It was almost literally captain v secretary today! For once the forecasters were correct, and it rained from before we started to well after the finish. Out of 35 on the bookings sheet, 19 entered the competition and 9 completed the full 18 holes.

Putting was a lottery with the ball sometimes skimming across the green or alternatively going nowhere until the draw of the water pulled the ball into the hole – until the new greens that is, where you needed to remember how to judge a putt!

Under such conditions, it seems harsh to call it a competition and scores were such that no one was near their buffer zone and hence it was a reduction only round. But with flooded greens it would otherwise have been a non-qualifier.

Paul Brown has obviously been heeding the encouraging words he sends out to the rest of us and was the clear winner on the day with 32 points from Peter Harrington on 27, but a toss of the coin meant that the top of the alphabet belonged to the Captain and Paul’s scoring ensured that the Captain beat the Secretary. Results…

In view of the conditions, a fairer result is that 9 RPGC players beat he weather to complete 18 holes!

Ladies

A grey but still day for the first round of the eclectic for Duke’s, with the after-effects of all the rain ensuring there was little run if any run on the ball gave rise to only two complete rounds to score for the eclectic.

The winner of the day, was Sheena Harrington on 32 points, with Fiona Coombe eight points back on 24. As a results the competition was reduction-only for handicapping purposes. Results…

In the Eclectic, Sheena was one of the two with a complete round and thus leads after the first round by some 14 shots from Cheryl Woodhouse.  However with three more rounds to go, it is fair to say that the competition is wide open! R1 Leader board…

Men

In the second round of the Winter Competition the winner was Danny Deprez with a masterful 38 points. CSS was 35 points and Danny now finds his playing handicap trimmed from 15 to 14 – possibly his lowest recorded handicap. Second last Sunday, losing out on the count-back, was another masterful score of 38 points by Mike Shabani. Mike was followed in third spot by Tony Kopczak with 36 points. Results…

After two weeks of the Winter Competition the top of the leaderboard looks like this: Jim Fogarty 70 points; Martin Heinrich 70 points; Ed Henery 70 points – i.e. no run away leader so ere mortals still have something of a chance. R2 Leader board…

In the first round of the Duke’s Eclectic Danny leads Mike Shabani by 2 but with the number of NRs exceeding full cards there is everything to play for in the remaining rounds. R1 Leader board…

A still misty moist morning greeted competitors for the first winter competition. Conditions which should favour good scoring.

Competitors basked in the unseasonably warm November sunshine after the round, tucking into some exceedingly good hand baked chocolate brownies courtesy James Barker. Not to feel left out of the feast, two Egyptian geese gobbled up the ample supply of green algae on the pond at speed.

Ladies

Six Ladies optimistically turned up to play after torrential rain on Saturday night but Sunday was a beautiful, sunny day. The ball did not roll but it did not deter some excellent putting from the winner, Kate. Her handicap would have been cut had we finished on the 17th! Still no mats but the tees were muddy. We all sat outside after the game and ate brownies! Let’s hope we continue with the bake off throughout the winter. Results…

Princes Eclectic. R1 Leader board…

Men

Conditions certainly appealed to the winner Ed Henery who shot level par 24 points on the back nine for a score of 40 points, nipping Martin Heinrich (who has his first handicap reduction) with Jim Fogarty a further point behind (Jim also scored 24 points on back nine). Results…

In the associated Eclectic Ed leads Richard Owen by three and in the Winter Competition leads as per the first round. R1 Leader board…

Early rain was not conducive to good scoring and a number of players walked in or had no returns. For those returning complete scorecards, the balance of play for both men and ladies determined a reduction only round. For later games, the sun just emerged to give long silhouettes.  Two clear winners emerged.

Ladies

For ladies Jayne Maxwell was winner on 79, two clear of Joan Mulcahy. Results…

Men

For the men it was Raymond Esin on 74, one ahead of Nick Rogers and James Barker. Results…

Proving yet again that for many, more choice is not necessarily better, the annual 3 clubs and a putter competition produced some pretty tight scoring. However, the winner by one shot was Anthony Tama on a net 67 with Pete Davies in second place. In third place on count back, and also the first placed lady was Alison Chadwick with a net 70. Results…

Six 2’s were recorded – again proving that choice of club does not always help the game!

Phil Flanagan is confirmed as the Top Dog Trophy winner by three points over Paul Patching. Final Leader board…

The unseasonably warm weather was of little benefit to the vast majority of today’s competition entrants with scoring at such a level that the CSS increased by three with a reduction only round the result.

With the men receiving two shots, the winner with a clear three point margin was Jim Deissler on 38 points. James Barker and Malcolm McKinlay both scored 35, with James taking second place on the back 9. First placed lady was Gina Jillett in 6th spot with 32 points. Results…

This was the last week playing the ball ‘as it lies’, so perhaps the introduction of preferred lies will help with a return to more usual scoring levels! (At least until winter actually arrives).

Early autumnal conditions prevailed and the rain held off until well after play.

Ladies
Honours Board

Two competitions were played simultaneously. In the monthly medal Veronica was the clear winner with a net 68, five shots clear from Kate and Doreen. Results…

In the Barton Bowl which excluded Tenesi and Deborah, Veronica is declared the winner with 38 points again five clear from Kate and Doreen. Results…

A warm welcome awaited Lia in the clubhouse where a tab had begun to celebrate her hole in one on 16. It was a good shot which progressed to the hole. Well done Lia! That makes 3 this year!

Men
Honours Board

The monthly medal was won by Julian James with a skilful and workmanlike 67, one ahead of Nigel Gaymond and Pete Davis. Results…

This was the 8th and final round of the Grand Medal Trophy in which Liam Bridger prevailed to win on 320, seven ahead of Nigel. Nigel had a spirited back 9 of 36 (3 over par) in a valiant effort to catch Liam but unfortunately the damage had been done on the front 9.. Final Leader board…

A patchy grass frost and a distinctly autumnal nip in the air greeted competitors. After a few holes however, the last vestiges of summer sun appeared and top layers of clothing were shed.

The winner on countback was Toby Hunt on 68 from Jim Fogarty. Toby’s recent good form at St. Andrews continues. An exceedingly good round from Kate Emanuel 69 placed her third and first lady. Two further behind were Peter Harrison, James Barker and Kieran Green – the latter only two over par after 9. Results…

In the associated Anniversary Trophy, Chris Jones is declared the winner after four Jubliees – eight ahead of Danny Deprez and Jim Fogarty. Final Leader board…

Ladies

Report due soon. Results…

Men
Honours Board

Extremely pleasant late summer conditions inspired Steve Cross to pull an immaculate 60 from the top draw to win, four ahead of very creditable 64s from Shaun DuPreez, Charlie Whiteman, and Liam Bridger. Results…

The handicap committee was advised to apply an ESR for Steve who now plays off 16.8.

Another highlight of the day was another hole in one this year from James Barker who aced the 11th. Members toasted James with drinks afterwards. Well done James!

In the associated Grand Medal Trophy after 7 rounds Liam Bridger now leads Nigel Gaymond by 7 with 1 round left. R7 Leader board…

On another beautiful September day, eight pairs competed in the Autumn Mixed Foursomes. Report…