Heavy overnight rain meant 3 temporary greens (and large holes) and play from mats (from driving range?). Yellow tees. But the weather was calm, mild and dry with some very good scoring. Jim Fogarty had a strong front 9 in his 64 but Alastair Whyte had the stronger back 9 to win on countback. Well done to Alastair for what I believe is his first medal. Results…

A tidy and consistent 69 from Bruno earned best gross in this non-qualifying round for handicap. Midweek birdie tree…

Ladies

Not knowing who might turn up if the courses were open after the sub-zero temperatures of the last few days, the ladies event was decided in the morning when in fact everyone turned up, plus an extra who hadn’t booked. The decision was another Texas scramble with the added option to tee up shots on the fairway to assist the injured amongst us – though drivers were banned in this instance!

Overhead it was another fabulous crisp & mostly sunny morning, underfoot it started as frozen making clubbing somewhat tricky and producing as expected some strange bounces. By halfway, things had changed for holes in the sun.

Given the conditions it was quite surprising the number of birdies recorded compared with previous scrambles and all 3 teams were well under par after 18 holes.

The team of 4 of Alison, Sheena, Tenesi & Jess, playing as a visitor, were the winners with a 63.1 that included 4 birdies and just 3 bogeys. Interestingly, all 3 teams birdied the 18th, a hole that can be the nemesis of many a good round. Results…

Men

A reduced field faced a winter onslaught. Given that both courses were closed 24h earlier it came as no surprise that today’s conditions proved challenging to put it mildly. The extra roll from the frozen fairways was offset by unpredictable greens. Chipping onto the greens was also very tricky. The Competition Committee decided to make today’s competition a Non-Qualifer.

Bruno Clerckx had already proved his skills in the rain. He can now claim the crown as best ice golfer of the day. His victory was largely due to a well managed back 9. 39 strokes on the way in offset a more volatile front 9. Tony Kopczak played solid golf during 14 holes. But a severe brain freeze sent him on his way to a score of 71 net. He’d probably like to have the last 4 holes back. The MoC/Secretary Peter Harrington posted a solid 73 net to claim 3rd place. Damian Hackett did a little better than the Irish rugby team and finishes 4th. My money would’ve been on a Northerner to thrive in these conditions. But Tony saved the Scandi honour with a 5th place. Alan King completes the Top6. Results… 

CSS: N/A

Early frost and ice gave way to a lovely sunny day with no wind. Late morning competitors experienced a graupel shower and looked in vain with the sun shining for a graupel-bow.

Scoring conditions were enhanced as a result with CSS being raised to SSS + 1 = 38 points. In the last game Roy Evans romped home with 44 points (and severe surgery to his handicap 15->13) with Brian Ransom 2nd 40 points. First lady Cheryl Woodhouse was beaten into 3rd on back 9 countback but is mentioned in despatches recording a ‘Two’ and of course handicap reduction 22-> 21. Results…

Secretary Peter Harrington crafted a mild draw to 8 feet on the long par three 14 to post a birdie and a ‘Two’. Welcome back to play for Ted Holt who also recorded a ‘Two’ at 4th. Midweek birdie tree…

Ladies

Very different conditions from last week saw the ladies record the first QRO of the winter season. A combination of a strong wind and a wet course after the rain of yesterday presumably the reason that 32 was the highest score. Susan Smith’s 19 points on the back 9 was enough to pip Angela Flynn despite her recording two birdie 2s in her 32 points. Results…

Although Habe remains at the top in the Eclectic, things have got a lot tighter after the second round and Lia is just 1.5 shots behind. R2 Leader board…

Men

The weather certainly didn’t help today. Rain of the last days created a good bit of mud and casual water. Add strong winds and rain around midday and you have all the ingredients for a round of winter golf.

