Message from the Captains for 2025

As many of you know we were “sworn in” as Captains at the AGM on Monday 20th January, the same day as Donald J Trump was sworn in as the President of the United States although we didn’t seem to get the same news coverage. I think that is probably due to Melania’s hat stealing the show.

We’ve included our photos for the benefit of those members that don’t know us so please feel free to say hello if you see us around the club, we would like to get to know as many members of possible during the year and as we now have c670 members we are all too aware we only actually know a few of you personally as it stands.

As captains for 2025, we aim to help maintain the great atmosphere we have at the club and ensure it is a place where members and visitors can have fun, make new friends and have an all round enjoyable experience. If you are lucky you might even play some good golf too, although I think we all know that only happens occasionally.

To support us, we both have committees in place to assist with handicaps, running competitions and generally liaising with Macdonald’s on matters relating to the courses, clubhouse and pro shops so please feel free to check the club website if you have any questions, where you will find details of the person who can assist you and of course if you need our assistance we are both happy to hear from you at any time and our details are available on the Club V1 Members Hub App.

Captains’ Charity

As part of our role as captains, we are able to nominate a charity partner to raise funds for throughout the year. We have chosen Age UK Cheshire. This is a charity we have first hand experience of and they do a fantastic job.

• Age UK Cheshire is a local charity, with their own Board of Trustees made up of local people, responsible for sourcing all the funding for their work locally.
• Age UK Cheshire work with older people in Cheshire, focussing on three key areas: relieving loneliness, combatting poverty, and increasing independence.
• In a practical sense this means that they deliver services that include an information and advice helpline, a befriending service, support at home, a dementia activity group, a schedule of coach trips, care sourcing, and support with discharge from hospital. All of these activities are only delivered to people within Cheshire.

Any Funds raised from Portal golf club, will be put specifically towards the dementia support group, and the befriending service.

Our chosen bunker this year for the Captains’ Charity is the left hand green side bunker on the Premier 3rd hole. The cost will be £2 each time you enter the bunker. Alternatively we are happy to agree a one time donation of £20 which would allow you to go into the bunker as many times as you like for a fixed cost.

Upcoming Events

We will write to you with updates periodically throughout the year however we’d like to remind you of a few key dates for your diary.

Firstly, we have our annual quiz hosted by the inimitable Pat Roper (Past Captain and President) who entertained 126 of us last year split into 12 teams, raising a significant some of money towards the Captains’ Charity. Hopefully this year he’ll make the questions a bit easier.

The Quiz will take place on Saturday 8th March and details will be sent out separately later this week.

Our Captains’ Drive In will take place on Saturday 5th April, this is the first tournament of the summer season and is called The Perry Cup, named after the first Captain and President of the club (Gil Perry) who still plays regularly and presents the trophy to the winning team. It’s a great day and you will no doubt have a laugh at our attempts to hit a drive off the 11th tee with an antique hickory shafted driver, something neither of us is relishing.

The men’s and ladies Founder’s Trophy competitions both take place on Sunday 27th April and is our first major trophy of the season, so definitely one to look out for.

There are of course weekend and midweek competitions most weeks, so hopefully we’ll see you out on the course in the near future.

Wishing you all a happy and enjoyable year’s golfing,

Davie Thompson and Amy Lester
(Captain & Lady Captain)

The AGM was held on Monday 20th January at the Premier Clubhouse where Incoming Captains (Amy Lester and Davie Thompson) took over the baton from retiring Captains (Susan Alexander and Steve Sambell).

After his 3 year term as President, Neil Tidd also handed over the Presidents Gavel to incoming President Rob Williams.

The meeting was attended by 55 members, Macdonalds Management and special guests Mike Ridley and Angela Slack who were representing St Lukes Cheshire Hospice to accept a cheque from the retiring Captains for £33,025.