Pannal Golf Club
WHAT a difference a calm, warm sunny day makes to our game of golf. Four ladies managed to play well enough to reduce their handicaps on Tuesday, October 2 in the Annual Medal and Medal.
Congratulations go to Division One player Jackie Smart, who came in with an excellent card to win the Annual Medal in the Silver Division.
She had a gross 89, Nett 70 and with the CSS for the day at 76 she reduced her handicap from 19 to 17.
Jenny Crossland from Division 2 also came in with a good card, with a Nett 72, reducing her handicap by 2 from 23 to 21, and winning the Bronze Annual Medal. The winner of Division 3, Jenny Colquitt had a Nett 73 and reduced her handicap by 2 from 31 to 29.
Sue Rutherford also played under her handicap and now plays off 31.
Silver Div 1 1, J Smart 89-19-70 2, L Hindmarsh 90-14-76 3, SHemingway 95-18-77
Bronze Div 2 1, J Crossland 95-23-72 2, J Brearley 103-25-78 3, DBeeston 109-27-82
Bronze Div 3 1, J Colquitt 104-31-73 2, S Rutherford 107-32-75 3, S Guitart 109-29-80.
Men's: Three club competition: This four ball better ball medal competition played from the yellow tees attracted 45 teams.
The question that is always asked after this competition is, 'Why do we need to carry 14 clubs when great scores can be achieved with just three'?
James Hall and Graham Hope will certainly be pondering this question after their round of 65.
A brilliant back nine of nett 31 clinched their win from the Ian and Graham Douglas who also had a fine score of 66.
Three teams on 67 contested third place with Stuart Macfarlane and Alan Pater taking the honours on the back nine countback from Carl Bushby and David Ramsden with Philip O'Conner and John Ellacott in fifth place.
Catterick Golf Club
Catterick's English strokeplay champion Jodi Ewart has started her second year at university in the USA with another golfing honour.
Jodi has been named as the co-Woman Golfer of the Month by the Mountain West Conference.
The England international is following up on a stunning first year at the University of New Mexico when she won one tournament and was ranked 20th nationwide among the US women college golfers.
Jodi is currently ranked 14th nationally according to Golfweek.
So far this season she has tied for 15th place out of 93 golfers in her first tournament of the year.
She was two-under-par for the 54-hole event and she shot a low-round two-under 71 on the second day.
The winners and runners-up of the following competitions, played in 2007, are:Marshall Bowl - John Doughty and Jeff Mills; Murray Cup- Mike Dines and Peter
Brookes; Fourball Betterball Knockout - Dave & Chris Gill and Phil Goodall & John Lockey.
The October medal top-scorers were: Div1. 74-7-67 G R Harris, 73-5-68 M Dines 75-6-69 J McCaffrey. Div2. 78-13-65 F Chambers, 79-13-66 A A McKeen, 85-18-67 R Rai. Div.3. 96-25-71 R G Wyatt, 97-24-73 J Watson, 1101-28-73 R W Clarkson.
Eight players collected two-ball prizes.
The ladies Daily Mail Foursomes winners were: Sandra Jones & Sue Bailey and the runners-up were Brenda Cawley & Vicky Iveson.
Playing in the ladies medal No.14, Joan Braginton, on a count-back, topped the board with 73 net, followed by 73 net Alinson Sayer, and closely followed by Barbara Hutchinson's 74net.
Catterick played host to the North Riding Past Lady Captains' Society playing in an 18-hole team Stableford.
The winners were: 83pts J Patterson(Wilton) J Lambert(Saltburn) B Hutchinson (Catterick). 2nd. 81pts J Dent (M'bro Municipal) D Shovlin (Catterick) P Evans
(Saltburn) 3rd. 80pts(CB) J Braginton (Catterick) J Wright (Brass Castle) J Short(Saltburn). 4th.80pts. M Ingledew (Richmond) M Richardson (Catterick) T Johnson Saltburn.).
Harrogate and District
Society of Golf Captains
The Society held their Autumn Meeting at Harrogate Golf Club on September 30.
Captain of Captains Mr Ron Browne hosted 76 competitors for golf and dinner, which were enjoyed by all.
The competition was a Greensome Stableford for the Cameron Scales Trophy, was keenly fought and an extremely tight finish was the outcome.
The winners were the Knaresborough pairing of John Bradley & Paul Pedley with an excellent score of 40pts.