Richard Owen certainly came prepared for today’s round. In the run-up to today’s comp he “bended” the rules a bit. Reportedly he also enjoyed a few good bounces (from certain trees). To be fair he took the opportunities when they presented themselves. 21pts on the front 9 (with a no score on the 7th – which due to the cold temperatures and head wind played like a par 6 today) set him up for a solid back 9. The nerves started appearing on the 18th (a thinned chip from behind the green confirms that). But he miraculously walked off with a par to close on 40pts. Richard’s handicap goes straight back to 12. Nigel Ward played a solid round on Prince’s again but he was outdone by the smallest of margins on the front and back 9. 38pts is enough for 2nd though. Keith Cassidy and Kerry Sargeant both recorded 37’s to take 3rd and 4th respectively. Ollie Griffin and Brian McMahon complete the Top6. Results…

CSS: 37pts (9/35 in the buffer)

Ollie Griffin had a good day on a few other fronts:

• He takes the lead in the Winter Competition with 112pts ahead of Caleb Mills and Barry Page (both on 110). R5 Leader board…
• He’s also first in the Prince’s Eclectic with a Net 63, ahead of Chris Lordan and Richard Owen – both 66. R2 Leader board…

Lying snow from a ‘heavy dusting’ rendered the course sometimes unplayable and the round was treated as a social non-qualifying round for handicap.

Later competitors Jack Evans and Dylan Merchant had amazing 39 and 34 points respectively for the round and associated sweep with Sean Thomas third 33 points. Results…

Ladies

Amazing results from an unprecedented number of ladies in mid-winter & the weather was also pretty amazing and so much nicer than forecast. Of course lack of wind and having fairways that were not soggy bogs can only have helped.

Lia Donath had a very steady 19 points out and 20 back to beat Susan by some 5 points but was fortunate that her lack of signature was spotted before leaving. Her short game was definitely on form today – one putting definitely helps the scoring. Results…

In the accompanying Eclectic, Lia might have beaten the rest by some margin – but last week’s order remains the same. A matter of picking the right holes to improve your score on & Val and Cheryl both improved their scores by 5, but Val maintains a 3 shot advantage with one round to go. R3 Leader board…

Men

Looks like the field dealt pretty well with the cooler conditions. Four players managed to record a score of 39pts. A Par-Par-Birdie finish vaults James Anslow into 1st place. Over that span of 3 holes he nearly doubled his tally on the back 9. Not much you can do against that. James’ handicap drops to 16. Martin Heinrich’s solid round (20pts out and 19pts in) earns him 2nd place and a new handicap of 17. The back-up handicap secretary’s round was a bit more volatile: 22pts out but only 4pts on the last 3 holes prevented him from finishing higher than 3rd. Last of the 39 gang was Ollie Griffin. But just like the player ahead of him he struggled on the way in (FYI: he went out in level par aka 23pts). Three players finished on 37pts: Barry Page. Chris Lordan and Caleb Mills – who quite shockingly decided to rock up in long trousers! 16 out of 42 players remained in their buffer impacting CSS. Results…

CSS: 37pts

Winter Competition: 1st) Ollie Griffin (108), 2) Tamas Ladacs (103), 3) Peter Needham (103), 4) PHarrington (101), 5) Pete Harrison (101) 6) Chris Lordan (100). R4 Leader board…

Duke’s Eclectic: Pete Harrison (62), Chris Lordan (63), Oliver Maskell (65), Ollie Griffin (65), Kim Chaffart (66). R3 Leader board…

Grey and at times windy conditions prevailed and for the mid-morning competitors the forecast rain/drizzle finally arrived.

Scoring was average overall with CSS=SSS 37 points but Jim Fogarty eased further into the Wednesday scene with a commendable 39 to win round 4 of the midweek winter competition. New member Charlie Forrest and best lady Sheena Harrington followed with 38s. Both Jim and Sheena are cut a shot. Results…

In the midweek Prince’s Eclectic Hassan Mouilah leads with net 65.0 with midweek captain Kim Chaffert tied second with John Curry 68.0. R2 Leader board…

The midweek Winter Competition is led by Mike Jones 105 from Sheena and John 102. R4 Leader board…