Golf Update w/e 28th March 2015
We’re Off
It was the Opening Day to beat all Opening Days. Never before have we had to accommodate a field of 69 for our Mixed Texas Scramble. It may have slowed things up a tad (2 hours 40mins for 9 holes!) but everyone had a great time and it proved to be an excellent first time experience for the large number of new members who showed. The competition itself was won by Captain Wee Russell Henderson and his team consisting of Frank Ewen, Ian Martin, Joan Kettles, Peter Martin, Anita Simmons and Jean McEwan. With the exception of Frank, and possibly Peter, all of them way under 5ft 4in. Word is they won with the quality of their short game. That’s hardly a surprise. As for the course, it truly looked like Stunning Dunning. The sun certainly had its hat on for the day – as I predicted last week – and those follicly challenged golfers who failed to pack the Factor 30 certainly paid the price. The new Tee Room did a roaring trade on the day and early indications are that this new facility is a hit with golfers and locals alike. Many thanks to John Ramsay for taking a number of super photos of the day. You will note that John is missing from the group picture above. He may take great photos but he’s clearly not yet mastered the art of the group selfie.
See left - an impromptu Opening Day reunion for the girls from Banarama
Better With Bentley
We have now completed three of our early season Coaching Sessions with the final one taking place this Sunday (29th March). All the sessions, hosted by our Dunning resident PGA Professional, Andrew Bentley, have been really well received even though the Sunday weather on each occasion has been pretty “Baltic”. A number of attendees have gone on to book individual lessons with Andrew. He and I will be sitting down together in early April and planning how we can follow this up.
Extra Medal
The traditional Captain v Lady Captain match, scheduled for this Saturday, has had to be moved. It will now take place on Sunday 24th May. In its place there will be an additional Gents Medal competition – the March Medal (quite an appropriate name I thought) – that will give all Gents an earlier than usual taste of life off the white tees. So an earlier than usual opportunity for the Match Secretary and his State Police to give some playing guidelines for the season:
- Avoid slow play. Three and a half hours is more than enough time to play a 3 ball off the Medal tees. Please keep up with the game in front and not just ahead of the game behind
- Replace all divots
- Repair all pitchmarks
- Rake all bunkers, correctly, after use
And, finally, please pick up all your own litter. We’ve invested in some new litter bins, so make sure you use them.
Warm Up for the US Masters
One of last year’s competition successes was the Mixed Texas Scramble we held on the Wednesday of Ryder Cup week. Such was the positive response that we’ve organised another 5 such events this year. The first of these is on Wednesday 8th April, the day before the start of the US Masters on the Thursday. For those who have not qualified for the big event itself, it will help ease the disappointment. It’s particularly ideal for those of you new to competitive golf and those who are new members, normally play on your own or who don’t know many other members. There are 36 places available. It will be a 9am meet for a 9.30am shotgun start. You can book on line NOW.
And finally……
Did anyone here see Jack Nicklaus speak after receiving the Congressional Gold Medal this week? Nicklaus said about his wife, Barbara:
"People have asked me to quantify Barbara's importance in my career. I'd have to say she's responsible for at least 15 major championships. I'll give myself credit for three."
For those of you, like me, who have yet to win a Major – it’s obviously your wife’s fault. #justsaying.
Enjoy your week’s golf.
Alan Hill
Match and Handicap Secretary