In second were Derek Moorhouse & Norman Whitehead from the host club with 39pts, third taken by last year's winners from Ripon City John Waring & Peter Thornton and in fourth place were Vic Lavender & Tony Howard respectively from Romanby and Bedale with 37pts.
The Captain of Captains Mr. Ron Browne gave a short speech before presenting the prizes and was ably assisted by Colin Benstead.
This was the final golf outing for 2007 and the Society will finish their 2007 programme with their Annual Dinner at Pannal GC which was held yesterday.
Harrogate and District
Union of Golf Clubs
Rudding Park Winter Alliance - Conditions could hardly have been any better for the first 18-hole alliance of the season - no breeze and mild temperatures.
In such benign conditions scoring was bound to be easy and overall there were seven 40s recorded, and an equal number of 41s.
Morning starters, Bob Calvert and Brian Cooper, led the field for a major part of the day with 45 points, 3 ahead of Ian Somerville and Les Mitchell from Oakdale, and Mike Brown and Dennis Pearson from Knaresborough.
However, Rod Smith and Peter Thornton (Ripon City) then moved into second place with 43 points, but there was still time for the leaderboard to change.
Tony Clarke the 2006 Harrogate Union President, and his partner, Tim Harrison, came in 46 points (23/23) to pip their Otley club-mates by one. In sixth place for the second week running came Pannal's Simon Birkhead, partnered on this occasion by his father, Peter, with the best 41 points (back 9 23).
Result: 1. 46pts T Harrison (14)/T Clarke (12) Otley, 2. 45pts R Calvert (10)/B Cooper (12) Otley, 3. 43pts R Smith (11)/P Thornton (7) Ripon City, 4. 42pts I Somerville (10)/L Mitchell (14) Oakdale, 5. 42 pts M Brown (20)/D Pearson (15) Knaresborough, 6. 41 pts S Birkhead (8)/P Birkhead (14) Pannal.
53rd Annual Dinner - Held at usual venue Rudding Park Hotel, over 140 guests enjoyed a sumptuous four-course meal.
Among the chief guests were John Shaw, President of the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs, John Welsh, Past Captain of Kings Norton Golf Club, and the Presidents of the other seven unions that make up the Yorkshire Inter-District Union.
Trophies were then presented to the leading 2007 competition winners, including the HU Golfer of the Year, Oliver Shaw (Ilkley). John Shaw in proposing the toast to the Harrogate Union, paid tribute to the achievements of Walker Cup star, John Parry, and the Harrogate Union Juniors who won both the Yorkshire League and Team Championships.
Harrogate Union President, Bill Balsdon, responded with a toast to the guests and John Welsh then wound up the evening with a highly entertaining speech which some in the audience thought was the best they had ever heard at a golf dinner.
Flaxby Park Golf Club
The Flaxby Cup final was played out last week, 32 players qualifying from two stableford competitions held earlier in the summer to reach the matchplay stages.
The final brought together long driver Jim Inglis against the very competitive Tony Robinson.
With both players showing glimpses of the form which has seen both handicaps reduce this year, Tony Robinson emerged triumphant to be crowned Flaxby cup champion.
Saturday the 29th saw the September stableford bring together a good field in near perfect golf conditions.
In the First division Ian Watson accumulated a fine 43 points to take first place followed by Stephen Lee on
39 and Simon Brown on 38. The Second division was led by Kenny Gibson on 42 points following countback over Robert Lockwood.
Jimmy Elvidge came third on 39 points.
In the Third division Paul Robin triumphed on 39 points leaving Tim Monsey on 38 and Brian Morrissey on 36. The Ladies were led by Debra Logue on 35 points followed by Vicki Connon on 33.
Scarcroft Golf Club
September 2 saw a continuance of Barry Ibbetson's (19) good form when his 39 stableford points was good enough to win Rabbits Captain's Day beating Bob Walker (23) by 2 points.
On the same day 15-year-old 4 handicapper Mark Johnston won the Junior's Scarcroft Masters with a superb 66.
One of the Wainman dynasty, 13-year-old Henry (22) finished second with a creditable 71.
Saturday was an excellent day for that formidable partnership of Sheila Brayshaw and John Whitehurst as they won the Hewitt Mixed Foursomes Trophy Final beating Laura Sayer and Derek Fryer.
The following day Tony Huggon (8) tied with Gary Vowles (15) on 67 in the President's Trophy with John Maniak (13) only just losing out with a 68.
Later in the month Tony beat Gary in the 18 hole medal play off.
