Out with the old, in with the new

Awali Golf Club held its annual general meeting recently to formally wrap-up the 2014/15 season.

Club president Steve Brown thanked the more than 60 members present and followed it with the names of those apologising for their absence. The list included the names of Tony and Beth Robinson, which resulted in some jocularity as two exceedingly accurate look-alikes were present, a.k.a. Tony and Beth Robinson.

Captain Abdul Elah Fakhroo then highlighted the success of the season with more than 50 days of competition events, while especially noting the ‘amazing disappearing committee’ – this not being a reference to a circus act but to the unprecedented number of elected members who resigned during the year, and who were replaced by four volunteers.

The course saw the construction of its first-ever toilet facilities, members ‘only’ having to wait about 77 years for this, while a long overdue greens foundation maintenance was done giving more bite to shots onto the greens and the expectation that handicaps will plummet.

Fakhroo was at pains to spotlight the invaluable support provided by the club’s loyal sponsors, especially that provided by Bapco, without which the club would not exist. Also, some benevolent members were complimented for the magnanimous donations made to improve the ambience and fixtures in the clubhouse.

Beyond formal competitions organised by the Handicaps & Comps Committee members, many others contributed to the success of the season by running social and non-handicapper events culminating in the club’s glam event of the year – its presentation dinner-dance with more than 100 members and guests out in their finery.

Fakhroo suggested that the season’s success was down to those behind the scenes working tirelessly as a seamless team and said it was an honour to have been the club’s first Bahraini Captain.

Club treasurer Les Young reported that the financial position of the club was healthy, primarily as a result of the level of sponsorship and due to careful cost control. On hearing this, a member interjected with a suggestion that proved popular ‘so you can reduce the prices now!’.

Following approval of a minor change to the club’s constitution, the agenda moved on to the election of the 13 persons to the forthcoming season’s committee.

Having received Bapco’s permission to elect a higher number of guest members to the committee compared to Bapco employees than that demanded by the constitution, three new faces found their way into the firing line for the new season.

Following the election, the new committee for 2015/16 is: President - Steve Brown, secretary - David Starkie, treasurer - Les Young, Captain - Bill Scarth, Vice-Captain - Paul Beaumont, handicaps & comps - Hamad Fares Al Qutami and Kerry Diaper, course - Abdulla Mubarak, equipment - Mark Hodgkinson, house - Lynn St Lawrence, publicity - Maeve O’Tuama, sponsorship - Anil Nair and social - Vidhu Mittal.

President Brown concluded proceedings by thanking Fakhroo for his captaincy of the season, and presented him with his past-Captain’s tie. Fakhroo, not to be outdone, presented newly-elected Captain Scarth with his tie.