Overall, the weather was probably slightly better than forecast. However, there was a torrential downpour at 10:10 and a few considerably lighter showers as well. Added to that, there was a strong gusty wind to contend with. When it really blew, it was affecting the ball considerably in the air and was even having an influence on long putts. Despite the rain, the fairways still had plenty of run and the greens were in excellent condition. Hitting a good teeshot downwind was a joy, hitting one into it. not quite so much!

There are several competition results to report on:
Starting with the Men’s Scratch results:
In Division 1 (Senior), Richard Back takes top spot with his aggregate 158 strokes, Justin Wildman is second with 163 and Richard Owen is third with 164.
In Division 2 (Junior), top spot goes to Andy Johnson with his aggregate of 189, Steve De Long is second with 191 and Seymour Lairdjust pipped Richard Norden for third (both with 195).
In the Women’s Scratch, Gina Jillett takes first place with her aggregate of 165. Sheena Harrington is second with 175 and Jayne Maxwell took third place with 180.
Congratulations to Richard, Andy and Gina for their championship-winning performances.

There was also a handicap competition played over the two rounds for the lowest aggregate net score.
Winner by 2 strokes was Jayne Maxwell with her combined net total of 138.
There were a heap of players just 2 strokes behind on 140. MS shows that Alison Chadwick took second place ahead of Justin Wildman in third. Commiserations to Richard Owen and Gina Jillett who had the same score but, in terms of placings “computer says no”.
Congratulations to Jayne on her fine win.

And a special mention for Will (playing off 5) who had the lowest gross score of the day with his hugely imressive 74.

A sunny start for the August Bank Holiday Plate but it clouded over.

There was some truly excellent scoring. Michael Pham returned 45 points and will be subject to a WHS Exceptional Scoring Record well done Michael. He was followed by a super 42 from Ellie Rhodes that included a front 9 of 23 points with a ‘blob’ at 5th

Alison Chadwick had another good round with 40 points, one better than Adrian Wells on 39.
Congratulations to Rannesh Jansari for another eagle – this time at the first hole.

It was an overcast day for the first round of the Midweek Club Championship and the word “chilly” came up more than once in post-round conversations. A fairly strong breeze accompanied the grey skies in the morning although it died down somewhat as the day went on. Nonetheless, it was decent weather for golf.

In Division 1 of the scratch competition, Richard Back took the honours with 78 (39 for both 9’s). Highlights of his impressive round were birdies on the 5th, 9th and 11th holes. Just behind him, Angus Robertson scored one shot more for his 79 (42 out, 37 in) which included 8 pars and a birdie on the 14th. In third place with a score of 80 came Duncan Matthews. Unfortunately his score will not count for the Championship because he hasn’t played the required 6 midweek rounds this year to qualify. Nonetheless it was a fine effort and at least he’s rewarded in the sweep. So Richard Owen and Gina Jillett’s scores of 81 mean they’re tied for third at the halfway stage.

In Division 2, Jayne Maxwell was the winner with 87 (45 out, 42 in). Jayne played an incredibly solid round with nothing higher than a 6 carded all day. Two shots behind her in second, we find Richard Norden (45 out, 44 in). Richard scored well throughout apart from an ugly 8 on the 10th hole. But he then showed his fighting spirit by getting a birdie on the 12th. Third on 90 was Ged Quinn who scored a commendably steady 45 out and 45 in.

There is also a trophy for the best combined net score over the two weeks and at the halfway stage, Jayne Maxwell(off 20) leads the way with her net 67. Again, Duncan didn’t qualify so Gina Jillet(12) is second on 69 while Richard Owen(11) and Sheena Harrington(15) are both on 70.

Sunny and warm for the President’s Putter – not so hot and humid as recently.

There was some very fine golf played, particularly by Aidan Hurley and Kerry Sargeant playing off 4 and 8 respectively with 40 points, Aidan clinched the win on countback; Aidan was out in level par whilst Kerry just 1 over. Next with 38 points were Abdullah Almasud Alison Chadwick – both could have been so much better; Alison Abdullah likewise didn’t score on 2 holes had pickups on front 9 and just 4 points on last 4 holes whilst A. Abdullah got the countback with back 9 21 points whilst Alison secured best score for the women, 5 followed with fighting 37s.

