Ladies

The weather might have been bright & mild for February, but it didn’t help the ladies much. The course might have been significantly shorter for the men, but the ladies were still off their tees with the lack of run expected at this time of year.

CSS moved by 3 to 33 points at which point four ladies were in their buffer zones, so it was 0.1 back for everyone else. Winner of the last round of the eclectic was Jayne Maxwell with 33 points, beating Angela Flynn by 1 point. Results…

The winner of the Eclectic was Val Riziotis, who improved her leading score of the previous round to win with a net 71. Final Leader board…

Men

Mild weather and forward tees were a nice set-up for a large field. In the end 17 of the 46 players remained in their buffer. No idea where Nigel Ward went on holiday but the break did have its effect. 43pts ((21 out and 22 in) made him the runaway winner today. Nigel’s handicap gets cut a massive 2.1 strokes to 13. Steady Brian McMahon played an excellent back 9 (22pts) to claim 2nd with 40pts. Richard Owen nearly emulated Brian. But his 21pts on the back 9 means he has to settle for 3rd. George Taylor matched Richard Owen’s score but the countback rule puts him into 4th. Countback rule also had to separate the large group of players on 36pts. 5th place goes to Martin Heinrich and 6th goes to Simon Malin. Results…

CSS: 36pts

Winter Competition: Nigel’s fantastic score today vaults him into the lead with 115pts. Still all to play for in next week’s round. R7 Leader board…

Duke’s Eclectic: Three players finished on net 62. Countback makes Pete Harrison the winner of this series. Final Leader board…

The promised mild, dry and sunny conditions prevailed enhancing scoring opportunities. Continuing improver Adil Lalani took advantage to win with 43 points earning a two shot reduction in handicap. A creditable 41 points from consistent Bruno took second place with Stephen Haworth returning best 40 on countback from Mike Jones. Jim Fogarty, Roy Evans and John Maxwell. CSS was one above SSS 37 at 38 points. Ladies returned 2 of the 3 ‘Twos’ – Sheena and Alison. Results…

This was the 5th round played of the Winter Competition with two remaining, with the requirement that at least one round on each course to be played. Mike Jones leads on 116 from Jim Fogarty 109. R5 Leader board…

In the associated Prince’s Eclectic with one round left, Brett Colley 59.5 leads Bruno 62.0. R3 Leader board…

Ladies

The start sheet showed another good turn out from the ladies for a Sunday in February, however nearly a third never made the first tee, presumably deterred by the weather forecast. In the event it was the underfoot conditions that were more challenging following the rain during the week.

Tenesi Karakaneva made the best of the conditions with a 35 to take first place today with Fiona Coombe three back in second spot. As such CSS was increased by 2 to 35 and these two were the only ones not to get 0.1 back. Results…

In the penultimate round of the Eclectic, Habe maintains her lead but there was a good shuffle of names behind her with Cheryl moving into second place. Habe improved her score by three shots today. R3 Leader board…

Men

Threatened heavy rain did not materialise allowing some good scoring and CSS elevated 1 from SSS 37 to 38 points.

Congrats to Tamas who held on through back 9 (22 points) for 41 points to secure victory in round 6 from Martin Heinrich 40. A prile of 39s from Ollie Maskell, Pete Harrison and Sean O’Sullivan completed the five breaking CSS. Tamas and Martin earn handicap reductions. Results…

In the Winter Competition Round 6 itself (attached being best 3 from 8 with minimum one round from each course) James Anslow leads 114 points form Pete Harrison, Martin Heinrich and Ollie Griffin all 112. R6 Leader board…

Finally, in Round 3 of the Prince’s Eclectic the leader is Ollie Griffin 61 from Roger Rojas and Kerry Sargeant 62. R3 Leader board…

Heavy overnight rain meant 3 temporary greens (and large holes) and play from mats (from driving range?). Yellow tees. But the weather was calm, mild and dry with some very good scoring. Jim Fogarty had a strong front 9 in his 64 but Alastair Whyte had the stronger back 9 to win on countback. Well done to Alastair for what I believe is his first medal. Results…

A tidy and consistent 69 from Bruno earned best gross in this non-qualifying round for handicap. Midweek birdie tree…

Ladies

Not knowing who might turn up if the courses were open after the sub-zero temperatures of the last few days, the ladies event was decided in the morning when in fact everyone turned up, plus an extra who hadn’t booked. The decision was another Texas scramble with the added option to tee up shots on the fairway to assist the injured amongst us – though drivers were banned in this instance!

