LBGC Centenary Book - Flipbook - Page 39
Langland Centenary Book
15/2/05
6:11 pm
Page 39
The Club showed a loss over the year this due to Clubhouse
improvements, increase in VAT and high interest on Bank
borrowing.The flat owned by the Club in Rotherslade Road
became vacant with two years left on its lease, decision to be
made here in due course. Outline planning from an outside
source had been sought from Swansea City Council for the
building of dwelling houses on the field adjacent to the 3rd
hole.The Club strongly objected to any such development.
More members were needed to join the loan scheme in order
to help our financial situation.The ground landlords dropped a
claim against the Club by virtue of Waiver.This meaning they
waived the breach of covenant regarding the erection of
buildings and the demolition of the bungalow at the rear of the
Clubhouse.There was some discussion at Board level on the
possibility of buying the freehold of the land for £35,000 but
no decision taken.
After years of grumbling by members about the lack of a
practice zone it was proposed that an area from the telegraph
pole on the 18th hole to the gate at the foot of the path down
from the 17th tee, be deemed a sort of driving or hitting range.
At this time there were murmurings about the state of the
greens and the shortage of Greenkeeping staff. The ditch to
the right of the 2nd fairway was filled in as planned and turfed
over. At the end of the season the Board considered that,
taking all things into consideration the Course generally was in
a better condition than in 1980. However action had to be
taken to improve it even further in the future. Plans to up-date
the shelters on the Course were passed and the year ended
with more whispering in dark corners about one-way traffic
around the Clubhouse. Someone at the time predicted it would
come one day but not yet!
In the golfing world the main topic of conversation for 1982
was the proposed new handicap system which had to be up
and running by 1983 and which brought much extra work to
the Handicap Committee. John Roger Jones maintained his
reputation by winning the Welsh Stroke Play Championship and
was Club Champion once again.
Some discussion took place on the question of ground leases
with much toing and froing and general frustration. Offers were
made and refused by the Vivian Estate but the Beaufort Estate
lease was extended for another fifty years. An attempt was
made to purchase the Caswell Field from Brian Jones and
although talks went well no decisions were taken.
It gave great pleasure to the Board, and the membership, that
Ken Phillips and George Shellard were invited to become
Honorary Life Members for all their good work for the Club.
This was duly confirmed at the AGM.
John Roger Jones, Welsh Amateur Champion 1983
In the early months of 1983 the new Handicap System came
into its own and, surprising to us all, worked very well. John
Roger Jones was the new Welsh Amateur Champion and he
was presented with a framed photograph to celebrate the
success. On the domestic front our first team was promoted
back to the first division after the previous years demotion and
the Club Champion was Phil Balfry. The Alcoa Golf Day was
extremely popular and the free entry and free evening buffet
ensured that the numbers involved were again high.
The House Committee decided to adopt a better method of
advertising functions and this began to pay off later in the year. A
new sound system was installed towards the end of the year
after much trouble with the old one. In fact it was a pleasure to
listen to the Captain without the threat of him being cut off in
mid-speech.The Club Dinner Dance was held at the Caswell Bay
Hotel and was a success even though numbers were down on
previous years. Following a request from the Ladies Committee,
the Board agreed that the Ladies Captain and Secretary should
be invited to all future House Committee meetings.
On the Greens there was a problem with Fusarium patch, also
known as Snow Mould, and this required treatment with Lawn
Sand.The usual complaints were received about the poor state
of bunkers with much anger directed at the Greens
Committee. During the Summer months drought conditions
prevailed for a time yet in general terms the Greens were
good and benefited from the extra staff employed in the Spring
and Summer months.
Financially it was a better year with reasonable profits after the
previous year’s losses and this at a time when a decrease in
membership was recorded.The Loan Scheme proved most
helpful in allowing the Club to keep its head above water.
First Team 1983
The end of the year Balance Sheet showed a profit of £8,500
and a financial situation fairly stable but again helped by
members loans. Subscriptions were set at £124.20 for Men,
£86.25 for Ladies, £31.50 for Juniors and with Green fees at
£6.00.The furniture in the Function Room was looking worn
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