The beginning of November at Farrington Park Golf Club saw the first frosty start of the season, with undoubtedly more due in the coming months. Thermals and winter hats retrieved from the backs of wardrobes were reintroduced to the harsh realities of the impending winter chills for Farrington Park’s Seniors. By midday though, clear, blue skies were predominant and a disrobing of the winter wear until the next time! The top seven teams were separated by only one point, with players rueing those pulled drives and missed putts.

Tony Clement/Phil Toogood 44 points, Alan Elkington/Adrian Miller 43 points, Brian Brown/David Lewis 43 points, Tony Quinn/Malcolm Brooks 43 points, Terry Thatcher/Neil Morgan 43 points, Mike Hedges/David Brown 43 points. Nearest the Pins on fifth, Roger Stone, eighth, Phil Thompson, fourteenth, Chris Standen and fifteenth, Alan Elkington.

Terri O’Shea had an excellent round of golf in the Ladies’ Qualifying Stableford competition on Saturday, 29th October. Although playing conditions were not favourable, Terri mastered the course despite starting her round with a double bogey on the first hole. She was soon building an impressive score, finally scoring forty points with a round which recorded eight pars and a hole in one on the short par three fifteenth hole.

The ever-consistent Paula Chivers was second with 36 points and Margaret Seery returned to form, taking third place with 35 points, beating Jackie Walker on countback.

Thirty ladies took part in the Qualifying Stableford on Ladies’ Thursday morning held on 3rd November.

Excellent scores are continuing to be recorded, despite the seasonal change in the course conditions. Wendy Butt headed the field, claiming first prize with 38 points on countback, second was Tracey Watts, also with 38 points, third was Pat Roscow with 37 points on countback and fourth was Carol King, also with 37 points.

There was some outstanding scoring in both divisions in the Men’s Saturday Stableford on 29th October, considering the winter setting in. In Division One, Andy Penney, taking the honours on countback from Steve Blackwell, both on 42 points and Mark Crook, in third on forty points.

In Division Two there was some outstanding scoring, with Cameron Goudie with 44 points at the top, followed by Peter Hansford on 43 points and Jon Cox, third, on 42 points.

Michael Jones topped Division One with 42 points in the Sunday Stableford (30th October) followed in second by Dave Harvey, on forty points, and Mark Chandler, in third, on 39 points. It was a good weekend’s golf for Jon Cox, who continued with first place in Division Two on forty points, followed by Steve Harmer, in second on 37 points and Ben Park, in third, on 36 points.

The start of the new Mixed golfing season got underway with the Romaine Punchbowl foursomes Medal competition on 2nd November. Many of the usual players were away, so a select band of golfers teed off in cold but dry conditions. There was much discussion, as always, about the best way to play the foursomes – which players would reap the most reward from the ladies tee or the men’s.

The format means one ball is in play between the two partners, with the ladies’ thirteenth tee being well forward of the men’s tee and how to play the seventeenth generating various scenarios and tactics.

Peta and Charles Romaine put forward the Trophy and as always, gave vouchers for the skill prize, which, this year, was Nearest the Pin in Three on Hole Nine, which was switched to Hole Eighteen, as no-one managed to get the green on the ninth, although a number of players were just off the green!

There is also a Consolation Stableford prize, which was won by Terri and Pierce O’Shea. The second Gross prize was won by Gail Proctor and Shane Phelps, who also won the Nearest the Pin in Three on the Eighteenth.

The Winners of the Romaine Punchbowl 2016 were Jackie and Martin Walker with a gross of 85. They retained the Trophy having won it last year – well done!