Nearest the pin prizes:
Women only
1st in 2 : Alison Chadwick; 18th in 2 : Lia Donath

Men only
1st in 2 : Aidan Hurley; 18th in 2 : Kerry Sargeant

Men and Women
2nd Ducan Taylor
4th Nigel Ward
9th in 3 Bill Norman
11th Peter Needham
13th Adrian Wells
16th Joe Goncalves

I think most of us were expecting bright blue skies and scorching heat but the reality was somewhat different. Although pleasantly warm, the temperature didn’t feel that high. The humidity however, was a different matter! As the day wore on, a cloud covering slowly appeared and distant thunder could be heard. Luckily, the last groups just about made it home before the lightening got too close and the klaxon sounded. All in all it was still a good day for golf with very little breeze and plenty of run on the fairways. The greens were in very good shape as well.

Clear winner today with a hugely impressive 43 points was Jonathan Evans who played of 12 from the white tees. Jonathan scored 22 points going out and 21 coming in with no less than 10 pars and a birdie 2 on the 7th. He didn’t card more than 5 shots on any hole throughout his round. An attractive little salver will be winging it’s way to him in due course once the engraver’s done his stuff.

The next four players all scored 39 points so it was down to countback to pick the bones out of the heap. Once it had, we find Richard Owen (14 also off white) came second. Richard scored a solid 18 points going out but bettered that total with 21 coming in. His round included a birdie on the par 4 11th and 7 pars. In third place was Seymour Laird (21 off yellow tees) who scored 20 points on the way out and 19 coming in. Perhaps Seymour got over-excited with his birdie 3 on the SI 5 15th hole because he followed it up with an ugly 7 on the par 3 16th. But for that, outright second place was his for the taking. Steve De Long (20 off yellow) claimed 4th spot scoring 21 points out and 18 back. Steve didn’t card anything higher than a 6 throughout his round and managed 6 pars. Last of the clutch on 39 points was Richard Prosser (also playing off 20 and the yellow tees) who scored an impressive 22 points out but a more moderate 17 on the way in. Richard also managed 6 pars including the par 5 12th.

Hot and sunny for the Diamond Jubilee and a good turnout of 67.

Iker Lanzagorta returned to form with a glorious 65 to win the trophy from Tm Laybourn 67 and then Michael Phan and Justin Wildman 68s. Justin unfortunately had 9 at 17th ,
Best woman was Deborah Potter 70; best 9s were both 2 over par – front Brian McMahon 37 and back Aidan Hurley 38.
In the Anniversary Cup after 3 rounds Michael Pham leads 210from Tom O’Hare 213 and Tom Simpkins 214.

We were treated to a beautiful day for golf – virtually constant sunshine and hardly a breath of wind.

In Division 1, Toby Hunt (playing off 13) triumphed with a gross 77, net 64. Toby played a very solid round going out in 41 (including a birdie on the 4th) and coming back in 36. His score was also the lowest gross of the day. In second place we find Sheena Harrington (16) with a gross 81, net 65. Sheena’s round included no less than 10 pars. 3rd place went to Lee Frost (13) who grossed 80 for his round which meant a net of 67. Lee’s round included a birdie on the 14th.

In Division 2, the plaudits go to Sookkyung Park (33) with a gross 99, net 66. Sookkyung made her way round the course very steadily scoring 52 on the way out and 47 coming back. Second on the day was Colin Price (21) who went out in 47 and came back in an excellent 41 for a gross of 88, net 67. In third and completing a good day for the Harringtons, came Peter H (25) who shot a 93, net 68. Peter went out in 50 (despite an ugly 9 on the 7th) and came back in 43.

The Midweek Grand Medal Trophy is played over 8 rounds with the best 5 counting. Today was the sixth round. The updated standings are attached. Division 1 is still led by Julian James with 362. However, Julian is the only player in the division to have reached 5 rounds and he’ll be looking over his shoulder at the chasing pack who’ve completed four rounds. Toby Hunt, Dave Cato, Richard Owen and others are all poised to challenge.

In Division 2, Peter Fisher has consolidated his substantial lead with his combined score of 346. As things stand, he’s comfortably clear of David Grace on 358 and Graham Cull on 359. However, Peter Harrington has completed 4 rounds for a total of 280 and a couple of good scores over the remaining rounds could yet see him throwing down a big challenge.

Despite some threatening dark grey clouds, we only had one tiny little shower hardly worth the name.
Winds were light and the course was in excellent condition in the main – especially the greens.

Winner today with an excellent 40 points was Cheryl Woodhouse (playing off 27), second with 38 points was Nestor Egue (26) and third, also with 38 points was Michael Pham (27). There were similarities between all three rounds. They all made a net eagle on a par 4 (Cheryl on the 4th, Nestor on the 8th, Michael on the 1st) and all three managed at least 18 points on both the front and back 9’s.