Another player in good form, Simon Edmondson (7) shot a 70 to just pip Phil Jones (5) in the Monthly Medal Division One on the 15th by one stroke but Phil's second place meant he had the consolation of winning the Div.1 Annual Medal.
Phil's score also ensured his place as Golfer of the Year which is based on the best 8 medal rounds of the year just shading Chris Day (3).
In Division Two Scarcroft stalwart 12 handicapper Gerry Hamilton's 70 was no match for Mick Fisher's (12) 67, while in Div 3 the excellent 64 from Mark Baker (22) was much too hot for,18 handicapper, Gary Tempest's fine 68.
Mark's victory also secured him the Div 3 Annual Medal prize, whilst in Div 2 Gary Vowles(13) and Peter Smart (13) tied for the Annual prize and will have to endure an 18 hole medal play off.
On September 29 Gary Vowles was at last successful when along with Bruce Mackrill and Dick Peel he won a 3 man team event by a single point from Glen Hopkinson, Steve Plews and Karl Rahmani.
Traditionally in September the KO competitions are resolved and the results are as follows :-
For once in 2007 Phil Joynes lost out when he was beaten by scratch man Steve Cain in the Jubilee Trophy.
The 36 hole Blackburn Trophy was won by Paul Dickinson (7) who beat John McCurrie (10).
The Summer KO final turned out to be a bit of a marathon when the final was tied and in the replay Nick Birdsall and Tony Hicks beat regular 4 ball partners Dave Whyte and Dave Wood - how sweet must that have been ??
The Rabbits KO's were also completed and in the Henry Town Bill Loveridge shaded long time member and past Captain Alan Braithwaite.
The Tipping Greensomes was won by Mike Eastwood and Bob Whingate who just held on to beat Bob Walker and Harry Ashton.
Mike Eastwood was denied a notable double when Tony Leigh got the better of him in some style in the Bill Byers Trophy.
Harrogate Golf Club
The October Medal was played in excellent conditions for the time of year, and the leading players took full advantage to return first class scores.
Div 1, 1st. Paul Lee 73 7 66, 2nd. Jason Thornton 76 10 66, 3rd. Joe Traynor 72 5 67
Div 2. 1st Kingsley Roberts 79 13 66. 2nd. Graham Evans 83 16 67. 3rd Russell Blair 84 16 68
Div 3. 1st. Gerry Purdy 89 21 68. 2nd. George Lane 90 21 69. 3rd Keith Peters 88 19 69
The summer knock-out competitions reached their conclusions with finals being played on Sunday September 30.
The winners with runners up, listed in that order for each trophy were;-Harrogate Scratch Trophy. David Keywood v Joe Buckley; Corrie Cup (handicap KO) Les McCormick v Martin Proctor; Corrie Plate (handicap KO) Kingsley Roberts v Peter Kirby; Alexandra Plate (foursomes) Peter Nicholson & Alan Horner v Jason Thornton & Mark Haveron; Summer Vase (mixed foursomes) Sheila Williams & Malcolm Porter v Carole & Kingsley Roberts.
Congratulations to all involved, reaching the final is an excellent achievement, winning is a wonderful bonus.
Ladies - October 2 saw the Greensome Salver held, the ladies playing with a partner against the field. The scoring was stroke play with half their combined handicap, maximum of 30 per individual.
The winners of the Salver were Jo Hearld and Wendy Skaife with 66 1/2 points; 2, Maggie Chamberlain and Helen Walton 68; 3, Cecily Horton and Cynthia Parker 69.
Juniors - Sunday morning saw the 2007 Final of the Yorkshire Inter District Junior Club Championship played at Harrogate in glorious sunshine.
Juniors arrived to represent their club and union from the eight Yorkshire Unions - East Riding, Leeds, York, Sheffield, Bradford, Harrogate, Teesside and Halifax/Huddersfield.
The course stood up to its reputation of being a great test of golf with an average full handicap stableford score of only 35 points on the day.
Cottingham Park Golf Club from the East Riding of Yorkshire won the day with a best two, scores to count of 73 points.
The best individual score on the day was from Lee Morrall of Scarthingwell Golf Club in York with 38 points.
Representing the Harrogate Union through a previously held Junior Competition this year by coincidence was the host club Harrogate.
Despite their local knowledge neither, Ralph Taylor 33 points, nor Eddie Ash 32, nor Alex Walkinshaw 29 could trouble the leaders.
