The Three Clubs and a Putter competition is always a popular event on the Farrington Park Ladies golfing calendar.

The anxiety of choosing the best three clubs from the thirteen available in the golf bag occupies the mind in the days leading up to the competition date. Is it best to use the same clubs as last year and can I remember what they were or shall I make a completely different choice?

After last week’s deluge, the weather had changed and a cold fog blanketed Farrington Gurney and surrounding areas. Fortunately, visibility was good enough to enable play to go ahead albeit on a cautious basis. Players on a green had to shout “all clear” when they left their green to inform those behind that it was safe to proceed. It certainly focussed the mind on hitting the ball straight, balls that veered off the fairway had little chance of being found.

The Ladies Committee had agreed that all competitions in December and January will be be held over thirteen holes to ensure everyone plays in decent light and before the afternoons’ temperature drops too much.

On such a dismal cold day, thirteen holes of golf was enough. Pat Roscow was the only player from the forty strong field to record a two-spot birdie at the par 3 5th. Countback had to be used to separate the top three after Sandra Hares, Sue Skyrme and Fiona Hassard scored twenty eight points each.

Sandra used a five wood, six hybrid and an eight iron and finished third. Sue used a driver, hybrid and pitching wedge and, she said “Amazingly, I didn’t lose a ball. Not sure what it says about our golf if we win when we couldn’t even see where we were heading! “

Fiona said: “Quite liberating not to have to make a decision on which club to use, although I could have done with more options on the approach shots ! “

She used a 3 wood, a 7 rescue and a wedge and her birdie three on the par 4 12th hole was the deciding factor, making her the winner.

Conditions changed again for the Santas versus Elves Matchplay. A cold, bright, sunny day greeted the two teams of ten pairs, the Santas were captained by Ladies’ Captain, Pauline Young and the Elves were led by Vice-Captain Jackie Willcox. It was a close-run affair with the lead changing several times but the Santa’s finally triumphed by six games to four.

Jane Ball