On Saturday night, the club held its major celebration of the Centenary year, the Centenary Cocktail Party. The clubhouse was almost unrecognisable, transformed into a glamorous set out of The Great Gatsby. For this, special thanks must go to the Centenary Project Team of Corrie Gardner, Amanda Sumpter, Sandy Lindholm, Jane Carter and Bev Baltissen who conceived, planned and drove the delivery of the theme, and on the night along with support from White Top, styled the room with quality period furnishings and golf memorabilia they had sourced over the last two years. Members followed suit, arriving in their finest dresses and sharp suits ready to celebrate the people who have helped guide the club over its first century. With more than 300 guests in attendance, it was one of the largest member events the club has hosted.
Well done to our food & beverage team for their outstanding effort and dressing the part too!
SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE PGC'S CENTENARY COCKTAIL PARTY BY SPECIAL GUEST PAT LONG, THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF ARTHUR RELPH AND DAUGHTER OF JACK RELPH
Firstly, a most sincere thank you to Steve and the Committee of the PGC for inviting me, my family – David, Liz and Bruce, and my youngest brother, Andrew, as representatives of the Relph family. It is something of a homecoming in a way to be here tonight as this golf club has been very much part of my earlier life. I turned 85 in January and came down here first when I was a week old to the home of my grandfather AW Relph who was the first Club Captain. My father followed in that role and then as Secretary, after which my eldest brother took over.
While I obviously in the very early years was not taking in what was being discussed between my grandfather and father, from the letters exchanged between them which almost daily reported on the state of the course, works needing to be done, and wondering whether the Club would survive after the War, I know that I was a young party to it all.
What I do remember is that for years we lived the course, its problems and development. Every weekend and during school holidays we walked the course with our dog, me usually caddying as the boys were expected to be the golfers rather than a girl. My brother, Andrew, turned out to be the best golfer after my father. The condition of the fairways and greens was noted and discussed, there were endless talks between my father and others such as Ken Boykett Sandy Cunningham and Jack Howard, Col Colston and Ralph Parry.
I did eventually play the course sometimes with Dad and James, my paternal grandfather and my now husband, David, who was also a member here till sailing won him over.
It is wonderful to see how the Club has progressed from the original few holes and little Club House to what is here now and such a fine links course. My father used to say to us: “Golf is a very humbling game”, but I think that it is important to pay tribute to all who have contributed so much that they and we should take pride in their achievements.
My grandfather had a vision, my father worked very hard to help continue the implementation of this vision, my eldest brother, James, contributed, but without all the contributions of others this Club would not be what it is today. Congratulations to all who have brought the Club to this centenary year, and I wish the Club all the very best for the next century!