Golf: Caroline’s back to lead the Chichester ladies

It is the second time Caroline has been elected skipper of the section and the members were very vocal in welcomed her into the role through an arch of clubs.

A secret draw determined which club she would tee off with. Her seven-wood was selected and Caroline hit her drive 146 yards.

Winner of the guess-the-length-of-the-drive competition was Barbara Hastewell.

The weather was kind and Caroline presented first and second places in three handicap categories. Prizes were also awarded for nearest the pins and straightest drive.

The following week the ladies played a Stableford bisque competition. This involves players disregarding where they would normally take their shots and once they have played the hole and before they tee off, they may choose to use as many shots (or not to use any shots) as they like.

Pauline Beale was the winner with 37 points. Second on countback was Lesly Hance with 33 and third was new captain Caroline Hawkes.

A Stableford was won with 35 points by Kathy Donohoe, with Lisa Mitchelmore second with 34 and Yvonne Dunckley third with 32.

The Tuesday and Saturday ladies played in the section’s annual Children in Need yellow ball competition.

The yellow ball is rotated between players in teams of three and double points are awarded for use of the yellow ball.

The winners of the Tuesday competition with 111 points were Val Edwards, Sue Ward and Wendy Jeffery. Saturday’s winners with 106 were Kathy Donohoe, Fiona Walsh and Lisa Mitchelmore. A total of £97 was raised for Children in Need, while a quiz netted in an additional £217.

The Saturday Stableford saw new member Fiona Walsh win on countback with 39 points from Mary-Lou Litton. Third with 38 points was Rebecca Curd.

The ladies played the winter round of the Four Seasons competition on a Tuesday and Saturday. Overall winner was Lisa Mitchelmore with 33 points, Rachel Greenland was second on countback with 32 from Caroline Hawkes.

The last competition of the month was a qualifying Stableford. Thirty-six points earned Jennifer Sherwood the win, while second was Caroline Hawkes with 34 and third Val Swain with 27.

COWDRAY PARK

December’s club monthly medal yielded some good scores.

Leading scores (in order of countback): Div 1 (ten & under): Matt Hill 70; Guy Goodens, Peter Harding, Kevin Raishbrook 72; Chris Cummins, Todd White 74. Div 2 (11-15): Frank Cheevers, Tony Petras 70; Richard Smith, Adam Exall 71, Chris Bowles 72. Div 3 (16 and above): Stephen West 70; John Donald 71, Mike O’Brien 72, Eric Morrish, Lee Pay 73.

Cowdray ladies enjoyed a fun best-nine-holes competition on a very cold day. Considering the recent rainfall, the course was very playable. Played over 18 holes, the ladies can select their best nine scores.

Results: 1 Lena Cullen 23pts, 2 Georgie Miller 23, 3 Pat Wallace 22, 4 Glenda Luff 22.

In the Surrey and West Sussex Winter League, Cowdray Park travelled to Hindhead in good spirits after a fine home win.

Their optimism was justified with a 2½-1½ win, beating one of the strongest sides in the league.

In the first match, team captain Terry Jasper and partner Derek Smith faced a daunting task up against scratch handicapper Les Bruckner, but won 3&2. Dave Lucking and Graham Thompson earned a hard-fought half before Hundhead drew level in match three.

So down to the final match it was and Cowdray duo Roger Poat and Nick Austin snatched victory by one up to give their side a win on the day.

Results (Cowdray names first): Terry Jasper & Derek Smith beat Les Bruckner & Adrian Thomas 3&2; Dave Lucking & Graham Thompson halved with Alan Snowball & Malcolm Carter; Rob Doney & Jan de Vries lost to Carl Osborne & Tim Wilkie 1 dn; Roger Poat & Nick Austin beat Graham Cook & Joe Barrett 1 up.

Cowdray Park Golf Club was full to the rafters with the seniors holding their annual Christmas dinner and prizegiving ceremony.

Guest of honour was veteran Fred Barnes, who was instrumental in setting up and expanding the seniors’ section into the vibrant group it now is.

Following a welcome from captain Brian Brockhurst, grace was read by David Laver before all members sat down to tuck into the usual festive fare.

After the meal members joined in the carol singing with musical accompaniment from David Laver and Gordon Kendall.

Brockhurst made a presentation to retiring web co-ordinator David Laver who has done a superb job setting up and developing the website. Brockhurst also announced that, during his term of office, members had raised £5,531 for Prostate Cancer Relief.

In addition, information provided had proved of benefit to a number of members who undertook the tests, were diagnosed and successfully treated.

The distribution of prizes was led by Brockhurst.

Carter Trophy winner Harvey Terry emailed from a cruise ship in Barbados, expressing his regret at not being able to get back from the sun to the cold and damp to pick up his prize.

Prizewinners: Sandell Trophy: 1 Phil Harrison, 2 Terry Jasper; Barham Salver: 1 Derek Smith/John Newman, 2, Terry Jasper/Rob Doney; Elliott Cup: 1 Roger Poat, 2 Peter Laws; Podmore Salver: 1 John Lee/John Kitchener, 2, Mick Fillary/Brian Carpenter; Heard Tankard: 1 Paul Owen, 2 Ian Heustice; Yellowlees Quaich: 1 Gordon Kendall, 2 Dave Lucking; Rolland Plate: 1 Jan de Vries, 2 Nick Austin; Lait Trophy: 1 Jan de Vries, 2 Bill Hummerston; Triple Six: 1 Keith Chapman/John Lee, 2 John Durrell/John Doran; Carter Trophy: 1 Harvey Terry, 2 Brian Carpenter; Ken Young Eclectic Trophy: 1 Dave Hirons, 2 Peter Laws; Seniors’ Champions Trophy: 1 Terry Adsett, 2 Clive Brine; Captain’s Prize: 1 Nick Austin.

SELSEY

The veterans’ section had their annual meeting after playing in a nine-hole competition on a wet but playable course. The weather was fair but there was a cold wind.

At the meeting, the new veterans’ captain was voted in unanimously by the members – David Winter of Selsey was handed his blazer badge and the captain’s hat by the outgoing captain Bobby Moore.

BOGNOR

More than 70 attended the men’s section’s Christmas dinner and the Canada Cup competition the following morning.

The meal and entertainment were splendid, with two members entertaining all with their music and amusing golf stories.

Thanks go to lady members who served the food and to club captain Ron Stevens in organising the evening.

The 2014 vice-captain Simon Watts introduced Steve Reddick as vice-captain for 2015.

The Canada Cup, a four-ball better-ball Stableford pairs competition, with partners drawn the night before.

Winners with an excellent 43 points were John Riseborough and Rob Walker, second were Ian Kracke and Alan Camp with 42, third on countback were Andrew Field and Shaun Maskell and fourth were Norman Lee and Ian Simpson with 41.

There are still a few more competitions to be held before the new year, most notably the greenkeepers’ revenge on Saturday and the cross-country challenge on Christmas Eve.

Bognor ladies held a fun ten-hole competition before a Christmas tea.

Results: 1 Debbie Fenton, Nicola Holton, Sophie James and Sian Southerton 51pts; 2 Chris Puddicombe, June Smith, Eileen Morris and Gill Twyford 50; 3 Kim Mercer, Di Crook, Maureen Mullinger and Brigitta Paul 49.