In spite of the unforgiving and unrewarding bogey format, 71% of Category 1-4 players were with their SSS buffer zone and CSS was reduced by one (raised to 2 up whites and reds, 3 up for yellow).

Exceptional scores have been recorded over the last few weeks. New member Peter G won setting the pace with 8up with countback over Roger. Teddy and Nick R 7ups; Diego and Charlie completed first 6 with six up. Results…

Front 9 honours: Peter G 5 up. Back 9 honours: Roger, Mark R, Diego and Darren all 5 up. Tatiana was Queen of the par 5s being 3up on them.

Especially well done Nick and Roger – Nick earns an ESR of-1 so now plays off 9 (8.5).

A note on the name of today’s Cup. Fred Hawtree designed the original courses. Details…

Ladies

Rumour has it that there had been a bit of greening up at the Park which can be no bad thing. Good to see the ladies who will be playing in the Toprock Ladies’ Greensomes are showing good form (Val & Ali) with Val’s return to golf now complete I think, with 2 birdies on the back 9.

These two recorded net 68s with Val having the better back 9 – no surprise there with the birdies, to take 2nd place. But taking today’s medal is Jane with a net 67. Her recent results have definitely shown a good run of form, so congrats Jane on taking the September medal. Results…

Men

Scoring today was decent to use an understatement: 30/53 players were in the buffer today. Today I will let the numbers do the talking:

• a winning score of 59 net
• 2 players recorded 5 birdies today: Pete Hs (he even had a streak where he birdied 9, 10, 11 and 12) and Kerry (although he probably let victory slip through his paws on the last 2 holes) accomplished this amazing feat.
• You needed to shoot 62 net in order to make it into the Top6
• Oliver M went out in 35 gross (there wasn’t a single 5 on his card). As a result he makes it into Cat1.

CSS: 66 (What a surprise). Results…

In the Grand Medal Trophy after 6 rounds tbc. R6 leader board…

A reduced field enjoyed good golfing conditions: mild(er) temperatures, very receptive greens and still enough roll on the fairways. And the least one can say is that the players made the most of the conditions. Bucket loads of scores in the 60’s (although the stroke adjustment following the yellow tees option does accentuate the good scoring).

Brian M takes the honours thanks to the best gross score (77) and a better back 9. He also earns an ESR inching closer to single figure handicap. George, Ray, Alan K and Gina (1st lady yesterday) complete the Top5. Results…

CSS: 71 (Men)/74 (Ladies)

Second and final round of the Anniversary Accumulator is planned for 30-September.

Summer golf seemed like a distant memory today. Chilling temperatures, menacing clouds and swirling winds weren’t the most inviting golfing conditions. It could still be worse. Some golf courses in the Swiss mountains saw some snow today.

All in all this kind of weather must have felt like summer in Ireland. The weather and good recent form inspired Alan on his way to 39pts (21 + 18pts) and victory today. Early starter Ant went out in level par (22pts) but his 17pts on the back 9 forced him into 2nd place. Mike had an excellent back 9 (20pts) to earn 3rd place. Pete N, Ben D and Bennie complete the Top6. Aidan had a bit of bad luck on the 10th: his tee-shot bounced off the pin. He managed the birdie the 2 par 3’s on the back 9. Results…

CSS: 36pts (Men & Ladies)

Remnants of storm ‘Francis’ very gradually abated to sunny intervals.

The winner was Angela with a superlative score of 61. Well done indeed – Angela birdied 9th and came back in just three over par (on all the par 3s). Scott just pipped Charlie F on back 9 for 2nd place 62. Mid-week captain John A was 4th with 65 on back 9 from Russell and Club Captain Kim was 6th on 66. Results…

Charlie earns an additional ESR cut of 0.5 to 11.9 – well done.

This was round 4 of the Midweek Grand Medal Trophy. The leader board report (details of each round at bottom of report) shows Seymour in lead 280, Ronnie 283 and Brian R 283. But with just 3 rounds played with scores 61 through 66 Charlie is menacingly poised on just 189. R4 leader board…

Another week another 52pts score takes first place. At least it was a different player this time. Well done to Paul Gn, whose handicap gets a massive cut down to 18. 1st lady is Doreen with a fantastic score of 42pts. Aidan takes 3rd place thanks to four birdies and a score of level par gross. His only regret will be the … 16th hole. Nick R birdied 15 and 16 on his way to 4th. Sean T and Uli complete the Top6. Results..

