The Masters

The qualification criteria and the list of invitees for the above event on Tues. 13th. Oct. are now posted on our notice board. Please confirm your intention to play (or otherwise) on the list by Thur. 8th. Oct.

Tuesday 29th. September 2015

Result of today's Ryderless Cup

After an early surge, the Vice-captain's team was pegged back by the Captain's team in the second half of the field so that the final result was an honourable tie. The event appeared to be very much enjoyed by everybody. Perhaps we should have other similar occasions.

Prizegiving

Last month's bandit (Barry Holmes) was finally brought to heel:

......but unfortunately nobody of a similar calibre could be found to fit the prestigous hat this month .

This is the scorecard for 'Barry the Bandit' that cut his handicap from 23.7 to 19.6.

Also from last month, our latest 'hole in one' expert (Alan Jones) was awarded with his trophy:

Mike Smith received the September Medal:

and John Watt received The Wilf Shirley Trophy:

Congratulations to all of the above.

Other matters raised at Prizegiving included:

• Vice-captain Barry has been able to commit to taking on the captaincy but with the previso that he will need to relinquish the position as and when his house move is underway. When this latter situaution occurs we may need to consider alternative models for running the section. Other members who may be able to help with elements of the work involved (e.g. organising matches or running Tuesday or Thursday events) are asked to speak to current committee members. In any case nominations for key positions on next year's committee are urgently required - including a Handicap Secretary (someone who can look a computer in the eye).
• Two of our Air Ambulance collecting tins were opened today revealing a sum of £230. Thank you to all those of you who have been hitting your tee shots (and other shots) into the lake at the 8th. I am hoping to raise another £200 by the end of October from: A - more shots into the lake; B - a second go at Terry Edmunds putting competition on Thur. 15th. October and C - the sale of a 4 ball voucher for Witney Lakes. If you can use this please see me a.s.a.p.
• The company will be introducing a new membership deal for those over the age of 80. I have been informed that a 5 day membership will cost £399 but have no information about 7 day membership at present. If this is of interest to you then contact Nicola at the club whose email is: membership@witney-lakes.co.uk
• The 'sign up' sheet, with menu choices, for our Presentation Evening is on the notice board.
• Our A.G.M. is on Wed. 28th. October.

Presentation Evening - Fri. 30th. October

The 'sign up' sheet for our presentation evening is now on the notice board. I hope you will all be adding your and your guest's names and indicating your menu choices.

The Coming Week

Tues. 29th. September

The Ryderless Cup - 4 Ball Better Ball Matchplay.
The draw has been made and the tee times are published. There are 36 members involved at present but we have tee times that could accomodate another 8. Please let me know a.s.a.p. if you wish to be included. I expect that those fortunate enough to be in the Captains team will be practicing hard over the weekend!!
The September Prize Giving will follow the Ryderless Cup. Details of the Presentation Evening on Fri. 30th. October will be available by then.

Thur. 1st. October

Home match v Stowe (the final match of our 2015 season).
and
3's, 4's and 5's Team Game

Thur. 24th. September 2015

Result of today's Bowmaker Team Game

Frank Hay, Alan Jones, Cliff Smith - 76 pts.
Martin Buckingham, Dave Butler, Bill Ford - 73 pts.

Tuesday 22nd. September 2015

Result of today's Wilf Shirley Trophy:

Division 1
                Dave Westman - 34 pts. (CB)
                Dave Williams - 34 pts.

Division 2
                John Watt -      34 pts.
                Gerry Collier - 32 pts.

Division 3
                Bill Ford -                   28 pts. (CB)
                Martin Buckingham - 28 pts.

The overall winner, by the narrowest of margins (i.e. at the 4th. stage of countback) is John Watt.
Congratulations to John.

The Coming Week

Tuesday 22nd. September.

The Wilf Shirley Trophy. (Wilf Shirley was a founder member of the Seniors Section).

Thursday 24th. September.

