Mendip saw a good entry in the Pro Shop-organised weekend stableford, and the results showed good scores for the time of the year.

Winning with 39 points was J. Treasure with R. Williams. Second with 37 points after countback was Jack Hayes. The Ladies event was won by Jenny Merrett with 31 on countback from Sandie Roper. The Nearest the Pin Challenge saw new names appearing. In first place was P. Jamieson; second was A. Matthews and third was T. Seers.

45 ladies entered the nine-hole bowmaker event, and despite difficult conditions, cold and wet, thirteen teams completed. Amazingly, there were five teams all with 38 points, so countback became a very challenging exercise. Eventually, the winners were named as Kay O’Connor/Joan Clark/Margaret Hawker, who were followed by Caroline Simper/Anne Hopkins/May Curtis, with in third place, Carol Mosley/Gina Howard/Ann Padley.

The first Seniors’ competitive event of the year was a three-man Texas Scramble, which attracted 81 competitors – an outstanding number for a January event. The scoring was extremely competitive, with Phil Butcher/Nigel Cheshire/

­Norman Squire sitting in the Clubhouse with a net 59.4, and surely thinking that the event was theirs.

However, they eventually had to settle for second place, when the team of Phil Cookson/Simon Wynn/David Garnsworthy came in with 58.6. In third place were Andy Frampton/Seniors’ Captain Bryan Lewis/Dick Ransley with 59.6 and they beat, on countback, Martin Myers/Andy Parfitt/Paul Smith.

A very successful event and a baptism by fire for Seniors’ Captain Elect, John Brooksbank, who marked the cards. Seniors, beware, he takes his responsibilities very seriously – even disqualifying one team for failing to have two signatures on their card!

Mendip’s Professional, Stuart Disney, continues to earn plaudits for the outstanding efforts he puts into his role at Mendip. It was only in November that we reported that he had won the Participation Coach of the Year award, presented by the Somerset Activity and Sports Association.

Now, there are two further nominations that Stuart is awaiting the results of. Firstly, he is a contender for a national award from TGI Golf Partnership, as the Most Improved Business of the Year. Stuart is one of three nominees and will attend the Awards Ceremony at Trump Turnberry in February.

Obviously, this could not have been possible without the involvement of Mendip’s members, and only goes to show that, even in these internet-dominated shopping days, that if you are good enough and your team gives the proper service, members will support their Golf Professional.

Secondly, Stuart has been shortlisted as Coach of the Year by England Golf, an award sponsored by the PGA. Again, Stuart appreciates the support that Mendip members have given him through their nominations for this most prestigious of awards. We wish him well when he attends the awards ceremony, this time at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London in March.

Tony Williams