CSS: 38pts (Men & Ladies)

Paul G wins the Anniversary Trophy (113pts) before Roger (112), Nick (110) and Susan (109). Final leader board…

Well done to all 59 that turned up and competed in the rain; if anything, early starters had the least worst of conditions. Overall balance of play was such that CSS was unchanged from SSS.

Roger just squeezed Pete Hs on back 9 to take the net for the day – both 3 under SSS 68s. Diego shot an accomplished 69 whilst 3 had 70s – Oli, Damber and Alan. Oli shot a level par front 9 whilst Roger best back at 1 over front. Best Lady was Gina 74. Net Results…

Pete (also best gross on day) was only player to have playing handicap cut and rejoins Category 1 at 5.2.

Overall aggregate results for the 2 rounds:

• Men’s Scratch Champion Pete Hs 151 from Oli 152. Men result…
• Men’s Junior division > 16 Alan K 169 from Scott and Colm 175s. Men result…
• Ladies’ Scratch Champion Gina 173  from Sheena 179. Ladies result…
• Handicap Trophy Alan 133 from Diego 135. Handicap Trophy…

The forecast of rain (even our secretary picked up the fake news), the extra roll on the fairways and cooler temperatures allowed for some excellent scoring.

It was Louis vs the rest today: 27pts (on the way in) and 24pts (way out) make the clear winner today. His new handicap plummets down to 22. Barry’s excellent front 9 (25pts) set him on his way to 2nd. Alison counted her blessings twice today: 42pts and not having to store today’s trophy for 12 months in her new house. President Tim, Colm and Avi complete the Top6. Results..

CSS: 36pts (Men & Ladies)

Nearest-The-Pin challenges on the day:

• 4th: Robin
• 6th: Joe R
• 7th (Men): Mitch/Robin
• 7th (Ladies): Caroline
• 10th (Men); Mark R
• 10th (Ladies); Avi
• 11th: Paul B
• 16th (Men): Lee M
• 16th (Ladies): Alison
• 18th: Tim M

After six rounds of the Top Dog Trophy James Barker retains his lead over Rick Kimber. R6 Leader board…

Midweek Club Championship. Rumbles of thunder eventually produced some rain but hard random bounces were the order of the day.

In the net (h’cap & sweep) results Alan takes the prize on back 9 countback 63 from Peter G. Consistent golf from Jeremy and Joe with 64 and 65s returned. Richard O pipping Diego on back 9 66s. Net Results…

Scoring generally was very good with CSS one below SSS.

In the scratch first round, the ladies are led by Gina and Sheena with 83s from Angela and Veronica 86 and 88 respectively. With her superior short game, Cheryl monopolised the ladies’ ‘Twos’ at 2nd and 11th. Ladies Results…

In the men’s scratch Angus and Jeremy R lead the way in the senior Div 1 with 73s from Richard S 74, Joe and Oli 76s. Richard had best back 9 gross two over and level on par 3s.  In men’s junior division Alan K is the leader 82 from Peter G 83 and Colm 85. Barry and Scott follow with 86s. Men Results…

Ladies

A small but select field entered today’s medal which has come hot on the heels of last month’s being only 2 weeks ago! It wasn’t only the heels that were hot today as the cloud cover that favoured us for half of our rounds yesterday was having none of it today and the temperature soared pretty early on.

Winner today was Angela with a net 67. She had a very consistent round dropping just 6 shots on both the front & back 9s, shooting 42 out and 40 in. Debi is in 2nd spot just one shot behind again a model of consistency with 44 both out & back. Results…

And just a special mention to Sheena who went out in 48, decidedly unmemorable, but came back in 35, dropping just one shot on the 14th.

CSS dropped by one to 68.

Men

Having carded a net 62, Brian was more involved with unlocking his bike so that he could cycle home than discussing his good card. But Brian is the senior division and overall winner today with the reward, alongside his medal glass, of a one shot cut to his handicap. Late entrant Nick, taking 2nd spot just one shot behind, but a better back 9 allowed him to overtake Ray. Continuing with the awards for both senior and junior division medal winners, Mark in 4th place takes the junior division glass with a 65. All four receive cuts to their playing handicap. Jay recorded the lowest gross score (not really a surprise), just two over gross, but with a handicap of 3 merely gives him 5th place with another .1 cut. Results…

The ladies managed one birdie between them, but for the chaps there were no less than 25 birdies, 15 of which were on the 9th. Lee decided to go one better and joins the eagle tree with a 3 at the hole.

CSS dropped one to 67.

In the Grand Medal Trophy after 5 rounds tbc. R5 leader board…