Busy month as golfers dodge the weather

DESPITE the recent poor weather, June has been another busy month at Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club.
The Centenary Trophy and Tankard was finally completed after being abandoned on Sunday, May 13, and the major cups were fiercely contested.
The mixed pairing of Nigel Grabham and Nancy Marshall continued their winning ways by taking the Weston Cup, and Keith Babb was victorious in the Ray Boddy, the second knock-out competition to be completed this year.
Two competitions to celebrate the 125th year of the club were held in a week, with a pairs greensome medal competition played on the Wednesday evening and a member and guest day fourball better ball competition being on the Saturday.
The week was capped with an anniversary ball for 260 members and guests in a marquee on the putting green with dancing to Pete Allen’s Jazz Band.
On Saturday, June 30, the club hosts Captain’s Day with an individual bogey competition in the morning and a 14-hole team bowmaker in the afternoon.
Proceeds from the day will be donated to the captain’s charity, which this year is the Musgrove Leukaemic Group.
On Sunday, July 1, teams of three compete in the Freddie Burton bowmaker, an inaugural competition played in the memory of past member Freddie Burton.
Results from the month:
Gent’s Mixed Invite - 1st: R Chidgey & D Chidgey 34 points (19 back 9), 2nd: V Anderson & D Oatridge 34 Points (16 back 9), 3rd: J Stanlake & J Fulwell 33 points, 4th: W Barker & R Foot 32 points.
Alcombe Cup - Winner: J Murphy. Div 1:1st: J Murphy 71(7)64, 2nd: G Whalley 75(8)67, 3rd: M Vickery 73(6)67, Div 2: 1st: W J Perkins 80(12)68, 2nd: J Malarkey 80(12)68, 3rd: J Baker 83(14)69, Div 3: 1st: D Hayhoe 87(20)67, 2nd: T Phillips 90(19)71, 3rd: N Grabham 89(17)72.
Weston Cup - 1st: N Marshall & N Grabham (handicap 17) 37 points, 2nd: C Mason & G Mason (handicap 10) 36 points, 3rd:A Watts & M Gilbertson (handicap 19) 35 points.
Bushen Cup - Winner: G Yeates. Div 1: 1st: G Yeates 75(10)65, 2nd: J Fisher 73(6)67, 3rd: D Hillier 77(8)69, Div 2:1st: S Gay 76(11)65, 2nd: B Ferris 79(12)67, 3rd: G Wells 83(15)68, Div 3: 1st: J Jenkins 87(19)68, 2nd: P Beckett 86(18)68, 3rd: R Hill 88(19)69.
Ray Boddy knock-out – Winner: K Babb, Beaten Finalist: W J Perkins, Losing semi-finalists: D Bosley & K Murrell.
Roy Sparkes trophy - 1st: N Grabham & D Oatridge 46 points, 2nd: C Sidley-Adams & M Gilbertson 43 points (24 back 9), 3rd: P Clements & B Gliddon 43 points (21 back 9), 4th: W Knight & R Phillips 42 points.
Bon Cup - 1st: M Vickery, C Sidley-Adams, D Hillier 129, 2nd: A Phillips, G Hughes, C Durman 131, 3rd: J Constable, T Hardick, J Fisher 132 (66 back 6) 4th: A Ryan, R Poirrier, K Babb 132 (67 back 6).
125th anniversary greensome - 1st: A Dover & M Gilbertson 8(18.0)63.0, 2nd: N Grabham & N Marshall 84(19.0)65.0, 3rd: I Gover & D Singleton 84(18.5)65.5 (Net 19 on back 6), 4th: P Davies & R Lewis 82(16.5)65.5 (Net 21 on back 6), 5th: G Yeates & G Hampshire 71(4.5)66.5.
125th anniversary guest day - 1ST Ladies: A Watts & J Jones 39 points. Men:1st: D Hillier & C Willerton 44 points, 2nd: C Keary & M Hucker 42 points (14 back 6), 3rd: R Bernstein & D Bernstein 42 points (13 back 6), 4th: K Murrell & I Bassett 41 (11 back 6), 5th: D Compton & M Bovingdon 41 (10 back 6), 6th: B Waites & R Rogers 40 (12 back 6), 7th: M Vickery & P Vickery 40 (11 back 6).
Centenary trophy and tankard - Tankard winner (best gross score): M Vickery. Trophy winner (best nett score): A Whiting. Div 1: 1st: M Vickery 72(6)66, 2nd: D Hillier 75(8)67 (nett 30 back 9), 3rd: G Whalley 74(7)67 (nett 32 back 9). Div 2: 1st: A Whiting 77(12)65, 2nd: C Sidley-Adams 77(11)66, 3rd: B McCaffrey 82(14)68, Div 3: 1st: T Phillips 88(19)69 (nett 31 back 9), 2nd: C Peters 88(19)69 (nett 32 back 9), 3rd: T Bowden 86(16)70.

