It was Ladies’ Invitation Day on Thursday, 22nd June. 48 ladies took part in the Four Ball Better Ball competition that supported Mutts with Friends, a Dog Rescue and rehoming Centre in the Chew Valley area.

Half the teams were represented by ladies from other golf clubs in the area. The day was another fine summer’s day, if a little breezy at times. The highlight of the day was Hazel Guthrie’s hole in one on the fifteenth. The Pimms and lemonade was appreciated by all. There were four two spots achieved by Sandra Jones from Clevedon, Aimee Sawyer from Mendip, Liz Thomas from Farrington Park and Sue Acland from Mendip Spring. Sue Acland’s two spot, assisted her and her partner, Farrington Park’s Rosi Brown, in winning the Overall First Prize with an excellent 45 points. First Farrington Park with a visitor went to Lena Warren and Yvonne Bates (Mendip Spring) with 41 points. First All Farrington Park went to Sue Stilwell and Mandy Hobbs with 42 points. Second Farrington Park with a visitor went to Min Woodward and Lin Vowles (Bristol and Clifton) with 40 points and second All Farrington Park went to Gail Proctor and Jackie Walker with 42 points.

Mixed

What had started out as a wet and windy day, gradually turned into a sunny, but still windy experience for the playing of the Paul Harwood Trophy. A garrulous group of 28 took part in this Four Ball Betterball competition and a fun time was had by all.

Scoring reflected the difficult conditions, but it was still a close-run affair with three teams on identical scores vying for the runners’ up spot. However, Julie and Phil Toogood were just that in claiming the honours, with a fine score of 42 points.

Results: Julie and Phil Toogood, 42 points, Liz and Paul Thomas, 41 points, Bobby Appleby and John Ward, 41 points, Jane and Steve Ball, 41 points.

Men

The Farrington Park Avalon team started a run of home matches by entertaining Stockwood Vale.

Paul Thomas and Nick Poore led the team out and after watching their opponents chip in for a birdie on the first, they battled in vain falling to a 5&4 defeat. Steve and George Hobbs were next out and after a close start fell behind, losing 3&2. Paul Gregory and partner Duncan Bratt finally brought some good news to the clubhouse, closing out a 2-up win.

Jack Broadway and Jamie Rawlings fought back from 3 down to make the final green before unfortunately losing 1 down. Mark Adams and Phil Heyslop, at 2 up with 3 to play, fought hard to secure another win but after a spirited fight-back had to settle for a half. Just the 3 points gained in a 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 defeat.

Hoping to erase the previous week’s defeat, Captain Thomas led the team out against visitors Oake Manor with Steve Hobbs as his partner, a par was enough to win the first and at 4 up after 13, finally won 4&3 on the 15th green. Lee Bruton and Alex Bendall were involved in a high quality game but at 3 down at the turn they fought back to all square and powered to a great 1 up win. Paul Gregory and Duncan Bratt faced tough opponents and despite an eagle on the 12th fell to a 4&3 defeat. Danny Farnen and Charlie Wigmore were also involved in a top-quality game, an eagle on the 7th followed by a good run of birdies saw them run out 5&4 winners.

Mark Adams and Phil Heyslop battled their way back into the last match from 2 down to all square on the 18th tee, unfortunately a bad bounce and a lip out gave their opponents the points. A 3-2 win and 8 more points towards Division 1 survival.

The Saturday Stableford was played on 17th June.

With the greens and fairways in summer conditions it was very tight at the top of Division 1, with Dave Swain on top with 39 points beating Mike Graves into second on countback and Dave Forshaw a close third on 38 points. In Division 2, a top score from David Morgan with an excellent 40 points topping the division, with Gary Payne in second on 38 points and Andy Casling a close third on 37 points.

The Sunday Stableford was played on 18th June.

Some great scoring in the Sunday Stableford, particularly from Tony Guthrie in Division 1 on 41 points followed in second by Lee Bruton, with 38 points with Andy Penney third on 37 points. In Division 2, a good day for Charles Holmes, with 37 points followed in second by Paul Smith on 35 points beating Jeff Bruton into third on countback.

Seniors

On one of the hottest days since 1976, the Seniors of Farrington Park contested the Eddie Jackman Trophy. Sadly, last September Eddie passed away, a wonderful man who at the age of 90 was still active and playing golf. He always insisted on presenting the trophy to the winner along with the customary bottle of scotch – his favourite tipple! This was the first playing for the trophy since his death, and he is sorely missed. The trophy is competed for by players of 23 handicap and above and was won by Ray Parker with a fine score of 44 points.

Results:

Division I: G. Bradley, 40pts, C. Standen, 38pts, B. Brown, 38pts, B. Sims, 38pts, L. Seddon, 36pts.

Division II: L. Salter, 45pts, N. Morgan, 44pts, B. McKeegan-Brown, 39pts, A. Taylor, 39pts, T. Thatcher, 38pts.

Division III: R. Parker, 44pts, S. Park, 40pts, J. Wring, 37 pts, T. Russell, 37pts, N. Savage, 36pts.

Friendly Match Result at home to Shirehampton: won 4.5 to 2.5.