PRESENT: P.L, P.B, B.H, C.M, J.G, B.Y, F.B, K.S, P.F. — M.M attended meeting but did not play.

APOLOGIES: To all absent friends especially the Laird, the Geezer and Winker, who are all on long haul flights to far flung regions.

RESULTS: There were 2×2’s by the Straggler and Crocs. DoD was the unfortunate Cardinal with an almost respectable 30 points. DDoD was the Rabbi, with 33 points. The runner up on 40 points was Brains. The winner for the second consecutive week with 44 points was the indomitable Kwok, whose h/cap descends to its lowest ever point of 16, and now puts him in range of the big guns of the sport.

FINANCES: Crocs and Kwok were awarded £1.20 each which was due to them for last week’s 2’s comp. The Rabbi handed over £4.10 to the Treasurer which had been in safekeeping since last week. There was £2.60 in swears. The Fin. Sec, revealed that he is willing to subsidise next week’s Christmas party to the tune of £100. This news was greeted warmly by the members.

TOASTS: To all absent friends.

To the Kid and Crocs who successfully predicted the correct score and the scorers of the Newcastle v Liverpool match.

To the Comp. Sec. who won £4 from his Beamish buddies on the outcome of the same match.

CHRISTMAS PARTY: Some doubt was expressed as to whether or not, next week was THE Christmas Party. The President was in no doubt and assured the throng that his mince pies and mulled wine would be available to add a festive touch. The AGM agenda was accepted, as presented recently by the admirable Kwok. The Soc. Sec. declared with a flourish that chicken curry, nan bread and poppadoms would be available. A straw poll revealed that at least 9 people were committed. The Chair kept his powder dry.

The President was keen to have a New Year party when the boys are back in town.

The Rabbi has booked the tee for 10am next week.

The competition will be for the Christmas plate, using 3 clubs and putter over a shortened course, which may be dependent on weather conditions.

LAST WEEKS MINUTES WERE ACCEPTED. —- No matters arising.

EVENTS DIARY: Brains proposed that the MOHGS should give serious thought to drawing up an events diary for 2016. There was broad agreement that this was a top idea but that a certain amount of effort and dedication was needed to get the project up and running. After a deal of good natured banter, Brains agreed that since it was his idea, he was willing to begin compiling a diary but stressed that he didn’t envisage that this would be a permanent position and that others would be willing to take up the cudgels in subsequent years. Brains was given a gentleman’s agreement that this would indeed be the case.

AOB: The Crocodile revisited the thorny old debate about the damaged Christmas Plate, which for the last year has been in the safekeeping of Kwok, the current holder. Kwok declared emphatically that the trophy was in perfect condition when he passed it on to Crocs, who then delivered it for engraving to the former footballer Tommy Cassidy. Tommy C. informed Crocs that in his opinion someone had been chucking the Plate around like a frisbee and occasioned damage on the revered trophy. Apropos nothing, the Chair jumped in with both feet and declared that he was 99% convinced that Kwok was guilty of inflicting the damage. Kwok scoured the flint faced looks of his colleagues for some sign of solace or sympathy but none was forthcoming until the fair minded Cardinal suggested that it could possibly have been damaged whilst in transit from Crocs to Cassidy. Crocs shook his head in violent rebuttal and insisted that Kwok was the perpetrator of the monstrous act of desecration. The kangaroo court appeared to have made its decision. Kwok was hung out to dry.

NEWBIGGIN: Shagpile has made arrangements for a game on 18 Jan. The cost will be £12/person for a round of golf and a bacon sandwich, starting at 10am. He will be looking for definite numbers in the new year.

MORE AOB: The Chairman’s Quaiche and the desecrated Plate will be presented at the AGM.

Burt E. Kwok (Hon. Sec.)