1938-2020
SEPTEMBER 2020 BULLETIN
Dear Members,
There have been so many uncontrollable firsts this year and one of those, and following the cancellation of The Open, sadly was not being able to host our annual dinner nor be in attendance the next morning for the AGW AGM.
Despite there being no AGM, the running of the AGW continues and it is only appropriate members be kept up-to-date by way of an annual Chairman’s report and also the presentation of a formal Treasurer’s report along with a 2018/19 financial statement from our Treasurer, Peter Higgs.
AGW CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2020
While I had prepared myself for the unexpected in the role as chairman, I have to admit that a pandemic was not something that had come to mind and hopefully I will be alone in that capacity in having to deal with seeing the world being turned upside down.
Due to Covid-19, it has almost been a wipe out in terms of normal AGW matters in 2020, including the cancellation of our annual dinner and also the AGM due to the 149th Open Championship at Royal St George’s being pushed back to 2021 by the R&A.
It has felt very strange indeed to be unable to meet up with members on a fairly regular basis, either at tournaments around the world or our own AGW events, and hopefully it won’t be too long before things return to some semblance of normality.
Lockdown was a testing time for everyone and I have to say that one of the most satisfying things to come out of that period was a fantastic response from AGW members to my appeal for people to share memories from their time covering this great game.
It really was terrific to see so many members take the time to pick out some of their cherished moments, and for me personally it was great to re-engage with lots of people I feel lucky to have come across through the AGW.
While it has been quiet in one respect due to Covid-19, it has been busy in another as behind the scenes we have been involved in discussions with the European Tour, the R&A, PGA of America and Augusta National in terms of media attendance at events since the game came out of lockdown.
Speaking from personal experience, the environment at tournaments is very strange indeed due to the “bio secure bubbles” in place, with restrictions meaning that everyone in attendance is almost walking on eggshells from the moment they arrive at an event to leaving.
That being the case, I have to say that I have been immensely proud of how our members present at events on the European Tour’s UK Swing and also the AIG Women’s Open conducted themselves at all times.
I would also like to place on record that the European Tour, PGA Tour, R&A, PGA of America, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour have all done a fantastic job in allowing our members unable to be in attendance to cover events this year remotely.
Unfortunately, we lost two members in the past 12 months and I will always treasure my personal memories of both Peter Godsiff and Bill Robertson from our time together at AGW Home Internationals over the years.
The loss of Dale Concannon, a good friend of the AGW, was also met with sadness, as was the recent passing of European Tour media relations co-ordinator Kate Wright, a gem of a person.
The world may have changed dramatically over the past six or seven months, but I remain immensely proud to be your chairman and look forward to catching up with you in person before too long. In the meantime, stay safe as, by the looks of things around the world, we are not out of the woods yet.
Martin Dempster
Chairman, Association of Golf Writers
TREASURER’S REPORT 2020
Once again, I am pleased to report a satisfactory financial year for the AGW. We made a loss of £662 on the year compared to a loss of £510 in 2018. But with assets of £35,307 at December 31st,2019 we are still in a healthy position.
One of the main reasons for keeping the deficit so low was the annual dinner, which yielded a profit of £2,286, due largely to sponsorship of £14,232, compared to only £6,934 in ticket sales to members and guests.
This, in turn, has led to accusations of the dinner being ‘ too corporate’, something we take on board and do not dismiss lightly. But having pegged the cost of tickets to £50 per head for several years we rely on sponsorship to prevent the occasion providing huge losses (more than £10,000 a year).
Without sponsorship the dinner, which is the centrepiece of our year, would put the Association in debt and threaten our very existence within three or four years.
While we do not intend to profit heavily from the dinner, judging the exact amount of sponsorship to enable us to break even is not easy( and probably impossible). So, I believe that we have to accept that the dinner is more ‘corporate’ than we would ideally prefer but concede that this is an unfortunate necessity.
It should also be noted that ‘Subscriptions and Fees’ were down by £1,134(£6,700 to £5566) due to an ageing membership (who stop paying subs at 65), members leaving and a few who have not paid. This year plans to crack down on non-payers have been stalled by Covid-19 but I would ask all members to pay when they can (in fairness to those who do).
We had a golf event which cost £1916 and handed out more than 45 Christmas Hampers at a cost of £1987 but made a considerable saving on ‘Trophies and Engravings’ spending only £287 compared with £3091 in 2018.
This year, 2020, has already been low-key due to the pandemic but leaving the AGW finances in good shape.
