The extremely high south-westerly winds and rain that fell after midday made playing golf very difficult and far from enjoyable. The scores reflected the conditions and just finishing was an achievement.

Long hitting Charlie Edwards, playing in his first Friday competition for a while, took the honours with 32 points (17 out, 15 in and 7 pars). In 2nd place, just one point back, was Uli Katte who seemed to relish the bad weather, going out in only 11 points but scoring 20 points on the back 9 (6 pars total). Brian, Graham and Colm all scored 29 points, with Brian taking 3rd place on countback. With the reduced field of 15 players the sweep pay out will be to 1st and 2nd only.

Next week the format changes to a stableford ‘1,2,3 waltz’ team competition, however anyone who wants to submit a card to WHS can still keep an individual card and submit as General Play.

The rain of the last couple of days cancelled out some of the weird bounces that we had grown used to. Greens were also a lot more receptive. Weirdly they seemed to have lost some pace. Soft(er) fairways also meant that there was far less roll (as Gina said so eloquently: The balls are going nowhere …). Think the field must have been rather pleased that the Met Office had it wrong: believe that only the early starters had to deal with some rain. Most of the field could leave the umbrella and waterproofs in the golf bag.

Today’s clear winner is Eliot Kerr. Despite two 7s on the front 9 he was able to record 23pts on the way out. Birdies on 14 and 15 were a nice extension of that excellent front 9. The only reason his margin of victory wasn’t bigger was because of an untimely 6 on the 18th. The MC started slowly, can’t really give another definition for a sequence 5,5,5 and 4 on the first 4 holes. He then steadied himself and despite an ugly 5 on the 18th finished 2nd with 40pts. Alastair Whyte lost to the MC on countback (NR’s on 13 and 17 didn’t help). Peter Goodall is keeping up his excellent form with a score of 39pts. Early starter Nafeez was leader in the clubhouse for a couple of hours with 38pts. Richard Owen and Teddy Holt recorded 37s for 6th and 7th places.

Peter Goodall takes the lead in the Founders Cup standings (115pts). Rick Kimber (113) and Roger Rojas (111) remain within striking distance.

Women

A bit like last week, the result was a surprise to the winner, especially as it included a tee shot fired into the trees and a re-load (on the 7th for an 8), but it wasn’t quite the same resounding win that the men will be reporting on – net 60 versus 71 for Sheena
Think the weather was also a bit of a surprise, although Donna jinxed it on the 10th tee saying that it hadn’t rained. By the 11th we’d donned our rainwear, but overall it was so much better than the forecasters had predicted. But timing is all and I know the later games got a soaking for a few holes.
This time last year we were just coming out of lockdown 1 as we now refer to it, and the grass was very long and lush everywhere with no end of NRs from everyone. After a month of no rain, nature seemed to be going at it with full vigour as the grass was so much longer and more dense off the fairways than it has been – not quite to the level of last year, but then again the greenkeeping staff have been back for a while now.

Men

Forecast rain was not as heavy or prolonged for the May Monthly Medal.
First prize after final Committee scrutiny goes to Richard Inglis 62 with Colm Ivors the deserved 2nd with 63.
3rd was Ant Thomas on back 9 from James Shine and Gunnar 66. Consistent performers Peter G and Brian M returned 67s.

Full marks to Eagle specialist Ross H @ 14.

The event was 2nd round in the GMT in which Ant leads on 132 with Colm on 133, Gunnar 3rd.
NAPGC entrants are depicted with a  tick in the results below.

On an overcast but thankfully dry day, the in-form Seymour posted an impressive 42 points to take top spot. Seymour’s round was the model of consistency, scoring on every hole, having 21 points out and 21 points in, and one birdie on the 11th. Richard N., in second place with 40 points, had a steady front 9 (17 points) but a very strong and consistent back 9 (23 points). Giles completes the top 3 places with a similar scorecard to Richard (16 points out and 23 points in) but notably birdies on both the 2nd and 4th holes. The sweep prizes will be credited to the top 3.

The rain showers of the past week has finally promoted the grass to grow and the fairway definition was much improved. However, the rough is also looking ‘healthy’ so over the coming weeks it will become much harder to ‘recover’ from errant shots (or even find your ball !).

Looks like the field enjoyed the golfing conditions. Scoring was excellent.

