Ian Smith
Being a Kentish Man, I was born in and have always lived in or close to the Bromley area apart from a year I spent training in North London. I have always enjoyed playing different sports and have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to do so. I began playing hockey, my main sport, when I was twelve and continued to do so until I was forty two. I realised then that it was time to quit because I had gradually drifted from playing left wing aged twelve to left half, left back and finally in goal! Too dangerous for me, so I only played in goal twice!
I did not start to play golf until I was fifty and only then because my two sons bought me a two day beginners coaching course near Hastings as a Christmas present. The rest is history of course.
Terri, my wife, is very supportive of my playing golf and also of my representing Shortlands Golf Club as Captain but has no desire to pick up the weapons of grass destruction herself. We have both been made to feel very welcome since joining Shortlands GC and we have gained many friends since doing so. It is indeed an honour to represent SGC as Captain and I am looking forward to the coming year at this friendly Members Club.
The main things that I would like to see in the year of my Captaincy is for the Members to enjoy every aspect of the Club as much as possible and to see capacity reached on all golfing days and social events, hopefully saying goodbye to the effect that Covid has had on the Club once and for all.
Ian Smith Club Captain 2023
The charity that I have chosen to support this year is “The Saxon Centre” run by Age Concern, Orpington & District and it provides day care services for elderly members of the community. The Saxon is run by some permanent staff and a lot of volunteers. The wonderful staff at The Saxon provide an interesting and varied programme of activities so that their clients can enjoy their day there. In 2015 “Memory Lane”, a special dementia unit within the Saxon was opened. It not only provides for their clients but can also give some home carers a break for a few hours whilst their loved ones enjoy different surroundings and company for a while.
The reason I have chosen The Saxon is because it served my Mother well in her mid 90’s. She enjoyed every moment of the two days a week in the three years that she spent there and the staff made her feel thoroughly spoiled. Basically, it gave her a good reason to get up in the mornings, having been widowed for 27 years. It made her eyes sparkle again whenever she attended. The link to the Saxon is https://saxondaycentre.org.uk/ and telephone number 01689 830055
Registered Charity 1148958