Roll Up - Bowmaker Team Game

• There are currently 2 sign up sheets on the notice board for members attention. One is for the Ryderless Cup on Tues. 29th. Sept. which is also Prize Day.
• The nomination form for the members of next years committee is also on the notice board. As indicated on the form there are crucial positions that need to be filled by 'new faces' if the section is to continue in it's present manner. Please urgently consider either standing for, or nominating someone to serve on, next years committee.

Correction

The result in division 3 of last Thursday's Individual Stableford was incorrectly published.
The correct situation was:

Cliff Surman - 34 pts.
Ron Deacon -  33 pts. (CB)

With apologies to those effected.

Thursday 17th. September 2015

Result of today's Individual Stableford Roll Up:

Division 1
               Alex Tyrell - 36 pts.
               Mike Smith - 34 pts.

Division 2
               Gerry Collier - 36 pts.
               Frank Hay -     34 pts.

Division 3
               Bob Harvey - 33 pts.
               Ron Deacon - 32 pts.

Result of today's match at West Berks:

West Berks gained their revenge with a 4 1/2 to 1 1/2 victory. A very good course with very good hosts was enjoyed by all. Thank you to all the Witney members who took part, the winers and the losers.
     
     

Tuesday 15th. September 2015

Result of today's Summer Stableford - Round 6

Division 1
                James Barnatt - 39 pts.
                Roger Laban -  38 pts. (CB)

Division 2
               Kevin Timms - 36 pts.
               Frank Hay -      35 pts. (CB)

Division 3
               Dave Stone -     33 pts.
               Mike Dawson - 31 pts. (CB)

The overall result of the Summer Stableford competition (best 3 rounds from 6) is:

1st. -  Kevin Timms - 111 pts
2nd. - Roger Laban -  110 pts
3rd. - James Barnatt - 108 pts.
4th. - Alan Jones -      107 pts.
5th. - Barry Lund, Geoff Mills amd John Watt - 106 pts.

Congratulations to Kevin (again!) and to those who were just behind.

Fairways Update

Those of you who have been at the club today will certainly know that work has started on the damaged fairways. The very wet conditions mean that they look even more like a battlefield than expected. Clearly this is a temporary, essential situation that we have to cope with.
In the existing circumstances Steve Putt has requested (required) that we tee up on the areas under repair.
If there are damaged areas on which the scarifying machine has not yet been used then our 'pick and place' rule will still apply.
The fairways in question are: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 13th. and 18th.

Roger Hinton

In his own words, he hopes that this will not become a trend but like Pat Smith, Roger has very reluctantly cancelled his golf club membership. Roger has been a Seniors Section member for some 18 years and sends all his fellow golfers his very best wishes and hopes for the continued success of the section. On behalf of the members I have wished Roger "all the best" and hope that we will still see him in the Sports Bar.
Rogers' email is: rogandmag@aol.com

The Coming Week

Tuesday 15th. September

Summer Stableford -Round 6 (the final round)

Thursday 17th. September

Away match v West Berks. (11.00 am. first tee. Team sheet posted on the 'Matches' page)
and
Roll up - Individual Stableford.

Work begins on the damaged fairways this week. We will continue to operate our 'pick and place within 1 club length, not nearer the hole' local rule. N. B. this applies to the 1st. fairway as well as the 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 13th. and 18th.

Pat Smith

I had a very nice message from Pat explaining that because of his ongoing medical problem he had found it necessary to cancel his membership of the golf club. He wished everybody well. I replied on behalf of the section but Pat's email is: patrick.smudge10@gmail.com

Thur. 10th. September 2015

Result of today's match at Shrivenham:

Prior to our visit, Shrivenham had not lost a home match this season - they still haven't!
The good men of Witney were well and truly whitewashed by some excellent scoring from our hosts.
Once again a very enjoyable occasion with beautiful weather. Thank you to all those who took part.

Result from Individual Stableford played today (10th Sept) in the roll-up.

