CLUB CAPTAIN'S YEAR REVIEW..SO FAR
What a year it has been!
When I look back over my year as Captain of Burnham & Berrow, there have been so many highlights that choosing just a few is almost impossible. It has been a year full of fantastic golf, memorable occasions, and incredible support from our members — and, most importantly, some memories that I know I will never forget.
We started the year, as we always seem to do, with the Captain’s Drive-In. It was another dry but typically windy January morning, but once again the membership turned out in fantastic numbers. It was a great way to start the year and a reminder of what makes this club so special: the support and enthusiasm of its members.
As the year progressed, one of the biggest highlights was undoubtedly hosting The Open Final Qualifying event. I think we can all be incredibly proud of the way Burnham & Berrow presented itself. The course was in exceptional condition, the attendance and atmosphere were fantastic, and the whole event was a credit to the club and everyone involved in making it happen.
And, of course, we had the added excitement of seeing our very own Tom Sloman qualify for The Open.
That led to another very special moment for me personally: receiving an invitation to the Captain’s Dinner at Royal Birkdale with the R&A. It was an incredible privilege to attend such a prestigious occasion, but nothing compared with watching Tom take on the biggest event in golf.
To see one of our own members competing in The Open was something I will never forget. Tom came incredibly close to making the weekend and, regardless of the result, what he achieved was remarkable. I could not have been prouder to watch him represent Burnham & Berrow on that stage.
It is fantastic that our club continues to produce golfers capable of performing at the highest level. We now have another wonderful opportunity to celebrate, with club member Ashley Mansell set to play in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. To have another Burnham & Berrow member competing in such a prestigious tournament is a tremendous achievement and something the whole club can be proud of.
Another highlight was Captain’s Day. Tracey, Sean and I set ourselves up on the 9th tee and, throughout what turned into a baking-hot day, handed out what seemed like an endless supply of refreshments! It was a fantastic day, with a brilliant atmosphere around the course and clubhouse.
We also raffled a G/Fore cart stand bag, which raised over £600 for charity. It was a fantastic result and another example of the generosity of our members.
The following week, we held the Captain’s Charity Day, which was another huge success. Between the Tombola and the second G/Fore bag, we raised almost £1,500.
We also held the charity putting competition, which was hugely successful, thanks in no small part to Sarah Ruck. Her efforts — and rather impressive putting skills — helped make it such a great addition to the day!
The Captain’s Charity Auctions were another tremendous success, raising over £6,500 for our chosen charities. That is a fantastic amount, and everyone involved — particularly the members who supported the auctions — should be incredibly proud.
It was an enjoyable period for the club, and I think we have plenty of lessons to take from this year’s charity events that will allow us to make them even bigger and better in the future.
The presentations and competitions throughout the year have also given me some fantastic opportunities to represent the club and watch some truly exceptional golf.
We have seen some outstanding performances from our members.
Phil White won the West of England Championship for the first time, winning by one hole — a fantastic achievement.
Amelia Curtis won the women’s championship 2&1, another superb performance.
In the Under-18 competition, Arianna Virik won after a dramatic three-way play-off. Her up-and-down on the second hole, after flying the green by around 20 yards, was incredible. It showed exactly the quality, determination, and composure we have within our junior section.
These are the moments that make you incredibly proud to be Captain of this club.
On the club match front, we have had a total of 12 matches this year, and I have been fortunate enough to attend 10 of them.
We played six matches at home, winning five and losing just one — against Trevose Golf Club. Although I suspect the result may have had something to do with the entertainment of our guests over the weekend!
The away matches are always a different challenge. Home advantage can make a big difference, but we still managed one win and one half, alongside three very competitive defeats.
The results are important, of course, but for me the real value of these matches lies in the camaraderie, friendship and hospitality that go with them. They are a great representation of what Burnham & Berrow is all about.
And then came what was probably the icing on the cake of my year as Captain: taking 19 members on the Captain’s Tour to Belgium and Holland.
We played four courses that none of us had played before, and they certainly lived up to their very high reputations.
We started at Royal Ostend, followed by Royal Antwerp, before moving into Holland to play Kennemer Golf Club and Royal Hague.
Every one of those courses was exceptional, and the whole tour was an unforgettable experience. I would highly recommend all four to anyone who gets the opportunity to play them.
But, as with any Captain’s Tour, it was not just about the golf. It was about the people, the laughs, the stories, the competition, and spending time together away from the club.
Taking 19 members away and seeing everyone enjoying themselves was a fantastic way to round off what has been an incredibly memorable year.
Looking back, I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to represent Burnham & Berrow Golf Club as Captain.
I have been privileged to attend some wonderful occasions, watch some exceptional golf, celebrate some incredible achievements and, most importantly, spend time with so many of our members.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout the year: the members, the committee, our General Manager, the greenkeeping team and everyone who works behind the scenes to make this club what it is.
I would particularly like to thank the Pro Shop, Barney, and the administration team for all their support throughout the year. Their help has been invaluable, and they have consistently gone above and beyond what was required to ensure that everything ran smoothly.
A special thank you must also go to Jack and all the catering staff. They have supported every event throughout the year with tremendous commitment, professionalism, and good humour. They have all gone above and beyond what was expected of them, and their hard work has played a huge part in making so many of our events such a success.
But most of all, thank you to the members of Burnham & Berrow.
Your support, enthusiasm, generosity, and friendship have made this year incredibly special for me.
There have been plenty of highlights, plenty of laughs, and I am sure, the odd questionable Captain’s decision along the way!
I will look back on my year as Captain with enormous pride and affection.
Thank you for giving me the privilege of being your Captain. It has been an absolute honour.
Colin Singleton – Club Captain 2026