Mark Smith has been appointed as the new Course Manager. Mark joins us from The Belfry where he is currently Deputy Head Greenkeeper on the Brabazon course. To ensure a smooth transition, Mark will start on 15 November 2010 and work alongside Mike Firman until Mike retires at the end of the year.

In the annual match between the A Team and the Old Silhillians on Saturday 21 August, the Club came in winners 9½ to 2 ½.

Olton Golf Club is proud to be chosen by the Warwickshire Union of Golf Clubs  to represent it at the prestigious English Junior Champion Club Tournament, at the Malton and Norton Golf Club in Yorkshire. The Tournament is organised by the EGU consisting of 2 rounds of 18 holes Stableford with the best two scores from a team of three counting. There is a practice round on the 20th with the competition itself over two days on the 21st and 22nd of August.

The 2010 Boys' Open proved to be another huge success. a maximum 69 boys entered the 36 holes competition. The field was restricted to players with a maximum handicap of 18. 45 of the entrants had handicaps in single figures. The prize fund for the day was £1050 in vouchers. The Olton Juniors performed very well winning 5 of the 10 prizes. Rob Tovey from Olton won the trophy for best net score with  147 net 129.

The event came to a gripping climax with 3 players tied for the best gross prize requiring a play off for the second year running. The players, Ryan Wallace (+1) from Handsworth, Patrick Ruff  (2) Sutton Coldfield and Rob Farley (5) Olton then played holes 3,4,and 5 to decide the best aggregate score watched by a crowd of 60 or more spectators. All three scored pars on the 1st play off hole. Patrick and Ryan parred the 2nd with Rob dropping a shot . On the 3rd hole ( 5th on the course) both Patrick and Rob found bunkers and Ryan found the green and two putted to win.

Jamie Taylor won the President's Junior Trophy with a score of 76 net 68 by one shot from Andrew Foxon 79 net 69

This new event promises to be a real highlight in our calendar. The format for the 8.30 shotgun start golf competition has been changed to Greensomes (from Foursomes) to be followed by a BBQ and Traditional Jazz through the afternoon.

Please note that from Tuesday 3 August, the weekly Draw will take place at 7.30 pm. Remember, to win you have to be present at the time of the Draw. Good luck. 

Our oldest Member, Beryl Taylor celebrated her one hundreth birthday on 16 July 2010. The President and Captain presented Beryl with a bouquet of flowers and the Club flag was flown in her honour.

Over the next few weeks, the Club will be installing new bar payment facilities. Members, Guests and Visitors will be able to pay their bar bills with debit or credit cards. In addition, we will be introducing a Club Card for Members allowing them to pay for drinks without using cash or cheques.

Click here for details of the new facilities.

Scott Kennedy ! Scott wins the biggest Draw prize so far and  receives £325 from Club Captain Clive Beardmore.

Members of OGC team up with the Golf Partnership and Golf Professionals to support  The Race for Life in Solihull by promoting Golf for Beginners. 

The Mayor of Solihull joins the Team and some enthusiastic youngsters.

James Hetherington won the Club Championship with a score of 142 (71,71)

Eddie McIntyre (H'cap 5) won the Division 1a Handicap Competition with a net score of 137 (67,70)

Ed Flaherty (H'cap 12) won the Division 1b Handicap Competition with a net score of 132 (67,65)

On Monday 21 June, Olton's Eddie McIntyre won the Warwickshire Mens' Seniors Championship at Shirley Golf Club. Eddie tied on 76 with Andrew Carman from Coventry and won the play off on the second extra hole.  Well done and congratulations Eddie.

Jane Frith was the first winner of the recently introduced Olton Golf Club Draw.   Jane received her £200 winnings from Club Captain, Clive Beardmore.  Future draws will be on Tuedsay's at 8.30 p.m.  Next week the draw will start at a value of £100.

Immediate Past Captain, Bruce Wilson, presents a cheque for £3,000 to Lucy Hackett, Head of Fundraising for St. Basil's, Bruce's chosen Charity for his year of Captaincy.

Clive Beardmore prepares to Drive In to start his year as Captain of Olton Golf Club. At the AGM, Clive nominated Geoff Chaplin as Captain Elect.

Free tickets are available to golf club members from www.londongolfshow.com

The family of the late Tom and Jean Burnett presented "The Burnett Salver" in memory of Tom and Jean's long assocition with the Club for the winners of the Easter Mixed Foursomes. The inaugural winners were Mary and Val O'Neil with a score of  36 points .Runners-up were Dianne and Barrie Corless.

