Each year since 2009 the children of the Gregory and the Quy families take part in the "Golden Maggot" fishing competition. The idea originated from their two fishing mad Dads who remembered a 1970's television programme called "The Fishing Race". In that programme two teams challenged for...  you've guessed it... a trophy called "The Golden Maggot".

 The children's version of the competition is also a battle of the sexes. Sarah Gregory and Annie Quy join forces to compete as 'Girls Hookin Good' while Matthew Gregory and John Quy compete as "The Custard Carps". In previous years the event has taken place at a venue in Northamptonshire but this year the teams wanted to use the excellent facilities at the Vale lake and the club were more than happy to oblige.

 With the scores standing at one win apiece the competition was fiercely contested with Dad Bryan Quy commenting that "the children really enjoy the match and have a lot of fun.... but they also try very hard to win".

 At the beginning of the 3 hour match the boys got off to a flying start with a number of common carp landed. However momentum began to shift and Sarah and Annie came back strongly in the second half catching some good common and mirror carp up to 2Ibs. Just when it appeared that the girls were running out clear winners both Matthew and John each caught a good size fish to put a question mark over the final result.

 It was a tense weigh-in but the 2011 "Golden Maggot" winners were confirmed as "Girls Hookin Good" who recorded a weight of 14Ibs 12oz. In second place (cough) were "The Custard Carps" with a creditable weight of 11Ibs 12oz. Sarah and Annie were presented with their well earned trophy by Mum, Carole Gregory.

 With the venue providing the perfect family environment and some excellent fishing both teams are looking forward to returning to the Vale lake for the 2012 event - the boys of course hoping to pull level.

Wednesday 10th August.

Ladies Invitation

58 Ladies representing 19 Golf Clubs played in the Ladies Invitation 4 Ball Betterball competition over 18 holes at the Vale Golf Club on Wednesday 10th August. The windy conditions made the competition very tough, however the final result was close and everyone enjoyed the occasion. With a total of £206 raised for Cancer Research UK.

 The results were:-

1st:- Chris Millward (Vale) and Chris Ryan (Feldon Valley) with 43 Points

2nd:- Gill Mitchell (Vale) and Wendy Melvin (Cotswold Hills) with 42 Points

3rd:- Wendy Towers (Vale) and Lyn Chambers (Broadway) with 40 Points

Nearest the Pin:-

Silver division was Christine Scholfield from Broadway                                     Bronze/Copper division was Sue Simpson from the Vale

Nearest the Line:-

This was won by our own Christine Millward pictured below with the Lady Captain Jacqui Cravos.

Saturday 30 July

Roaring 20's Charity Ball.

Many thanks to all the members and guests who dressed up and supported this years Captains' Charity Ball, The theme of Roaring 20's went down well with everyone dressing up. The Caberet provided kindly by Evesham Operatic Society perfoming renditions from Thoroughly Modern Millie. The evening raised £850 for the captains charities so again thankyou to everyone who supported the event. 

Sunday 21st June

The Vale Ladies Open 2011

 87 Ladies played in the Vale Ladies Open 2011 competition at the Vale Golf Club.  The competition was a 3 Ball Alliance and the final scores were very close. The results were:

1st:-  Jill Millard, Clare Bunn, Pat Stone (Vale GC) - 82 pts.

2nd:-  Sylvia Anderson, Cheryl Wileman, Sandy Warburton (Vale GC) - 79 pts. c/b

3rd:-  Jayne Freeman, Di Laxton, Kathy Reid (Redditch GC) - 79 pts.

Longest Drive:   

 Silver Division - Cheryl Steadman (Naunton Downs GC)

Bronze Division - Mary Souter (Naunton Downs GC)

Nearest the Pin: Silver Division - Wendy Towers (Vale GC)

Copper Division - Mary Yates (Vale GC)

Pat Stone from the winning team had to rush off to Hospital after the final hole, having played the competition with an injured foot which she damaged in an accident immediately before the competition.

The raffle raised £ 280.00   for the Lady Captain’s charity Cancer Research UK

Clare Bunn (left) and Jill Millard (right) receiving the cup from the Lady Captain Jacqui Cravos (centre) in the absence of the third team member Pat Stone.

84 Vale members, past and present, played in the annual Founders Day Trophy Competition on Sunday 5th June.   The competition was a team stableford and scores were very close but the overall winners were:

1st:- Nic Yates, Lyndsey Parsons, Andrew Hawkins - 87 points;

2nd:- Richard Jenkins (Vale Head Pro), Sandra Cornwall and Steve Cravos - 85 points on c/b from                                                   

3rd:- Steve Young, Chris Millward and Jill Parton.

Longest Drive Ladies - Pauline Kay;

Longest Drive Men - Mike Filleuil

Nearest the Pin Ladies - Rosie Shufflebotham

Nearest the Pin Men - Geoff Scott.

116 members attended a  superb dinner in the evening and the celebrations for the past 20 years continued.  Trevor Sidwell welcomed everyone to the evening and especially to our guests Paul and Peter Bille, Mary Rimell, Tom and Linda Rimell and many more members of the Bille family.  A special cake had been baked by past lady captain Pauline Hawkins which depicted not only the Club`s original logo but featured in icing a picture of the course as it was 20 years ago. The cake was cut by Paul Bille and Mary Rimell.  Paul Bille then spoke at how happy he was that the Bille family were involved with the Vale Golf Club.  The toast to the Vale was given by inaugural captain John McGowan and he drew on many of his early memories of the beginning of the Club.  John, like Mary, echoed the sentiment that it was good to see the Vale back in the hands of a private family and he felt sure the Bille family would take the Club from strength to strength.   The evening finished with the Ladies Roll-Up Choir serenading us with a number of songs including some with golfing themes based on the Vale.