A benign day in terms of Bank Holiday weather encouraged some good results and some amazing scoring from Stephen Mason, today’s winner and relative newcomer to the club with 47 points. He spent much of the round wishing he could do better, but with a handicap reduction of 3.9 is probably relieved that he didn’t! In second place with another good score is Tenesi Karakaneva on 42 points. Sheena Harrington was third with 40 points, followed by 5 people on 38. Results…

It was good to see the club secretary back on the course following his knee injury whilst skiing at Easter.

Smooth administration (thanks Rick) and improving late Spring conditions set the scene for the mid-week competition.

Former club champion Kerry Sargeant made a welcome appearance and used Sergio Garcia’s previous ultra stiff driver shaft. It obviously did the trick for Kerry who ran out winner on 36 points from three on 35: Colin Pizzey, Roger Rojas and leading lady Kate Emanuel. Results…

Ladies

Lulled into a false level of expectation on the weather front, most of the ladies were expecting a balmy early summer’s day. Unfortunately nature decided otherwise, and the chilly blustery wind not only kept many layers of clothing on, but apart from Kate, seemed to play a fair amount of havoc with the scores for many. The CSS went up by one requiring 35 points to play to handicap and only 3 out of the contingent of 14 managed to play within their buffer zones.

Kate Emanuel takes a commanding lead of four points after the first leg of the Committee Cup with 37 points, but her handicap cut of 0.6 keeps her on 17 just. Sheena Harrington was second on 33 and Doreen Dolby third on 31. Results…

Men

Cool and breezy conditions provided challenges for competitors in the men’s stableford Summer Cup. Leading the way with a splendid 40 points was treasurer Nick Rogers, all the more so with 21 points over the more difficult back nine. Stephen Legg piped Charles Ajani on count-back for second place with 36 points. Nick earned a handicap reduction to 10.1. Results…

The pairing of Val Riziotis and Paul Brown won on count back from Lia Donath And Ed Henery. Report…

The deserved winner of the Wednesday mid-week sweep was Roger Rojas on count back from Richard Smith 37 points. CSS for the competition remained at SSS. Results…

Wednesday was St Servatius day. St Servatius is a member of a trio known as the Ice Saints. The others are St Mamertus and St Pancras. Their chilly collective name comes from the traditional belief that their days, 11, 12 and 13 May, bring cold weather and the last frost of the year. Some gardeners in France will not plant until the Ice Saints have gone. They are well known in Germany, Poland, Austria and Switzerland.

Who’d have thought that with the warm sunny conditions! For gardeners – it should now be safe to put plants out and avoid a frost…

The Ladies produced a 137-117 win. Report…

Ladies

With 2 ladies playing to the SSS and a small field of eight ladies, the CSS was reduced by one to 68, denying the handicap secretary the chance of reducing any handicaps! Joan Mulchay edged out Caroline Stilwell on the back nine to win May’s monthly medal. It was also good to see a number of fair weather golfers making a return to the course – hope we see more of you now ladies. Results…

Men

The wind provided challenge but there were some very good scores with Jon Cooper 62, Ed Henery 63 and Paul Green 65. Well done indeed to Jon for such a consistent round culminating with a birdie at 18. He earns a -1 ESR bring him down to 9.5. CSS was SSS 67. Results…

In the associated Grand Medal Trophy, Paul Grand has a very assailable lead on 214 of two from Charlie Whiteman. R3 Leader board…

The returning officer has declared the total number of net shots and the winner by a two shot swing is Gina Jillett on 75 from WL party member Richard Smith with Richard Owen third recording a 14 shot swing from last Wednesday. Results…

Following the sounding of the klaxon due to local lighting, some candidates returned to their constituency early. The number of spoilt cards was one with potential winner Kate Emanuel DQ for not signing card. Constitutionally, with no overall control, CONGU procedures swung into action with the declaration of an abandoned competition for handicapping purposes with CSS=SSS and a reduction only round – coincidentally, no handicap cuts were recorded.

In the related midweek referendum, Richard Owen now leads Liam Bridger by 6. R3 Leader board…

The weather forecast had been toying with us during the week on the likelihood of a wet Sunday, but in the end it could have been a lot worse and the initial rain showers were at least warm. The greens could certainly do with some rain to soften them up and make them a little receptive to the incoming golf ball.

The ladies’ domination of two weeks ago was short-lived with normal service resumed today and the men taking the first three places. With a 3 point cushion Andrej Moxnes took 1st place on 40 points from Russell Bryan and Roger Rojas both on 37 points. Val Riziotis was first placed lady and one point behind on 36 points. Results…

Despite Peter Harrington’s reminder in his weekly missive, we again had a player DQ’d for not signing his card.  And remember to check handicaps with quite a number of changes occurring today.

The rain forecast for morning/lunch duly arrived making for difficult conditions for the Bogey competition.

The emphatic winner was Richard Owen with a personal best gross of 77 and 5-up. Well done Richard – and a handicap reduction! Shaun Feldon sported a new handicap and was 2^nd on 2-up. Colin Pizzey and Ed Henery followed all-square and best lady Cheryl 1-down. Results…

The overall balance of play was such that CSS was elevated from SSS one-up to two-up.