MEN'S CAPTAIN WEEKLY NEWS
Another week of warm temperatures and lots of sunshine with just a few cloudy days….
This means that the grass is growing, and the fairways are better defined. With the heavy maintenance week coming up, we have retained preferred lies on the Old Course.
Results
Tuesday 2 May: Midweek Competition – Stableford (63 Tees)
First: Paul Stevenson (43 points)
Second: Andrew Macauley (37 points)
Third: Andrew Rogers (35 points)
Fourth: Theo Quick (33 points, on handicap)
Nearest the Pin: Phil Fisher
Twos: None
Best Gross: Thomas Ybarra Gallagher (+9); Phil Fisher (+10)
Wednesday 3 May: Inter Club Match v R C Sevilla (Away)
After a rained off excursion in March, we enjoyed the sunshine up in Seville without it being too hot. Six players took advantage of the team coach (large minibus) and despite an early 5.30am departure, we all thought this means of transport was a good idea going forward. The 11am departure the next day from The Green Suites Hotel allowed for a leisurely breakfast and a generous amount of time for Duncan’s 5km run. The golf result was a famous away win for San Roque (3.5 to 2.5). Some of us celebrated this generously in true San Roque style to about 2am in the old city, having stumbled across a very good bar owned by a Spanish bullfighter. All the women present convinced us that they were flamenco dancers… Also a big welcome to Stuart Agnew making his team debut.
Thursday 4 May: Midweek Competition – Stableford
First: Andrew Rogers (41 points)
Second: Phil Fisher (38 points)
Third: Mark Squire (37 points)
Fourth: Chris Hutchin (36 points)
Nearest the Pin: Graeme Willis (a bottle of wine waiting for you in June, mate!)
Best Gross: Phil Fisher (75)
Thank you to Joachim this week for his help deputising whilst the Captain was in meetings and playing Inter Club matches.
Friday 5 May: ACL Match v R C Sotogrande (Away)
Sotogrande are new members of the ACL this year and we managed to hold our own in a good number of the matches in this away fixture. They looked to have a strong team on paper and so it proved. The golf course was in excellent condition and it was ideal playing conditions. Paul Holliday shot a gross 74 and Graeme Willis a gross 77. These two excellent performances earned us zero points. At least Andy Stanford and myself prevailed in the top match against James Boucher and Jan Runo. Very good scoring in this game too. Joachim and Derek Whelan also had a good win with Duncan and Wrighty generating 1.5 points in a halved game. The overall result was not as good as planned:
Sotogrande 11.5, San Roque 6.5. We look forward to the return league match here on the Old Course on June 19 and will hope to reverse the above score line and some!
Saturday and Sunday 6 & & May: Ladies Club Championships
Congratulations to Ksenia Yamilova for winning the NET with 149 (Runner up also with 149, on handicap, was Debbie Fisher).
Congratulations to Svetlana Friedl, our new Ladies Club Champion (with a gross score of 189); second place to Karina Budantseva (196).
With some very tough pin positions, epitomized by back left on Hole 18, on the Sunday, and a fierce poniente wind, particularly on the Saturday, it was definitely tough scoring conditions. That said, congratulations to all those Ladies who carded sub par scores on the final day.
Course Information from Ben:
Old Course: All bent grass will be sprayed on Tuesday and Thursday this week in preparation for the closure next week. Poa works in the Bermuda will also continue this week. Turfing and Plugging works will continue on the tees; Hole 12 was completed last week; the remaining areas on the greens will also be addressed. Banks around bunkers will be mowed and general edging, cleaning and detail work will continue. New mulch replenishment will also continue this week.
Thought for the week:
Preferred Lies on the Fairways will continue throughout May. Be careful if playing away on other courses in matches or competitions as they probably won’t have placing on fairways.
Raking of Bunkers:
Tim Vincent, myself and Ramón Martinez checked all bunkers before the start of play for Ladies Club Championships on both days. Whilst the greens staff had done an excellent job with the bunkers, we were flabbergasted by the total disrespect shown by some Members in terms of their failure to make any effort to repair footmarks and club marks in at least 6 bunkers. The offenders received a verbal warning. Any reoccurrence of this abysmal behavior will be followed up with a written warning. Please let’s all keep in mind the need to rake bunkers properly, repair divots and pitch marks, to look after our course in the correct manner.
Looking Ahead to the next 3 Weeks...
Tuesday 9 May: Midweek Competition – Stableford
Wednesday 10 May: Men’s Inter Club v West Hill GC (Home; 32 players per Team!)
Thursday 11 May: Midweek Competition – Stableford (World Series)
Saturday 13 May: Ranking
Sunday 15 May to Friday 19 May: Men’s Tour of Ireland (5 Inter Club Matches:
Druid’s Glen, The K Club; Woodenbridge, Portmarnock, Hermitage)
Tuesday 16 May: Midweek Competition – Stableford NEW COURSE
Thursday 18 May: Midweek Competition – Stableford NEW COURSE
Sunday 21 May: Extra Federated Competition – Stableford NEW COURSE
Tuesday 23 May: Midweek Competition – Stableford
Thursday 25 May: Midweek Competition – Stableford
Saturday 27 May: Members Scramble (Mixed) Captains Pick Teams
Saturday 28 May: Monthly Medal (63 Tees)
Tuesday 30 May: Midweek Competition – Stableford
Please note: The Old Course is closed from Monday 15 May to Monday 22 May inclusive.
Golfing Anecdotes:
Playing on the second day of a golf tour several years ago based upon courses in and around the New Forest, there was a player full of confidence after a good round on day 1.
Like most of us, they were slightly the worse for wear after a late night in Lymington. The first two practice swings were a bit nervous and then James decided that total concentration was required in an effort to get a good way down the opening par 4. Just as he was about to smash it down the centre of the fairway, there was a shout from the starter’s hut followed by roars of laughter from James’s fellow competitors. “Would the gentleman on the ladies tee please move back to the correct tee box!” James was in the zone and unperturbed; he settled over the ball for a second time. “Sir, please move off the ladies tees and back to the yellow tee markers,” the voice persisted. Now James was slightly irritated and a touch embarrassed. Nonetheless, he decided to get on with his shot and ignore all the laughter. “For the last time, would the gentleman on the ladies
tee, please move back to the correct tee box!” “For fuck sake,” James exploded. “Give me a break, it’s my second shot!”
Fund Raising:
Our campaign to help the Special Olympics Gibraltar Golf Team (see Saturday’s photo above) continues. We have now raised an impressive 2,115 euros to help them in Germany in June. Thank you to everyone who has contributed! We still aim to get up to 2,500 euros this month; Duncan will be on the case both here and in Ireland!
Happy Golfing and Swing it well !
