2017 has arrived, and I would like to start with wishing you all a happy, healthy and good golfing New Year.
The recent Christmas period was very kind to us regarding the weather with just the odd frost and some lingering fog, but as you will see below it was a very active period for competitive golf. I am sure like me a few of you have made new years resolutions. Top of my list, believe it or not, is to play more golf.
Please let us know if you have any golfing New Year's resolutions as we may be able to help you achieve them.
The end of last year saw Tiger Woods making his comeback to golf, which love him or hate him does put our great sport back in the headlines, and that's never a bad thing. I will be watching him with much interest over the coming months especially in all the majors, and who knows 2017 could see him competing again with the best if he can stay fit.
Christmas Fayre
The Christmas Fayre played over the weekend of December 17th & 18th proved again to be one of the club's most popular events with 148 players taking part. The Texas Scramble format produced some excellent scoring over the two days, and it was the team of Jeremy Tebbs, Bruce Jamieson, Allen and Daniel Smith who took 1st place with a net score of 58.0.
In second place on 58.7 was the team of Mike Kelly, Adrian Squibb, Barry Stewart and Chris Smith. Third place went to Ben & Dylan Cornwell, Nick Wilmot and Tom Winder with a score of 58.85, and in fourth place were Saturday's winners Jonty Rowe, Richard Worrall, Tony Davie and Paul Murphy with a score of 59.3.
Bainbridge Cup
The Bainbridge Cup, played with three clubs and a putter, produced some fine scoring from a strong field of 42 entries. Andrew Grove put together a superb round scoring 38 points to take first place. Four players followed on 37 points, and after countback, it was Graham Liggat who took second place with Kevin Pigney in third, Mike Kelly finished in fourth place picking up the third place sweep. There were eight two's recorded - Mick Davies, Andy Morgan, Jamie Mullin, Nick Wilmot, Tom Winder, Andrew Grove, Alun Lamerton, Lee Poulter. Each two was worth £4.87.
Christmas Eve Pro Shop Stableford
36 players took the fairways for the Pro Shop Stableford on Saturday December 24th and it was Phil Nevitt who carded the best score of the day with 40 points. Second place went to Clive Pugh on 39 points with Paul McCluskey taking third place, after countback, with 38 points. Sweep - 1st £64.80, 2nd £27.00, 3rd £16.20.
New Year's Stableford
48 players entered the New Year Stableford, the first competition of 2017, brushing off any remnants of hangovers and overeating. It was James Gale who took the honours scoring a very respectable 39 points, James won by one point from the in form Andrew Grove who was in second place on 38 points. Two players followed on 37 points and after countback it was Mark Chandler who secured third place. Five two's were recorded with each two worth £9.60; they were scored by Mark Finn, Steve Martin, Kevin Pigney, Adrian Squibb and Bob Collins.
Pro Shop Stableford
The last Pro Shop Stableford of 2016 was played on December 31st and Brendan Devlin set the fairways alight winning with a scintillating 42 points. Robert Bosworth snr followed in second place, Robert also put an excellent round together scoring 41 points. Third place saw two players scoring 39 points and after countback it was Gareth Fish who took the final sweep position. Sweep - 1st £57.60, 2nd £24.00, 3rd £14.40.
The Christmas Fayre had an excellent entry with 57 ladies in their finery out on the course! Those of you who played, or joined us for lunch will have seen the beautiful pictures taken by Emma Pearce-Molland, including the odd appearance from George Clooney.
The winning team was Deirdre Randall, Velda Hodges and Sue Humphries with 46.2 pts, on count back from the team of Chris Curtis, Nicky Guy and Sandie Pearce. They were closely followed by Cheryl Scott, Sue Comfort and Eileen Adby with 46.7 pts. The best dressed awards went to Linda Turner as the best dressed individual and the team of Paula Spurrier, Sally Solomon & Marion Burton won the best dressed team. £160 was raised on the raffle, and after costs half of this will go to our Charity this year - Stepping Stones DS.