FEBRUARY

Week ending 7th February

Those in a position of authority will always lead from the front. Well that is what the vets section would tell you. In their stableford on Tuesday that was exactly the case. In Division 1, the vets Captain and club Chairman, Mike Cockram won by a point from Roy Gibson with 43. In Division 2 the clubs Vice Captain Dave Cann, won on countback from David Slough with 37 points, 5 shots clear of their nearest rival Ron Bates.

On Sunday the club ran a stableford in near perfect conditions. Vernon Clausen led Division 1 with 39 points from Jamie Nickles with 37. In Division 2, Chris Davey had a credible 41 points, 2 clear of 2^nd placed Malcolm Watchorn. New member Kevin Heal took 3^rd with 38.

Week ending 14th February

It might be cold but the competitions are hotting up at the Warren. Tuesday saw the vets hold a yellow square event, played in teams of three. After a close fought event the team of Brian Jestico, David Slough and John Sampson nosed into 1^st place with 106 only 1 point clear of Mike Cockram, Chris Swain and Chris Mears. Highlight of the day though was the hole in 1 at the 5^th by Alan Whiteman, his first in his career. The whisky he provided at the end to celebrate went down well, and warmed up a mainly cold day.

The Wednesday stableford was played in a cold easterly wind, not the ideal conditions at the Warren, but obviously ideal for Dave Rookes who romped home in 1^st place in Division1, 8 points clear of his nearest rival Jason Thompson. Division 2 was a closer thing with Russell Stock winning with 38 points, with John Riley 2^nd on 37 points.

The Ladies played a Bisque stableford on Thursday which saw Pat Harker take Division 1 with 39 points, 2 clear of Linda Trunkfield on 37 points. In Division 2, Jill Diprose stormed ahead in first place with 45 points, with Leslie Turpin in 2^nd place on 32.

Saturday saw the Hairies take on the follicley challenged. This annual event was postponed last November due to the weather, and perhaps the 3 month break did the baldies the world of good. Played as a better ball match play format, 10 pairs each side, the Baldies won the event for the first time since 2001.

At the dinner and presentation, Colin Papworth (Hairies Capt) thanked all those who participated in the event over the years, he also thanked two of the founder members of the event Mike Jolly & Barry Pomeroy for organising the competition for the last 28 years. He then presented the trophy to an ecstatic Baldies Captain, Jimmy Hill who then proceeded to fine most players for misdemeanours during the day.

Week ending 21st February

It was Texas Scramble week at the Warren this week, albeit different versions.

On Tuesday the vets section held a 2 man version with only two and a half shots separating the top 5 pairs. In first place with 61.5 were Stuart Piper and Larry Mulhearn, 1.25 shots clear of Peter Wood and partner John Trunkfield. 3^rd place was taken by Paddy Keating and Steve Crockford.

On Saturday the gents played the more popular version of the Texas Scramble with teams of 3. The course and format obviously suited the winning trio of Simon Apps, Mark Bassett and new member Peter Denning who blasted their way around in 51.9. Second and third place was separated by just half a shot with Messrs Paul Fryatt, Chris Davey and Gary Barlow taking 2^nd place with 52.2 from Todd Radford, Tom Davis and George Horsham.

Week ending 28th February

As the wet weather continues it amazes some members how the green staff manage to keep the course open, albeit over a limited course, but none the less playable.

The Vets held a stableford on Tuesday in torrential rain which proved to be a test of staying power rather than golf. With most members abandoning their rounds only 18 managed to finish the 10 holes with a very wet John Foster taking 1^st place with 18 points on countback from Geoff Aylett.

On Thursday the Ladies held a 10 hole stableford. Division 1 was a close fought affair with Sue Broderick taking 1^st place with 19 points, on countback from Mo Wood. Division 2 saw Mo Norrish take 1^st place with 19 points, with Jill Diprose in 2^nd place with 17 points.

Saturday saw the gents scheduled medal postponed and replaced with a stableford. In Division 1, Wayne Chant took 1^st place with 28 points over the 13 available holes, whilst Carl Kinson finished 2^nd with 26 points. Division 2 saw junior Liam Brooks finish in 1^st place on 29 points, one point clear of Heath McDonald.

MARCH

Week ending 7th March

The first major competition of the year took place on Saturday.

The Terry Allen Trophy denotes the start of the playing season for those at the Warren and first blood this year goes to Wayne Chant who shot an excellent gross 75, net 66 to win, one shot from second placed Nick Musgrove (76-8-68). Third place went to Eddy Campbell with 69.

On Tuesday the Vets played a better ball stableford. 1^st and 2^nd place was decided by a better back nine score which saw Alan Leach and partner Stuart Piper get the nod from Cliff Down and Colin Ofield both with 54 points. Third, fourth and fifth place again was decided on countback, with Mike Cockram & Mike Tothill taking 3^rd place with 53 points.

Wednesdays strong easterly wind kept most of the scoring low for the mid week stableford. Division 1 was won by Mike Davis with 34 points, 2 points clear of Adrian Henley in 2^nd place. In Division 2 Barry Deveraux nicked 1^st place by a point from Alan Patten with 37 points.

The Captains team took on the Vice Captains team on Thursday in the ladies section.The match was played as a singles matchplay format with the teams ‘fairly drawn’. According to reports from some of the ladies VC’s team, the result did not really give a fair reflection of the competition, but the Captains team won the day by 7 – 4. Its not the winning it’s the taking part that counts.