PAIRS BOTH SCORES TO COUNT. APRIL 25TH 2024. REPORT FROM MIKE HEALEY

Seniors - Are we finally moving into some summer golf? The sound of gang mowers across the fairways, dry conditions to play on and despite the early shower, enough warmth to finish off the round. 36 seniors popped their tallies on the board and we played a Pairs competition with both to count. The scoring at the top became very competitive with countback being required for the four prizes, as well as a good many middle to lower scores. Before announcing the four prize winners, a reminder that we are still a few names short for the match v Old Padeswood at home on 9th May (remember 20+ are already committed to the Arscott Open that day). Also another thank you to the fourteen seniors who brought their rakes and cleared both the 1st and 7th fairways yesterday. Your efforts have been most appreciated by everybody. There was some good scoring overall - read on for today's results: Pairs - Both to Count: First: Tom Blackshaw and Ernie Williams - 56 points (c/b) Second: Alan Barnsdale and Mike Drake - 56 points (c/b) Third: Andy Mitchell and Bob Brown - 52 points (c/b) Fourth: Steve Graham and Keith Hawthorn - 52 points (c/b)

Bonus Ball APRIL 25TH 2024, REPORT FROM Mike Healey

Seniors - The organiser lost his rag today with a series of 20p's and 50p's arriving in the kitty, but the discovery of a euro in the mix brought on the apoplexy. Let us just leave it at £1.00 coins would be most appreciated or change your coppers at reception, behind the bar or at the Co-op before arrival. 38 seniors turned up for a Bonus Ball competition so it was necessary to employ two ghost players to make up numbers to 10 x fourballs. The track was playing a lot drier and although we still employed preferred lies in the general area, we dropped the leaves, long grass, winter ruling. Overnight rain appeared to do no damage and it was even warm enough for jackets and jumpers to come off. 130 points was the expected par and five other teams were around the 120 mark. Read on for the three prize winners: Bonus Ball Result: First: Mike Hollings, Ernie Williams, Mick Carnell and Alan Barnsdale - 130 points Second: Paul Cheatham, Steve Monk, Colin Brown and Graham Wright - 123 points Third: Graham Bryne, Richard Collier, Ian Ketland and Paul Wallace Jones - 121 points Quite a number of you have agreed to come down in the morning ( 9.00am start ) for a session of grass clearance. Don't forget your grass rakes - there are a number of spares just in case. The aim is to clear as much cut grass as we can in two hours. Mark is briefing me at 8.45am but I think it is just a question of rake where you can and wherever you see piles of grass, especially up the 1st and 16th in particular. I have ordered coffee for just after 11.00am and Hayley will do breakfast baps if anybody wants them. See you tomorrow and a thank you in anticipation.

INDIVIDUAL STABLEFORD APRIL 18TH 2024. REPORT FROM MIKE HEALEY

Seniors - We cancelled the medal previously for non-qualifying reasons but still had a magnificent turn-out of 42 members this morning (something to do with sunshine?). The kitty comp calendar has been all over the place with closures so we opted for an Individual Stableford to get everybody out into the sun. The new handicaps threw a lot of us a curve ball but it was resolved through the tables in ig and following a conversation with Josh afterwards, he has now printed out a full competition table which we can refer to in the future. Further explanation next Tuesday. The course is once again drying in the wind and sunshine but it was still necessary to employ the winter rules that have prevailed since the beginning of November. There were a lot of cards around the 24/25 pts mark but there could only be 7 winners today with some countback required - read down for results: Individual Stableford Results: First: Bob Jarvis 29 points (c/b) Second: Chris Blazdell 29 points (c/b) Third: Peter Taylor 28 points Fourth: Alan Barnsdale 27 points (c/b Fifth: Peter Fraser 27 points (c/b) Sixth: Keith Hawthorn 27 points (c/b) Seventh: Jon Falcus 26 points

