This Tuesday was the last opportunity for senior members to improve on their eclectic score. With 51 names down, a record for the seniors, you may be forgiven for assuming that the eclectic competition was a life or death situation.
The fact of the matter is that it affects perhaps a few members and that every one of the seniors is just happy to be out on the golf course enjoying the company and endeavouring to compete well against the course.
As usual, there were those who did well and those who were frustrated by their results, but everyone came in with a smile upon their face. The forecast had not been too good of late and everyone was hoping that the overnight rain would clear to allow all 50 to complete the course.
No-one seemed to mind the breeze on the first tee and set off in good spirit. The wind was stronger on the far reaches of the course and certainly affected the finishing point of many drives.
Out first was the indomitable pair of Roy Morgan and Hywel Probert, who had the consistent John Cook for company. Hywel (23 pts) was only there for the photograph and was disappointed when he discovered that the photo shoot was postponed to next week. He is MD of his daughter's pub next week and requested that his photo be taken and burned in to the group.
John Cook was his consistent self, being one of only five players to achieve 30 or more. His 33, which included seven one point holes, was a very commendable score for the day.
Rod Clark (19), Paul Nixon (22) and Stan Hudson (26) used a four-letter word to describe their experience and it wasn't 'good' nor 'poor', nor 'drab', but it did begin with a 'c' and ended with a 'p'.
Mike Fox took off like a bat out of hell, scoring three pars in a front nine score of 20. Then he ran out of stories, and puff, and rather got ahead of himself to end up with a total of 27.
He certainly frightened his playing partners, John Beechey (27) and David Lamb (28), who managed to catch up with him in the latter stages.
There was a group of 'oddballs' out this week and the group only needed one more to complete the set. Malcolm Arlott (29), a left-hander, was playing with Bob Howse (28), who drives right-handed and putts left-handed. Accompanying them was Brian Morgan (27), who drives left-handed and putts right-handed. Confused? - so were they! To complete the set they needed a right-handed player.
Malcolm was reputedly putting well in his round. That can't be said for all. A superb start by Richard Davies (26) saw him par the first three holes, while his playing partner Rob Wilkins (24), a little out of practice, struggled to hole out on the first nine. Things went down hill from there for Richard as putt after putt lipped out or flew past the hole and he was ready to hurl his ball and putter across the water to Caldey on the 12th tee.
Roy Gundry must have felt a similar frustration. On the same hole he was putting for a two and ended up with a five. Similarly on the 17th his putt for a two ended up as a four. He had Ron Murphy (26) and John Charnock (24) to vent his feelings on. We've all been there!
Dave Miller (25), fresh back from Australia, looked nicely 'burnt' and provided a real 'spark' as he 'burnt' up the front nine. The long journey took its toll as he faded, rather like Mike Fox, and 'burnt' out on the back nine. John Hayhoe (29) reckoned that he and Dave were disorientated by the wry comments from their playing partner, Meurig Jones (22)
Sympathetic murmurs were extended to Nigel Rimell. Walking along the path on the fourth, he allowed his buggy to roll through a puddle while he negotiated his way around it. Although he has played the course many times, he misjudged the edge of the path and took a tumble a long way down into the bowl. Buggy handling lessons for beginners start next week.
Of course some wag asked Maurice how his driving went and without hesitation he replied: "Straight and long, as usual, and I don't need a licence for that!"
The highlight of the match with Geoff Aston (27), Dave Morgan (22) and Peter Woodhouse (26) happened on the 17th green. With a very imaginative stroke, Dave endeavoured and succeeded in hitting Peter's ball and they both decided to pick up. Geoff stated that he had shot for an eagle on the 14th, to which David Lamb added: "I try for an eagle every hole!"
Of the 50 starters, only five managed 30 or more. Maurice Lewis joined John Cook in the rarified atmosphere. At the other end of the scale there were seven seniors failing to make 20 - Clifton John, Ray Ford, Rod Clark, Alan Yates, Bob Creese, Bart Youll and JDR.
There were five 2s this week, one each to Richard Davies (17th), Ray Ford (6th) David Lamb, Des Stone (12th) and Bob Wiseman.
With a heady score of 36, this week's winner was Des Stone, followed by Russell Clark on 35 and Tony Morgan on 33.
Brian Morgan raised a further £60 this week, giving out raffle prizes to John Beechey, Jack Hasdell and Chris Sierwald.
Next week sees the last event of the winter programme, with a hidden partners competition followed by a meal and presentation.