Twos galore at tourney

Like bees to the honey pot, this holiday weekend saw a hive of activity at the course. Members and green fee players alike enjoying our warm southern hospitality thanks to Sue in the office, the committee and of course Darren the green keeper and his helpers for the impeccable greens, going by the amount of twos. (Fourteen on Sunday, eight on Thursday)
Our Match Committee Convenor Sherry was delighted with the mighty fine turn out for Easter Sundays Chicken and Egg Tournament. It was great that so many of you came along and brought your guests to enjoy in this fun day. If you thought you'd played well enough for an egg scoring 36 points you were wrong.
In the 1-14 Section and home to visit was Matt Taplin with 44 points, 2nd place getter Ash Reed on 43, and 3rd our local ace Lance Phelps with 42. 4th equal were Captain Kirk, Lyall Callaghan and Graham Jacobson coming in with 40 points. Loads of prizes meant that Rob Cameron and Bill Jones on 39 took home some chocs with Trevor Hawkins sliding into the plate to collect what was left with 38 points.
The burglars in 15+ Section had tocontend with our import Patrick Pedlow who led the field with 43 points, followed by Russell Swain on 40. The trio on 39 -Bill Crook, Graham Kerr, and Ivan Taplin (father of young gun Matt) shared third place. One point separating this trio with the next on 38 points ?Shaun Draper, Kevin Williams and Alex Tulloch, leaving the last of the spoils in this section to another visitor Fraser Mailman on 37.
In the women's section it was one of the weekenders who took home the spoils. Rachael Trudgeon on 41 points on a count back from our star player Sharon Jephson. In 3rd place continuing her good form was Jane Cooke with 39 points. Splitting the divisions was a bonus for Jane Terpstra on 37, Catherine Mitchell on 36 and Di Creswell on 35.
Nearest the Pin to Sharon Jephson, must be all that practice onto the tar seal from the front lawn!
Helen Kirk and Denise Lazelle won the nine holers comp, with Jo Wilson taking out their nearest the Pin.
It was noted that girl names were absent from the multitude of twos, the following men all collected a golf ball:
The regulars - Selector Bill, Handicapper Ian, Captain Kirk, Ace Phelps, Terry Blacktop and Dave Thurlow, Also Rob Cameron, Bill Crook, Kevin Williams, Stuart Mc Leod, Patrick Feely, Matt Taplin, Ian Cresswell and Dougs brother in law Austin Skelton.
The Course
It was pleasing to see more than just the committee out on the course last Thursday morning for the walk (the course) and talk (the trees) with Peter Cameron. A good landscape plan is important, as the lay out of the course determines it's rating, as well as its obvious aesthetic appeal.
Tree planting and removal is an integral part of course maintenance, and the time has come to remove a few of these trees that are either hindering neighbouring ones growth, or due to their sheer size becoming more of a hazard to the public than to balls in flight.
There was the usual debate, and Captain Kirk did not have it all going his way, so with a bit of lobbying if needed, the two Macs on the 5th and the Yew tree down the 13th stay, with trimming for the former. Overall the course is in good shape, the priority being the rather large Pines at the back of the 3rd green.
Tuesday Grumpies
There are regularly about thirty men that make up the Tuesday golf session, and they are not all that grumpy. A cosmopolitan mix of men, there's the night watch quartet, the regulars (the ones who play 3 or more times a week), others that give her indoors the slip, and anyone else who cares to join them. Last weeks competition saw Mike Evison and Dave Thurlow scoring nett 69 and one shot back a tie for third going to Ian Henderson, Ray Lind and Ivan Clarke with nett 70.
This week was a different story Terry Blacktop burning up the course with a nett 67, Ray Lind on 68 and Ian Henderson on 69. Twos: continuing to collect- Ian (2) and Ray (1).
Wednesday Ladies
Congratulations to Kris Chamberlain for winning the Yule Cup at Cartertons Open day for the Best Gross, to Jane Cooke runner up in the Silvers Nett Competition, and to Diana Donald - Nearest the Pin in her section. The rest, thank goodness for those wonderful raffles.
At the home it was All Irons, Coming home in first place on a count back was Jane Terpstra, with Sherry Weatherstone clicking at her heels both with 35 stableford points.
Thursday Club
Denying the weather forecast, the very exclusive Thursday Club Easter Tournament was played in brilliant sunshine and attracted over 40 players.
As it happened, virtually every player won a prize, thanks to the generous and we mean generous support of the members, as well as the Corporate Moguls Trevor Hawkins - Martinborough Transport and David Kershaw - Pain and Kershaw.
Blitzing the field and passing his drug test, Graham Macfarlane came in with 49 stableford points, and of course, first pick from the table of goodies
Trailing a couple of fairways back in 2nd place Lance Phelps 42 points. In 3rd place, getting in a round before jetting off to Port Elisabeth was Bob the Builder Hartnell on 41.
Sam Cooke, Bruce Donald (who were seen talking to the trees in the morning) along with Trevor Hawkins closed in with 40 points. Next came a bunch of players, Ash Reed, Bill Jones, Graham Kerr and Adrian Blackett all on 39 points.
Darren's upkeep of the greens and central pin placements favoured eight who got a two: Terry Blacktop, Hamish Donald, Adrian Blackett, Graham Kerr, Bruce Hancox, Shaun Draper, Nigel Malneek and Ash Reed.
Nearest the Pin (1-20) went to Captain Kirk and (21-36) to make it a double this week to Hamish Donald.
The longest drive winners were Guy Walmsley (1-20) and Stuart Mc Leod (21-36).
The winner of the rabbit munching on an obscenely large carrot hid it immediately and remains anonymous to this day.
Weekend Comp
The pins and tees were moved for the Saturday comp, the scores reflecting the change to Thursday's conditions.
Top scoring with 40 stableford points was Lyall Callaghan and Bill Jones, one shot back in 3rd going to Ian Henderson, who also managed a two along with Peter Bain.
Dates for the Diary
Friday 21st ? Lady Stout Cup at Royal Wellington
Sunday 23rd- Round 4 Marquis Shield at Martinborough. Groupie's most welcome
Friday 28th ? Round 3 Riverside Cup at Martinborough Good luck to both teams.