Forrester Park
Vets Member Area
Forrester Park
It is with great regret that we have to inform you of the passing of Mike Fogg. He was a member of the Vets for many years and had many friends in the section. He will be very sadly missed.
The funeral will be held on Friday 17th July at 10.30 am at Chelmsford Crematorium's South Chapel.
The wake will be held at The Ivy Hill Hotel, Writtle Road, Margaretting, Ingatestone CM4 0EH.
Everyone attending the funeral is cordially invited by Helen and the family to join them afterwards at the Ivy Hill Hotel. In my many discussions with
If you have any food allergies, could you please let Mike Sabini know.
If any Vets are intending to attend the funeral, please send Michael Sabini an e-mail. Helen has asked him to collate the numbers attending from the Vets section.
Mikes email :-
If you are unable to attend the crematorium and want to watch the ceremony online, please click on the link below and use Username ruqi9112 & Password 310901
Link for online funeral coverage
Please Note :-
The family has spoken often of Mike being one who hated anything formal i.e. suit and tie. They would be delighted if you could wear smart casual with as many bright colours as possible. Helen has said if it very hot on the day and anyone would feel more comfortable in shorts, she has absolutely no objections. Helen has expressly requested that she DOES NOT WANT ANY BLACK TO BE WORN..
Vets Captain Robert invites you to Sunday Lunch on the 13th September.
All Vets' members and their families are welcome.
The event will take place in the new function suite at Forrester Park golf club.
As well as lunch, there will be a raffle and after dinner auction in aid of the Captains Charity (Essex air ambulance). A list of auction items to follow.
If you can donate any items to the raffle / auction, or you have a connection with any shop or business, please let Bob know.
Just to stress , the main objective of the lunch is to give all members and their families the opportunity to get together and socialize at what will hopefully be an enjoyable event.
More information to follow including cost. Please sign up ASAP. Either on the Vets' notice board or over the bar at the club. Seating is not structured, so you can arrange to sit with your friends, etc.
Many thanks
Robert.
We currently only have 6 people signed up to play with guests. Please sign up as soon as possible.
There are 2 sign up sheets on the Vets notice board.
1 - Vet with guest (will be paired with their guest).
2 - Vet without guest (will be randomly paired with another Vet).
The next friendly is on Wednesday 22nd July - Home friendly against Rochford 100. sign up sheet on vets board now.
8 matches played, 5 wins, 2 loss, 1 draw.
If you have never played in a friendly before, it is a relaxed atmosphere, good place to meet new people, have some food and play some golf. Sign up now.
Please note :- the last home friendly this year will be subsidised to £12.50 + £2 staff gratuity. We are also trialing for all home friendlies, pre match bacon roll, after match one course meal.
Away cost determined by home team.
Thursday 13th August - away friendly against Rochford 100. Cost £22 (includes gratuity). sign up sheet on vets board now.
Monday 24th August - away friendly against Clacton. sign up sheet on vets board now.
Monday 7th September- away friendly against Ballards Gore, Cost £20. Sign up sheet on vets board now.
Results:-
Ballards Home (FP 5 to 3) Away (FP)
Maldon Home (FP 5.5 to 2.5) Away (FP 4 to 4) FP win overall 9.5 to 6.5.
Harwich Away (FP 2 to 6) Home (FP 6 to 2) Bill hymas Draw.
Clacton Home (FP 5 to 3) Away (FP)
Brett Vale Home (FP 5 to 3) Away (FP 3.5 to 4.5) FP win overall 8.5 to 7.5.
Rochford Home (FP) Away (FP)
Team for Rochford 100 home 22nd July
Jeff Chilver, Mark beesley, David Wright, Phil Prior, Colin Coates, Rob morley, Steve Barlow, John Shilling, Jim Davis, Roy Pearson, Mick Erdbeer, Alan Mixture, Steve holgate, Chris Chapman, Les wren, Stuart Wilson.
Please see below, which shows an example on how to fill out the scorecard for the next competition.
NOTE :- On the new scorecard, column A is to be used to record the MARKER score.
For single player games, column D is to be used to record the players score, players points should be put in the points column. For pairs competition that require two scores recorded, columns C&D should be used. For pairs competitions that have one recorded score (eg Foursomes) the points column should be used.
