Martin Johnson

This a quick history of the Hill Barn Captain 2013/14.

Born on Merseyside quite a few moons ago, I first played golf at my fathers course which was Wallasey Golf Club on The Wirral. The course was home of Doctor Frank Stableford who invented the Stableford Golf Scoring System. I only played a few games as a very much lower class golfer, namely a junior. A junior was to be seen and not heard stood at the side of the fairway when a member came behind him i.e. it was compulsory to let the members through whether they be quick or not! Juniors were almost frowned upon, a lower being.

I didn’t play much golf in my early years really. I went off to college in Coventry and stayed there at the end of my three years, eventually getting married to Diane. No time nor money for golf with arrival of Chris, who I am pleased to say has newly joined the club and later my daughter Jennie. I didn’t play golf at all until I came down south to join you all. I was despatched on a clandestine mission to spread the correct pronunciation of the word grass. Not grarse! Not that anyone listens.

I met friends through playing cricket and when the body couldn’t really cope with that too much I, and a couple of other friends came to Hill Barn, firstly as green fee players then as season ticket holders and then as members of the ‘Inner Club’ as it was then known. I have to thank GT/Trugy for encouraging me and these friends to join this wonderful club.

The people I have met and enjoyed the company of at this club are indelibly written into my mind. Whilst writing this I cannot help but think of these people not least Barry Roberts as it is his Memorial Trophy this weekend. Barry had a large influence on this club and will be remembered for a very long time. The one thing about the club in my mind apart from the friendliness of it all is the stories that it feeds you. I won’t bore you again with one here.

I have been on the committee for a good few years of my time at Hill Barn and would say that there are some very hard working people on the committee. These members help run the club and do it to help encourage the camaraderie and general well being of the club. Sometimes situations arise that would be unpleasant and difficult to handle in any environment but I think the smooth running of the club is achieved by these peoples conscientiousness and willingness to give up their time. However as it goes you can’t please all the people all the time. Please remember they are friends they don’t do this as a profession after all.

For my year I have chosen The Chestnut Tree Children's Hospice as my charity I am sure you will appreciate the work The Chestnut Tree undertakes giving palliative care to life limited children and their families both at the centre just below Hammerpot Hill and in the families own homes. The government provide only 8-9% of the funding required to run The Chestnut Tree so we begin to realise what a mammoth task they must have raising the funds they need to do this wonderful work. So if we can help a little then that would be fantastic.

To have some fun and raise money for my charity there will be several events organised. The first is the race night on April 6th details of which are available on the web site and also in the clubhouse. Please see myself or Butch Shakespeare for details of how you can sponsor races or buy horses for the night.