Division 1
FIRST John Alexander 36
SECOND Paddy Marcks 35

Division 2
FIRST Colin Baker 37
SECOND Dinger Long 33 [CB]

Division 3
FIRST Bob Harvey 37
SECOND Barry Lund 36

Stop press

 Away match v Shrivenham - Thurs. 10th. Sept.

Breakfast is at 09.30 not 09.00 as previously posted with the first tee time approx. 10.30

The Coming Week - and more!!

Tuesday 8th. September

Away Day at Aylesbury Vale - 11.00 am. first tee (contact Malcolm for other details) and.....
for those not playing at Aylesbury, please see Vice-captain Barry's message prior to this one.

Thursday 10th. September

Away match at Shrivenham - 09.00 am. for breakfast with the first tee approx. 09.30. There will also be some refreshment after the match for which the dress code is 'smart casual'. Please see the 'Matches' section for the team sheet.

Groundstaff Report
Martin Burbanks has informed me of the following:

• Mon. 7th. September - Hollow tining and sanding of the greens will begin on Mon. 7th. as per the diary and will procede for 4 days. This is why we have our away day and an away match this week.
• Mon. 14th. September - Scarifying of the damaged fairways to take out the dead 'thatch' will begin on Mon. 14th. and may procede all week. Martin describes this work as "quite vigorous" such that the fairways will look more damaged at this stage.
• Mon 21st. September - Overseeding of the damaged areas of the fairways will begin on Mon. 21st. and may procede all week.

Once the fairways have been seeded, for a period of 2/3weks, Martin will be asking all golfers who use the course to 'tee up' on the repaired sections although this does not need to apply to boarded and medal competitions etc!!! Next week the committee will have to decide our approach to the events of the coming weeks, so if you have a point of view to share please let a committee member know.

We knew that this situation was coming and we know that it is necessary.

• The 15th tee is in the process of being levelled and re-turfed.
• Mon. 21st. September - Work will begin to lay paving either side of Eagle Bridge. This is expected to last 3 days.
• Work to complete the re-shaping of the bunker to the left of the 13th. fairway will be ongoing through September.

Seniors' Golf on Tuesday 8th September

If you are not playing in the Golf Away Day then don't feel neglected as there will be a game for you at Witney as usual. 'Barry the Bandit' will organise a singles match play for all who turn up. Not too early please, I plan to get there about 8.00 am, as in the old days.

Those who arrive will be paired off to play against each other. You are playing for each hole off the yellow tees. The handicap allowance is given to the player with the highest handicap out of the pair, and is the difference between the two handicaps.

There are no prizes, no fees and no pressure, just a good morning out with your chums, as it should be.

Oh and by-the-way there will be maintenance on the greens on Tuesday, but don't let that put you off, in the past it hasn't been a problem.

See you Tuesday - VC.

Thur. 3rd. September 2015

Result of today's Monthly Medal:

Division 1
               Mike Smith - 72
               Alex Tyrell - 76

Division 2
               Andy Wright - 72
               John Watt -     74

Division 3
                John robinson - 73 (CB)
                Mike Dawson - 73

The overall medal winner (on countback over Andy Wright) is Mike Smith. Congratulations to Mike.

Tues. 1st. September 2015

Result of today's match at home v West Berks

A particularly enjoyable day helped by the fact that Witney Lakes won the match 4-2. Thank you and well done to everybody who took part (it was close to being 6-0 in our favour). I hope you didn't put you money on a 3 1/2 to 2 1/2 loss!!

Results from the roll-up individual Stableford played today 1st Sept

Division 1- scratch..19

First: Alex Tyrell 35 [CB]
Second: Dave Westman 35

Division 2 - 20..22

First: Gerry Collier 39
Second: Dinger Long 31 [CB]

Division 3 - 23..28

First: Barry Holmes 37 [CB]
Second: Ron Deacon 37

We had a good turnout today with 28 players.