The Mendip Ladies’ competition this week was a yellow ball Bowmaker event.

The clear winners were the experienced and low-handicap trio of Jenny Merrett, Jo Espley and Edwina Willis, who carded an excellent 140 points.

The Ladies friendly team visited Wells, who unfortunately could only field four pairings. However, a home advantage gave Wells a 2½-1½ victory. Successful for Mendip were Eileen Masters and Sandie Roper, with Tricia Murphy and Pauline Williams gaining a half.

The Ladies’ Alliance B Team entertained Orchardleigh and ran out worthy 9-5 winners. Mendip’s points came from Chris Olds, Chris Down, Jo Espley and Hilary Rowdon, with Lynn Cox gaining a half.

Joint-Head Green Keeper, Stuart Ponfield, Club Professional, Stuart Disney, Chairman of Greens Committee, Richard Jeffrey, and Club Captain, John Shakesby, played at a very windy Burnhan on Sea in the regional qualifying event of the BIGGA Management Trophy, with the top two teams to go forward to the National Finals at Frilford Heath. It’s great to report that Mendip will be represented in those Finals by this illustrious team.

The Pro Shop Nearest the Pin winners this week were Liz Rose, with Marian Speed second, P. Kivi, with Matt Bendall second, and Phil Bendall, with Phil Butcher second.

An excellent turnout of 24 Past Captains took part in their annual event, and for the first time, all five Past Captains of the now-closed Frome Golf Club joined in the festivities. It was interesting that one of the Frome boys, Ryan Sainsbury, who is still not very old compared to the rest of the group, was in fact Captain of Frome at age nineteen, and at that time was the youngest Golf Club Captain in the UK.

It is always an enjoyable and social event, with the golf followed by a splendid dinner – on this occasion, the caterers looked after the group very well. The Trophy went to Ryan with forty points, Tony Taylor was just pipped with 39 points, which included an amazing four birdies in the first seven holes, with Captain Elect, Paul Smith, third with 38. As he is not yet a Past Captain, Paul was unable to pick up a prize, but as tradition has it, he is liable for the purchase of the port consumed!

Over the past thirty years, no-one at Mendip can recall there ever being more than one, or possibly two, girl juniors at any one time. Through the sterling efforts of Club Professional, Stuart Disney, and Assistant, Josh Hirst, Mendip can now boast a number of girl juniors.

Twelve-year-old Ellen Reakes has seen her handicap plummet this season to a current eleven. Lizzy Bryant, playing at Mendip as well as Orchardleigh, has a seventeen-handicap, and Evie Thatcher a 24-handicap. All three girls are in the Somerset Girls Performance Squad. Ten-year-old Daisy Jeffrey has a 45-handicap, with ten-year-old Connie Cox on the verge of getting her first handicap. At various stages, there are a further six young girls in the Saturday Academy. A delight to see and long may it continue.

Tony Williams