Seniors Section

Captain: Howard Hoddell
Vice-Captain: Ross Medlyn
Secretary: David Warren Tel: 01837 840826 / 07508 038990
Treasurer: Michael Curran
DMVGA Representative: Nick Atkinson

Welcome to the Seniors’ Section of Okehampton Golf Club. If you are a male or female member of OGC and aged 55 or over, you are eligible to join this Section for a small annual fee, (2024 £10).

This will entitle you to enter the Monday competitions and play in friendly matches against other clubs. If you are male and 60+ you are also automatically a member of the Devon Men Veteran Golfers Association (DMVGA), qualifying you to play in the prestigious Emerton Court inter-club knock-out competition, if selected.

Monday Competitions: Every Monday (including Bank Holidays) the first tee is reserved for the Seniors’ Section from 08.26 to 10.26. Each week the Captain hosts a variety of competitions from informal drawn team games to individual qualifying Medals and Stablefords.

The schedule is published each year and issued to each paid-up member. Tee time bookings are made via the BRS system for pre-designated competitions.

For Drawn Games members notify the Captain by the previous Friday if they wish to go into the draw, which is then published and emailed to all participants.

Friendly Matches: Every year friendly matches are played against other clubs in Devon and Cornwall. In 2024 there will be 24. Each match will usually consist of 6 pairs per club, playing in handicap match-play format.

Each pair of matches (home and away) has a team manager appointed by the Captain, who will be responsible for team selection and all necessary arrangements. The fixture list will be published at the start of the season with sign-up sheets posted on the notice board well in advance of each match.

It is convention that those playing in the home fixture are first pick for the away match. Similarly, if playing the away fixture first, it is expected that you will participate in the subsequent home leg.

The home players normally host their opponents to bar drinks and/or wine with the meal. Where possible, team members should wear club colours, i.e. navy trousers, white polo shirt and navy sweaters.

Dress code for post-match meals is usually smart casual. Match meals are usually priced from £14 to £17 depending on the club.

The Emerton Court: This is an inter-club knock-out competition open to all clubs affiliated to the DMVGA. The format is match play home and away with a team of five pairs, aged 60+. The Captain will select the team and a practice round on the opponent’s course is customary. Club colours are worn.

Competitions and Special Events: Throughout the season there are individual club competitions and outside events. These include:

The Memorial Cup – a club knockout competition of individual match-play, played through the season.

Other Club Trophies – the Pat Terry Cup (16 holes, white tees Stableford), the Frank Dann Trophies (Medal, best gross and best net), the Doug Cooper Trophy (Stableford) the Courtney Heard Cup (4BBB).

The Veterans’ Cup Order of Merit for the Senior golfer with the best aggregate six scores of the nine qualifying Medal and Stableford competitions.

The Seniors’ Championship – The Champion’s Cup (Nett) and Warren Bowl (Gross) – Medal, white tees.

Club Opens: Three Senior Opens each year – Spring, Summer and Autumn. Members are encouraged to use these occasions to invite guests and potential new members. 2024 Open dates are 22nd April 8th July and 16th September.

Captain’s Away Day: Each year the Seniors’ Captain organises his Away Day for end-of-season camaraderie with food and fun prizes at a west-country course.

The Seniors’ Section AGM: is held in November each year (Monday 4th November 2024), at which the Captain hands over to his elected successor. The year ends with the Seniors’ Christmas Lunch (Monday 9th December 2024).