enjoyable evening with good food, singing and even dancing with our live entertainment and a smart casual approach that I hope will carry on throughout the year.
My vision for the coming year is to ensure that we continue with the traditions of this golf club – promote a friendly and inclusive environment with respect for the course and appropriate etiquette, where everyone feels welcome and valued. I am confident members, guests and visitors will receive a warm welcome both on the course and in the Clubhouse, which is also available to hire for a range of social events.
Overgate at Elland will be the Captain's charity this year and it is a charity that is close to my heart and I know the service at Overgate has also been important to other members of the club as well. Please support the Captain's charity in 2026 if you can.
Finally we have so much to look forward to, with a healthy membership and a great mixture of people at the club. Let's enjoy the year ahead and work together to make it a memorable year. Thank you all for your continued support and giving me the opportunity to be your Captain for 2026-27.