Speeches when you win

Par72

I have won quite a number of prizes in my golfing career thus far but I always dread when I have to give the speech at the prize giving. I have heard some really bad acceptance speeches and I hope I don't come accross like that. One of the worst things is remembering to address all the dignitaries at the beginning.
Any good tips for giving speeches when you win a prize?

TheDoc

address all club officials present.

Captain, Lady captain, president, ladies and gentleman


A small word on conditions

A) It was a tough day out there today and i really had to work hard and its paid off

B)it wasnt the toughest out but i had to keep it going and focus hard

A thank you to organisers if its fundraiser etc

A) I think i speak on behalf of everyone when i give my thanks for Joe Soap for giving so much time to organising the event and helping it run smoothly.

And a simple singing off

"So my thanks again and hopefully youll see me here more often" ( hope for a laugh) then exit

I usually always throw a special thanks to my dad, junior commitee and my friend and coach mark for all his help.

Just keep them sort and eye around the room, look confident and your laughing.

And hopefully youll be doing so many of them youll have them down to a tee

One Cold Hand

Also if you want thank the Bar Staff, the Greenkeeping staff, and I always think it's nice to thank your playing partners for keeping you in good company for the round (obviously if it's a rumble / scramble then you'll be speaking on their behalf.)

Don't try and make any jokes, unless your really good at that sort of thing. There nothing worse than a sympathy laugh for a really bad joke.

Interestingly I remember reading an article years ago on the acceptance speeches at the British Open, comparing British and American speeches. It was basically saying how the Americans were so good at giving nice simple short effective speeches, while the British always gave over the top, cringe-inducing speeches. The example they gave was Faldos (i think!?) where he sang 'My Way' after parring 18 in a row to win the Open in 198-something.

Oliverdog

This speech by Faldo was at Muirfield I think. If ever my central heating fails I play the video of this - the warm glow of embarrassment keeps me nice and comfortable.
In his younger days, Nick treated us to "thanking the R&A from the heart of my bottom" and numerous hilarious innuendos involving the Christian name of his caddie Fanny Sunnesen. Peter Allis once said "Ah Nick - there's a Ken Dodd in there trying to get out".
Thank goodness, age has matured Nick, and having stopped trying to entertain us, he is now an example to us all, especially in his new role as a commentator on the US golf circuit.

Sandwich

Or you can join the campaign to stamp out boring whoever happens to be in the clubhouse at the time with such cliched nonesense. Just say thank you to the sponsor or whoever hands you your prize (as in most amateur golf you have probably paid for the prize yourself anyway) and leave it at that. Nobody really wants to here you trotting out standard thanks to uncle Tom Cobley and all.

Speeches have a role at special occasions, and the golfing tradition stems from the earliest days of club golf when competitioins were the exception rather than the rule - a speech was appropriate at a Captains prize or the yearly cup presentation. But in the age of weekly(or several per week) competitioins in most clubs it really is a nonesense.

In my club committee members spend time badgering people (or begging them) to turn up for prize givings - because nobody is interested in being there.

kincsem

Father Ted gave a good speech at the Golden Cleric awards.

kincsem

One Cold Hand wrote:

Interestingly I remember reading an article years ago on the acceptance speeches at the British Open, comparing British and American speeches. It was basically saying how the Americans were so good at giving nice simple short effective speeches, while the British always gave over the top, cringe-inducing speeches.

One of the best was by Justin Leonard. He was sincere, and said it was his life's ambition to win the Open.