Peter Goodall torched the front 9 for 24pts. Thanks to 19pts on the back 9 he was able to clinch 1st place. Close second was Gina with a very steady round (21pts on front and back 9). Ned Shanklyn came 3rd. But I think he would like to play the back 9 again. NR on 16, eagle on17 and NR on 18. Jay Barker went from zero on Sunday to hero in a matter of 3 days. A gross score of level par giives him 41pts and 4th place. Second woman of the day was Ann Gardner with an excellent score of 41pts. Jon Wilson, Tony Barnett and Julie Ryan complete the Top8. Final note: Keith had the best 9 yesterday (22pts).

Gina takes the lead in Founders Cup round 2 standings just ahead of Keith:

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Women

That was a bit more like a decent day for golf even if the wind did get rather strong at times, at least it wasn’t bitterly cold although several jumpers went on and off at frequent intervals & despite it being a packed field of RP players the games were moving at a better pace.
The 4-ball who joined up when after 2 cancellations didn’t seem to have any issues in keeping up with the game in front and was no doubt more enjoyable than being in 2-balls and waiting all the time.After the first round of the Committee Cup it’s tight at the top with over a third of the field within 5 shots of each other. Sheena with 38, tops the group by 1 point from Joan and a further 1 from Caroline. The 2 Ja(y)ne’s are next on 34 with Donna & Doreen on 33.
But who knows what will happen in the 2nd round in a couple of weeks – it is all very open.

Men

Breezy, but at last the Arctic air of late had retreated for the May Plate.

Bogey is always a difficult format with no real reward fr birdies – think of it as a restrictve stableford.
All credit then to Ant and Keith – both early starters who slugged it out with Ant the very early clubhouse leader and winner 5 up, justy nipping Keith on the back 6 holes
Saturday player Diilp was 3rd 4up , also on countback from Duncan on back 9 holes. Very creditable 3-Ups followed from Tony K and Neil R.

PCC not computed until overnight so handicap changes not known at present.

Ant’s 3 birdies give him a decided edge in the Sunday birdies tree whilst mention should be made of George T’s storming finish – birdie, birdie birdie. Also a shout out to Brian Ransome who would have clambered aboard Eagle tree for Friday – @ 17th.

It was a lovely sunny Spring day on our return to the Dukes course, which had benefited from some heavy rain showers over the preceding days – although the fairways continue to give lots of bounce and run.

Naveed was today’s winner (40 points, playing off of 9), just ahead of John A. with 39 points and and a brace of 38s by Keith and Graham S. Well played to all our leading players; I haven’t studied the scorecards this week but one exceptional score I did witness was Brian’s 5 points Eagle on the 17th. Sweep pay outs will be made to the purses of the top 3.

Thankyou to all 22 players who participated and special thanks to Ann G. for waving the flag for the ladies.

Pretty decent conditions for a stroll at the park today. Joe made the most of the conditions. He went out in 39 and came home in 35. He didn’t score worse than 5 on any hole. 8 4’s and 1 3 on the back 9 allow him to post a score of 64 (Net) and make him the clear winner today. Tamas recovered from a 6 on the second hole to record 43 (gross) on the front 9. Thanks to a strong back 9 (38 gross – par on 13 and birdie on 15) he takes 2nd place just 1 shot behind Joe.

MIke Jones’ nerves probably took the better of him towards the end of his rounds. His 6 on the last hole prevent him from finishing better than 3rd. Despite a 6 on the second Charlie was still able to take 4th. When you open your round with a howler (the only correct term for a 7) you can either give in or put it behind you and focus on the rest of the round. Angus managed re-focus and finish 5th with a 68 (net). Ulli, Toby and  Ronnie complete the Top 8. 

Veronica leads through round 2 of the Midweek Grand Medal Trophy

Competitors numbered 85 – almost a record in recent years but swelled by 4 who actually played on Saturday.

Still a chilly wind and not yet spring-like but there was a shower raising brollies for 10 mins.

There was some superb golf for the May ‘Plate’. In his winning 44 points Armi recorded 5 birdies in his level par round; runner-up Ed Hall had 2 ‘blobs’ in his 42 points [20 out, 22 back]. Beaten into countback from Ed was Nick on back 6 holes for his 42 points. Carmelo made a bid, 4th on 41 from Ant, Daniel and Roger 39s. Best 9 went to Sean O’S.

Armis’s and Ant’s birdies made them draw ahead in the detailed Men’s Birdies report attached.

Next fixture should see the courses well-watered by the much needed and forecast rain – then we can complain at the impossible thick rough!