All comments are approved by the moderator before publishing.
No anonymous comments will be published.

Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Seniors Texas Scramble

Today's Seniors competition was a Texas Scramble. Thirteen teams of 3 battled it out for the prizes (although two teams had to play a "Doris" after a couple of the seniors called in sick!!!!). It was a cold and sometimes wet day, but the seniors soldiered on in their own inimitable way and posted some excellent scores.
The winning team with a super score of 57.0 were Tom Wallin, Rod Spring and Stephen Vale. Runners-up were John Butcher, Mike Pritchard and Jan Hinks on 58.0 closely followed by Paul Tebbutt, Roy Whiting and Ted Fitzsimons in third place (58.8). Full result - click here.

Tuesday, 30 October 2012

Junior Pro-Am

On Sunday 28th October, NRGC held its annual Junior Pro-am.
This is run by Nick Mitchell, and is a small, in-house competition giving our juniors the chance to play with a professional in a proper pro-am medal competition. The team consists of 2 juniors, 1 adult and 1 professional. All our pro's took part and everyone had a really great day.


The winning team was Nick Mitchell, Max Nicholls, Michael Sopp and Jeremy Twaits. Individual Professional scores were: Winner - Tim Butler -3, Nick Mitchell and Nigel Hart level par.

Jeremy Twaits, Max Nicholls, Michael Sopp & Nick Mitchell
Nick Mitchell & Tim Butler

Monday, 29 October 2012

Junior Open

A good field for this year's Junior Open sponsored by S&J Communications which was played in dry but slightly chilly conditions. Twenty-three players from Burnham Beeches,  Blue Mountain,  Castle Royle,  Newbury & Crookham,  Newbury Racecourse and  Witney Lakes entered the main competition with a further eleven young Newbury Racecourse players in the Red-Tee Stableford.

In the main gross competition, scoring was excellent and very close at the top of the leader board. At the finish, the winner by a single shot was Tim Shin from Castle Royle with a score of 70. Count-back was required to decide the runner-up with Jack Unsworth just edging out last year's winner Max Nicholls after both carded 71. Full result - click here.

In the net category, Jack Oades from Newbury Racecourse was the emphatic winner with a superb 63. two shots further back was runner-up Luke Gregory also from Newbury Racecourse. In third place, Jack Unsworth (Newbury Racecourse) just pipped Oliver Overend (Newbury Racecourse) on count-back, but as Jack had already captured the runner-up gross spot, the prize went to Oliver. Full result - click here.
Other prize winners were:
Best Front 9 gross  - Max Nicholls (Newbury Racecourse)
Best Back 9 gross  - Michael East (Burnham Beeches)
Best Front 9 net  - Oliver Overend (Newbury Racecourse)
Best Back 9 net  - Jack Oades (Newbury Racecourse)
Longest Drive  - Tim Shin (Castle Royle)
Nearest the Pin - Oliver Black (Newbury & Crookham)

The Red-Tee Stableford event was played over 12 holes by eleven players from Newbury Racecourse who have not yet obtained a CONGU handicap (all played off a nominal 28 handicap). The winner with a great score of 34pts was George Freer. Only two points behind was runner-up Michael Sopp. With these and other recent performances, both these boys have now earned a CONGU handicap of 28.
Other Red-Tee Stableford prize winners were:
Nearest the Pin  - Laurie Gale (Newbury Racecourse)
Longest Drive (18th) - Oliver Walker (Newbury Racecourse)
Longest Drive (8th) - Simon Mead (Newbury Racecourse)

   
Newbury Racecourse Junior Open Prize Winners
Finally some acknowledgements.Thanks to ...
The catering staff who provided an excellent lunch for all the competitors today.
Richard Holmes and his greens staff for preparing the course in excellent condition.
Lorraine Storey, Nick Mitchell and John Hoskison for organising today's event.
Peter Smith for his continued sponsorship of this competition and starting duties.
Raymond Bilton for his registration and scoring duties.
Paul Tebbutt for collating the scores.
Jim Purvis, Lesley Cratchley, Fay Unsworth and other parents for guiding the Red-Tee players round.
Finally thanks to all the players for showing up today and supporting this event. Hope to see you again next year.

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

Seniors Fourball

Today's event for the seniors was a fourball Stableford playing off 3/4 handicap. In the moist, chilly conditions, the course was playing long and scoring wasn't particularly 'easy'. But, as usual, the 16 pairings of seniors returned some very good scores.
The winners with a great score of 44pts were the team of Derrick Perrin & Tommy Lees. Runners-up on 41pts were Geoff Denner & Bob Stevenson. Steve Thompson & guest, (young) Jim Purvis, just pipped Bob Evans & Richards Hook to third spot on count-back after both scored 40pts.
Full result - click here.

Nice to see another guest (Mr Moore) back out on the course today!!

October Junior Medal

This month's Junior Medal was contested by eight players on Sunday 21st October.
The victor with his second Junior medal win this year was Chris Richardson with an excellent net 65. Runner-up was Jack Unsworth whose 73 was the lowest gross of the day (net 68). Oliver Overend was in third spot (net 69) followed by Josh Wallin with a net 70. Full result - click here.

Junior Masters
With two counting medals still to go, it looks like Jack Unsworth has the Junior Masters title sewn up. With 2 wins, 5 runners-up and 3 third places in the counting events, Jack has played consistently well this year. Current standings - click here.

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Winter Medals

WINTER MEDAL AGGREGATE


Free entry and a worthwhile prize for the winner

The winner will be the player with the highest 3-round aggregate Stableford score from the four winter medals. It costs nothing to enter, but you must play in at least 3 of the 4 medals in November, December, January and February.

