The field enjoyed nice weather but the course has been in better shape. The extra roll on the fairways was welcome but the areas the greens remain sticky making chipping tricky (not for today’s winner – more on that later). And the greens could do with more water. Certain games had to wait to hit approaches into the green because the greenkeeping staff decided it was opportune to appear out of nowhere and cut the aprons and the fairways. When they decided to let us play they thought it was a good idea to not cut off their engines.

On to the golf. Bruno went out early (and probably didn’t get impeded by the Glendale staff). After a tentative front 9 (18pts) he tore up the back 9 (22pts) to become leader in the clubhouse. That score proved too high a high a hurdle for most of the field. Two players managed to post a better number. Susan Hempsell opened her round with a birdie. She could’ve improved on her outward score of 23pts had it not been for an ugly 7 on the 3rd. An untidy start of the back 9 didn’t unsettle her. Although it has to be said that the chip-in from 25yds off the 18th green didn’t hurt (Why didn’t my Knicks have that kind of luck in yesterday’s draft lottery? #NoZionNoParty). A total score of 42pts earns Susan 1st place and a new playing handicap of 24. She also potentially set herself up for an ESR in the (not too distant) future. Richard Norden had a blinder with 41pts. 2nd place and a new handicap of 30 are his rewards. Late starter Jack Evans, Ann Gardner (just bring that form to the course on Saturday) and Richard Hodgkinson complete the Top6. Results…

CSS: 36pts (21/51 in the buffer)

Founders Cup standings after 2 of 3 rounds: Charlie Forrest 73, Oliver Khan 67, Sheena 66, Brett Colley 66, Adrian Wells 66

On another note: The Midweek Treasurer (Kim Chaffert) came to unpleasant realisation that £12 (in entry fees/sweep money) was missing this morning after the 7.00am starters went out. Why does this matter? Every pence that is missing will be taken out of the sweep money. This means less money for the Top6 finishers. So from next week the last of the 7.00am starters are kindly (but with some insistence) invited/ordered to leave the pouch with the money at the Glendale reception and no longer on one the tables in the clubhouse.

Ladies

The midweek rain had definitely helped with re-greening both fairways and greens, added to that the sun did its best to stay out making for a chance to play in shirtsleeves again. Sheena Harrington was on good chipping and putting form to keep her score going returning 38 points with 21 on the back 9. In second place was Tenesi Karakaneva on 36. Results…

The winner of the Committee Cup was Sheena, with two rounds of 38. The runner-up was Lia Donath with a 37 and 35, with Cheryl Woodhouse just one further back after a 37 and 34. Final Leader board…

Men

Today’s comp was almost like Brexit: promising at first sight but rather complicated and painful to complete. Milder temperatures created a decent amount of roll on the fairways. But swirling winds and greens that are in dire need of some water (again) provided unwelcoming challenges. Today’s round – just like the whole Brexit process – provided chances for some opportunistic individuals to enjoy brief moments of glory. The final twist in today’s event came in the very last game (sounds very familiar to the B-saga). Kris Lynch had a fantastic front 9 (22pts). He overcame a sub-par back 9 to take first place today. His margin of victory could/should’ve been higher had he not recorded no scores on holes 11 and 16. Kris’ handicap drops to 28. Well done. Seong Lim was steady as always (19pts in & out). 2nd place is a just reward for a solid performance. Ollie Grffin used an excellent back 9 (21pts) to claim 3rd. Thanks to the countback rule he was able to fend the 4 birdies by Chris Lordan on the way in. Jim Deissler and Tamas both on 36pts complete the Top6. Results…

CSS: 36pts (13/44 in the buffer)

33 competitors braved the rainy conditions with pm players probably having the best greens certainly needed the rain.

It suited Paul Green who romped home with 39 points to win this first (of three) rounds of the Founders’ Cup. Charlie Forrest had a very respectable 38 for second with Sheena Harrington nipping Richard Owen on back 9 countback 37. Results…

Reflecting conditions, CSS was pared back 1 to 36 points from SSS 37.

Apart from cool temperatures the field faced a course which was in better shape than last week. The rain of the last couple of days made it easier to hit shots from the fairways. Pitching/chipping became less of a nuisance too. Finally the sand in the bunkers was more playable and the greens were more receptive too.

Jan Wilken went out early and set the tone with an excellent score of 42pts. A steady front 9 (19pts) was followed by an excellent back 9 (23pts) to make him the runaway winner today. Jan’s handicap drops to 12. The back-up handicap secretary started slowly. But a better back 9 allowed him to see two other players on 40pts. Aidan Hurley was solid all day (21pts out + 19pts in). Richard Young was the last of the players on 40pts. Toby’s excellent back 9 allow him to finish 5th. A birdie on the last vaults Lia into 6th overall and 1st lady. Results…

Looks like that in the space of 25min two eagles were recorded on the 17th. Well done to Mike Shabani and Richard Owen for completing that feat.

CSS: 37pts (15 out 47 in the buffer).

There was little wind and greens showed some evidence of manual watering, hopefully enough to keep them going until the irrigation system is repaired.

The May Medal was won with an exceptional 67 from Oliver Kahn who received an additional ESR for new handicap of 17.0. But close on his heels were Chris Jones and Mark Laverty 68s. Sheena was best lady on 70 and Rick Kimber shot lowest gross 82. Results…

The ‘TWOs’ were taken by Oliver, Sheena and John Curry.

