The meeting started with a report on the events of 2004 and on the changeovers of personel. Its started with thanks to Ian Major and Jaguar, who have sponsored the Union Open Championships for the past few years. Ian has now retired from Jaguar but the company has already paid the Union its significant sponsorship for 2005.

Andy Kearns (County Captain) and Graham Hargreaves have been the instigators of ‘Team Warwickshire’ and the successes of last year in winning the Midland League will hopefully lead to more triumphs with qualifying (and winning ) the County Finals being the prime target.

Thanks were given to Brian Fish for his five years working with the Juniors, firstly two years as Dick Ferry’s assistant, then three very successful years as Chairman of Junior Golf which included three wins in the Four Counties and winning the Midland League twice in a row. Brian has retired from his position and his successor is John Jewsbury who will have a team to work with him, such is the growth in numbers of teams and the development of coaching to ensure that our County stays as a major force in English Golf.

Brian Fish also became a Vice President of the Union. He also proposed Andy Sullivan to be the new Junior Captain. Andy will be playing at Copt Heath in just a few weeks time in the Peter McEvoy Trophy, along with Rob Jack Sant and Rob Browning. The ballot for the 72 places in the field of this the first on the National events for Boys is a record 0.9 and for Rob Browning, he will play in the second to last group with Oliver Fisher, the favourite for the championship.

Thanks was given to John Duncombe at the end of his two years as Seniors Captain. John’s Seniors team lost on 2 of their 11 matches and the new Captain will be Frank Wallington (Handsworth).

John Powell, County Treasurer, then gave a detailed analysis of the Union Accounts. This included added provision for either the Mens or Juniors (or both) reaching the County Finals, the significant increase to coaching costs which was a decision that the Executive took to ensure that Warwickshire was providing the same sorts of commitments to the top players in the County as virtually every other English County is doing, and the funds set aside for the Centenary. The Centenary is covered in a separate piece of editorial right next to this feature.

There were a number of reappointments and all members of Council had received copies of reports from the EGU and the MGU, as well as County officials. President Jim Dean and John Stubbings then covered the new County Card Scheme.

There are 19 Club in Warwickshire which have joined the County Card Scheme and all those Clubs have the posters and cards (which cost £12.00) ready for the start of the scheme on 1st April. The card system will enable any member of one of those clubs to visit another (Club) in the scheme at a significantly reduced green fee, together with the 13 Club in Worcestershire who are also part of this scheme.

Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Shropshire and Herefordshire have all expressed interest and commitment to join the scheme in 12 months time, once their own card schemes have been up and running for this season. It is sure to be of benefit to the members of clubs participating in the scheme enabling them to enjoy playing at other clubs and if your club is not part of the scheme, do ask your Directors and Management if they would consider the opportunity.

It was left to Jim Dean to provide an insight into the effectiveness of a card scheme –

‘When I came down to the County in 1956, I paid 10 shillings for such a card. It was a wonderful opportunity then as it is now!’

The final appointment was for the position of Vice President, for this Season, to take over as President for the Centenary year. The tributes to John Stubbings in leaving the position as Union Secretary had been many but a number of speakers included reference to the commitment of the Stubbings family to Warwickshire Golf, starting with John’s father, in proposing John for this position.

John and his wife Lynne, without whom John freely said he could not have done the work of Secretary, both received gifts as a token of the appreciation of thanks from all those involved with Warwickshire Golf and John said he would look forward to supporting the president for this year and then to becoming President in 2005.