The Grail
Raj Vara has been on a roll, as my predecessor used to say, and he won the Grail with 38 points, the only player to beat his handicap. Nigel Brown was second with 36 points with Colum Murray third with 34 points.
Senior Men’s Golf Chair’s Blog
I could comment on the weather, extol on the condition of our splendid course or describe in detail Annabel Fuller’s sandy birdie at the 5th on Saturday during the Ladies’ Gold Challenge Cup. I expect others will have much more to say on these subjects and much more so I will swiftly move onto the numerous results below and many interesting and exciting events to look forward to as summer approaches.
Other results
The ever popular Texas Scramble started with a smile as Dirhan invited the 3 ball groups to take 7 drives each. As some looked askance they were reminded of the date, 1 April. Pandemonium was averted with 4 drives only being required. Nigel Brown, Raj Vara and Chris Cowan winning on countback with a nett 58. The runners up were Peter Ryan-Bell, Simon Duvivier and Egbert Veldman also with a nett 58.
Gilbert Ellacombe kindly ran the team event on 8th April . He tells me that Waltz was played on the first hot day of the year on greens that were ‘lightning fast’, David Paterson, Nicolas De Wasseige and Simon Duvivier were the clear winners with 73 points. The runners up were Peter Rogan, Peter Sabine and Tony Durrant with 69 points. In third place were Michael Godfrey, Alun Hughes and Mohamed El Guindi with 68 points
It was the Yellow Ball on 15 April. On a cloudy day the yellow ball shone. David Paterson, Nicholas Brown and John Tyrwhitt won the competition with 113 points. The runners up were Geoff Bradford, Ian Taylor-Restell and Trevor Hearle with 109 points
Congratulations to the Nigel Brown’s John Ling team winning their Second Round match against Epsom (last year’s winners) 4 -1. We wish them luck at home against Tandridge or Surbiton. Our summer matches have also started with two delightful though unsuccessful fixtures away at Richmond and the RAC. We play Wimbledon Common next.
Winter competitions are coming to a conclusion as we hope summer approaches. The Winter Eclectic was won this year by David Bouch with nett 54. Unsurprisingly Raj Vara was second with nett 56 and Ken Pratt was third with nett 57. The Summer event commences with the April Grail.
Congratulations to Jeremy Connick and David Paterson for winning the Seniors Foursomes against John Cardwell and Jim Kumar. I am told that it was a titanic struggle appropriately finishing on the 18
Forthcoming Events
We have a packed programme over the next six weeks or so. The monthly Grail is on the 29 April. May has the Spring Medal on 13th and the Grail on the 20th. Our celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Club takes place on 27 May . We will be having a shot gun start with prizes and surprises . I have suggested that we should play that course as it was originally laid out which should be quicker and an interesting change, I hope. It is also not that long until our Annual Invitation day. This is programmed for 1st July. Please think about your guest. Full details will be forthcoming next month.
Nicholas Brown
Men’s Senior’s Golf Chair