Free lessons planned for junior golfers

MINEHEAD and West Somerset Golf Club side entertained Enmore Park in the first of this season’s competitive encounters.
The match between these two well-established clubs is always tense, but always played with the camaraderie expected of two ‘old friends’.
Minehead won the tie eight games to two, but the real winner on the day was the spirit of friendship enjoyed between two fine and well-established clubs.
The ‘A’ team entertained Wheathill in division seven of the Avalon League and enjoyed another strong victory with only the pairing of D. Oatridge and M. Vickery not being victorious.
The victorious pairs were club captain D. Compton and P. Clements, R. Poirrier and S. Plenty, D. Hillier and K. Murrell, G. Whalley and J. Fisher.
The victory gained Minehead another 10 points to place them at the top of the table.
The Somerset Golf Union County Foursomes competition was held at the Club with 80 golfers from all over Somerset competing.
Minehead was represented by the pairings of D. Oatridge and D. Hillier, and P. Fullbook and D. Bosley, the latter winning with the best net score over the 36 holes.
The foursomes champions with the best gross score over 36 holes were J. Palmer and P. White, from Wells, who scored a gross one over par playing off a scratch handicap allowance.
Teams of three players entered a Dawn Chorus Shotgun Bowmaker competition. With all 22 teams starting at 7.30 am from different parts of the course, they all finished within minutes of each other in time to walk in and enjoy a breakfast served in the clubhouse.
Winners on the day with one score to count on each hole were: 1 - D. Compton, D. Oatridge and M. Swallow (nett 57); 2 - P. Davies, R. Lewis and N. Grabham (nett 59); 3 – G. Yeates, C. Sidley-Adams and G. Wells (nett 60).
Minehead’s ‘A’ team also entertained Farrington in division seven of the Avalon league and again won the tie by four games to one.
Another 10 points were welcome in the club’s efforts to progress to division six after only one season in the league.
There were wins for K. Babb and G. Yeates (5&4), D. Hillier and M. Vickery (2&1), K. Murrell and C. Knight (2&1), P. Fullbrook and D. Oatridge (4&3) and the only defeat by pairing D. Compton and P. Clements (2&1).
It was pleasing to see two junior members - Knight and Yeates - being blooded in the league side, and the fact they were not out of their depth boded well for their future.
On the same day, the Elizabethan Cup took place. Played as a foursomes pairs competition, the pairs took alternate drives and alternate shots to record a net medal score played off one-half of their combined handicaps.
Winners on the day were M. Rutley and P. Salter with a net score of 69.5, playing off a handicap of 10.5, closely followed by G. Yeates and D. Oatridge 79 (9) nett 70.0, and T. John and D. Shambrook 86 (15) nett 71.0.
Atrocious weather on Sunday, May 13, put paid to the running of the Centenary Trophy and Tankard competitions and although some hardy players ventured out, the competition was abandoned. It has been rearranged for Sunday, June 24.
Saturday, May 19, sees the club take on the seniors in their annual confrontation. On Sunday, the club has a match at Saunton, while back home in Minehead players compete in the Simplicity Box, a competition played with a maximum of seven clubs.
After the school half-term, the junior section receive quite a lot of attention with a junior club night starting on Tuesday, June 19, with free coaching and a round of golf.
On Thursday, June 21, free lessons for junior non-members begin. A series of six free lessons are planned to introduce youngsters to the game. More information can be received from the club.

• Our photograph shows some of the Minehead team who entertained Enmore Park (left to right) back row - S Clarke, R Philips, G Troman, J Fisher, D Oatridge, G Wells, D Stevens, M Vickery, M Thresher. Front - B Gliddon, M Gilbertson, D Singleton, G Whalley, D Compton (club captain), W J Perkins, R Thresher, G Pugh, R Stevens. Photo submitted.

Golf club A team make winning start in league debut

ON Saturday, March 31, Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club’s A team entertained Cheddington in division seven of the Avalon League.
With a maximum of 12 points available to the home side and 17 points available to the away side, it was imperative for the team to make a good start in their first season playing league golf.
The team played well, led by Paul Fullbrook, winning fourof the five fourball better ball games to score eight points.
With two extra points for winning the match, Minehead finished their first game with 10 points and Cheddington took away 3 points for their single away game victory.
Minehead’s winning pairs were P Fullbrook and D Bosley (3&2), K Murrell and W Knight (6&5), I Freeman and D Hillier (2&1), D Oatridge and C Knight (4&3), with G Whalley and J Fisher narrowly losing their game by one hole.
In a reserves game which did not contribute to the final points scored, club captain Denis Compton and partner Matt Vickery beat their Cheddington counterparts three and two.
Minehead’s next league match is at home against Wheathill on May 5.

Photo submitted.

