The government has announced the immediate closure of golf course, some quarantine and social distancing measures amongst other provisions to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Committee Notice…

Paul Grand provided this picture.

A field of 48 players enjoyed plenty of sunshine (amazing how dry/solid some parts of the course were) but cool temperatures for the 1st handicap qualifier of the year. Hope you all followed PDH’s advice and stayed out of the bunkers. What were the greenkeepers thinking with all the forward pin positions on the front 9? On another note: PP managed to form a … 6-ball just in front of our 1st game. So much for the social distancing guidelines.

Rick K took the honours today thanks to an excellent front 9 (+2 gross) and a solid back 9 (+4 gross). His net score of 62 puts him in a league of his own and 4 clear of the rest. Rick’s handicap gets healthy cut of 0.8 strokes. Gunnar finishes 2nd and is the only other player to earn a (small) handicap cut. Despite dropping shots on both par 3’s on the front 9 Jay came in with the lowest gross score of 71 and takes 3rd place. Nigel W’s consistent round of golf gets rewarded with 4th place. Early starter Russell and Adrian W complete the Top6. First Lady today is Sheena with a net 67. The highlight of Paul B’s round today was going level par on all the par 3’s. Not a small feat if you remember that he went +10 on the par 3’s two weeks ago. Results…

CSS: 66 (Men)/69 (Ladies)

Rick also takes the lead in the 2020 Top Dog ranking. R1 leader board…

30 turned out to compete for the March Medal (first of 8 medals through summer with best 5 counting for midweek Monthly Medal Trophy. Drying conditions experienced on Sunday continue with much less lying water generally. The two loops of 9 made a change from Prince’s.

Jeremy R kept a six off his card for 71, edging Brett on countback with 72s for Messrs. Ladacs, Mouilah and Laird. Alison took the ladies’ honours. Results…

Hassan shot best gross 77 – 38 out and 39 back.

Ladies

7 pairs entered the 4BBB that is the second part of the Spring Meeting.

Angela and Deb made the error of a better front 9 (20 points) to be pipped for 3rd place on the back 9 by Tenesi & Ronnie who had an evenly matched 19 out & back. But in 2nd place with 41 pts was Sheena & Cheryl and taking 1st spot was Kinga & Ali

Thanks to the prize buyers and for the pizzas and chips organised by Ali & Deb.

Hope you’re enjoying some chocs by now Tenesi!!. Results…

Men

Early chill was exacerbated by stiff wind but forecast rain held off for the light field of 26 for the Spring Stableford round 2 and final Winter Competition round. With drying conditions, it felt uncanny for the odd ball to roll and carry but still plenty of mud/slush.

Continuing from last week’s one under par, Jay shot four birdies in a level par round and 41 points to claim the final Winter Competition round from remarkably consistent Damber and Rick K 39 points. Results…

Damber’s round won him the overall Spring Stableford with 75 points over the two rounds – 7 clear from nearest contenders Pete Hs and Charlie W 65. Results…

Needless to say, congratulations to Jay for winning the overall Winter Competition with 126 points – today’s round edging him a further three points clear from non-participant today Peter Needham 122. Well done to Damber 3rd 118. Final leader board…

There was a hint of Spring in the air for the final round of the Midweek Winter Competition. But conditions remained particularly soggy for 1st and 18th.

Brian R rose to the challenge of scoring 45 points to win the last round, four clear from Joe G and another from Tamas. Results…

Brian’s effort was rewarded in the overall Midweek Winter Competition as he drew level with long time leader Richard N to share 1st prize cash spoils – 124 each and well done to both. Rick K was 3rd 117 with Jeremy R sharing 4th alongside Joe G 116. Final Leader board…

The master of the associated Midweek Prince’s Eclectic over four rounds was Tamas with an extraordinary 58, two ahead of Kim, Brian and Jeremy 60s; excellent scoring all round. Final Leader board…

Ladies

A mere 6 ladies ventured forth for the last official team event of the winter – another of our favoured Texas Scrambles. I’m sure her playing partners won’t mind their team being labelled as Team Tenesi, but she has recorded her 4th team event of the winter. Their score of net 64.3 winning by 3.5. Results…

Starting off in clear blue skies it was hard to believe that there would be showers before we finished, but the skies darkened and rain which is never far away this winter started to fall for the last 6 holes.

Men

A reduced field competed for the March Medal with later games catching a blustery shower.

The field’s quality however, was undiminished with Jay rising to the top with a one under par 67 net 62 to win from Aidan level 68 net 63. Alan K shot a praiseworthy net 63 for 3rd with Brian R, Damber T and Peter N next net 66s (Peter just one over at the turn). Results…

The above order is naturally reflected in the Grand Medal Trophy. R1 leader board…

Interestingly, the order for the first 3 was the same in the Winter Competition R7 stableford results from same round – Jay 42, Aisan 41 c/back from Alan 41.

Judging the timing of his round to perfection, Jay is declared winner of the associated Prince’s Eclectic on 60 – just one ahead of Pete Hs 61 and two from prior leader Rick K 62. Tamas, Kerry, Paul B and Luke also had 62s. Final leader board…

Jay also now leads the Winter Competition with just one round left on 123, one ahead of previous leader Peter N 122. R7 Leader board…

Early starters missed the rain that bedevilled players for the Midweek Inaugural trophy played over 2 loops of 9 on Duke’s. The worthy winner was Richard N with a well crafted 38 points. He was followed a point behind by Jon W, Brett and Mark R. 36 points was no disgrace in the conditions – for Joe G, Richard Ho, Rick K and Jeremy R. Jeremy held back 9 honours with 21 points whilst Brett and Rick secured 3 birdies apiece. Results…

The Inaugural Trophy results are incorporated in the Midweek Winter Competition with 7 of 8 rounds now played. Richard continues a commanding lead on 124 from Brian R 117 and Jeremy 116. R7 Leader board…

Ladies

At least the sun was making an effort as the meteorological spring arrived, though underfoot the depth of puddles to wade through seems to still be increasing. 13 ladies battled forth and most were truly grateful that this once medal round has morphed into stableford.

It was Angela’s turn to triumph today with 36 points and beating the ‘usual’ winner, Tenesi, into 2nd place. Both went out in 16 and were neck and neck until the 14th when Tenesi moved ahead, but was pegged back on the 16th and followed it with a blob on the 17th. So Angela’s back 9 of 20 makes her the winner of the spring stableford. Results…

Men

A change of scenery for the field today. Looks like the weather conditions got the better of most of the field. Martin birdied the 1st hole. But then recorded two 7’s on the front 9. He capped off a solid back 9 when his pitch from the left side of the 7th green hit the pin and went in for a birdie. Pars on the last 2 holes gave him a score of 21pts on the back 9. His score of 37pts was matched by Charlie W (birdie on the last hole didn’t hurt). But Martin had a better back 9. Pete Hs was very happy that there only two par 3’s today (he did par both of them). But a bogey and no score on the 3rd and 12th (that is the 3rd hole on his second loop) prevent him from improving on his score of 37pts. Bandit Damper (36pts), Aung (22pts on the back 9) and Richard O (22pts on the front 9) complete the Top6. Results…

CSS: N/A (but if it had been applicable would’ve stood at 34pts …)