Farrington Park took on a decidedly pink hue on Thursday during Lady Captain's Day.
The theme was Wear it Pink and, my goodness, did they. Sixteen teams of three competed in an eighteen-hole competition for the Lady Captain's Spoon, whilst three teams of three competed over the front nine holes for a nine-hole competition. The format for both competitions was a three ball bowmaker with the best scores to count on all holes, excepting the fourth and eleventh hole (if played), where all three scores would count.
Each team was given a pink ball at sign in. Each lady in each team could elect a hole that they would play the pink ball on and their points would be doubled on that hole.
Having a coloured ball that you know will double your points, has quite a psychological affect and the propensity with which coloured balls are lost in such competitions is uncanny. Even though the pink ball would be played on a maximum of three holes by each team, an incentive of three bonus points was in place for each team to return their pink ball at the end of the competition.
Perhaps it was due to the levity provided by the Lady Captain, Didi Ager, serving strawberries and Pink Champagne to the ladies at the half way hut, or perhaps it was due to the focus of the double points that, even though it could only be played on three holes, a third of the teams managed to finish without their pink ball in possession.
The nine-hole competition was won by Sandra Hares, Tracey Watts and Liz Hogarth, with 47 points.
The Lady Captain's Spoon was won by Jenny Ahlberg, Lena Warren and Min Woodward, with 93 points on count back. Runners-up were Sue Stilwell, Jo Carter, and Pauline Brixey, with 93 points on count back. Sandra Blair, Liz Thomas and Jenny Howarth came third, with ninety points.
Longest Drive on the sixth hole for the nine-hole competitors was won by Maureen Tayler.
In the eighteen-hole competition, longest drive on the fourteenth hole (Bronze) was won by Anne Scott, longest drive on the seventeenth hole (Silver) was won by Jo Carter and longest drive on the eighteenth hole (Lady Vets) was won by Cynthia Miller.
Nearest the pin in three on the eighteenth hole (Bronze) was won by Peggy Edwards (aka Darcey Bussell). The skills prize confirmed that Peggy did not allow her shocking fuchsia pink tights and tutu (worn throughout the round) to get in the way of her golf. Nearest the pole in two on the thirteenth hole (Silver) was won by pink hula skirt adorned Rosi Brown, who planted the ball a mere three feet away from the pole. Nearest the pin on the fifteenth hole (Lady Vets) was won by Heather Woodland, also clad in shocking pink fuchsia tights and tutu to match team mate, Peggy. Nearest the water on the twelfth without going in, was impressively won by Gill Russell, the third in the pink fuchsia tights and tutu clad team. Gill's ball stopped so near to the water it was a miracle that it didn't go in. Who says that conventional golf attire has to be worn to play good golf?
The fun of a really wonderful day was wrapped up by all sitting together for a delicious meal in the clubhouse, during which, the Lady Captain, Didi Ager, presented prizes to winners clad in a pink wig and boa. Never did we think we would see Didi with such accessories!
As well as an incredibly fun day with all dressed and accessorised every which way in pink, on Lady Captain's Day we raised £57 by donating the day's entire two spot pool to Wear it Pink. When Thursday's two spot is added to the £37.80 raised in February, it gives us a total of £94.80 raised for Wear it Pink, money raised effortlessly whilst having tremendous fun. Many thanks to Bobby Appleby and Pitti Morris for their tireless help behind the scenes throughout the day.
Farrington Park Men
The mid-week medal was played in good weather conditions, players used the opportunity to get some practise for the up-coming Club Championship.
Adrian Cronin was on the top of his game to win Division One, with a gross score of 81, net 70, beating Steve Coles on countback. Nigel Denham scored gross 77, net 71, to finish third. Jack Cronin took the honours in Division Two scoring gross 95, net 67. Graham Hancock was second, with a gross 96, net 74, third place went to Chris Clegg, with gross 101, net 77.
Saturday Stableford 28/6/14
The man in form, Mark Wintersgill, took charge of Division One, scoring an outstanding 42 points, closely followed by Paul Broadway, with 40 points, beating Chris Young into third on countback. In Division Two, making the most of the good playing conditions, Jeff Hayward scored 41 points to finish first, followed by in form Bob Baker's 39 points with Shaun Rawlings a close third on 38 points.
Sunday Stableford 29/6/14
Club Captain, Kevin Brimble, took top spot in Division One, with 31 points, second place went to Stu Ponfield, with 29 points and Mike Goodliff secured third place, with 27 points. In Division Two, it was a good scoring day for Simon Kidd, who scored 39 points to finish first, Simon Park was second, with 37 points and Jon Brignull was a close third, with 36 points.
Farrington Park Seniors
The heat is still on for Farrington Park Seniors, really hot and dry weather produced some fantastic results in the monthly Four Ball Better Ball competition and the results were accompanied by a wave of disbelief, comments, such as 'how can I score 44 points off three-quarters handicap and not be in the first six places?', were common. The solution was simple, the match was played off the forward green tees and the run on the fairways was significant, all adding up to the superb scores recorded.
Results of the nearest the pin competition: fifth hole, Don Perry, eighth hole, Geoff Skyrme, fourteenth, Tim Waller, fifteenth, Terry Stacey.
Results of the Four Ball Better Ball: first, Rob Chappell and Richard Dancey, 47 points, second, Steve Symonds and Terry Beacham, 46 points, third, Barry Hall and Ray Wilkinson, 45 points (count-back), fourth, Mike Bradbury and Bernard Parfrey, 45 points, fifth, Colin Robinson and Richard Curtis, 45 points and sixth, Maurice Sanders and Steve Mitchell, 45 points.