Pay attention, golfers - Headmaster Hickling is in charge

Past president Chris Martin called upon the section captains for the seniors, ladies and juniors to present their yearly reports.

The 2015 club captain Simon Watts gave his yearly report and welcomed 2016 captain Chris Hickling and wished him well for the forthcoming year.

There was a special mention to retiring committee member Ron Stevens and a welcome was made to new committee members Allan Delves and Robbie Hughes.

Thanks was given to the house committee, bar and kitchen staff for a successful year.

The captain’s drive-in took place the following morning. Chris spent his career as a schoolteacher and was dressed as ‘Headmaster Hicko’ and taken to the first tee in a school minibus along with his pupils.

Chris was greeted on the tee by more than 150 onlookers including his very own school choir, The Wadnesdays, named after Mike Wadley, who sang a remastered version of the Twelve Days of Christmas titled the Twelves Months of Captaincy.

Chris said: “The drive-in was tremendous. Some 150 members tucked into breakfast and gathered round the first tee with open umbrellas and I was dressed by the committee in cap and gown, with a cane for good measure.

“Norman Lee, vice-captain for 2016, started proceedings and then my playing chums, The Wadnesdays, entertained us all. It was really fabulous and was very well received.

“Matthew Kirkby, our professional, was great fun and bedecked with crash helmet for my shots off tee.

“Berit Smallcorn, the ladies’ captain, Wendy Johnson, ladies’ vice-captain, and Nicola Holton were the schoolgirls. I was on cloud nine and would like to thank everyone involved for making my start of captaincy so memorable.”

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park seniors were greeted by a fine and sunny day for round two of the Captain’s Prize.

But although a surface frost had melted, just below the ground was still rock solid, giving the players an additional problem on how to play approach shots to the green.

The cream rose to the top in the shape of Dave Lucking, the lowest-handicapped senior, who returned a superb score of 38 points, despite not having scored on the first hole. Another single-figure handicapped player, Paul Owen, finished just behind with 35.

Almost at the end of the day, second place went to Brian Carpenter with 37 points, while third on countback was new member Ian Gunn, playing his first round as a senior.

Gunn was fortunate that his playing partner was Dave Lucking – between them they claimed the day’s prize with a combined total of 73 points, six clear of Brian Carpenter and John Renwick in second place.

The nearest-the-pin prize on the 17th hole went to Nick Austin, who converted his shot into a two and claimed a share of the twos prize, along with John Doran, Gary Strowbridge, Rod Brown, Chris Hutchings, Roger Poat, Lucking and Mick Fillary.

Leading R2 scores: 38 Dave Lucking, 37 Brian Carpenter, 35 Ian Gunn and Paul Owen: 34 Philip Singer, David Manning and Chris Hutchings.

Leading overall scores: John Fife 71pts, Dave Lucking 70, Philip Singer, Chris Hutchings, David Manning, Paul Owen 67; Allen Sibley 66. With two rounds to go it is all to play for as a player can drop the lowest of his scores over the four rounds.

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