Masterton Golf Club

Golf club history was made last Saturday when all three 18-hole men's interclub teams played at home. This is the first year the club has fielded three 18-hole teams so it was an appropriate time to take a mass photo. Unfortunately, the team results did not match the occasion, with only the Div 11 team recording another resounding win, while Div 3 had a narrow win and Div 7 lost. After heavy overnight rain most players found the heavy under-foot conditions and slow greens hard to adjust to.
Div 11 played Miramar and won 12/3. The Player of the Day was John Hopkirk with a 6/5 result, while other wins went to Steve Couvert, Jim Kettle, Wayne O'Donnell, Jamie Brunton, Mike Falloon, Terry Harrison and Innes Kennard. Masterton also won four out of the five team (four) balls.
Div 3 had a 8/7 win, also against Miramar. The best result in the singles was the 5/4 win by Gavin Harris, but other winners were Kevin Mackay, Peter Forrester, Ian Buchanan and Jeff Ogg. The team also had three wins in the team ball competition. The Chopper award went to Robin Carseldine.
Div 7 went into their home match with Shandon, equal on points, but the visitors proved too strong, winning 8/7. Toby Tuoro, promoted to No 1, had an impressive 7/6 win to be Player of the Day, with other singles wins to Barry Smith, Hira Renata and Paul Fouhy. There were also three team ball wins. Ash Peterson was awarded the Rearender Trophy.
Meanwhile, at Manor Park our Div 1 36-hole team was playing Paraparaumu Beach in the Otaki Cup. The overall result was a 9/6 loss. Only Brent Mackenzie and Brent Gibbs won their morning foursomes, but the afternoon singles were better with wins going to Sam Forrester (6/5), Jason van Zanten (6/5), Brent Mackenzie (2/1), Peter Jackson (2/1) and Simon Buckley (2/1). The Div 1 team has a bye in the next round when the competition is played at Masterton.
On Monday, Masterton hosted the Women's Silver and Bronze Pennants Interclub, with two good home results. The Silver Manuka team had a 4/2 win over Otaki, while Bronze Yellow drew 3-all with Manor Park. At Mahunga, the Silver Totara team had a 4/2 win against Te Marua. The Bronze Blue team had a bye.
On Tuesday, the women had a par round on club day. Results were:
Silver: 1 Margaret Irwin, 2 Shirley Saunders, 3 Robyn Guildford on c/b from Sereana Phillips and Pauline Mackenzie.
Darlington Drilling Bronze: 1 Janice Hayes, 2 Lorraine Duckett, 3 Rosie Laffey on c/b from Judith Smith and Marilyn Kinvig.
The Graeme Jones Nearest the Pin on No 8 was Margaret Irwin, while the New World Nearest the Pin on No 18 was Robyn Guildford.
The women also farewelled caterer Margaret MacIntosh and made a presentation to her.
Last Saturday's 9-hole competition results: Women, 1 Isobelle Weaver 19pts, 2 Rachel Monk 18. Men: 1 Allan Ewington 23, 2 Robert Young 19, 3 Michael Batley 17.
The next occasion for Saturday 9-hole golf will be April 16, as the course will be closed on April 9 with the Div 1 Otaki Cup competition, and two 18-hole interclub matches on course.
Last Sunday men's club day was held and attracted a reasonable field which was decimated when, half way through the round, the heavens opened and drenched everyone. Only the very hardy played on, with the results of the Stableford round being: 1 Nigel Udy 38, 2 Dennis Hogg 36, 3 Trevor Smith 33, 4 Innes Kennard 33.
The birds nest was won by Dennis Hogg with twos on No 3 and 13.
Next weekend, the club day reverts to Saturday with a stroke round for the Challenge Shield, Chairman's Trophy and Markham Shootout for men and a Home Pennant Stableford for women.
Off the Fairway
This week sees the sad departure from our dining room of caterer Margaret MacIntosh. Margaret and her late husband, Jeff, became our caterers six years ago and quickly became popular for the magnificent food presented, especially the homemade pies.
Margaret is "retiring" to follow other interests, including travel, and all members wish her well. The new caterer, Emma Dudley, begins on April 1.