Newsletter resent – note from the Editor

I have reformatted and resent this week’s newsletter. This should make it easier to read for those subscribers who view the newsletter on their mobile phones.

Rules Quiz

Find the Fact – Phil Perry

Can you find the Phil fact? One of the following statements is true, the other two are false.

1. Phil is one of three triplets (Phil, plus a brother and a sister)
2. Phil has had friendly chats with both Margaret Thatcher and Boris Johnson
3. During his time in the police service Phil was involved in the arrest of Peter Wyngarde (Jason King), who was later charged with and convicted for gross indecency

Answer below

Winter League – Round 3

Reporter: Paul Foster

A sharp winter chill greeted the field, but everyone arrived well wrapped and ready, layers zipped up, silly woolly hats pulled down low, and hands warmed in-between shots. Despite the cold, spirits stayed high and the course played beautifully, the crisp air making every strike feel extra satisfying. Edgar & Allan crow were nowhere to be seen, obviously a bit parky for the likes of our feathered friends, but not for our hardy seniors. Another bumper turnout of 43 players to brave the course. The outstanding score of the day, a quite extraordinary 32 points (8 under par) for Barrie Simpson. The moment of the day belonged to Martin Franks, who produced a superb hole-in-one. Sadly (and frustratingly), it came on a hole not included in the competition (the 13th), denying him official glory – but not the admiration of the seniors. It was still a shot to remember in an otherwise tough, cold-weather round. A winter’s day on the course, made memorable by one perfect swing. Round of the day goes to Mark Pickles, who finished 1 over par, including 3 birdies.

Competitors on the day – 43, 24 from the 1^st division and 19 from the 2^nd division.

Three 2s scored again today, Steve Bramall, Steve Gosling and Mike Bennett.

Eight cards were handed in with an incorrect handicap entered. Please check your up-to-date seniors handicap using the link below or from the banner on the senior’s website.

Results

Division 1

Division 2

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report – 26 January

Reporter: Steve Bird

A cloudy morning with a temperature of 5 degrees greeted us along with a steady cold easterly breeze. On the plus side the course was relatively dry with 13 holes playable and no temporary greens. 

Three teams of four took part with the winners Messrs Gosling, Barlow, Dixon and Lambert on an average score of 25.5.

Joint runners up with an average of 23 were Messrs Broady, Willson, White and Hill along with the team of Bird, Chisnall, Bramall and Pearce. 

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 29 January

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 1 February

Rules Quiz answer

Answer b is correct. See Definition of Boundary Object Rule 8.1a and Rule 8.1c. A boundary object cannot be moved to improve the conditions affecting the stroke. However, the player can avoid the penalty by replacing the stake to eliminate any improvement and restore the original conditions.

Find the Fact answer

Answer 2 is correct. Phil has had friendly chats with both the Iron Lady and Boris Johnson. Phil will be happy to provide more detail when you next see him in the clubhouse or out on the course.

Rules Quiz

A player makes a practice swing and accidentally moves their ball on the fairway with the club. What is the ruling? a) There is no penalty, but the player must replace the ball. b) The player gets one penalty stroke and must replace the ball. c) There is no penalty, but the practice swing counts as a stroke and the ball must be played as it lies.

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Winter League – Round 2

Reporter: Paul Foster

Winter sunshine sets the scene for a lively 12-hole competition. Golfers were treated to a super bright winter’s day as a bumper field turned out for the 2^nd round of the Winter League. Clear skies and crisp conditions made for an enjoyable round, with the course looking particularly inviting despite the winter chill. Pace of play was generally good, although a few competitors were clearly enjoying themselves so much that they became momentarily confused about how many holes they should play in a 12-hole competition, and sneakily played an extra hole. Sadly for them I spotted their Brucie bonus hole which didn’t count towards the final scores, but they did provide a few smiles and plenty of post-round banter. Adding to the entertainment, whilst John White’s attention was firmly on the 10^th green, two feathered opportunists (Edger & Allan Crow with a sharp eye for an unattended bag) launched a well-coordinated raid on John’s golf bag. Clearly convinced there was food inside, and absolutely unconcerned about etiquette, one crow acted as lookout while his partner went straight for the zip. Although no snacks were officially confirmed missing, the incident caused plenty of mirth and served as a timely reminder to guard your sandwiches as carefully as your card. Edgar & Allan were later spotted perching nearby, calmly waiting for the next 4-ball to arrive. All in all, a cracking winter’s outing, proving once again that sunshine, good company, and a little selective interpretation of the rules make for a memorable day at the course.

Competitors on the day – 41, 23 from the 1^st division and 18 from the 2^nd division.

Three 2s scored today, Mark Lyons, Martin Franks & Barry Smith.

Round of the day goes to Mike Pigott, who finished 2 over par.

