I’d like to start, if I may, by briefly addressing our financial status.
We have decided to close our books at the end of September instead of the end of August, so that the full costs of all events is accounted for during the two years of each captaincy.  
It has been our objective over the last two years to ensure that each event pays for itself and where possible makes a small profit. This, and  thanks to financial support and loans from County has enabled us end our two years in pretty good shape.
Last year three of our County matches were played at home. The match fee we charge our ladies only covers about half the cost because we pay for our visitors. It evens itself out over the two years because this year we had three away matches; but this does mean that just about £450 (or just about half) of the sum we are handing over is already ear marked for the three home matches next year. We recommend that this is the minimum balance required when the books are handed over.
While clubs continue to give us courtesy of the course for our county matches, all is well, but I do have a worry about this one. We know that all clubs are feeling the  pinch at the moment, and  I understand that one club approached  for one of our home matches next year said they could no longer offer us courtesy of the course and wanted to charge a green fee of £10 a person. If this becomes the norm, our county match costs will more than double and we shall have to completely revisit the way we fund events.
With this and our cash flows in mind, we have in modern parlance I believe “tried to fix the roof while the sun shines”. Despite leaving a balance of £890 we repaid a loan from county last year and were able to slightly reduce the cost of our Spring and Autumn meetings to encourage wider participation. In these days of rising costs I think this is absolutely essential to have this rainy day fund. If heaven forbid, a spring or autumn meeting were to be cancelled because the course was closed due to weather, while the club would not charge us disturbance, we would still have to cover the cost of monies already spent on stationery, prizes and on course refreshments. Let us hope that we continue to be offered courtesy of the course for home matches.

Turning now to our events: I am extremely happy to report that the Vets are very much alive and well. Our five county matches were well supported, in fact some were over subscribed. Our year kicked off with the Spring Meeting in May which was held at Knighton Heath with an entry of 116 ladies. The Cumberledge Spoons were won by Gail Tilson and Jan Haniff from Ferndown and there was the added excitement of a hole in one from Cynthia Davey from Crane. Our first county match was against Cornwall on a beautiful early summer day in May. We lost 4 and 3 but this was an enormous improvement on last year when they beat us 6 and 1! We then played Somerset at Taunton Vale in July where we won 5 and 2. September was a busy month which started with our match against Wiltshire at Ferndown on the first of those lovely late summer days we had. We won 5 and 2. This was followed by our game against Devon at Sherborne where they won 3 and 2 and our final match was at Bramshaw against Hampshire which they won 5 and 2. Our Autumn Meeting was played at Ashley Wood. 67 ladies entered and the Irma Keyes Salver was won by Gizell Harris from Bournemouth and Merrick and Pat Steer from Knighton Heath. The Millenium Rosebowl, which is awarded to the club with the best aggregated score over the spring and autumn meeting went this year to Broadstone.

The last two years have flashed by and I have thoroughly enjoyed being Captain of the Vets. I have met so many new people and made many new friends. The thing that has impressed me most about the vets is the wonderful spirit in which all the matches are played. My thanks go to Morny Downer who has kept the books so well and to the County Delegates who have passed on details of matches and match cards, and my particular thanks to those delegates who have been stalwarts when I’ve been searching for 11th hour replacements for matches. Most of all a big thank you to all the Vets who have been so supportive.

116 Ladies entered the Dorset Lady Veterans Spring Meeting which was held at Knighton Heath on a very overcast, slightly chilly and drizzly day. The weather improved as the day wore on and although the sun tried hard to shine it never broke through the heavy cloud cover. Not withstanding the weather everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the day and Knighton Heath could not have been more hospitable and welcoming. The course was in very good condition and played extremely well too.

The overall winners with 40 points were Jan Haniff and Gail Tilson from Ferndown. They were also awarded the Cumberlege Spoons. The second prize went to Sue Merritt and Cathy Collins from Knighton Heath with 39 points with 22 on countback. Third were Vi Antell and Babs Jones from Broadstone with 39 points. Fourth were Carol Kerley and Di Groombridge from Ferndown with 38 points.

Congratulations to all the winners and also to Cynthia Davey from Crane Valley who shot a hole in one on the third. She was awarded a box of golf balls and Dave Miles, the Knighton Pro, as a special acknowledgement of this feat on a difficult par 3 slipped in another small box of balls.

Overall, a successful and enjoyable day and hopefully we shall have a similar number of entries to our Autumn Meeting which will be held at Ashley Wood on 24th September.

Dorset v Cornwall Monday 22nd June

The Dorset Ladies match against Cornwall was played at Bude on Monday 22nd June. Unfortunately we lost 4/3. Things might have been different had it not been for 3 last minute cancellations which

2009