On a bitterly cold morning even the most hardened of brass monkeys would have struggled. With players dressed up as Arctic explorers, complete with hand warmers and flasks of coffee, it was more akin to a trip to the North Pole, than eighteen holes of golf at Farrington Park.

A non-qualifying Stableford was the the order of the day, and despite the conditions, some good scores were forthcoming.

For the Saturday Stableford, with the shortened course now in operation, there was a chance for players to adjust how they play some of the holes. In Division One, Lee Bryant had the best round with 37 points, beating Tom Snelling into second on countback, with George Hobbs taking third on 34 points. In Division Two, Gary Smart had the round of the day with 39 points, followed in second by Warren Cowling on 38 points and Jon Cox, third, on 33 points.

With the better weather of the weekend appearing for the Sunday Stableford, Andy Penney took control of Division One with 36 points, followed in second by Sean Watts, on 35 points and Matt Horler, taking third, on 34 points. In Division Two, it was all tight at the top, with three players on 38 points. Neil Morgan took top spot on countback, with Adam Gumbleton second and Warren Cowling continuing his good weekend in third.

It was a day for ladies named Pauline at Ladies’ Morning on Thursday, 30th November. Pauline Brixey was the runaway winner of the non-qualifying Stableford competition.

Thirty-eight ladies were tempted out to play in glorious winter sunshine on the Duchy course, which had been shortened to its winter length and par of 69.

Pauline scored 43 points, her round included a birdie on the par-five seventh hole and eight pars. Two birdies at the fifth and fourteenth holes respectively and six pars secured second place for Pauline Young, with a score of 39 points. Countback was needed to determine third place; Gill Russell just edged it from Carol King, after they tied on 34 points. Jane Ball and Sue Forshaw were the only other players to score birdies, both at the par-three fifth hole.