Friday, 30 August 2019

Senior Section Member & Guest Day - Tuesday 27th August 2019


The thunder crashed, the lightning lit up the sky and the rain came down in torrents. Luckily this only happened minutes after I got home from the Member and Guest Day.

The day itself went off without too much incident. The heat did take its toll on a number of the competitors but thankfully all did recover.

A total of 38 teams entered for the day, with guests being invited from 29 different golf clubs. I have received many kind words of thanks from guests, expressing how much they enjoyed the day. This is especially pleasing given the way the fairways on John O’Gaunt are struggling at the moment.
All the teams that competed
Given the heat, and the fact we were playing on John O’Gaunt, a good standard of golf was maintained with half the field scoring 35 points or more. Three teams were tied on 40 points. Despite my best attempts to find ways to disqualify the other two teams my brother and I lost out badly on count back and finished fifth. Also losing out on 40 points were Alan Kirkham and Nick Forshew, who finished fourth. At least Nick could console himself having won a raffle prize and a skill prize.
 
Third place went to Richard Farrow and Derek Quail, with Richard winning nearest Pin on 4. Kevin Barbour and Kevin Flynn came second on 41 with Kevin winning a Longest Drive prize by smashing a drive well past the bunker on the 9th. 
 
The winners of the Whitbread Trophy were David Crosby and Alan Capps with a magnificent 42 points. This just proves how important the choice of Guest is.  Not only did Alan contribute 33 of those points, but he did it in style by holing his second shot on the 12th (the third hole they played) for a magnificent Eagle and 5 points,

The total list of skills prize winners is:
 

Nearest the Pin on 4th (Members):                   Richard Farrow

Longest Drive on 9th (Guests):                        Kevin Flynn (Letchworth G.C.)

Nearest the Pin in 2 on 11th:                            Barry Sullivan (Bedfordshire G.C.)

Nearest the Pin in 2 on 12th (Members):          Derek Page

Nearest the Pin on 16th (Guests):                     Nick Forshew (Stevenage G.C.)


Longest Drive on 17th (Members):                  John Thoday
Derek Page

 


Richard Farrow



                
John Thoday
Kevin Flynn

Barry Sullivan



 


Nick Forshew



Whitbread Trophy Winners - David Crosby and Alan Capps 


Second - Kevin Flynn and Kevin Barbour


Third - Richard Farrow and Derek Quail











































































Whitbread Trophy
 
Winners:                      David Crosby and Alan Capps (West Berkshire G.C.)

Second:                        Kevin Barbour and Kevin Flynn (Letchworth G.C.)

Third:                           Richard Farrow and Derek Quail (Petersfield G.C.)
 
Well done to all.

Neil Pinnington
Organiser

Thursday, 22 August 2019

Away Match v Wellingborough - Monday 19th August 2019


A team of 16 intrepid golfers  set off to Wellingborough vowing to avenge the 6-2 defeat we suffered at home. I did not have a lot of hope for the top match as their Captain Peter Gannon and partner had inflicted a 4&3 defeat on Bill Walker and I at home, I have played against him on every single time I have been in the team to play Wellingborough and do not remember any victories.
 
True to form we lost 3&2. Peter did mention that he thought our Captain must be trying to avoid playing him by being on holiday for both home and away matches.

As the results started coming in, I feared this may be the second whitewash of the year. However thanks to a stalwart win by Jonathon Lean and Algy Grimes and a gritty half from David Lincoln and Keith Blankley we managed to retain some modicum of respect with a 6.5 - 1.5 loss.

At least our spirits were revived somewhat by a truly delicious meal in their impressive clubhouse.
 
Neil Pinnington
Organiser

Tuesday, 13 August 2019

Home Match v Dunstable Downs - Tuesday 13th August 2019


On a sunny day we played Dunstable Downs on John O'Gaunt course.

Vice captain Bill Walker gave us a good start by having a birdie on the first hole.

This was followed by winning the next three holes and finished with a result of 8 and  6.

Roger Wheeler has had a driving lesson and mainly hitting 250 yards straight, luckily for us his partner did not have a good day. A funny moment happened on the last hole when both opponents managed to hit my golf bag with their drives!

Peter Jarman was expecting to have his usual loss against Tony Rogers (playing off 7) but with a good partner (David Lincoln) they managed a half.

Gerry Gentle & Malcolm Lee had a good 6 and 4 win. This was followed with wins by Keith Fuller/Nick Schumann and John Cocksedge/ Michael Newstead.

The overall result was four & a halve to three & a halve which made the 2019 aggregate result a honourable draw.

The lunch was a hot and cold buffet followed by fruit crumble and custard.

Brian Bullen
Match Organiser.

Sunday, 11 August 2019

Home Match v Letchworth - Tuesday 6th August 2019

All players assembled for the usual team partners to be announced and introduced to their playing partners ready to do battle on the Carthagena . There was a big applause for Gerry Gentle from both teams, reason unknown....

The weather stayed dry for all to complete their rounds and great banter was enjoyed by both teams.

Dinner was appreciated by all players and praise goes to Dawn and all kitchen staff for a splendid meal.

Both Captains were called Dave and they presented their usual jokes, which went down with both teams really well.

An enjoyable day was had by all.

The result was a win for John O'Gaunt by 4.5 to 3.5
David Gauge & Peter Jarman came in all square
Bob Anderson & Steve Collins - Won 4&2
Brian Bullan & Gerry Gentle - Won 4&2
Gerry Degaute & Colin Newbury - Lost 4&3
David Crosby & David Lincoln - Won 2&1
Keith Blankley & John Cocksedge - Lost 8&7
John Ellary & Malcolm Lee - Lost 2&1
Michael Newstead & Nick Schumann - Won 2&1

Peter Jarman
Organiser