Conditions varied for competitors – common in winter. Early frost greeted the first games whilst increasingly gale force winds affected the later games. Early players seemed to have the advantage with Alan King taking the honours on 39 points with countback separating Jonathan Rivers, Brett Colley and Kim Chaffart. Only ‘Two’ recorded was by a lady Joan Mulcahy on 2nd. Results…

CSS reflected difficult winter conditions @ 36 points.

In the associated Prince’s Eclectic, Henry Lindesay-Bethune shares lead with Brett Colley on 65.0 from Jonathan Rivers 66.0. R3 Leader board…

In the Winter Competition Jonathan has a lead of two on 112 from Peter Harrington. R6 Leader board…

Ladies

In addition to the mud underneath, today we had to contend with a biting wind, helping to make club selection a challenge. From the scores, it was obviously a challenge to which most did not rise. With 32 points, Jayne Maxwell was probably not overly impressed with her score, but she was way out of reach for everyone else and cruised to a 5 point win over Jane Fraser and Val Riziotis. Results… 

CSS went to 34 points, Reduction-Only round.

Habe Crocker has returned to the top of the Eclectic, kicking her round off with a birdie, but there is rather a chasing pack with Jayne one shot back, and Val and Sheena two back. All is left to play for in the last round. R3 Leader board…

Men

The field faced some real winter conditions: cool temperatures, muddy fairways and swirling winds to name a few. Paul House had a decent start to his round (18pts) but sealed his win today by notching up 22pts on the way in. The only blemishes on the back 9 were bogeys on the 12th and 13th hole. Paul’s handicap gets cut to 11.5. Barry Page earned a well deserved runner-up place with 39pts (20pts out & 19pts in). Scott Sparks (21pts on the way in) and early clubhouse leader Peter Harrison finish on 37pts. Tamas Ladacs (20pts on the back 9) and Caleb Mills complete the Top6. Results…  

CSS: 37pts.

Jay Barker retains the overall lead in the Winter Competition since Paul House hasn’t yet recorded a score on Duke’s. R6 Leader board…

Jay retains his lead in the Prince’s Eclectic (Net 59) ahead of Pete H (Net 61) and Kerry Sargeant (62). R3 Leader board…

Early snow flurries evaporated to leave a largely sunny but cold day. Mud from the weekend was not so prevalent and there were some very good scores for some. Early clubhouse leader Jonathan Rivers shot 66 and in the event this remained the lead until the last game produced the winner. Charlie Renton produced an outstanding 62 to win from Jonathan with Brett Colley 3rd 67 one ahead of Henery Lindsay-Bethune. Results…

Well done Charlie who had a three shot cut to 19. CSS remained at SSS 69.

Ladies

Report due soon. Results…

Men

Cold temperatures and the aftermath of the annual dinner created a list of last minute cancellations. It has to be said that the ladies field lost a lot more players: only 5 out of 10 (!) players showed up for their competition.

On to the matter of the day: Keith Cassidy played an excellent front 9 (where he left an uncountable number of birdie putts short). His back 9 was a bit more volatile. But a scrambling 4 on the 18th allows him to to take 1st place today (based on the countback rule). Peter Harrison’s round was pretty similar (excellent on the way out – shaky on the way in). But bogeys on the last 3 holes push him into 2nd. Oliver Maskell on the other hand proved again that he’s very comfortable on the back 9 on Duke’s. He posted the best score on the last 9 holes to finish 3rd. Barry Page, Jay Barker and Martin Heinrich complete the Top6. Results…

Just 6 players played to their handicap (aka their buffer zone). CSS: 72

Today proved to be a stern test of the players’ resolve and patience. For once the weather forecasters were right. Conditions were not great to use an understatement: rains showers, hail, casual water and gusting winds to name a few.

Two birdies on the shorter part 3’s on the back 9 put Angela Flynn on her way to an impressive 38pts to win today’s comp. One of the other early starters, Jon Cooper, finishes 3rd with 35pts. Paul House’s practice sessions with Jay Barker continue to pay dividends. 2nd place (36pts) is his reward for a consistent round of golf. Michael Choo, Kim Chaffart and Hassan Mouilah complete the Top6. Results…

CSS: 35pts

Ladies

What a difference from last Sunday although the effects of the rain then and during the week, made conditions underfoot decidedly muddy, but it was at least mild. Some of the ladies made light work of the mud and there was some good scoring on the back 9. With 3 ladies scoring 15 points out, it was all to play for on the return. Two months away from the game seemed to work for both Val Riziotis and Fiona Coombe, but both were piped by Jayne Maxwell, who with 21 points back scored 36 overall, with Val on 35 and Fiona on 34. Results… 

CSS went to 38 points.

It was all change in the Eclectic after 2 rounds, but 5 ladies are within 3 shots of each other leaving all to play for in the remaining two rounds. Val is currently leading by one from Jayne. R2 Leader board…

Men

Despite the wind and mud the RPGC men came out to play. 22 of the 49 players remained within their buffer zone. The contest was over before everybody knew it. Jay Barker managed to score 21pts on both the front and the back 9’s to win today’s comp. Jim Fogarty, Martin Heinrich and Barry Page all recorded 39pts to finish 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively. Another three players finished on 38pts to complete the Top6. The first 10 players posted excellent results on the back 9 (shout out to the handicap secretary for his 21pts on the way in). The back-up handicap secretary was unlucky on the last two holes preventing him from moving up the leaderboard and cutting his handicap (don’t believe the vicious rumours being spread by his playing partners – Mike Shabani, Tony Kopczak and HLB ). Results…  

CSS: 37pts. A whole list of handicap changes. Please take note of your new handicaps.

Jay Barker is also the new leader in the 2018 Winter Competitionon 112pts followed by Oliver Maskell 110pts and Alan King 109pts. It is a best 3 of 8 competition and with 3 rounds to go there is plenty to play for. R5 Leader board…

In round 2 of the Prince’s Eclectic – report due soon. R2 Leader board…

7 mainly soggy cards were returned from competitors braving the atrocious wind/rain. Congrats to all! With at least one green under water the competition was abandoned for handicapping purposes and there were no exact playing handicap changes. Raymond Esin would have won with 37 but like Michael Choo omitted to sign his card. Honours fell to Paul House with a commendable 32 points followed by Tamas Ladacs 31 and Chris Jones 30. Results…

The impact on the associated Winter Competition was minimal with Peter Harrington leading 110 from Paul House 109. R5 Leader board…

Paul ties with Michael in the Duke’s Eclectic. R3 Leader board…