Overhead it was another fabulous crisp & mostly sunny morning, underfoot it started as frozen making clubbing somewhat tricky and producing as expected some strange bounces. By halfway, things had changed for holes in the sun.

Given the conditions it was quite surprising the number of birdies recorded compared with previous scrambles and all 3 teams were well under par after 18 holes.

The team of 4 of Alison, Sheena, Tenesi & Jess, playing as a visitor, were the winners with a 63.1 that included 4 birdies and just 3 bogeys. Interestingly, all 3 teams birdied the 18th, a hole that can be the nemesis of many a good round. Results…

Men

A reduced field faced a winter onslaught. Given that both courses were closed 24h earlier it came as no surprise that today’s conditions proved challenging to put it mildly. The extra roll from the frozen fairways was offset by unpredictable greens. Chipping onto the greens was also very tricky. The Competition Committee decided to make today’s competition a Non-Qualifer.

Bruno Clerckx had already proved his skills in the rain. He can now claim the crown as best ice golfer of the day. His victory was largely due to a well managed back 9. 39 strokes on the way in offset a more volatile front 9. Tony Kopczak played solid golf during 14 holes. But a severe brain freeze sent him on his way to a score of 71 net. He’d probably like to have the last 4 holes back. The MoC/Secretary Peter Harrington posted a solid 73 net to claim 3rd place. Damian Hackett did a little better than the Irish rugby team and finishes 4th. My money would’ve been on a Northerner to thrive in these conditions. But Tony saved the Scandi honour with a 5th place. Alan King completes the Top6. Results… 

CSS: N/A

Early frost and ice gave way to a lovely sunny day with no wind. Late morning competitors experienced a graupel shower and looked in vain with the sun shining for a graupel-bow.

Scoring conditions were enhanced as a result with CSS being raised to SSS + 1 = 38 points. In the last game Roy Evans romped home with 44 points (and severe surgery to his handicap 15->13) with Brian Ransom 2nd 40 points. First lady Cheryl Woodhouse was beaten into 3rd on back 9 countback but is mentioned in despatches recording a ‘Two’ and of course handicap reduction 22-> 21. Results…

Secretary Peter Harrington crafted a mild draw to 8 feet on the long par three 14 to post a birdie and a ‘Two’. Welcome back to play for Ted Holt who also recorded a ‘Two’ at 4th. Midweek birdie tree…

Ladies

Very different conditions from last week saw the ladies record the first QRO of the winter season. A combination of a strong wind and a wet course after the rain of yesterday presumably the reason that 32 was the highest score. Susan Smith’s 19 points on the back 9 was enough to pip Angela Flynn despite her recording two birdie 2s in her 32 points. Results…

Although Habe remains at the top in the Eclectic, things have got a lot tighter after the second round and Lia is just 1.5 shots behind. R2 Leader board…

Men

The weather certainly didn’t help today. Rain of the last days created a good bit of mud and casual water. Add strong winds and rain around midday and you have all the ingredients for a round of winter golf.

Richard Owen certainly came prepared for today’s round. In the run-up to today’s comp he “bended” the rules a bit. Reportedly he also enjoyed a few good bounces (from certain trees). To be fair he took the opportunities when they presented themselves. 21pts on the front 9 (with a no score on the 7th – which due to the cold temperatures and head wind played like a par 6 today) set him up for a solid back 9. The nerves started appearing on the 18th (a thinned chip from behind the green confirms that). But he miraculously walked off with a par to close on 40pts. Richard’s handicap goes straight back to 12. Nigel Ward played a solid round on Prince’s again but he was outdone by the smallest of margins on the front and back 9. 38pts is enough for 2nd though. Keith Cassidy and Kerry Sargeant both recorded 37’s to take 3rd and 4th respectively. Ollie Griffin and Brian McMahon complete the Top6. Results…

CSS: 37pts (9/35 in the buffer)

Ollie Griffin had a good day on a few other fronts:

• He takes the lead in the Winter Competition with 112pts ahead of Caleb Mills and Barry Page (both on 110). R5 Leader board…
• He’s also first in the Prince’s Eclectic with a Net 63, ahead of Chris Lordan and Richard Owen – both 66. R2 Leader board…