Results

Division 1

Division 2

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report – 19 January

Reporter: Peter Willson

Another dank, chilly and foggy start to the day, however the fog dispersed slowly and it turned out to be reasonable day for golf!

4 teams with 12 players.

Winners – Mike Bennett and Colin Crail  (on his 1st outing of the season) – 27 points per player.

Second – 2 teams – Tony Dixon and Charlie Hill plus Steve Barlow, Kevin Bocquet, Ian Goodman and Peter Willson – both teams had 25.5 per player.

High Score: 28 points – 2 players – Colin Crail and Steve Gosling.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 22 January

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 25 January

Rules Quiz answer

Answer b. The player gets one penalty stroke and must replace the ball. See Rule 9.4b and Definition of Stroke. If a player causes their ball to move they get one penalty stroke and the ball must be replaced. As there was no intention to strike the ball, the practice swing does not count as a stroke.

Find the Fact answer

Answer 2 is correct. Koos (age 3) is pictured with his mother in the tulip fields that surrounded the house where he grew up. Koos’s father was a bulb grower. Koos didn’t take up golf until 2004, and he wasn’t allowed to vote in the Brexit referendum.

Rules Quiz

On the putting green, a player marks their ball. They do not remove the marker before hitting their putt. What is the ruling? a) There is no penalty. b) The player gets one penalty stroke. c) The player loses the hole

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Winter League – Round 1

Reporter: Paul Foster

The first seniors’ round of the new year, and the start of the winter league, got underway with a lucky break from the weather. Storm Goretti skirted past the course, but the cold certainly didn’t, with temperatures staying bitingly cold all day. Winter greens were in full effect, a patchwork of problems, mottled and inconsistent, with bare patches and soft areas interrupting any sense of a consistent bounce, or true roll, putts wobbled and wandered, pulled off line by subtle dips and unexpected ridges. In contrast, the fairways echoed with well struck shots and the constant rustle of waterproofs, as everyone was layered up like mountaineers heading for base camp. Not pretty golf at times, (Colin Hughes ran out of trees to hit on the 8th) but gritty, determined, and a curiously satisfying way to start the year.

Competitors on the day – 28, 14 from the 1st division and 14 from the 2nd division.

Two 2s scored today, both from Paddy, at the second and the ninth.

Round of the day goes to Mike Pigott, who finished level par. (Uneven, sloping, mud-riddled, tiny winter greens don’t faze Mike)

Results

Division 1

Division 2

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report – 12 January

Reporters: Peter Willson, Steve Bird (from Lanzarote) and the Editor

An overcast grey day with little wind and even less sun. The ground conditions were damp and little to no run on the ball, the greens were fluffy but still in good condition for the time of year considering the recent weather.

It has been difficult to piece this week’s results together as some teams went out early and their cards seem to have been ‘misplaced’. Most players also scarpered without handing over their hard-earned coin, so there doesn’t seem to be a prize fund to share out this week.

Our best efforts to agree an order of merit seem to indicate that the winners were Steve Gosling and Paul Foster. In second place was the team of Tony Lambert, Peter Willson and Barrie Simpson. In bronze medal position (and to be brutally honest, last place) were Messrs Broady, Bramall and Hill.

It would be vulgar to publish the contributions made by individuals to these team results (even if we knew what they were).

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 15 January

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 18 January

Rules Quiz answer

b) The player gets one penalty stroke. See Rule 14.1a. If a player makes a stroke with the ball-marker left in place they get one penalty stroke.

Handicaps for the Winter League

Author: Paul Foster

All members are to continue using their existing seniors’ handicaps into the coming Winter 2026 league. This includes members in both divisions 1 and 2.

Members on 19 or below will be in the 1st division. Members above this will be in the 2nd division. This ensures that (as in the Autumn League) no 1st division member has 2 shots on any hole. It also means that we should have a fairly equal number of active members competing in each division.

Your Seniors’ handicap is also used in the Happy Mondays competitions.

Should you wish to discuss the history / background to this decision made by the committee, then please feel free to have a word with our Handicap Secretary Paul Foster.

Please find a link to the latest Seniors’ handicaps here.

Rules Quiz

A player’s ball lies just off the putting green. There is sand on the putting green between the ball and the hole that the player wishes to remove. What is the ruling? a) As the ball is not on the green the player must not remove the sand. b) Sand is not a loose impediment and cannot be removed. c) The sand on the green may be removed by any means.

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Happy Mondays Report – Monday 5 January

Sole entrant and winner of Monday’s comp. Seen here after celebrating by getting legless in the clubhouse.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 8 January

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 11 January

Rules Quiz answer

C is correct. See Rule 13.1c. Sand and loose soil on the putting green may be removed without penalty.