The prize is FREE entry in 2013 to FOUR medals (March, April, May and June) PLUS FREE entry to FOUR other competitions (Carole Scott Cup, April Fool Texas Scramble, John Ives Trophy and the Summer Singles KO).

More good reasons for playing in the winter medals this year!

A leader board will be published after each medal.

Any questions, just ask the Handicaps & Competitions Committee.

Saturday, 20 October 2012

October Fourball

A foggy and somewhat chilly start to this year's October Fourball. Three groups managed to get out on time but then the fog came down again and proceedings were delayed for about an hour. Later on in the round the fog cleared and we were treated to a very pleasant, almost windless, and sunny autumn day. The players took advantage of the benign conditions and posted some excellent scores in this better-ball stroke play event.
The winners with a superb score of 60 were the team of Jack & Fay Unsworth whose round included three two's! Runners-up on 63 were the junior partnership of Josh Wallin & Luke Gregory. Count-back was called into action to decide third spot with Nick & Pete Turner just edging out John Butcher & Sian Soanes after both recorded 64. Special mention to Carl McCartney who had a hole-in-one today on the 16th!!
Full result - click here.

Order of Merit
This is the penultimate event that counts towards the year-long Order of Merit (the last one is the November Greensomes). With today's win, Fay Unsworth has re-taken the lead in the standings from Roger Tillett with Jack Unsworth currently in third spot. It could be a very tight finish!?! Current standings - click here.

October Weekday Stableford

Nine players competed in this months Weekday Stableford. The winner, with a score of 42pts, was Chris Richardson. Two points further back was runner-up Ian Panting followed by Christine Cooper on 39pts.
Full result - click here.
Thanks to Nick and Steve Mitchell for taking part on the day. Nick shot a very respectable gross 65. (I think a handicap review is in order - he's been off scratch for far too long!!!!!!).

Sunday, 14 October 2012

Mixed Open

An excellent turn-out, excellent weather and some excellent scoring in today's Mixed Open. Sixty-four players in thirty-two teams competed for the prizes playing a better-ball Stableford off 3/4 handicap. Newbury Racecourse welcomed many visitors from over a dozen different golf clubs from as far away as Devon.
The course was prepared in excellent fashion by Richard Holmes and his staff and the meal afterwards was, as always, well received by everyone.
The winners today with a fantastic score of 45pts were David Baxter (Saunton) and Amanda Ransom (Westonbirt). Runners-up were decided on count-back with home players Jim Green and Fay Unsworth just edging out John Butcher and Sian Soanes after both returned 44pts. Fourth spot went to John Day (NRGC) and Laura Hawkins (Donnington Grove).
Full result - click here.
Special prizes were awarded to Neil & Jean Dalton (Meon Valley) and John & Bet Gazzard (Cotswold Edge). Nearest the pin prizes were won by John Day and Jan Hinks and Longest drives were won by Sian Soanes and Rob Bailey.
Club Captain Jeremy Twaits and Lady Captain Jan Hinks presented the prizes and thanks must go to Lorraine Storey for organising a very successful day.

Winners - David Baxter & Amanda Ransom
Runners-up - Jim Green & Fay Unsworth
3rd place - John Butcher & Sian Soanes
4th place - John Day & Laura Hawkins

Special prize - Neil & Jean Dalton
Special prize - John & Bet Gazzard
Ladies nearest the pin - Jan Hinks
Men nearest the pin - John Day
Ladies longest drive - Sian Soanes
Men longest drive - Rob Bailey

Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Seniors Greensomes

Today's competition for the Seniors was a mixed greensomes Stableford played from the yellow tees for the men. Thirteen teams competed for the prizes and, as usual, the scoring was excellent.
The winners with a score of 42pts were Ofer Ben-David & John Clark. Runners-up with 40pts were Malcolm Passey & Jan Hinks. Les Eden & Rod Spring claimed third spot on count-back from John Butcher & Ken Croucher after both teams returned 37pts. Full result - click here.

Saturday, 6 October 2012

October Medal

Unfortunately, another small field for the October Medal today. Under the new rules this meant only two divisions and a mixed gender competition. The ones who did play today were rewarded with some beautiful sunshine and a nice warm autumnal day. Following the overnight rain, the course was playing long with some tricky puddles to negotiate!

Division 1
This months winner of the top division was "newly-crowned" Club Captain Jeremy Twaits with a score of net 70 (the only player who sneaked under par!). Runner-up was Jim Purvis on 72 closely followed by Ian Turner on net 73. Josh Wallin carded the lowest gross of 80.
Full details - click here.

Division 2
Nick Turner was the victor in division 2 with a score of net 71. The runner-up was decided on count-back with Paul Tebbutt just ahead of Sarah Purvis courtesy of a better back nine after both scored net 72.
Full details - click here.

Two's
Only one player recorded a two today ... Andy Stockley. Unfortunately, he wasn't in the two's pool!!!

Owen Millennium Trophy
As this was the last stroke-play medal of the year the Owen Millennium Trophy was decided today. The runaway winner was Max Nicholls with an excellent four round aggregate of 286. Runner-up was Josh Wallin with a very respectable total of 313. Full details - click here.

Wednesday, 3 October 2012

Seniors October Medal

A nice sunny day, but a testing wind blowing across the course for the twenty-six players in today's October Seniors Medal. Only one lady took part today, so it was played as a mixed competition.
The harsh wind made scoring conditions tricky but not for today's clear winner John Butcher who carded a superb net 64 (gross 80) to take first prize. The runners-up spot  was decided on count-back with Geoff Denner just beating Paul Tebbutt courtesy of a better back nine after both returned net 72. Fourth place went to Raymond Bilton on net 73. Unusually there were no two's today!!!
Full result - click here.