Last Friday, the 6th hole looked particularly beautiful and inviting, with autumn hues under a pure blue sky. It inspired me to change the header photo. Here is the uncropped version:

Good news: we have a guest editor for the next couple of weeks: your old favourite: the inimitable Rob Taylor!

The Fallen Leaves – Senior’s Temporary Rule

Enough of this Jazzy song – well actually , enough of you all singing along! (call that singing?)

This is a really Important Notice about a new (temporary) Senior’s rule.

The seemingly never-ending fall of leaves coupled with the soggy conditions means that balls are being lost in the fairways with horrendous regularity (shock / horror you all cry) – which is slowing play to a painful pace. ( the pace only hurt a bit before the leaves started falling – now it’s really painful).

The committee has ruled that if you and your playing partners all agree that the ball was fairly struck and is “somewhere on the fairway , round about here” but it looks hopeless – leaves abound, and you are sinking into the mud and . . . . somebody has probably stood on the missing ball already – Well , don’t dilly – dally,

Throw down your trusty mat, place a fresh ball on it, and play on – NO PENALTY.

No need for all of you to tramp round in circles waving your arms about – move the game on. It’s hard enough negotiating the assault course without having to wait while the group ahead does a slow Morris dance searching endlessly for a lost “my-best-friend -my-golf-ball.”

OK – so this could be misinterpreted. It could be a spoofers paradise – but weigh it up. We need to keep the field moving – regular movement always adds to the enjoyment of everyone ( all those who have prunes for breakfast will bear testimony – “movement is good”)

If you bang one out of bounds or into the rough where tigers live – then take your medicine like a man – when in doubt, playing a provisional ball should always be the order of the day.

The leaves don’t care where they land, fairway or in the bush. Your chances of finding your family heirloom in the rough are somewhat limited. Take out provisional insurance – you know you should.

Autumn League round 3 of 8

The third round of the Autumn session proved to be a fine sunny day. Crisp, not too cool – just really fine. Though only 10 holes were open a fine days sport was had by all – (well nearly all – there’s always some-one who blobs the first three holes) .

Star result of the day was none other than Michael John who had seven three pointers in the ten holes. Remarkable! We always knew he would get it right one day – just needed to keep practicing.

This week’s really interesting statistics.

There were 52 cards returned in total. 34 from Div 1 and 18 from Div 2.Lots of big boys out in the field.

In the all-important handicap stakes . . ..

Everyone used their correct handicaps this week. Unbelievable – well done everyone.

11 played below their handicap ( Yippee! Fine chaps. But, Oh No! Handicaps unfortunately will go . . .DOWN)

27 played in the ‘zone’ which is between 25pts and 30pts ( Round of gentle handclapping – no change)

14 played over their handicap (OH NO! – but actually . . OH YES! Handicaps will go . . UP)

Just like the old days is this – the crowd sitting around the coffee tables baying for blood!

No one managed a “2” this week. Treasurer and Keeper -of-the-balls , Steve G is grinning like the Cheshire Cat

This week’s really interesting results.

Division 2 Results:
Winner Alistair Cook with a super 38pts.
Runner up Ken Narraway with 32pts on a cpo.
Third Paul Wright also with 32pts on a cpo.

Division 1 Results:
Winner Michael John another super 38pts.
Runner up John Armstrong with 36pts
Third Martin Franks with 35pts

We are only 3 games into this session, but Michael John now leads division 1, with Phil Ormesher a clear leader in division 2.

Still lots of golf to play – watch the results as they unfold every Wednesday.

Andy Ward – Winter Pairs Knockout

The “Results” sheet on the Club notice board for the Preliminary round of the Andy Ward Pairs Knockout shows that only 1 match has been played so far.

All prelim matches are scheduled to be completed by Thursday 30th November – 16 days hence!

We live in hope .

• Some of you will have arranged ( and will soon play) your matches?
• Some of you will have already played ( and not filled in the results?)
• Some of you . . .will have done . . .nothing?

Please – if you are in the last category – DO SOMETHING. We don’t want late withdrawals or have to revert to “coin tossing” to get an outcome.

It’s important to maintain the schedule. Without this discipline there won’t be enough time to complete the session!

And, in case you need a gentle reminder :

The Format and Rules:

Seniors handicaps, yellow tees, 4 ball better-ball match play , played over 18 holes or as many are available on the match day. And , at the end of your match, fill the result in on the Notice board please!

Any issues? The organiser this year is Peter Willson. Contact him!

Christmas Dinner – 8th December

The list has been up on the notice board for some weeks now and a healthy slice of the membership have jumped at the chance already.

Now this is terrific – what’s not to like? Xmas dinner, drinkie-winkies and a chance to relive all those old stories again ( it’s OK – most of us can’t remember the story you told us last year – change a few names and repeat it!) – and all for very few Great British Pounds( £15 – that’s all!)

One downside though. A few who put their names on the list . . .still . . . . have NOT PAID!

This makes our Treasurer, Steve, very unhappy and need I say a little unpredictable. He’s taken to carrying a large hammer in the boot of his car and mutters “ kneecaps” and “ broken legs” and other such threatening words.

If your name is down and you HAVE NOT paid yet – save the NHS. Save yourself some pain. Do it now.

If your name is not down ( where have you been – living under a rock?) get it down now and then immediately . . . . .follow the advice above. Internet banking – off to our Steve – for all our sakes.

The Thinker

Just paging through the old gallery which goes back over many years we chanced upon this rather odd photo.

Odd you ask? Why?

Well we all know who it is but – he appears to be THINKING!

Is this possible – he was actually thinking? Is that actually possible?

Why is a photo of big Ken ( possibly) thinking, in our archive?

Can anyone shed any light on this strange phenomenon?

Interesting. All replies gratefully received. I’ll bet someone out there knows.

Newsletter Editor: Rob Taylor