Christmas music welcomed the 67 ladies who gathered on Wednesday evening for their annual Christmas celebration and presentation evening. Min Woodward, the outgoing Captain, organised the trophies and the table prizes. The room looked stunning, with a magnificent Christmas tree and plenty of greenery, sparkling lights and baubles.

The presentation began with Min thanking everyone for attending and wishing Bobby Appleby, the new Ladies Captain, well for her year ahead. The year’s trophy winners were then presented with their awards, with loud clapping and whistles. At the end of the presentation, Min presented the Captain’s

Trophy, which is given at the discretion of the Captain, to Bobby Appleby, for coming forward to be Captain again, having been Captain in 1999 – even though Bobby broke her leg in February and spent most of the year on crutches and then with a walking stick!

Bobby then asked all the ladies to sing Happy Birthday to Min, who had a significant birthday the following day and presented her with a card from the Ladies Section.

Nine groups of three ladies ventured out onto the course with trepidation on Thursday’s Ladies Morning, having heeded the dire weather warnings, they came prepared with full waterproofs, Christmas woolly hats and Fiona Hazzard even in a red tutu! Bobby Appleby had organised a Christmas

Bowmaker with two scores out of three, but one of the scores had to be from ‘Mother Christmas’. Each card had been colour co-ordinated, so that the ladies took it in turns to be Mother Christmas and no confusion on whose turn it was.

In the end, the weather did win out as Bobby made it a nine-hole competition, with lots of ‘thumbs up’ from the ladies on the course when she zoomed around in a buggy to tell them. In the clubhouse, when everyone gathered, birthday wishes were given to Min Woodward. She was presented with a beautiful cake made by member, Jo Carter, showing Min on the golf course complete with flag.

Fourth place in the competition were the team of Jane Waller, Gill Russell and Heather Woodland, narrowly beating Margaret Seery, Lesley Stone and Jenny Howarth on countback by one point, with 27 points. In third place was the team of Min Woodward, Jenny Ahlberg and Lena Warren, with 28 points. Second, also with 28 points on countback were Fiona Hazzard, Pauline Young and Maureen Charlton and the winners with 31 points, were Gail Proctor, Sue Stilwell and Jackie Walker.

Mixed

The Forshaws were in the winnings again on Sunday, but this time it was Sue who beat Dave, her husband, into first place in the Mixed Fun Competition, a two ball scramble. Sue took up golf not so long ago, has already had a hole in one, and with her playing partner, Matt Lefeurve, who plays off eleven, racked up a score of 33 over thirteen holes to lead the field by two shots. They birdied both the eleven and thirteenth holes, both Par fives, making four for four points on both.

Dave, playing with his usual partner, Margaret Seery, came in with thirty points, making a two on sixteen for five points. They beat Clare Salter and Mike Goodliff, also on thirty points, on countback. In fourth place, with 29 points, was Mandy Hobbs and her son, George, who replaced his dad who is struggling with an injury.

Finally, in fifth place, were Sue and Clive Stilwell.

38 people played in dull, but dry weather. Most stayed for the Christmas Carvery, with all enjoying the Turkey with lots of lovely vegetables. The crackers were pulled, jokes told and even some charades were enacted with much hilarity. Sue and Matt thanked their playing partners, Linda Rogers and Gary Padfield and, as usual, the green and catering staff. Bobby Appleby, Ladies Captain, on presenting the prizes, noted that Sue would be in demand by playing partners from now on!

Bobby also reminded everyone that the next Mixed event is on 3rd January, a three game challenge, six hole Foursomes, six hole Greensomes and six hole Texas Scramble and the February mixed on the 7th was the ‘Blind Date’ competition for the ‘Cilla’ Trophy, the red felt heart made and presented in February 2015. The competitors only know their partners when they come in after the round and the draw is made! The Mixed Section is looking forward to a full and varied programme of golfing in 2016.

Men

The Saturday Stableford was played on 5th December in extremely difficult conditions with one of the strongest winds of the year. Scoring in Division One was very competitive at the top, with Phil Howells scoring 36 points, winning the division on countback from Steve Longden in second and Gary Prater in third on 35 points.

In Division Two there was an excellent score from Ian Jones, with forty points, followed closely by Neil Morgan on 39 points, in second, beating Jon Cox into third on countback.

With the winds dropping from the previous day some good festive scoring was achieved with Mark Chandler in Division One taking the honours with 39 points, followed by Steve Blackwell, in second on 35 points and taking third was Dave Jewell, on 28 points. In Division Two, an outstanding round of golf from in-form Des Deane with 43 points and also a good score in second from Nic Jordan, with 40 points and Tony Guthrie in third on 38 points.

Seniors

On a sunny but blustery morning, the Seniors of Farrington Park embarked on their final Four Ball Better Ball competition of 2015. Bearing in mind the playing conditions, the scores off three quarters handicap were surprisingly high. Next week’s competition is a Texas Scramble and will be the final competition of the year.

Results: First, Bill Sims and Ray Parker, 41 points, second, Phil Thompson and Dave Taylor, 38 points c/b, third, Jeff Bruton and John Holland, 38 points c/b, fourth, Brian Brown and Ray Guthrie, 37 points c/b, fifth, Barry Hall and Nigel Savage, 37 points c/b, sixth, Steve Symonds and Dave Lewis, 37 points c/b. Nearest the Pins on fifth, Tony Edwards, eighth, Chris Standen, fourteenth, Phil Thompson and fifteenth, Ray Parker.