Information from the competition secretary Ron Stovell.
Starters:- Please remember to complete the reconciliation sheet before you finish. Thank you.
Note to all members:- Please check that the scores on your card are correct and both the marker / player signatures are completed, before you hand in the card to the card collectors.
Please note :- when playing in a pairs competition, if you cannot play for any reason, it is your responsibility to notify your playing partner.
Reminder :- Cut off time for entry into Vets weekly competitions is the Sunday evening before the Wednesday competition.
Wednesday competition late entry or cancelling entry:-
Cancelling :- if entry sheet is still on Vets’ notice board. Do not cross out your name on entry sheet. Just write No next to your name.
Late entry / cancellation :- If the entry sheet has changed to a start sheet on web / Vets’ notice board, either:-
1 - fill in the late entry / cancellation sheet at the bottom of the start sheet on the Vets' notice board.
or
2 - contact Ron via one of the three methods below. (Please do not phone after 9pm)
[1] Telephone landline, [do not text] :- 01621 853555 and leave a message on the answer-machine.
[2]Text to mobile :- 07788 635002
[3] Email :- stovelr@btinternet.com
Upcoming Wednesday Competitions:-
5th August - Medal (Q), White tees.
12th August - Bob Nice Trophy stableford. White & Yellow tees.
19th August - 3 2 1 Team Stableford. Yellow tees.
26th August - Pairs Texas Sramble. Yellow tees.
Wednesday results:-
The compitition results are usually shown on either the Howdidido app or on masterscorecard. To login into masterscorecard goto www.masterscoreboard.co.uk Click list of golf societies, select Forrester Park Veterans’ Golf Society, enter password ‘green’. These results are generally available immediately after a Wednesday competition.
Please note :- You can check your handicaps in howdidido.com or England golf. If your handicap has changed then it will automatically update on the Vets’ computer for use in competitions.
The summer singles and pairs competitions are shown in the link below. Please can you play your matches before the end date shown.
Link - Pick here for competition table
On sheet, person in red to arrange match. Winners to let Peter Waknell know the result.
Good luck to you all.
The Vets Committee and Peter W
Please check your latest balance and top up if required. Accounts shown in Red are overdrawn. So please update ASAP.
Revised 8th July 2026.
For the Vets Wednesday competitions, please ignore any BRS emails you recieve relating to this competition.
For your group and tee time, the start sheet in the competition secretary area below is the only place you can find the correct information.
PLEASE IGNORE the BRS emails, these are for club use only as placeholders, as they cannot show the tee times for the 13th, 14th etc. For the Wednesday competition these are not showing the correct tee times.
Contact Details:
Telephone: 01621 891443
Email address: iansmith_home@yahoo.co.uk
Latest Information.
At the appropriate times up to date information and results for the following are contained within individual pages here:
Vets Committee minutes
Course Committee minutes
Current results of Winter League competition
Current results of Golfer of the Year competition
Current results Dennis Morley Trophy competition
Making payments using Bank Transfer
Our Treasurer, Colin Coates, advises that our online banking details are:
Forrester Park Golf Club Veterans as the name of recipient.
Sort code 20 - 97- 40 and account number 10382655.
This is designated a “business account”, if you are asked.
Please indicate the reason for the payment e.g. balance top up, Christmas 3 club or Guest Day.
Telephone Lists.
Lists of members’ telephone numbers are available to individual members.
If anyone requires a copy then please contact me.
Club ties, caps, shirts etc.
Although there is less demand for them these days we do have caps and ties available to buy. Please contact a committee member if you would like one.
Please note that if you wish to take part in the friendly matches against other clubs, you are expected to wear a club shirt and top for the match. Smart casual attire is worn for the meal afterwards.
New Members
Anyone wishing to join the Vet's Section should contact me. (Details above).
The present joining fee is £10.00 per annum or part thereof and there is a separate entry fee of £3.00 per weekly competition.
As a general rule approximately half of all entry fees is spent on prizes for the day and the balance saved towards competition day lunches and other expenses.
Special competitions, such as the Winter League and Summer Knockouts, are subject to additional entry fees.
Details of how to pay will be given to new members.
Handicapping.
