Winter League and Crystal Knockout This winter, there are two competitions, a new Seniors Winter league and the existing Crystal knock-out with the draw and results here. The winter league has now started and is getting well underway with the matrix of who has played is here and the overall league table is here.
Wednesday Games Over the coming weeks, there are several different styles of playing, including individual stableford rounds that count towards the end-of-season eclectic. The full schedule is here. If you win one of the Wednesday stableford games, your swindle handicap will get cut with the up-to-date list here. The Wednesday results are here. Spain 2020 trip
Ronnie Mee Trophy There was a comparatively small attendance today for the Ronnie Mee Trophy - some were no doubt put off by the weather and some must have felt that non-attendance was demanded by the c-virus restrictions. Whatever. Those who did not play may well have enjoyed the warmth and comfort of their homes. Those who did turn out felt cold, wet and dispirited (at least one of us did).
Nonetheless there were, as there always are, some who coped better with the conditions than others. That's why they won the prizes. In third place was Paul Manns with 34 points, second was Tony Fryer with 35 and the winner was Patrick Honan on a very creditable 37.
That trophy concludes the winter programme. But this morning we took the decision to cancel all matches until the end of April. It's not that we think the thing will be over by then, but after a few weeks we shall have a better idea of how we can combine golf with health and our social responsibilities. So we'll discuss how best to proceed then.
February 12 - in the all too brief gap between Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis - we had a gloriously bright winter's day for the Captain's Scramble. I understand the format was much enjoyed - and, as you'd expect with a choice of the best available scrambled tee shot on every hole - and a scrambled second shot too on the par 5's, there was a batch of good scores. The winner was Tony Brader with 37 points, and then there were three 36's: Trevor Davies got second prize and Gavin le Chat third - but poor Eddie Hemsley was not rewarded. Never mind, Eddie: it's the taking part that counts.
Last week's Pairs Competition was won by our captain, Chris, partnered by Richard Parr with 46 points; in second place were Ray Helyer and Gavin Le Chat on 45. Well done! Much more presentable scoring!
Again last week we were lucky with the weather on Wednesday. I wouldn't myself say that the course was playing easy (!) but there were 25 or so of us and the leading scores were: third Ben Benoist with 33 points; second Bob Howes with 34; and the winner was Brian Asbury who played to his swindle handicap ang got 36. Well done.
There were just a few of us who turned up on New Years Day: a happy few: so it seemed a pity to play the scheduled Yellow Ball competition. Instead we played an easy, fun Scramble. Vince Hallam, Ian Ward and Roy Pebody won a small prize each. We'll play the Yellow Ball competition on 4 March
December 11's competition was an Am-Am and in spite of very soggy conditions there was a good turnout of 29 enthusiastic players. A three-ball comprising Chris Wells, Vince Hallam and Bob Ginn scored 77 points and were richly rewarded (£3 each, no less!) for second place. The winners were a 4-ball (Dave Hardy, Trevor Davies, Eddie Hemsley, Alwyn Ogden) with 80 points. They took home £5 each to help with the vast expenses of Christmas.
December 4 saw the inaugural competition for the Tony Bailey Putter. Tony produced the Putter and it is indeed very fine, but the scores in the ensuing competition were pretty undistinguished. Mind you, the conditions, at least to start with, were pretty testing: frolsted greens and tufty verges: so I at least found that either one fluffed the approach shot and left it short or boldly attacked the pin only to see the ball disappear off the other side. Nonetheless some of course scored better than others, so the results were: Third Ian Morris with 30 points Second Patrick Honan with 32 pointa Winner Gavin Le Chat on countback also with 32 points
Well done to all three. Even tho' the scores were indifferent the prizewinners will still be cut: the purpose of our Seniors handicapping is not to produce a fair, all purpose handicap (that's what the official club handicap does), but to share out the prizes.
The Christmas Dinner seemed to go down well: there was a happy party atmosphere.
27th November - In spite of a very wet course 22 members turned up today. We paddled our way round playing friendly greensomes with varying degrees of success. In second place on countback from 2 other pairs were Chris Wells and Mike Wheatley with 33 points; and the winners on 37 were Chris Shaw and David Gingell. So the prizes are being spread around.
20th November - another lovely Wednesday for golf - the competition was an Individual Stableford* with only 4 clubs and a putter. 32 members played and the results were: Third: Roy Pebody 32 points (Roy, I have in my wallet a modest banknote for when we next meet!); second: our captain, Chris, with 33 points; the winner was Hugh Devlin on 35 points. Be assured, Hugh, you will be savagely cut - again! You'll be off scratch soon.
Last week's competition was for the Albert Holton Trophy (aka The Claw). In third place was Gareth Pomfret on 34 points, Bob Howes came second with 35 points and the winner was Peter Maddock on 38. Through the generosity of Stuart Holton they received multiple bottles of wine for their success, which meant that all £70 collected were retained by the funds.
The summer season ended with the usual end of season competition and evening meal. Full details are here.