Happy New Year

Seniors Xmas Fayre

The final Seniors event prior to Christmas was the Seniors Xmas Fayre played on Wednesday of this week. This year, the competition was a three-person Dallas Scramble competition drawn with a mixture in each team of low, medium and high handicaps with fourteen teams taking part. In the normal tradition of this event, each player brings a gift for the prize table, so everyone wins a prize with the top three teams receiving extra prizes of turkeys, Christmas puds and mince pies!
There was plenty of seasonal attire out on the golf course and the winning team with a score of nett 64.0 was Allan Trotman, Rod Spring and Ofer Ben-David. Runners-up were Sam Whiting, Harry Jackson and Steve Thompson on 65.4 closely followed by Derrick Perrin, Tom Wallin and Ted Fitzsimons on 65.8. Full result - click here.
After the golf the Seniors and invited partners had their traditional Christmas dinner. In all 68 people attended the dinner. A huge thank-you must go to Fiona and her hard-working team for providing and serving what was an excellent meal - nobody left the clubhouse feeling hungry!!! There were some quizzes during the meal with boxes of chocolates as prizes, Mrs Santa visited the tables during the meal to hand out presents to all the ladies and a "nearest the bottle" competition which raised £40 for local Macmillan nurses. Big thanks as well to the many people who helped organise this successful day including Mike and Judy Willson, Roy and Sam Whiting, Andrew Buchanan and Lesley Cratchley and many others too numerous to mention.

Merry Christmas

Turkey Trot

The last competition of the year, the Turkey Trot, was played today. The last two years, this competition has been cancelled due to bad weather, so it was nice to get one played at long last. Thirty-one competitors set out this morning with their 3 clubs in a Stableford competition. The winner, with a superb score of 40 points, was Josh Wallin. Runner-up, fresh from his junior medal success, was Dan Green on 36 points. Third place was decided on countback with Bob Stevenson just beating Sian Soanes after both carded 33 points.
Full result - click here.

December Junior Medal

The last of this year's Junior medals was played today in tricky conditions. The medal was played as a Stableford competition with eight juniors competing.
The outright winner today and making it a double with last month's win was Dan Green with a super score of 38 points. Runner-up was Chris Richardson on 32 points followed by George Baker on 31 points. Full result - click here.

This was the last counting event towards this year's Junior Masters Trophy. The winner of this award goes to Max Nicholls for the second consecutive year. Max has had a superbly successful year reducing his handicap from 8.0 to 2.8 in the last 12 months, winning the Junior Club Championship, the Div 1 nett Championship, Junior Open (gross), Scratch KO, Summer Foursomes KO (with John Graham), a couple of runners-up places in other comps and representing the Club in Scratch League matches. These results have firmly established Max as one of the best players at the Club at present. The runner-up in the Junior Masters Trophy was Luke Bannister who just pipped Jack Unsworth on countback courtesy of more wins in junior competitions.
Final Junior Masters table - click here.

Ladies Christmas Event

The annual Ladies Christmas Dinner was replaced this year, by something completely different. Lady Captain Sam Whiting organised a 9-hole Texas Scramble followed by a meal in the Clubhouse, which proved to be a very successful format and enjoyed by all.
The teams of 4 players set out in chilly conditions, however, they were somewhat relieved that the early morning rain had subsided. First place went to the team led by Kim Richardson, with Allison Holmes, Lesley Cratchley and Jan Hinks, their gross 35 giving them a nett score of 26.8. A really brilliant score in view of the conditions out there. Sam led the second team home with a gross 38, nett 29.8 score. Her fellow team mates were Jean Raincock, Sian Soanes and Sandy Deacon.
Many thanks to Sam for organising the event and to Jean Raincock for the flowers and candles.

Seniors Bowmaker

Because of racing on Wednesday this week, the Seniors played their weekly event on Thursday. The competition this week was a Bowmaker Stableford with 10 teams of 3 competing for the prizes.
In sunny but chilly conditions, the outright winners with a team score of 77 points were Derrick Perrin, Roy Whiting and Linda Vale. Second place went to Sam Whiting, Monty Norman and Stephen Vale on 73 points. Third place was decided on countback with the team of Ray Bilton, Harry Jackson and Jan Hinks just edging out Malcolm Passey, Rod Spring and Brian Grace after both returned 72 points.

Wendy Seymour Texas Scramble

Nineteen teams of three played today in chilly but fine conditions for the annual Wendy Seymour Texas Scramble Trophy. As usual, the scoring was very competitive with three of the teams scoring a gross 65. One of those teams on nett 56.6 were today's winners John Baron, John Day and John Christopher. Runners-up on nett 59.4 were Sarah Purvis, Jim Purvis and Roger Tillett. Just behind in third place were Mark France, Jason Allum and Shey Walder on 59.8.
Full result - click here.

Thanks to all players for supporting this event in memory of Wendy Seymour.


The winning three John's being presented with the trophy from Paul Seymour.

Seniors December Medal

The final medal on this year's senior calendar was played on Wednesday in some very gusty conditions. But, congratulations to all 36 players who attempted to play in the conditions. There were a few "early retirements", but most of the field managed to complete their rounds.
The winner of the senior men's medal was Mike Pritchard with a score of 37 points. Runner-up just one point behind was Les Eden. He was followed by three players on 33 points with Allan Trotman just fending off John Day and Harry Jackson on count back. Full result - click here.
The senior ladies winner was Sam Whiting on 26 points followed by Linda Vale on 24 points. Full result - click here.

December Medal

The last of this year's Men's and Ladies Stableford medals were played today. Despite a small shower late on, the weather was reasonably good (certainly compared to this time last year!!).

Division 1
Winner of the top division today was Phil Bye with 41 points. This is Phil's first medal win for over 5 years (although he did leave the club for a while during that period). Runner-up was David Warwick on 39 points with last month's winner Gordon Souter in third place a point further back.

Division 2
The winner in division 2 was Rowland Barnfield on 40 points. Only a 2 and a half year wait for Rowland since his last win! Runner-up was John Butcher on 38 points followed by October's winner Josh Wallin on 35 points.

Division 3
The clear winner in the third division was Ofer Ben-David on 36 points. After gaining some experience and confidence playing regularly with the Seniors on Wednesday's and in weekend competitions, Ofer has now won his first medal. Runner-up was Mark France on 28 points with Stuart Briginshaw in third place a point further back.

Ladies
Not a very long wait for Cilla Osgood to win her next medal as she made it two in a row with her 37 points today. Runner-up was Sarah Purvis on 36 points followed in third place by Kim Richardson on 30 points.

Two's
I'm not sure how many people entered the Two's pool, but there were a number of two's recorded out on the course today. Rowland Barnfield grabbed two of them at the 6th and 16th, and joining him on the list with single two's were Josh Wallin (6th), Bob Stevenson (11th), Richard Osgood (6th), John Cooper (16th) and for the ladies, Maria Tillett (16th).