Item 1. All new members must have an WHS handicap before they can win prizes or trophies in the Vets' competitions.
If a new member does not have an official WHS handicap. They are welcome to play on competition days for free (but not be actually in the competition), in order to obtain the three signed cards necessary to gain an official club handicap via Howdidido.com or Englandgolf.org.
Item 2. Up to date handicaps can be seen on the England Golf App, “MyEG” and Howdidido who advise changes by email.
NB. Handicaps shown on the masterscoreboard.co.uk website are not official and should not be used in competitions.
Item 3. Members are asked to regularly enter scores on days that they play other than in Wednesday Competitions. This is to ensure handicaps are accurate, fair and up to date. Consistently entering scores in particular from “General Play” rounds ensures handicaps reflect our true paying ability.
If members have any queries concerning their handicap they should contact Kevin Royan the Handicap Secretary.
Members Queries.
If members have any queries that they want answered, on any subject concerning the Vets' Section, please let me have them and I will do my best to provide a satisfactory answer. If I can't, I will seek an answer from the Committee or the Club.
Incapacitated Members.
As a section we are particularly proud that we do our best to keep in contact with members who are unable to play for any reason. If you become aware of others in the section who are unable to play due to injury or illness, please let Bob Ward know. His contact details are: 01245 467508 or sue.rob57@gmail.com
Bob will be keeping a check on their progress on behalf of us all and let them know they are not forgotten and that we all hope to see them return to playing.
Ian Smith - General Secretary January 2026
The Vets Committee have decided that to enter this years Winter league, starting in October 2026, each player must have submitted a minimum of 10 scorecards. The 10 cards are to be submitted to England golf between March and end of September 2026, (these can be from general play or competitions). This will ensure that players will have the correct handicap.
Round 7 updated - 15th July 2026
Joint 1st Place - David Gillespie, Jeff Chilver & David Ratchford
Golfer of the Year - Round 7 updated 15th July 2026
1st Place - Jeff Chilver
2nd Place - David Gillespie
The link below will show the winter league table standings.
The winter league competition is now complete. Positions 1 to 4 are :-
1 - Steve Eales & Michael Hinton
2 - Mick Erdbeer & Gary Radley
3 - David Ayres & Neil Pickering
4 - David Gillespie & David Ratchford
Many thanks to Peter W for running the competition and Ron S for the work on winter league Wednesday competition sheets.
We have several classic Forrester park Vets caps and ties available to purchase.
Caps = £7
Ties = £10
See Mike Donovan if you would like one or both.
Message for the Vets’ Committee
Can we please ask members to be aware of very slow play and act to speed up play. Below are a few tips on what you can do to speed up play.
1. Arrive at the nominated tee, at least 10 minutes before your allotted tee time and be ready to play.
2. If you cannot score on a hole, pick up your ball and move on. (Stableford games only)
3. Be aware of the time you should have completed 9 holes. (Guideline time for 9 holes is 2 hrs 10 mins)
4. Be aware of where you are going next; leave your clubs at the side of the green at the nearest point to the next tee.
5. Play ready golf whenever possible.
6. Be ready to play your shot. While you’re playing partner is hitting their shot, use your time wisely and decide how to play yours. Be respectful, of course, but get your yardage, make your club selection and pick out your target line. You should be ready to go when it's your turn to play.
7. Limit your practice swings. Taking practice swing after practice swing is a sure fire way to slow the overall pace of play down - and alienate your fellow golfers in the process.
8. Watch every shot. Yours and you’re playing partners; this will help locate the ball quickly. Get a good line on any ball hit into the rough and walk down that line; you will find the ball more quickly.
9. Play a provisional. If you are not completely confident you will locate your golf ball, play a provisional.
10. You only have 3 minutes to look for your ball. if the ball is not found in this time period, move on.
11. Mark your scorecard on the next tee.
12. Try to keep up with the group ahead. Do not lose a hole between groups. (If you cannot see the group ahead, you are too far behind and should strive to catch up)
13. Let faster groups play through. If you are struggling to keep up with the group ahead and the group behind are continually having to wait for your group, wave them through.
14. Hit your shot first and then chat – don’t delay play to finish an anecdote.
15. Remember golf should be fun; try to enjoy yourself out there. The more relaxed you are the better you will play.