Harold Wilson once famously said: “A week in politics is a long time.” In golf it seems even longer.

A week earlier, our headline was Sunshine at the Park. Not the case some seven days later. With hurricane force winds and driving rain cold enough to freeze the proverbial brass monkey, the game was left to those willing enough to venture out and hopefully return intact. Some forty plus senior members succeeded and were rewarded with much admiration and a smattering of ridicule!

Results over 13 holes: first, Rob Thain, 27pts, second, Brian Brown, 26pts, third, Steve Symonds, 25pts, fourth, Roger Stone, 24pts, fifth, Richard Collier, 24pts.

Mixed

The final winter mixed fun competition took place on Mothering Sunday, 6th March. The weather was cold, dry and a slight breeze, a sigh of relief all round as the previous two month’s mixed competitions had been cancelled due to the heavy rain. An unusually depleted field, eighteen players, took part in a Mystery Bowmaker, playing in 3s, all score to count. The teams had to choose a personal hole on which their score doubled and the team had to choose a hole on which the team score was multiplied. Much discussion in the clubhouse before the round as to which holes would work best individually and also with the team, it sounded as if hole seventeen was a favourite as the team hole as it is playing as a par 3 at the moment.

Some quick re-adding up on one card as the team thought it was 2 scores to count! In third place, with 95 were Liz Thomas, Richard Salter and Pierce O’Shea. In second place, with 96, were Terri O’Shea, Steve Park and Bobby Appleby and in first place, with 109, having scored thirty points on their team hole, the seventeenth, were Min Woodward, Steve Ball and Jo Carter. A good day’s golf.

The April mixed on the 3rd is The Parker Charity Shield. The golfers were also reminded that the sign-up sheet was on the board for The Davies Cooler, the hotly contested Summer knockout competition.

Ladies

Thursday Ladies day on the 3rd March was scheduled to be the first Medal of the year. The persistent wet weather we have had to endure this passing winter, has taken its toll on the Farrington Park course, resulting in the reduction in length of four holes and in the case on Thursday, the added closure of the first 5. 36 ladies did take part in the competition, that was altered to a non-qualifying strokeplay, with two divisions of Silver and Bronze. The weather was fine on the day, if not a little chilly early in the morning. The heavy ground and cold air continuing to take distance off shots. Nevertheless, the winning scores were excellent.

In the Silver division: First, Maureen Charlton, Nett 43. Maureen had the lowest gross score of 58. Second, Terri O’Shea, Nett 46, third, Pauline Young, Nett 48.

In the Bronze division: First, Min Woodward, Nett 42 (lowest Nett), second, Pauline Brixey, Nett 43, third, Clare Salter, Nett 45.

Men

The Saturday Stableford took place on 27th February. With the whole eighteen holes of the course open after all the poor weather, some great scoring was achieved with Phil Howells, with an excellent 43 points, taking the honours in Division 1, with John Russell a close second on 41 points and Matt Lefeurve continuing his recent form in third with 38 points.

In Division 2, Paul Wadsworth took control winning with 42 points and also good scoring from Mark Turner, on 39 points in second and in form Des Deane in third, on 38 points.