The club’s annual Christmas Spirit competition was downgraded to a Stableford in recognition of a very wet golf course.  Alan Paskins won with 42 points ahead of Alan Baxendale (41), Paul Collings (39) & Terry Harrison, Roy Miller & Michelle Underwood (38).

So bad was the rain on Friday night that there was no alternative but to close the course on Saturday, forcing the cancellation of the competition.  Thankfully all the Christmas specials had already been completed.

The seniors section played a Stableford for their latest competition.  Peter Pattison emerged as the winner with 44 exceptional points, followed by Bob Harris (42), Chris Stokes (42), Eric Putnam (41), Doug Aldridge (40) and David Farnell (40).

Sadly we lost the Tuesday Christmas Spirit competition when the course became waterlogged and had to be closed.  This was a shame as the number of entries was most impressive.

The week concluded with the traditional Christmas Fayre competition in pursuit of a selection of seasonal goodies.  Captain Jeff Maynard enjoyed the pick of the prize table as he took first place, with other prizes going to Steve Burchell (45), Roy Darlington (44), Paul Collings & Martin Read (43).

The seniors section played their December Stableford on a course shortened by the use of winter frost greens.  Harold Cook won division 1 with 40 points, followed by Roy Webber (39), Ken Farmer (39) & Bob Feather (38).  In division 2 Colin Hatherly took top spot with 42 points ahead of David Cardy (40), Tony Stratton (40) & Colin Bramley (39).

The annual midweek Turkey Trot competition resulted in a victory for Chris Hazelwood with 43 points, closely followed by Paula Cowl (42), Ian Crocker (41), Martin Read (40), Terry Harrison (39), Roger McAndrews (38), Andrew Vickery & Peter Broadbelt (37) and Bill Kennedy (35).

This was followed at the weekend by the traditional Christmas Spirit, softened to a Stableford as a concession to a weather-ravaged golf course.  Steve Tuckett won with 44 points, followed by Mark Spry-Phare (43), Adrian Blake (42), Andy Rogers, Mark Welland & Paul Stevens (41), Colin Stamp (40), Mark Davitt, Simon Cordery & Ken Greedy (39), and John Cordery, Shaun Heagarty, Brian Donald, Graham Friend & Chris Maddocks (38).     

The seniors section played a Texas Scramble medal, with each player restricted to 2 clubs & a putter.  Peter Tregenna, John Robinson, Colin Hatherley & Terry Wood won with net 60.5, followed by Martin Bagg, David Cornfield, Brian Ridgeway & Steve Tuckett (61.1) and Peter Pattison, Roy Webber, Colin Bramley & Brian Donald (61.8).

Andrew Vickery won Division 1 of the midweek Stableford with 38 points ahead of Ben Benfold, Paul Collings & Steve Christopher who each carded 36.  The top score of the day was the 42 points of Terry Harrison in Division 2, followed by Ken Broad (37), Brian Donald (37) & Murray Skinner (36).

The weekend brought the first of the Christmas specials, the annual Turkey Trot, with 14 prizes up for grabs.  Playing off a shortened winter course helped Steve Burchell score 45 points to take first place, with the other prizes going to Andy Rogers (43), James Harris (42), Terry Webster & Chris Hazelwood (40), Colin Harrison & Roy Darlington (39), Paul Benham, Den Andrews & Ian Crocker (38), Jeff Maynard (37) and Mike Glenny, Steve Sutherland & Phil Durbin (36).

The seniors section monthly Stableford resulted in a victory for Gordon Bird with 41 points.  Cedric Chapple (40), Peter Jarman (39), Terry Wood (38), Bill Bird (38) & Roy Clemence (38) were also amongst the prizes.

Jeff Maynard & Steve Ankers, the new captaincy team at Fingle Glen

WEEK ENDING 15 NOVEMBER 2008

At the recent AGM Jeff Maynard was elected club captain for the coming year, with Steve Ankers serving as his vice captain.  Jeff announced that his charity for the year, chosen jointly with lady captain Fiona Tilke, will be Rainbow Living.   This is a local charity providing housing & support for people with disabilities, particularly learning difficulties.

John Lloyd won Division 1 of the midweek Stableford with 38 points on countback from Jon Durbin, with Paul Collings third with 37 points.  In Division 2 Scott Bowker took first place with 41 points ahead of Charles Wray (38) & Alan Paskins (36).  The best score of the day came from Phil Barrett, his 42 points beating runner-up Colin Stamp by a single point, Jeremy Harris third on 39 points.

The weekend competition was in Greensomes Stableford format, playing off half combined handicap.  The winners were Ken Greedy & Steve Christopher with 44 points, followed by Chris Hazelwood & Martin Read (43), Ian Crocker & Marcus Quick (42), Mitch Davidson & Chris Baxendale (42) and Bob Dyment & Andrew Vickery (42).