Another winner on the day was the game of golf itself as all those assembled played the game with a standard of dress, etiquette and enthusiasm we feel is sometimes missing from our younger generation today.
Congratulations and thanks to all those involved.
Bedale Golf Club
Optional Stableford: The last Optionable Stableford of the month did not attract a large field due to Dales Alliance and the President's Putter taking place over the weekend. Leading scores 42 points - Ted Taylor (23), 36 points Mike Wilkins (27)
Rouse Cup - The oldest competition in the club was played for last Sunday and Ian Ratcliffe will find his name inscribed on the magnificent trophy alongside many other Club members since 1896 when it was presented by Captain ME Rouse.
Countbacks were again required in Divisions 1 and 2 to identify placings.
Division One - 65 Ian Ratcliffe (5), 66 Alexander Johnson (9), 70 Bill Barclay (5) and Jez Corner (12).
Divsion Two: - 71 David Hennessey (13) also Michael Surtees (19) 72 Keith Lawson (15) and Thompson Brown (14).
Division Three: - 72 Phil Walker (23) 75 Neil Exelby (26).
Seniors Stableford- The final qualifier for the Riper Years brigade was played last week and countbacks were required for all but the top spot. 37 Jim Nicholson (15), 35 points Gareth Jones (18) and Neil Exelby (36) and also Andrew Ferguson (13)
Mail on Sunday - Two days at Worsley Park Golf club in Manchester was the reward for Bedale Ladies after their successful run over the Summer in this National Competition.
A practice round on Sunday was followed by the draw on Sunday night and then the qualifying round was played on Monday to decide who would travel abroad to decide the National winner.
Bedale were unlucky to draw tough opponents and found they were playibng against the Scittish team champions from Sterling which included a lady who had played in the Curtis Cup.
The result of the match was a loss to Bedale by a margin of 3 1/2 matches to 1 1/2.
Whilst all members of the team are to be congratulated on their effort, spedspecial congratulations must go to Julie Parry for winning her game and also to Susan Lumb for achieving a half in her match.
Dales Alliance: This week the competition moved to Thirsk & Northallerton Golf Club and home course advantage was noticeable with an excellent score of 200 points by the local team.
Scores on the day 200 points Thirsk & Northallerton. 198 points Blackwell. 190 points Bedale and Crook. 185 points Catterick. . 184 points Richmond.
Prize winners 45 points G.Rickleton & S.Kerr (Thirsk & Northallerton). 43 points L.Kelly & L.Morrison (Richmond). 42 points D.Morrison & R.Helliwell (Thirsk & Northallerton) also M.Fox & S.Gibson (Thirsk & Northallerton) Card countback required to decide placings.
The overall position after today's round is as follows Blackwell still in the lead with 44 points followed by Bedale 40 points Crook 39 points Catterick 33 points Richmond 30 points. Thirsk & Northallerton 27 points.
Whilst the overall positions after today's round remain the same Blackwell have increased their lead over their nearest rivals ,Bedale, by one point.
Ripon City Golf Club
After a dull start, the sun broke through to give another blissful autumn day last Saturday for the October medal.
The field of almost 100 took advantage of these favourable conditions to produce good, but not exceptional, scoring, with 67 being the best nett total and only 10 cards ending in 'no return'.
Miles Canavan compiled the lowest gross round, a fine 74.
The Seniors' Team has completed its summer programme and out of the 22 fixtures, it has won eight matches and halved a further 3.
This is the best points haul it has achieved in the current millennium.
Keen as the team is to achieve success, what these statistics do not reveal is the huge amount of camaraderie and pleasure enjoyed by all who have taken part. The Habgood Putter, a contest for those who have been around for at least three score years, was won by E Tidman by a clear margin from S Crossman in second.
The Ripon City combination of Rod Smith and Peter Thornton came third in the first area Winter Alliance day held at Rudding Park. A golf celebration event for all the local clubs which contested this year's Bainbridge Shield took place on the Ripon course last Sunday.
Members from different clubs made up each of the four-a-side teams, and it was fitting that the home Vice Captain, Hugh Orr, was one of the winners, for he has led the Ripon Second Team with unfailing efficiency, sportsmanship and good humour throughout.
Results - Medal Division One: 1, M Canavan 74, 7, 67; 2, F Hughes 76, 8, 68; 3, T Moffat 76, 7, 69.
Division Two: 1,B Simpson 78, 11, 67; 2, T Hughes 80, 13, 67; 3, R Geddes 79, 11, 68.