The men had a choice between white or yellow tees today and 12 chose white while 32 chose yellow. Interestingly, the top three men all played off white. Perhaps there’s a lesson there for us more cautious types – fortune favours the brave!

We had extra challenges today in the form of Nearest the Pin competitions for both the men and women.
The winners were:
Women:
NTP in 2 on the par 3 7th Sheena Harrington
NTP on the par 3 10th Hilary Casey
NTP in 2 on the par 3 16th Jayne Maxwell
NTP in 2 on the par 4 18th Jayne Maxwell
Men:
NTP in 2 on the par 4 2nd Julian James
NTP on the par 3 7th Graham Cull
NTP in 2 on the par 4 9th Nestor Egue
NTP on the par 3 10th Richard Back
NTP in 2 on the par 4 15th Angus Robertson
NTP on the par 3 16th Justin Wildman
NTP in 2 on the par 4 18th Trevor Brown

Winners have a choice of ‘balls or booze’ and the club will be in contact to find out which they prefer.

Women

It is fair to say that there was a fair amount of both good & not so good play between the leaders as a number of re-loads were required, although none ended up in play. On the first hole 2 of the contenders fired their tee shots under the bush on the left, but by some luck could both get a club to their ball rather than having to take a drop.

Joan brought a lead of 4 into the game but this had dropped to 2 after the front 9 and Sheena scrambled her way to a back 9 of 44 to finish with a 3 shot lead over the 2 rounds and take the championship. Susan also made up ground on Joan with both of them finishing on 185. Susan taking the runner-up spot courtesy of her better round today (93 to Joan’s 98).

The Handicap Cup did go to Joan with her net 147 4 shots ahead of Susan on 151.

With a field twice the size of the first round of the CC, an alternative stableford was set up to give them something to play for. Seema continued her recent good form to win with 35 points from Lia on 34. With a sweep entry fee, monies were paid into their purse accounts.

Men

Mostly cloudy and breezy but dry for the final round of the Club Championship.

For the scratch (gross results) the First Division shows last year winner Will Balakrishnan again winner on 145 (2^nd round 76)– well done again. 8 behind was Richard Back153 (2^nd round 82) and Richard Smith (2^nd round 75).

Second Division winner is Suhail Salim 175  (2^nd round 88) from Nigel Ward 177 (2^nd round 93) and Charles Haines 182 (2^nd round 90).

Scoring analysis for front 9 confirms 3 over par 38s for Richard Smith, Paul Kamerling, Mel Dunn and Jonathan Evans, best back 9s 1 over par 37s for Richard Smith and Will Balakrishnan. Well done all.

The net for the day shows for First Division the winner with excellent scoring as Richard Smith 65 on countback from Paul Kamerling also 65. In the Second Division the winner by a shot was Richard Young 68 from Jonno Mclean and Charles Haines both 69s.

It was another fine day for golf – not as hot as some days recently but comfortably warm nonetheless. There was a moderate breeze which intensified as the day went on and definitely had to be factored into one’s thinking on the later holes. Scoring was solid rather than spectacular and all the top places were only separated by a couple of points.

Winner today with 38 points was Richard Marriott playing off 28. Despite 2 blobs on the front 9, Richard still managed to score 18 points going out. He then scored an impressive 20 points on the way in which was joint highest back 9 score of the day. Congratulations Richard, an engraved salver will be heading your way in due course.

Countback had to go down to the last three holes to separate second and third spots. Just coming out on top was Jeremy Prescot (31) who pipped Mehemet Akdeniz (22). Jeremy had a very solid round for his 37 points scoring 18 out and 19 back. He picked up points on all but one hole.

Mehmet’s round didn’t start promisingly when he picked up on the first. Despite blobbing the 8th as well, he still scored 18 points going out and 19 on the way back to mirror Jeremy’s points tally.

Richard Prosser (20) took fourth place and is probably frustrated not to have finished higher. His front 9 tally of 22 points was the best of the day. But things came down to earth with a bit of a bump on the way in when he only managed 15 points which included an ugly 9 on the 14th.

Top woman today was Jayne Maxwell (20) in 5th with 36 points. Jayne managed to score points on every hole which is no mean feat especially on Dukes.

Ged Quinn (22) was the highest placed finisher (7th) to play off the white tees. All the prize winning men played off the yellow tees and indeed only five men in the entire field decided to brave the white tees.