Don't miss the the first FREE DRAW on Tuesday 30 March at 7.30 pm. The Draw will be for £100 CASH. All adult (18 or over) Members are eligible but you have to be in the Bar Area at the time of the draw to win. A Membership Number will be drawn at random. If the lucky winner is present, they can claim their £100 prize. If they are not at the Club, the prize will roll-over to the next Draw and £10 will be added to the prize money. Remember, to win you have to be in the Bar Area at the time of the Draw.

The Club enjoyed an excellent Annual Dinner & Prizegiving. Ian Richards provided a very entertaining after dinner speech.

Diaries will be availabe for collection from the Secretary's office from Tuesday 19 January.

"Eric & Ernie" arrive for lunch, 13 January 2010.

Louis Meryon receives the Trophy from John Duncombe, President of the Warwickshire Golf Union, having led his team to victory in the Midlands League. The presentation took place at the WUGC Annual Dinner at Copt Heath on Friday 27 November.

The annual presentation evening for the Juniors was held on Tuesday 17th November. The Heaton lounge was packed with over 100 juniors and parents.The prizes were presented by the Captain Bruce Wilson. The outgoing junior captain Richard Forrester welcomed Mike Pell the incoming junior captain. Mike  announced that his vice captain would be Erica Dean. For more pictures go to the gallery in the junior section.

See Mixed Section to download your entry form.

The Juniors of Olton Golf Club concluded a fantastic trio of wins in October when they won the play off between the winners of zone A and Zone B, of the Central Warwickshire Junior League, at Olton on Sunday 18th October. They were nominated the club of the year for Warwickshire by the Warwickshire Golf Partnership, MIke Pell won the Warwickshire Junior Order of Merit the previous day ( see the previous news article)

The play off was between the Team from The Warwickshire Golf Club and Olton GC in 4 four ball matches which was won by Olton 4-0. The Olton captain Richard Forrester and Jake Scott and also George Parker had comfortable wins. Ben Westley and Erika Dean had to come from behind to win on the 16th with a birdie 3 from Ben. Mike Pell and Rob Farley were 1 down after 16 holes and had to birdie 17 and 18 to win one up.

The other six teams in the league played  a team Stableford competition with best three from four to count. This was won covincingly by Ladbrook Park with a total of 108 points.

The Trophies and prizes were presented by Mr John Duncombe President of the Warwickshire Union of Golf Clubs.

The Warwickshire JOOM is open to all clubs in the Warwickshire Union of golf Clubs. It's like the European Tour's race to Dubai, a season long test for junior golfers with points being allocated for successes in club, county and local junior open events and matches. More than 1200 players competed in the JOOM this year. At the season end an 18 holes Stableford competiton is held to decide the overall winner of the title. The top 15 in the points table are invited with the top player from each club not already qualified. Olton GC had 3 members in the final, Mike Pell, George Allen and Joel Palser in a field of about 35.

George Allen scored 38 points to win the day's event from Mike Pell, who also scored 38,on countback. Mike equalled the course record of 73 gross, to earn 3000 points and jump from 4th place to 1st with 10,140 points from the favourite Tom Ibbertson  from Coventry Hearsall on 9400. Joel Palser came 15th in the overall JOOM and should be very happy, at the age of 14, to be competing with the older boys.

The Warwickshire golf partnership has nominated Olton Golf Club to represent it for the National GolfMark Club of theYear Award. Each county is asked to nominate 1 club for consideration. A Selection Panel will choose the Club of the Year and the award will be presented at the 2010 Development Conference at Woodhall Spa. This award reflects the work that has been done by the club and in particular it's Junior Organisers and Junior Members to turn what was almost a non existant organisation into one that is the envy of the county. We have to complete an application that covers recruitment, coaching,development, child protection and future planning. 

The first ever club junior championship was held on Saturday 26th October. The championship was over 36holes with 23 juniors with handicaps ranging from 3 to15 , the Winner being the Junior with the best gross score. On a perfect day for golf 16 year old George Allen recorded two rounds of 72 ,144 to beat Jake Scott who recorded two rounds of 73. The new Junior Championship Trophy was presented to the club by the captain Bruce Wilson.

The Nicholas Wooley Trophy for Fathers and Sons was won by George and Scott Kennedy with an excellent 43 points in this greensomes stableford competition. Runners-up were Julian and Tom Watkinson with 42 points. See "Club Gallery"  for photographs.