Division Three: 1,A Emsley 84,15,69; 2, D Drury 85,16, 69; 3, A Ebbage 86, 16, 70.
Division Four:1, B Sutherland 89,21,68;2, D Allinson 90,21,69;3, G Oldroyd 88,19, 69.
Ladies - It was another good golfing day, weather wise, on Tuedsay for the Daily Mail Foursomes, with a little less run on the ball compared to the last couple of weeks.
Nine pairs entered the competition and the winners who will represent the club were Sue Clark and Alvria King with a score of 76.
Second with 78 was the pairing of Ann Shepherd and Margaret Brown.
Those ladies not in the main competition played a stableford.
The winner of the stableford was Jo Frost with 37points, with Kathy Oxley taking second place with 35 points.
Oakdale Golf Club
In what turned out to be an excellent golfing day, the last qualifying Saturday monthly medal was played on Saturday, 128 members turning out with the basic standard scratch reduced to 69 as a result of the ongoing alterations on the course.
In Division One Chris McVey led those with better than par rounds with an excellent nett 66 to just pip Matt Edmiston on count back, Matt had the consolation of a single shot reduction to 6.
In third place on nett 67 were Phil Ireland, now reduced to 7, Peter Kirsopp, Scott Brown and Brian Perry, now 11, followed by Dougie Whyte, and Chris Blunden with 68's. Lowest gross in the division went to Curtis Wilding with 70.
Andy McColl won Division Two courtesy of his lowest gross 75, nett 62 from Clive Brazier, 64, both reducing their playing handicaps by 2 shots.
Third place went to Ken Bagshaw on 66, now playing off 15, followed by John Leggett and Les Mitchell on 68, a shot further back were Graham McDonald, Brian Holmes and Jeremy Henderson on 69.
In Division Three, Steve Jones' return of 89, nett 65 was just good enough to win on count back from Peter Ashton both players reducing by 2 shots each. Lowest gross in the division was recorded by Charlie Sproull with an 86 nett 66, also on 66 was Stuart Berry, handicap reductions of a single shot each for Charlie (19) and Stuart (20) being the result.
Garry Sykes was another to reduce his handicap by a single shot to 21 courtesy of his nett 67. There were 19 scores of 2 or better.
The final of the Freeholders Trophy was played recently between father and son Chris and Tom Hesketh against Phil Bond and Chris McVey.
This four ball better ball knockout competition for members with a handicap of 20 or less, was played off three quarters the difference in handicaps, which meant that dad Chris received a 9 shot allowance from Tom with Mike receiving 5 shots and his partner Chris receiving 8.
With Tom and Chris both taking five at the par 4 first hole it was Phil and Chris McVey who took an early advantage thanks to both of them recording par fours.
The par 5 second hole was halved when Chris McVey took advantage of his shot allowance to record a 5/4 to match Tom's gross birdie 4 and Phil and Chris remained 1 up following nett par fours at the stroke index 2 fourth hole.
This lead was then increased to two holes following Phil's nett eagle 3 at the fifth which was good enough to edge out Chris Hesketh's 5 nett birdie 4.
The 207 yard par 3 sixth hole was halved in par thanks to Tom and Chris McVey followed by gross pars at the seventh for Tom and Phil which meant that Phil and Chris remained 2 up.
This lead was then increased to three up when Chris McVey birdied the eighth for a nett 2 and with the ninth hole halved in par Phil and Chris McVey had a three hole advantage at the turn.
The lead was increased to 4 up when Phil parred the tenth hole and took full advantage of his stroke allowance for a nett 3, however Tom and dad Chris hit back to reduce the deficit to three again at the eleventh following Chris's 5/nett birdie 4.
The short twelfth hole was halved in par three but then Tom and Chris reduced the arrears to only 2 holes courtesy of Tom's par four at the 13th.
The comeback was short lived however as Phil proceeded to par the stroke index one 14th hole for a nett birdie three and increase the lead to three holes.
Tom and Chris then made a big effort to regain some ground by recording a nett birdie 3 on the par four 15th but this was matched by Chris McVey who also recorded a score of 4/3 to retain a three hole lead for his team with three to play.
The match was decided when the sixteenth hole was halved in par threes from Tom and Chris McVey which meant a 3&2 win for Phil and Chris.
Congratulations go to Phil and Chris in winning the Freeholders Trophy and to Chris and Tom Hesketh for a valiant effort in the final of this summer knockout competition.