Spare a thought for the Handicap Secretary who stood on 18th tee with only 10 shots dropped. He proceeded to drop another 10 on the last hole without going out of bounds for a 14. The net double bogey handicapping rule applied an effective 7 at hole giving a net differential of -5 and an ESR marker. Still cut two shots to 20.

Paul Grand held on to the midweek Grand Medal comp to date on 215, six ahead of Mike Jones and Tamas Ladacs. R3 Leader board…

Ladies

A few more layers were required in the clothing department today when compared to the shorts & tee shirts of last week! Despite that conditions were more reminiscent of high summer than spring with hard fairways and greens suffering from the broken irrigation system. But conditions seemed to suit most of the ladies, with the average score being almost 35 points from the 13 contestants. As such CSS went to 37.

After the first round of the Committee Cup Sheena Harrington has a narrow one point lead ahead of 3 ladies on 37 and a further 3 on 36. Needless to say, anyone could come through in the second round of the competition to win. Results…

Men

This must have felt like autumn golf to the field today: cooler temperatures (although not as bad as yesterday in the Spring Mixed) and lots of wind made the course pretty hard to play. On top of that the greens showed no signs of improvement and the bounces on the fairways were really unpredictable. Judging distances became very complicated as well. One competitor had the perfect game plan for the 12th hole: drive down the middle of the fairway, 2nd shot leaving him 110yds into the green (as planned according to him). Since the wind was helping he took one less club to pitch the ball short of the green and let it roll up to the pin. What happened: crazy bounce and the ball flew the green! If you wanted to do well today your first name had to be a variation of Christopher (not taking into account winner and runner-up. See below).

Today’s winning score belongs to Brian McMahon. His score of 1UP was matched by Keith Cassidy. Unfortunately Keith made a mess of holes 17 & 18 to hand victory to Brian. Chris Lordan, Kris Lynch and Christer Larsson were the only other players not to lose to the course. Peter Needham clsoed out the Top6. Results…

Peter Harrington could’ve made it very good weekend for the Harrington household if he’d remembered to write his handicap on his scorecard (his wife Sheena won the 1st round of the Ladies Committee Cup).

CSS: All Square (14/32 in the buffer)

Saturday 27 April was the Spring Mixed Random Draw playing American Greensomes and a lovely fun relaxed day and format. 12 pairs played in challenging conditions with the edge of Storm Hannah impacting although it was mainly dry.

The random draw created many new and excellent pairings. Keith Cassidy and Jayne Maxwell won with 38 points, Richard Inglis and Ann Gardner were second on 36 points and Paul Brown and Deborah Potter a close third. Results…

Conditions were somewhat affected by the wind – longer payers e.g. Hussan reaching par 5 9th with driver and wedge. Common to all were the greens (pacy -rare at RP) with evidence still of tining and sanding. Relief could be taken from tine holes. Whilst courses need decent rain, some rough is already thick with fresh growth.

Overall, scoring was average with CSS 37 points remaining at SSS.

Jeannie Chung had an excellent round 40 points to win the sweep comp from Richard Owen on back 9 countback. 37s followed from Jim Fogarty, Brian Ransom and Sheena Harrington. Results…

Ladies (Sheena and Jeannie) monopolised the ‘Twos’. Jeannie and Richard receive playing playing handicap cuts.

Near perfect golfing conditions for the field today. Were it not for some weirdly/hastily placed cups on most of the holes. The extra bounce/roll on the fairways was offset by greens that were in dire need of some water and some punishing pin positions (the pin position on 7 was pretty diabolical).

Today’s report is fairly simple: the gang of 40’s and the rest of the field. James Anslow went out early and kept up his excellent recent form. 20pts on the front and back nines earns him “only” 3rd place today. Shaun Dupreez was quoted recently that he “felt good about his game”. I guess that recording 47pts is some way of backing up on that statement. 26pts (!) on the way out can be described as a good start. His only blemish on the back 9 was a six on the 13th (for nil points). He had to settle for “only” 21pts on the way in. 1st place and a new handicap of 18 are just rewards for an excellent morning of golf. Jim Deissler tried to put up a late charge. But his fantastic 44pts are “only” good enough for a runner-up spot today. Jim’s handicap gets a healthy cut down 22. Scott Sparks. Sean O’Sullivan and 1st lady Caroline Stilwell complete the Top6. Results…

CSS: 37pts (11/36 players in the buffer)

A big field enjoyed near perfect golfing conditions. Mild temperatures, a little wind and some nice roll on the fairways clearly helped. Guess we’ll have to wait a couple of weeks for the greens to become more receptive.

In typical Mighty Mike style Mike Shabani came out all guns blazing. A blistering front 9 was rewarded with a score of 3UP. The jitters then got to him. But an impressive recovery over the last four holes made him leader in the clubhouse on 3UP. Kim Chaffart on the other hand couldn’t centre one iron shot or drive. But some clutch chipping and putting put him in an excellent position of 5UP walking off the 16th, whereupon he then managed to record two 7’s, recording a final score 3UP. But thanks to the countback he managed to push Mike into 3rd. Victory today goes to the steadiest player of the field. Tom Cook had a steady front 9 (2UP). He kept his composure on the back 9 (3UP) to claim victory by some distance. Tom’s handicap gets cut to 27. Mikey and Kim earn handicap cuts too. Tamas, Arthur and Oliver complete the Top6. Results…

CSS: 1UP