Although Victor's working career has seen him move around the country, he has always maintained a home base here in the East Midlands.

His career path saw him start at college studying electrical engineering but he decided to move into business management, joining Spillers Foods which was, at the time, one of the leading FMCG companies within the food industry. He stayed there for some years and became the youngest Executive within the company at the age of 26.

Anyone who has an interest in dress standards at the Club will be interested to know that in the early 70's one of Victor's earliest business accessories was a bowler hat, which all the managers were made to wear. "When attending training courses we went through the process of lining up each day for inspection to make sure we were dressed appropriately. The training centre was run by an ex RAF officer, who was a real stickler for attention to detail. He would take a close look at the shoes to make sure that they were spotlessly clean, that you had a handkerchief in your pocket and that you had just the right number of buttons fastened on your jacket, although I have to confess, our cat, Woody spent more time sleeping in the hat than I did wearing it.”

Victor was with Spillers from 1971 to 1979 when he changed direction and embarked on what was to be a long career in the wine and spirits industry. At the time the wine industry was just starting to blossom and it was clear it was going to be the next fastest growing commodity sector within the country.

Victor joined a small wine agency company based in Tooley Street in London. However, after only six months the company had been bought by a major port producer. "I decided to stay with the new firm and eventually took over as MD in 1990 through to 2006.” The company by then had a turnover of over £50M and employed around 50 people.

After retiring and recharging the batteries for 18 months he decided to return to the industry and joined a friend who ran a wine brokerage company to help establish contact and sale through the main off-trade. Having achieved this objective he then set up a new wine company Alexir Ltd with his son Alexander in 2009 covering commercial and family owned wine producers from around the world; although, his intention this time is to offer guidance and to be more backroom involved than front of house, which will allow him more time on the golf course.

In addition to Alexander, Victor and his wife Sonja also have a daughter, Natasha. They were married in 1970 (June 21^st, world cup final)

Sport has always been very important to him and during his teens he played football, squash, and cricket. "I was forced to play rugby during my school years but didn't like it at that point. That has now changed and I love to watch it more than any other sport, apart from golf of course!” However, playing the game had its advantages as he became quite good at running, certainly when someone passed him the ball. This lead to him becoming school champion and he held the trophy for the 100 and 200 yards for two consecutive years. That said, during his late teens he was also involved in speed (ice) skating and was a member of the East Midlands team based in Nottingham.

Rather than spotting Victor on a fairway, members may well have seen him on the stage as he explained. "Another of my social passions was amateur dramatics. I was a member of a local group but also played with the Little Theatre where we entered a number of one and three act festivals around the country. Our producer, who went on to become a professional took us all the way to the all England finals which we won, we then had the opportunity to perform the play at the Haymarket Theatre for a week. At that stage, after reading some of the great reviews, I nearly went professional, but fortunately common sense prevailed”

Victor was introduced to golf purely by chance; in 1999 a group of friends had arranged to go to Spain for a week's golf and tennis, plus a little R&R. However one dropped out at the last minute and they asked him to take his place. "Up to then I had never held a club and it certainly showed on the first round. Fortunately I have managed to improve since then, although I am sure some may question that statement”.

On returning to the UK he decided to join Kilworth Springs where most of the lads played. "I really got into the game quickly but felt I needed more from a club than Kilworth could offer. Having looked around at all the immediate options I decided to join MHGC in 2004 as it ticked all my boxes, certainly from a friendly and sociable environment. I have been very fortunate since to have made so many friends.”

"Like most people who have achieved a hole in one, I have to class this as one of my most treasured memories from the game. It only happened in September this year while I was down in the south west of France with a few boys from the Saturday morning crowd; or come to think of it, was it the celebration afterwards.”

Victor's charity this year is the NSPCC. "I have been involved with them for many years and truly believe they do a remarkable job caring and protecting the most vulnerable in society, young children”.

Lady Captain – Christine Pollock

Chris spent a number of years working as a hairdresser. Starting at the age of 15, she worked in various salons before starting a business with two friends. The salon, called ‘Roots hair Studio' led to two other outlets.

In 1996, when Rob's work took him to the USA, the family moved to New Jersey, where they spent three years. Chris spent time working for charities and getting involved in the school PTA. They returned to the UK and settled in Market Harborough. That was 12 years ago. On her return to the UK she spent time working for the Homestart charity. It wasn't the first time she had been involved in major charities after being on a main committee for Barnado's in Newcastle.

Persuaded by Rob, she took up golf. "I've always enjoyed sports and played tennis for a number of years” she explained. "Market Harborough was my one and only Club and I have enjoyed making a lot of new friends. It's a lovely Club with a wonderful Ladies section and I am very honoured to have been asked to be Lady Captain for 2012.”

Away from golf, Chris says that she enjoys art, design and ‘anything creative'. She has been on flower arranging courses and paints.

Chris has chosen to support the Pancreatic Cancer charity this year.

Senior Captain – David Smith

A move of office from Richmond, Surrey to Northamptonshire led to the discovery of Market Harborough in 1997, and he lives with wife Pat just outside East Farndon.

David started his golfing career after finding he had some free time after a busy business life. "Early retirement in 2000 opened up new opportunities in management training as a consultant, and simultaneously freed up time” he explained. "A birthday gift of golf lessons at Kilworth Springs from a well-meaning friend introduced me to the game and in 2002 both Pat and I joined Market Harborough. In the years since, work has been managed down as golf has taken over.”

Away from the course, grandchildren all live out of the area so visits tend to be full-on and frantic, but too far apart! In quiet moments -and there aren't many these days- he enjoys photography and serious music.

Junior Captain – John Mundy

A member of theMarket Harboroughrugby and cricket clubs, Jon began playing golf just over three years ago.

He is the youngest member of the early Saturday morning crowd – by quite a number of years! When he first started turning up and playing off a handicap quite a bit bigger than his age, whoever his partner was could pretty much guarantee a winning morning!

He now plays off 14 (but still regularly wins!)

He told us: "I am looking forward to being Junior Captain and everything that goes with it throughout the year.”