Peter Higgs, Hon Treasurer, AGW
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
for the year ended December 31st,2019
INCOME 2019 2018
£ £
Subscriptions and Joining Fees 5566 6700
Dinner Income 6934 7848
Dinner Sponsorship 14232 10885
Interest received 15 16
Advertising revenue 1600 1642
Golf Day 315 –
Total 28662 27091
EXPENDITURE 2019 2018
£ £
Honoraria 3000 3000
Administration 233 367
Donations 1987 2020
Dinner Expenses 18880 16340
Trophies and Engraving 287 3091
Printing and Stationery 2808 2613
Accountancy 120 120
Website expenses 18 15
Bank charges 75 35
Golf Day 1916 –
TOTAL 29324 27601
Deficit for the year 662 510
FUNDS AVAILABLE AT DECEMBER 31st,2019
2019 2018
£ £
Current accounts 996 674
Deposit Accounts 31431 32415
Prepaid Honoraria 3000 3000
Less Sundry Creditors (120) (120)
TOTAL 35307 35969
If any member seeks clarification of any matter on the financial statements please contact Peter – email hidden; JavaScript is required
A note too from Peter that there is still a few outstanding annual fees and if those members could look after this matter our Treasurer would be most pleased.
AGW MEMBER HANDBOOKS
As mentioned in an earlier AGW bulletin, the printing of the 2020 AGW members handbook was held-up due the lockdown measures in the UK.
What we have decided to do is to issue a 2020/21 AGW handbook.
It is now hoped to get a copy of the handbook to all members by the end of this month.
And in talking of the AGW handbook I continue to receive emails ‘bouncing’ back to me from members with obviously new email addresses that I am not aware including: Dave Birtill, Massimo DeLuca and AGW friend, Phil Inglis.
If you do have a change of contact details, please email me.
AGW GOLF – Royal Mid Surrey – 28th September, 2020
AGW Golf Captain, Peter Dixon advises interest has been good for the AGWs long overdue first outing of 2020.
There is still a few spaces available to tee-up at Royal Mid Surrey on Monday, 28th September.
If you wish to play please drop Peter an email as soon as. His email address is: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Rob Perkins, our defending champion and 2019 ETIQUS Golfer of the Year, cannot make the outing as he’s awaiting a hip replacement, and I know all members wishing Rob well in this regard.
And breaking news and that’s Dave Facey, who captured the 2018 Ron Moseley at Royal Mid-Surrey, will be teeing-up and he’s promised to bring the trophy with him.
Also, good news and Royal Liverpool has agreed to again host the AGWs Golf Writers Championship for the Fred Pignon trophy.
It will be a date (yet to be confirmed) over the last two weeks of October that Peter will advise all members.
Derek Lawrenson is the defending champion.
And the AGW will now look also for a venue the day prior to stage the hosting of the 2020 Michael Williams Hoggett where Dan Murphy will be defending champ.
EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS
The European Tour advises there will be an increase in the number of media being accredited to attend both the Scottish Open and the BMW PGA.
At the moment, and under the continuing COVID-19 restrictions, the maximum number is 20 and that has been in place since the British Masters.
This will also be the scenario also for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open later this month however that number will be increased to 30 media for the Scottish Open and the Wentworth tournament.
The Tour will send out fuller details in coming days.
Media attending either event will have to continue staying within the ‘tournament bubble’ meaning accommodation at the official tournament hotel and not doing a ‘John Catlin’.
Media accreditation deadlines (where known) for up-coming Race to Dubai events are:
- 13th September – Irish Open
- 16th September – Scottish Open
All accreditation applications to Vanessa O’Brien at the Tour and email address: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Also, in applying you must state either 1. Onsite Access (including arrival/departure date) or 2. Virtual Access.
AUGUSTA NATIONAL APPOINTS NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
The vastly reduced number of media attending November’s Masters will be greeted by a new Augusta National Communications Director.
Steve Ethun is currently still in the role but by the time the Masters comes around he will be working in a new role as a Masters tournament director.
Regina will be fully in charge when those arrive at the 2020 Masters.
For those attending the Masters you may care to thank both Steve and Regina for the efforts they have gone to get you approved for the Masters.
NOTES REGARDING THE 2020 MASTERS
And while on the Masters here is a few notes from the AGWs discussion with Steve Ethun regarding the staging of this year’s Masters.
- Augusta National says it’s fortunate to have a permanent media centre that does allow for better ‘social distancing’ than at present in place at PGA and European Tour events.
- However, the near 700 media representatives that attend the Masters in ‘normal circumstances’ has to be reduced to around 125. The main working press room normally accommodates 350 but that will be reduced to around 100.
