December/January Archive...

Monday 1st December 2008

A cold frosty morning, enough to cause a few members to withdraw from today's event. Fortunately the cancellations did not cause too much mayhem and members made up their own teams of three. With 41 points the team of Jim McCall, Jim Samuel & Malcolm Mackenzie were the winners, a couple of teams with 40 points were 2nd & 3rd those being Andy McCann Joe Hardon & Douglas Pringle and Donald Edgar, Ray Arthurs & Robert Waite.

Monday 8th December 2008

There being no golf last Thursday due to rain on top of the frozen ground it was nice to be out playing again this morning. With only the back 9 holes open for play at the moment the members played the back 9 twice. The ground was rather wet following some heavy rain thro the night but that did deter some very good scores today. Alan Best with 44 points was a comfortable winner with Malcolm Mackenzie and Brian Norgrove taking 2nd and 3rd with 43 points and Francis Fitzpatrick 4th with his 42 points being top of a number of members with 42 points.

Members should be aware that there was an annual review of handicaps by the club handicap secretary and there has been a few amendments to handicaps including Mallards handicaps, so check your current/new club handicap. Ray Arthurs, Tom Skead, John Barron, Joe Hardon, Andy McCann, are some members who have had a handicap alteration.

Thursday 11th December 2008

Winter league matches played today, pleasant sunny day but cool and with the ground being a bit hard some amusing bounces

Monday 15th December 2008

The sun didn't quite shine, it tried, but it was still a cracking day for the Christmas Cracker Stableford. 39 member played in the competition with a 2 tee start and all members back in comfortably for Christmas lunch just after 1pm. A few members that didn't play in the golf competition did turn out and enjoy lunch. Sandy Thorburn with 44 points took top spot and his choice of prize, all prizes today were bottle prizes, skilfully selected by Allan Benson during the past two months. Roger Rees with 41 points was runner up with Ian Castle taking third place. A total of 18 prizes were on offer today. The Captain had a special prize for the nearest the pin on the 9th green and was won by Jim Smith. All in all a pleasant day enjoyed by all.

Thursday 18th December 2008

The day started good, most certainly for the earlier starters but the back markers certainly suffered in the rain, the luck of the draw ! Eleven teams took part in today's Texas Scramble and as is usual some excellent scores returned. With a net 60.5 the team of Ian Melrose, Mike Cross & Malcolm Mackenzie took first place, Allan Benson and his playing partners, Archie Findlay & Alan Best were runners up with a net 60.8.

Monday 22nd December 2008

Considering the rain that fell last Thursday and Friday and the fact that the course was closed on Saturday it was in pretty good condition today for the Mallards competition. On an extremely pleasant December morning 31 members turned out and played in the Stableford competition. Playing 17th holes John Ross returned an excellent 43 points to take first prize, Jack Carruthers was runner up with 41 points, Francis Fitzpatrick & Gordon White with 40 & 39 points were 3rd & 4th respectively.

Monday 29th December 2008.

Cold but pleasant morning to be out playing golf. Colder for the earlier starters and much improved for the later starters. 29 members made the start today, which was pretty good following the Christmas festivities. David McCulloch one of the late starters pipped Graham Orange to fist place with an excellent 43 points over Graham's 42 points. Andy McCann & Derek Smith were 3rd & 4th with 40 points apiece.

Monday 5th January 2009

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL - HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD YEARS GOLF.

The first Monday of the New Year got of to a cold crisp start, hard frosty ground, but that did not deter 29 members turning out to play and enjoying the 'fun' of some strange bounces. Regardless a very pleasant morning, especially for Sandy Thorburn who returned home with 43 points and first place. Roger Rees was runner up with 41 points, John Morton-Carruthers was third with 40 points and Gordon White took fourth place on a card play off from a number of players with 39 points.

Thursday 8th January 2009

Today's golf, Winter League matches, had to be cancelled due to the course being covered in snow. They have been rearranged for Thursday 15th January 2009

Tuesday 13th January 2009

As no doubt many of you are aware Monday's competition was cancelled (rearranged for Monday 9th February). As the morning drew on the course became totally submerged in flood water and as of today the water remains but is receding. At the time of writing, 3pm today, the course remains closed and is likely to be so for a few days. Members should contact the club/pro-shop for information as to whether or not the course is fit to play.

Thursday 15 January 2009

Following today's committee meeting, some members took a walk round the course and found it to be in better condition than was expected. There is still some serious water problems round the 3rd & 4th areas and the 9th & 10th and for the time being the course remains closed. Hadrian's course has been reopened for any member wishing to play, but Mallards competitions are not being considered over the Hadrian's course. There was an opportunity to speak with the head green-keeper and he is very hopeful that we should be able to resume play over the back 9 by next Thursday 22nd Jan.

So with this in mind, Winter League matches will be resumed and continue in the order of the original game play, matches that should have been played on the 8th Jan will be played on the 22nd Jan, matches for the 22nd will be played on the 29th Jan and by then we should be back on schedule. It will mean that 3 Thursday's on the trot will be taken up with Winter League Matches.

Check the notice board for alterations to the fixture list.

Monday's competition is cancelled, but as mentioned above Hadrian's course is open for any member who wishes to play

Thursday 22nd January 2009

On a dry windy day members of the Mallards playing in the Winter League managed to get their matches played. Taking advantage of the Hadrian's course the matches were played over 9 holes, nice to be out playing but by gosh it was wet underfoot in places.

Monday 26th January 2009

With the main course closed, the Mallards played a stableford competition over the 9 holes of the Hadrian's course. It was not easy playing today, the course was soft and an number of players complained of losing a ball in the soft ground, but the good weather more than made up for the miseries of the golf, well it was very pleasant out this morning, the best weather we have had for some time. As usual there is always someone who has a good score on the day, regardless of conditions and today it was Roger Rees & Rob Woodland who returned scores of 20 & 18 points respectively for 1st & 2nd place. Joe Hardon & Jim Cruddas were 3rd & 4th.

A wee reminder that it is the AGM on Tuesday 10th February 2009 and proposals should be submitted to the secretary, Mike Cross

Tuesday 27th January 2009

Some welcome news, the back 9 on the main course has re-opened.

Thursday 29th January 2009

Just the Winter League matches played today. It was good to play on a dry course after weeks of sodden ground and all members playing today thoroughly enjoyed being out playing golf.