The Princes course was rather muddy but not too bad given the conditions from previous days. The greens were slow and putting long distances was a real lottery. Only three players equalled or bettered par of net 68 so there maybe a WHS adjustment to be made overnight – but there wasn’t!

Women

After ‘playing’ in the mud before Christmas the women decided to book slots on Prince’s and I think we can safely say that we enjoyed our day a lot more than the men did on Duke’s – brutal was one word heard, but of course they had to do it all on their own whereas we could share the good & the bad outcomes. The ball of course hopped and skipped in any direction with the frozen conditions.
The team of Jenny, Joan & Sali didn’t need their 4th player, who had cancelled, to beat the other 2 teams easily by 6 shots with all 3 teams playing in 3-balls.
Between us we had 28 pars and most intriguing was that the winners were the only ones to have birdies and double-bogeys – 2 of each.
In a scramble everyone plays their part, but Jenny said she was putting like a demon.

Men

A cold frosty day for the January Plate. Variable bounce and stuck pins due to icy conditions.

Well done to the winner of the day – Tom Laybourn. Tom scored 30 points with 18 on the more difficult back 9. Lee Frost came 2nd on countback from Giovanni Caboni, both 29.

A cold day for the 2024 Plate. No wind, some fog and again muddy. Very difficult to score well.

Well done indeed to Richard Smith and Greg Wright – Richard winning on a back 9 countback. Julian James challenged on 31 but got into a muddy bunker on 18^th for zero points.

Next came Mel Dunn and Adrian Wells 30 poits each with Mel clinching 3^rd place on back 6 countback.

14 pairs braved the wind and sticky mud to take on Princes at American Greensomes. The overall scoring was very good but Chris Rudkin and Justin Wildman scored a gross 73 and 46 points (23 out and back) to win by a comfortable margin. Runners up Richard Young and Ed Robinson excelled on the front nine with 25 points but found the back nine a little trickier and managed only 17 to accumulate a total of 42 overall. In third place was Seymour Laird and Brian Ransom with a steady 19 out and back for 38. There were gaggle of 37 scores and I’m sure that they are reliving the putts that got away.
Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the format and the chance to play a team game despite the conditions.

A grey but mild day for the re-scheduled Christmas Hamper. A good turnout of 51 competed in very muddy conditions.

The winner seemingly unaffected by the conditions was ‘Sunny’ Lall 40 points – 20 out and in; he was chased a point behind by Lee Frost 39. The in-form Julian James claimed 3^rd 38  from Abdulla Almasoud 37. Abdullah had scope for considerably more : 21 out but picked up on 2 hole on the back 9.

Best of women was Jenny Lawrence 27. Separate hamper prizes for men and women.

Women

The 3-person team of Ali, Cheryl & Jayne beat the 4-person team by 4 shots, coming in 2 under par & well done on the birdie on the 16th.
Certain members would scarcely believe that a 3-ball could win against a 4!!

Safe to say that no one really enjoyed their round in the mud underfoot and the rain overhead, all trying to remember it was their hobby that they played for fun!

Men

A mild day for the December Medal but some rain showers and 2 temp. greens.

The senior medal was won by Greg Wright with a consistent 71; just 1 behind were Oz Doyle, Justin Wildman and Richard Owen. Paul Kamerling shot a steaming front 9 being just 2 over par.

The junior division was won with same score 71 by Nigel Ward with an excellent 71 from Alex Catlow 72 despite 10 @ 12th; good 73s followed from Adrian Wells and Charles Haines.

After heavy overnight rain Glendale closed both courses and they will remain closed on Thursday.

Extremely windy for the Champagne Chase – well done to all for completing course. The tree near 12th green off drive from 10th succumbed however – see pics below but fortunately nobody injured.

A sparkling 35 points from Julian James won the day in such conditions – one ahead of a 34 uncorked by Mel Dunn. Mel took 1st 9 honours with 18 whilst Julian and Paul Kamerling shared back 9 with 19. Paul took 3rd position 32 points on countback from Richard Owen.

For the women, Elisabeth was a clear winner with her 31 points from Alison & Sheena both a long way behind.

Paul and Umran Ali returned 3 birdies.

As is tradition, the prizes are donated by the women’s section with prizes to the top men & women.

Women

Safe to say there’s generally something to work at in the next 3 rounds of the eclectic with no one making it into the 30s today. But both Joan and Deb were closest, finishing on 29 apiece with Joan pipping 1st place on the back 9.

… & we only managed 10 pars between us but lots of triple+ bogeys!!

Men

Dry but muddy for 2nd round of Winter Comp. Greens were noticeably faster than of late.

Scoring was not easy but Brian McMahon came out top of the senior division with an excellent steady 37 points, being chased by Paul Kamerling. Mel Dunn and Iker Lanzagorta all with 36 points. Iker took front 9 honours with 20. Umran dropped just 2 shots to par but ‘blobbed’ the 4th.

Tom Simpkins was the runaway leader of the junior division 42 points; Tom secured back 9 honours 23 points and will see handicap reduction from 17.1 to 15.9. 5 points behind was James Anderson then Julian James in last game 36.

4 birdie ‘twos’ recorded all at par 3 10th.

The Winter comp now sees Greg Wright the senior division leader 77 from Umran 74 whilst Tom has a one shot lead 77 from James Anderson.. And in round 1 of the Duke’s Eclectic Tom leads 70.4 from Paul Kamerling 73.0. Many show as NRs due ‘blobbing’ at least 1 hole.

The weather held fair although the ground was rather muddy from recent rain.
The net scores for Division 1 were very close but Toby Hunt won on countback from Bill Norman, Alan Treacy and Russell Stewart who all had a net 71.
Only two players got below net 70 in Division 2 Brian Ransom with a 68 and a sparkling winner Adrian Wells with a net 63. James Deissler just beat Julian James and Alex Braun on countback for third place.