PAIRS BETTERBALL RESULT. APRIL 16TH 2024 FROM STUART MILES

Seniors, at last on the course and decent weather, is the weather turning around ?. 30 seniors placed their tallies up for a change of format from texas scramble to pairs better ball, a number agreed with so little golf played, playing as many shots as possible was a better option. Thanks goes to Steve Monk for doing the cards and giving out the money while Stuart was in the committee meeting. Result. 1st Wyn Jenkins / Peter Lord 29 points (back 9 countback of 15) 2nd Peter Taylor / Alan Barnsdale 29 points (back 9 countback 13) 3rd Reg Peacock / Tony Vesty 28 points. 4th John Falcus / Alan Pocklington. 27 points. Let's hope the weather stays fine till Thursday (and about 8 weeks more) so we can get out on the course again. With the calendar in disarray due to the weather and the cancellation of the medal Thursday's format is to be decided. One other thing Don has asked me to say is that there are slots vacant for the dgu match at Denbigh on Sunday 21st April, tee times at 15.20 and 15.29. If you are interested can you please contact Don.Seniors - Following Stuart's report here is a little general info - mostly dates. From Malcolm: Match v Northop (9th April) – postponed (bad weather). Now Tuesday 4th June v Northop (A). Match v Old Padeswood (19th April) still on at present. Am Am competition at their request. Match v Wrexham (16th May) – postponed by Wrexham (fixture clash). Now Tuesday 24th September(H). Next scheduled match v Old Padeswood (H) (Thursday 9th May) Sign up is now on the board but be aware that this match clashes with the Arscott Senior Open. From Club Captain: Captain's Drive-in postponed. Now on Saturday 1st June. Job Vacancy - there is a vacancy for the post of Safeguarding Officer at Clays. See any of the Club Captains or Josh regarding the post. Reminder that we have reciprocal arrangements with the following clubs: Eastham, Northop, Old Padeswood and Withington. Josh has more information and you will need to ring first before playing these courses. Finally - Tom has asked me to inform all regarding his change of e-mail address: jeanpierce00@outlook.com Mike H

PUTTING COMPETITION APRIL 11TH 2024. RESULTS FROM STUART MILES

Ladies and Gentlemen, the sun may be shining but not enough or long enough yet to let us out on the golf course. Some of us have seen the photographs taken by Mark and it's not pretty, bunkers full to the brim and ditches that he has never seen with any water are full. So we can only bear with it, Mark is fighting nature and sadly nature is winning at the moment, he and his team are trying their best when able and we understand that. So another day of putting and thanks to Paul's chipping mat, chipping competition. At least with the chipping we managed to set it up outside and get some sunshine and fresh air. Thanks to Tom for collecting the money and our esteemed Captain for helping me run the competitions. The putting course was reversed today and it was fine once we got started and stopped good old Barry from going the normal way and meeting everyone head on. Results: Putting Competition; !st Stan Roberts 29 putts. 2nd Mick Carnell. 30 putts. Obstacle Putting; Colin Brown ( after a 3 way play off). Chipping; Tom McGrady. 15 points. Excellent sarnies and coffee from Hayley as always finished the morning off. Even though the weather looks good for the next few days it is doubtful if it will be long enough to help the condition of the course. So unless you hear otherwise via ig, email or the website it looks like another day of putting and chipping on Tuesday. See you all then. Regards. Stuart

Seniors putting competition April 9th 2024. Report from Stuart Miles

Gentlemen, another day of indoor putting, will this weather ever change. 12 seniors turned up and the usual format resulted in Putting Competition; 1st Mike Carnell. 2nd Tom McGrady. Both with 31 Mike winning on play off Obstacle Putting; Stuart Miles. Longest Putt; Tom McGrady. All retiring to the bar after for the usual delicious baps and coffee. Advanced notice that almost certainly the course will be closed on Thursday so unless a heat wave arrives, indoor putting and if the weather is calmer chipping, with a start a 9.00am. Malcom also asked to let you know that the postponed game against Northrop away has been rearranged for the 4th June, sheet will go up as usual.

Putting competition results April 4th 2024 from Stuart Miles

Well Gentlemen another morning where the weather had the final say and another day of putting although with the added chipping competition, with thanks to Paul for providing his new chipping mat, which added something new to the rainy day programme. Putting Results. 1st. Barry Evans 63. (definitely a course record, well done Barry) 2nd Richard Collier 68. 3rd equal. Mick Carnell. Stan Roberts. 69. Pitching Results. 1st Paul Wallkace-Jones 30 points. 2nd Alan Bottemley 25 points. 3rd Richard Collier 20 points. Let's hope the weather improves before next Tuesday. There is a match away to Northop so a number of the regulars will be away, the kitty competition for the rest of us will be decided on the day depending on numbers. Cheers. Stuart