Three matches have been played in The Oakdale Rabbits Paddy Ford Winter Salver league section, R Whittaker claimed the points in League B with a +6 success against Neil Samuel as did Chris Greenhill, +2 against B Schlegel and Peter Ashton, +4 against Martin Turner in League G.
The Oakdale Past Captains Trophy was held on Saturday, September 29, 13 ex Oakdale Captains taking part in the competition.
Playing off the tees of the day and full handicap allowance was a reasonable test for those still good of lung and legs, buggies supported one or two others. Rumour suggested that due to the redesign work the reduction of the fourth hole, stroke index 2 to a generous par three/stroke 2 - was done to boost the overall scoring!
The winner was Andy Partridge carding 38 points followed by Alan Atkinson on 37 points with Les Chandler third on 35.
David McAllister, the senior Past Captain on the day made the presentation at the evening dinner which was held in the clubhouse.
Oakdale USA: After contacting its namesake club in California, Oakdale golf club has established an ongoing exchange with Oakdale Golf and Country Club on the lines enjoyed by Ripon Golf Club and Saddle Creek GC in nearby Ripon, California.
A party consisting of eight couples including four golfing wives are to visit Oakdale USA, they arrive in San Francisco next Thursday.
They will travel by chartered coach to Oakdale GC on Monday 22 staying until Saturday October 27.
Organiser Mike Franklin says "When we leave our hosts, we all go our separate ways, reconvening in San Francisco for the return flight on November 1".
Members are being entertained at the homes of Oakdale USA members, those members will, in turn, be accommodating their erstwhile hosts when the party from California visit Harrogate for a similar length of time in August 2008.
It is expected that during each visit a competition on Ryder Cup lines will be played between the representatives of the two clubs, the precise nature of the competition being still under discussion.
Golfing partners will have the opportunity to play on the Oakdale courses, whether or not they are taking part in the competition.
Oakdale is just under two hours drive east from San Francisco and within easy reach of the Yosemite National Park.
The full itinerary includes a welcome Cocktail Party & Dinner, golf and meals at both Oakdale and Greenhorn golf clubs, meals at local restaurants and with individual hosts, visits to local attractions likely to include Yosemite National Park, and a Napa Valley winery.
Other activities have been organised for non-golfing partners.
2006 Oakdale Captain Vince Matthews has agreed to keep a diary of events backed up by photographic evidence of the visit.
Oakdale GC website can be found at www.oakdalegcc.org
Ladies: The season long competition to find the Golfer of the Year turned out to be very close.
Ronnie Hague had a very good early start winning the October and March medals and stablefords, amassing 12 points before anyone else had got into their stride.
Once the points for the knockout trophies were added, Joyce Slater looked to have just edged out Mary Gray-Smith, but this was before the last competition of the season, the annual stableford, when Ronnie Hague came second in Bronze A gaining 2 points, but more importantly reducing her handicap by 2 shots. Adding on the points for handicap reductions during the season meant Ronnie Hague was top with 34 points, one point clear of Joyce Slater, who was one point clear of Mary Gray-Smith.
Ronnie also reduced her handicap by 5 shots during the season from 28.3 to 23.2. Very close finishes to 12 months of golf seem to be becoming a regular occurrence as last year's Golfer of the Year Anne Jones was only one shot clear of Patsy Rochester.
The prize for Most Improved Golfer is awarded to the player who reduces her handicap by the greatest percentage.
Liz Murphy had a fantastic end to the season, reducing her handicap by 5 shots in 5 days from 28.7 to 23.5, an 18.1% reduction in September, winning the LGU Brooch and the Annual Medal in the process.
The Golfer of the Year trophy and Most Improved Golfer were presented at the annual prize presentation dinner last Friday along with all the other competition and trophy winners and runner-ups.
