Season closes at Awali

Awali Golf Club’s Annual General Meeting has formally closed the club’s successful 2013/14 season.

Prior to the meeting, the club’s Captain Steve Brown noted that the recent ejection of England from the soccer World Cup was a silver-lining, as it was now likely that there would be less no-shows on the night of the AGM, timed coincidentally to start as England kicked-off in their last match before catching the plane home.

And, indeed this was the case with the chairman, club president Alan Goulden, commencing proceedings by complimenting those in attendance, the 64-strong turn-out being significantly larger than had been seen in many years.

Additionally, this year saw three committee positions contested, with one of the nominees for the position of captain having been enthusiastic in canvassing support from those that would not normally attend.

Following the adoption of last season’s AGM minutes, the captain presented his report summarising the 2013/14 season and its success. Among items highlighted in the report were:
 
* Thanks to the club’s sponsors, the committee and various members of the club for their contributions during the season.
* The achievement of Ali Musbah, course member, faced with a Bapco-directed transfer to a new, less experienced course maintenance company. The captain also spoke of Ali’s outstanding contribution to the club, stepping down after 10 years of service in the role.
* The arrival of new professional, Steve Gerrish, together with thanks to Andy and Jan McAlpine for providing him lodgings for free – the money saved by the club being allocated to a fund intended to floodlight the driving range next season.

Meanwhile, the chairman highlighted the need for the election to proceed in accordance with the constitution (Associate Guest Members not allowed to vote), with the posts of president contested by Alan Goulden and Petri Kettunen, captain contested by Janet McAlpine and Abdul Elah Fakhroo, and house member contested by John Steer and Neil Wilson.

In addition, the post of social member had received no nominations. The outcome was as follows (Petri Kettunen failing to secure the president’s hat, subsequently volunteered to fill the no-nomination social member post):
The president concluded proceedings by presenting the outgoing captain with his past-captain’s tie, but was then left with a quandary: traditionally, the incoming captain is presented with his captain’s tie, and immediately performs his first official duty: that of ringing the bell. With Abdul Elah Fakhroo absent (with apologies) due to needing to attend a graduation ceremony for his son, a tie could not be presented.

With many fretting that both halves of this tradition would be lacking, there were dejected faces looking as though they had just lost their favourite toy. However, the cavalry arrived in time to save the day, in the form of outgoing Captain Steve Brown being authorised to act on Abdul Elah’s behalf. All’s well that ends well.