- Those media attending will not have to go into a ‘bubble’ as is currently the practice on the European Tour, so no matter if you have rented a house or booked a hotel room there is no issue in this regard.
- Parking arrangements will be the same.
- However, once inside the Augusta premises you will be in a ‘bubble’ that requires strict social-distancing’ and the wearing of a face mask in the main media centre and on Augusta grounds.
- Foodwise – the top floor restaurant will not be open to sit down to eat though you will be able to still place an order and then take your meal back to your desk or you can sit outside the media centre to have your meal.
- The Augusta media centre will be open to the media on the Sunday before the Masters.
- There will be access to players in the normal Augusta ‘flash area’ beside the 18th.
- The retails outlets will be closed for the week so no Masters souvenirs.
- There also will be no Monday media golf day.
- AGW Footnote – For those who have been to golf events in Georgia (ie Sarazen World Open) in the second week of November be sure to pack the woollens and water-proofs AND being the Masters, make sure you take your tape recorder.
VARTAN KUPELIAN REMEMBERED (Article with thanks GWAA)
“Golf and sports lost a great friend with the passing of Vartan Kupelian.” – Jack Nicklaus.
The GWAA did indeed lose a great friend, a respected journalist and a strong voice within the GWAA when past president Vartan Kupelian passed away August 20 at the age of 73. He had battled diabetes for years, but heart complications caused us to lose him too soon.
The legendary Detroit News reporter, who covered 168 majors during his career, was a long-time board member and served as GWAA president from 2009-2011. He remained active until undergoing quadruple bypass a few years ago.
As past president Kaye Kessler said, “He was a great, thoughtful guy, unflappable, wonderful disposition and great dinner companion. A loss for our lodge, a strong figure even though he long since passed the torch of leadership – always a good voice on any issue. You bet he’ll be missed.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Betty, daughter Lisa and brother Peter and family. Vart’s obituary: https://www.ekfh.net/obituaries/Vartan-kupelian?obId=18014573#/obituaryInfo
A TRIBUTE TO ‘WRIGHTY’
In closing it would be remiss also not to mention the wonderful outpouring and tributes to the European Tour’s Kate Wright, who passed away recently and aged just 36.
Dave Facey along with fellow AGW members Neil McLeman and Paul Mahoney attended the celebration of Kate’s life post her funeral at her beloved Great Brickhill Cricket Club grounds in Milton Keynes, England.
Here, and with thanks to Dave, is a ‘fond farewell’ to Wrighty (below) & photographs (above) thanks to Neil McLeman (From funeral handout)
A FOND FAREWELL TO WRIGHTY
I thought members would be interested to hear about the ‘celebration of Kate’s life’ held at Great Brickhill Cricket Club, immediately after the funeral of the much loved and sadly-missed colleague, Kate Wright.
Kate’s parents, Brian and Sue, organised in such a way that the sombre mood of the occasion was lifted by countless tales of Kate’s love of fun, banter, travel, mickey-taking, life in general – and Nando’s! They should have catered for the occasion, free of charge, after the business she put their way.
Her parents are rightly proud of how much Kate accomplished and how many people she made a lasting impression on during her all too brief time with us. There was a lot of sadness and head-shaking over the injustice of her death, but also plenty of smiles as we recalled our most treasured memories of Wrighty.
After Brian and Sue’s tribute was read out, Scott Crockett delivered a wonderful tribute of his own to Kate, as did members of the golf and cricket teams that were a big part of her life. And it ended with a rousing rendition of a song close to her heart, Sweet Caroline. She would have loved the way we destroyed that classic!
There were several hundred people present – to hell with social distancing for once, although using the entire cricket field did allow everyone to adhere to the two-metre rule – and there was a terrific turnout from the European Tour.
The one disappointment was the fact the only three members of the AGW were present – myself, Neil McLeman, and Paul Mahoney. I know several members were prevented from coming because of family illnesses and work commitments, and the difficulties in travelling long distances to Great Brickhill, in the East Midlands. But it was still a shame we were not better represented.
Face
Here is a link to the AGW’s website from those paying tribute to Kate so please click on:- https://www.agwgolf.org/kate-wright-1986-2020/
As well, the website link has been forwarded to Kate’s parents.
Also, on an equally very sad note and Tara Hill, the daughter of former R & A Tournament Director, David Hill passed away after also a long illness in the days following Kate’s passing.
Tara was aged just 30.
Members who attended The Open will recall her as an always bubbly and enthusiastic worker for many years in the reception area of the media centres.
Bernie McGuire,
Secretary
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