Democracy

In the nature of things most golfers would prefer to find themselves in a fourball rather than a two or threeball. Thus, when twelve or sixteen are gathered together the dawn chorus takes on a new meaning should a thirteenth or seventeenth arrive at the the last minute.  But, such is  the bonhomie within the Society that none is refused a game even though in the cirumstances the welcome may be slightly less than joyful.

There are players some would rather play with than against - those perhaps with perceived 'advanageous' handicaps.
Incapacitated players with heart, hips, knees, prostate, arthritic and other age-related problems, of whom there are a growing number and who know what ails them; and even just healthy slow players of whom there are a growing number but remain in blissful ignorance of their problem, are preferred to be seen in some other fourball, as are the 'ramblers' who talk unceasingly about everything and anything; and the single-minded 'didItellyouers' who speak to friends and strangers alike of their every stroke - especially when they have recently won or even lost in the unfortunate circumstances of a run of lost balls, ever the fault of partners who didn't follow the flight of the ball. That the ball flew off in an unintended direction, as was the missed putt, is just as likely to be down to the noise of a butterfly's wings as the golfer took his stroke.

I had a cartoon years ago of a man lying dead on a putting green while the disturbed golfer complained:
"I know he's had a heart attack, but it was a bit inconsiderate to do it when I was about to putt!"

You think that's a joke?

The founder of the Society is the self appointed Chairman.
His close friend is the self appointed Secretary.
The current treasurer recently succeeded the original self appointed Treasurer who retired in apparent comfortable circumstances  after declining to pay out large sums of money for questionable holes in one!
These posts are thought to be honorary, but as no accounts have ever been produced the members
are slightly in the dark on this subject - as they are on almost every matter to do with the Society
management, including the question of who gets to play with who in the annual competitions.

However, the history of democratically elected golf club committees, governments and political parties where you can end up with a Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn et al leads most members to believe the Society has an acceptable and even likeable form of control. No-one has to stand for election and face the ignominy of not being elected.

Occasionally an over ambitious member attempts to become involved in the early morning draw for partners.Such people, often recently retired and with nothing better to do, tend to receive fairly forthright advice from other members. Nevertheless they continue to turn up, reinforcing the Society's philosophy "anyone may play".

joy of teaching

A good proportion of my family is, or has been, involved in teaching.
As a result I have come to realise that in this day and age teaching has many problems.
But has this not always been the case?

Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain, and gathering them around him he taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek.
Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are they that search for justice.
Blessed are you when persecuted.
Blessed are you when you suffer,  for your reward is great in heaven.

The Simon Peter said:   "Are we supposed to know all this?"
And Andrew said:         "Do we have to write this down?"
And James said:            "Will we have a test on this?"
And Philip said:             "I don't have any paper."
And Bartholomew said: "Do we have to hand this in?"
And John said:               "The other disciples didn't didn't have to learn this." 
And Matthew said:         "May I go to the toilet?"

Then one of the Pharisees who was present asked to see his lesson plan and enquired  of Jesus:
  "Where are your lesson objectives and medium term planning?"

And Jesus wept.   


Thanks to all who have replied to previous blog posts in writing or  by phone.
Greatly appreciated.