Successful weekend for West Somerset golfers

THE past weekend was a busy and generally successful time for the golfers at Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club.
It began on the Saturday morning when a squad of five ‘A’ team players entertained a team from Enmore Park in a closely contested match in the second round of the Mail On Sunday National Golf Club Classic.
The Minehead team of Dave Bosley (4), John Freeman (5), Callum Knight (6), John Fisher (6), and captain for the day Keith Babb (3) played well and were unlucky to find themselves behind early on in most of the games.
Freeman suffered the most, having to give away five shots, and he failed to recover the early losses.
The other members of the team, however, did manage to overhaul their opponents and the final match score was four wins to one with Dave Bosley winning two-up, Callum Knight one-up, John Fisher two-and-one, and Keith Babb two-and-one.
At midday, the club team entertained the Stragglers, from Mendip Golf Club, in a fixture resurrected after quite a few years.
In his first fixture as captain, Denis Compton fielded a side including a number of past captains and the strength of the team proved too much for the visitors with Minehead winning all seven of the better ball games.
The highlight of the match was the win of seven holes with six still to play by Peter Clements and Gerry Mason.
The result was: Captain D Compton and S Gay won two-and-one, W J Perkins and M Gilbertson won four-and-three, D Scott and H Kneeshaw won two-and-one, R Thresher and A Ridgway won one-up, G Troman and G Wells won three-and-two, R Stevens and M Thresher won two-and-one P Clements and G Mason won seven-and-six.
In the afternoon, John A’Court and Warren Knight took on a strong pair in the first round of the Daily Mail Amateur Foursomes Golf Tournament.
Despite a gallant effort, the Minehead pair went two holes down on the front nine. The highlight from the Burnham pair was the second shot to the ninth hole which pitched and stayed only feet from the hole.
The early deficit was too much to haul back against a pair playing at such a high standard and the Minehead pair eventually lost two-and-one.
On Sunday morning, 20 pairs competed for the Day Dewdney Foursomes Cup.
In favourable weather conditions, the golf was predictably of a high standard and the first four places were competed for sportingly.
Eventual winners were N Grabham and C Knight with 67.5 points from K Babb and K Storey 69, G Hampshire and J Gunter 71.5, and G Mason and P Rees 72.5.
In the afternoon, Nigel Grabham and Gerry Mason were in action again with their respective partners in the final of the Tipper Trophy.
A mixed foursomes knock-out competition played over the winter months concluded on a bright spring day in good golfing conditions.
The early lead went to Mrs Carole Mason and G. Mason, who missed a putt on the third to go three holes up.
Some fine driving and approach play by Mrs Nancy Marshall and N. Grabham brought them back into the game and by the turn it was all square.
Nancy and Nigel won both the eleventh and twelfth holes, where they received shots and although the Masons pulled it back with one down with the eighteenth to play, Nancy and Nigel held their nerve to halve the last and win the match.
Also in the afternoon, the Club team travelled to Oake Manor Golf Club to defend the Challenge Cup and in a wonderful start to Denis Compton’s captain’s year came away with a five wins to one victory.
Oake members made the Minehead team most welcome. The golf was played in an excellent spirit on a drying course in good condition for the time of year.
The result was: D Compton and D Oatridge won one-up, T McGann and G Whalley won five-and-four, D Scott and G Latham won two-up, D J Coles and J Littlewood won four-and-three, R Thresher and H Greswell won five-and-four, and H Compton and D Stevens lost two-and-one.
The next fixtures at the club are on Saturday, when the ‘A’ team takes on Cheddington in the Avalon League, and there is a members’ ladies mixed invitation.

• Our photograph shows the jubilant Tipper Trophy winners Nancy Marshall and Nigel Grabham. Photo submitted.

Denis drives-in golf club's 125th anniversary year

DENIS Compton has been elected to captain the Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club for the 2007-08 season, which is the club’s 125th anniversary year.
Denis, who joined the club in 1978 as a junior, said he was delighted and honoured to be asked to be captain for the anniversary year.
He was looking forward to a full year which would include raising money for his chosen charity the Musgrove Leukaemic Group Somerset.
The Martell Cup, the last competition of outgoing captain Roly Thresher’s year, was played on the day of the annual meeting, and the winner was Gareth Latham.
A bogey competition, the challenge was to beat the par on each hole, and on a blustery day any plus score against par was a good round.
Result: 1 Gareth Latham +2 (level on the back 9), 2 Bruce Baker +2 (-2 on the back 9), 3 Gordon Whalley +1, 4 Tony Bowden 0, 5 Warren Knight –1, 6 Denis Compton –1, 7 Trevor John –1, 8 Andy Atkins –1.
The day after the annual meeting saw the captain’s drive-in, and new Captain Denis Compton braved the blustery conditions to hit three balls down the first.
To mark the occasion of the 125th anniversary year, Denis chose to drive from the old first tee at the side of the clubhouse.
Watched by his dinner guests, he used three different clubs to record distances of 134, 182, and 220 yards, which pleased the three members who won prizes for correctly forecasting the distances.
The Brown Cup competition had been called off earlier that morning because putting was made impossible by strong winds blowing the golf balls off the greens.
The competition was re-arranged for Monday, April 8.

• Our photographs show: TOP –Denis Compton (right) receives his captain’s tie and blazer from retiring captain Roly Thresher. MIDDLE – Martell Cup winner Gareth Latham with the trophy. BOTTOM – New captain Denis Compton driving-in in blustery weather to mark the club’s 125th anniversary. Photos submitted.