9 Hole Winter League: Ann Maclean
Eclectic: Joyce Slater
Margaret Alexander Prize: Jean Whyte
Helen Sugars Prize: Joyce Dexter & Esther Bolton
Lady Vice Captain's Prize: Patsy Rochester & Julia Whittington
Birdie Tree: Silver: Joyce Slater Bronze A: Patsy Rochester Bronze B: Pauline Eley
Golf Foundation Brooch: Marlene Thorpe
LGU Brooch: Liz Murphy
Annual Medal: Silver: Anne Broadbent Bronze A: Patsy Rochester Bronze B: Liz Murphy
Annual Stableford: Silver: Jane Henderson Bronze A: Patsy Rochester Bronze B: Pauline Eley
Medal Trophy: Joyce Slater
Charity Plate: Anne Birtles
Millennium Acorn: Penny Baxter
Vets Trophy: Linda Franklin
Summer Foursomes: Karen Leake & Julie Hewson
Thirties Trophy: Sue Whittington
Bronze Trophy: Julia Whittington
Silver Handicap Trophy: Jane Henderson
Silver Cup: Karen Leake
36 Hole Trophy: Joyce Slater
Tolley Trophy: Julia Whittington
Webster Bowl: Anne Jones
Appleyard Trophy: Lindsay Graham
Jubilee Trophy: Julia Whittington
Most Improved Golfer: Liz Murphy
Golfer of the Year: Ronnie Hague
Knaresborough Golf Club
It was, he admitted, the game of a life-time - one of those days when every putt drops, the approach shots hit the green and every drive hits the fairway.
Well, all but once. Almost as surprised as anyone else, Barry Peel (20) played to half his handicap to turn in a remarkable nett 62 to win division three in the October Medal.
He gross pared nine holes including all the par fives and two of the par threes for his personal best ever and yet after a poor opening drive of 150 yards, it looked an unlikely record.
But a 20 foot putt secured a five and on the dog-leg lengthy second, Barry's long drive was followed by a 170 yard utility club to the green.
Two putts found the hole and the scene was set for an extraordinary day.
A chip on at the third led to another par and he had reached the sixth before he dropped a shot, taking a six (but effectively a nett four), after which he was never more than a shot over gross par over the remaining 12 holes.
A new set of custom-fitted clubs and some concentrated work with Pro Darren Tear on his driving is credited by Barry for his change of fortune. His penchant for finding the trees was a recurring nightmare.
But Barry freely acknowledged that it was a day when the golf Gods smiled all the way round!
Ken Brown (6) is more accustomed to finishing close to the top, but he too produced an outstanding round to post a nett 65 - actually, a gross one under for the day - to head division one. It was a round in which Ken, noted for his effortless swing, recovered well from a couple of loose shots - example, his lob wedge to 12 feet after his second shot to the 15th green had run down the right-hand slope under trees.
His birdie came at the par five eighth when, after knocking his putt 12 foot past the pin, he canned the return for the four. But Ken is still fretting - over the eight foot lip-out which cost him a birdie on the 18th!
Despite a double bogey at the short third, Gary Dawson (15) logged seven gross pars to post a winning card of 69 in division two of the Medal. Gary was one of 25 players to finish under par on the day, and one of 13 to receive a handicap reduction on completion.
In the ladies' October Medal, in aid of breast cancer research, Brenda Moore (13) produced a nett 72 in Silver Division on a day when competition scratch was assessed at 78. Heavy dew took much of the run off early round shots, but Brenda had been returning steadily to her best form and pars over the first five holes confirmed the trend - including holing a 36-foot putt on the second. Another putt of similar length on the seventh yielded a birdie and a drive and a nine-iron into the green brought another at the 16th. One of her partners, lady captain Sue Meeke (19), was the only other competitor to break par, shooting 73.
Val Blackburn (25) was pleased to carry the gully and nail a par on the 11th, just missing a 15-foot putt for birdie, in a round of 79 to win bronze division two. She then pitched a seven-wood pin-high onto the tricky 13th green to cup a six-footer for another par. A few missed putts cost her a better score but it was generally a tidy round.
Other than the two leaders in Silver division, Val Smith (35) came closer to standard scratch than anyone, carding a 76 after giving herself a 'little pep talk' the previous week, when after a sound front nine, she lost concentration on the back and watched her score slip back accordingly.
This time she attacked the back nine with re-newed focus - a nine-iron into the 14th green to finish inches from the flag and take the par, was typical.
Ladies October Medal - October 2
Silver Division: 1, Brenda Moore 85-13-72; 2, Sue Meeke 92-19-73; 3, Liz McVey 96-18-78.
Bronze Division (Hcps 21-28): 1, Val Blackburn 104-25-79; 2, Jeanette Denmark103-24-79; 3, Lynda Grey101-21-80.
Bronze Division (Hcps 29-36): 1, Valerie Smith111-35-76; 2, Dorothy Wilson 110-31-79; 3, Valerie Armitage 117-36-81.
Wetherby Golf Club
Ninety-six entries for the Famous Grouse October medal proved how popular a sponsored competition can be.
All the entrants (of an appropriate age) received a 'wee dram' on entering and the winners and runners-up will be presented with their bottles on application to the Manager's Office.
The course, despite a fine dry weekend, is still playing its full length, with only seven competitors shooting under the standard scratch of 72.
However the Sunday medal, combined with the Annual Medal produced a disappointing entry of only 19 competitors with just the Captain Tony Page, able to get under the CSS.
Despite valued trophies presented at the Annual Prize presentation, there was only one entry from a qualified medal winner over the past 12 months in Division Two.
This weekend sees the staging of the Annual Unders versus Overs match.
It has been Over at age 55 for many years, but this weekend it has been raised to 65. Looking at the 'seniors' team sheet they will show the 'youngsters'
just how much golfing ability there still is among the older generation.
Then on Sunday the club welcome Pannal GC to the annual Sunday fixture which this year Wetherby will host. It will also be a return for the club's former professional Dave Padgett, to savour the new holes.
Men's Famous Grouse October Medal.
Div 1 1. BC Jacklin (10),69; 2. K Reilly (10),70, 3. K Miller (6),72, 4. M McCarney (7),72.
Div 2 1. S Biggs (15),70; 2. J Robinson (12),70, 3. D Tempest (11),71, 4. K Sivajoti (11),72.
Div 3 1. JE Lelean (20),71; 2. S Large (17),71, 3. D Robinson (17),73, 4. A Little (26),74.
Annual Sunday & Wednesday Medal.
Div 1 1. AJ Page (6),68; 2. MJ Heaps (9),72, 3. HA Jackson (3),73.
Div 2 1. JF Fisher (13),75; 2 T Lincoln (14),76, 3. H Whiteley (16),78.
Div 3 1. J Sleightholme (19),73; 2. G Hopkins (23),77, 3 M Wilkinson (17),77.
Annual Medal Winners & Runners-up.
Div 1 1. MJ Heaps; Runner-up - MM Streets. Div 2 1. H Whiteley; (no qualifying runner-up) Div 3 1. J Sleightholme; Runner-up - G Hopkins.
Rudding Park Golf Club
One of the most anticipated matches of the year is the First Team vs Bainbridge, always a tough match and this year was no exception.
Although it was close for a while, a great performance from the first team ensured they retained the trophy for another year.
A very still and dry day on Wednesday allowed some good scores at Rudding Park's Winter Alliance.
The competition was run as a betterball format. Pairs of golfers from all the HDU clubs entered but it was a day for Otley members to celebrate as they took first and second place with 46 points and 45 points, two very good scores.
The first week in October was a big week for the brand new Rudding Park Golf Academy and Repton Short Course.
On Tuesday the club held an Invitation Day for the local press and on Saturday a Taster Day took place for members of the public.
Lots of people from around the area attended the Taster Day and were given a guided tour of all the facilities including the 5th island hole, a replica of the 17th at Sawgrass.
Everyone was welcome to take a shot at the challenging hole. Rudding Park is now looking forward to the grand opening on April 15, 2008.
The Monthly Medal took place on Saturday.
There were 79 entries and 11 two's made throughout the day.
Despite the good weather, scoring proved quite difficult as the course now plays quite long off the competition tees.
In Division 1, D Balsdon won with a nett 70, R Shackleton came second and P Hepworth came third both with a nett 72.
In Division 2, D Bowen came out on top with a nett 66, C Cuthbert came 2nd with a nett 68 and S Davies came 3rd with 69.
On Monday 8, the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day took place.
There were an impressive 128 entries and over 150 people attended the dinner afterwards.
This year's total has already surpassed last year with over [pounds sterling]8,000 raised.
A big thank you to Carol Whiteley, Claire Davies, Gill Roberts, Pam Spenley, Bernie Jervis and Angela Langton as well as all the other ladies who helped to organise such a successful day.
Rudding also thank Javan Liam for taking and supplying all the photos, and Heather Betteridge for all the beautiful flowers.
There are far too many people to mention but we would like to express our thanks to all the sponsors for making the day what it was.
A final thank you to all the members who kindly donated some of their guest rounds which allowed all the non members to play the course.
Congratulations to the winning ladies from Harrogate Golf Club, Joy Bowler and Maggie Chamberlain who won with 43 points on a countback.
EMAIL your golf news to amy.craven@ypn.co.uk by 5pm on Tuesdays.