The week ahead ...

Just a gentle reminder to all those golfers who still have to play the second round of the U-Boat Trophy. Please arrange your matches before the 18th March deadline. If you cannot play on Tuesday or Thursday then please arrange an alternative day in the week.

Tuesday 1st March. This is a roll-up Yellow Peril TEAM game.

Thursday 3rd March is the Lan-Com International Challenge Trophy. To quote our sponsor - John Courtney - "IT'S  A FUN GAME". Please read the rules found under the Competition Rules tab on this website. There will also be copies of printed rules for each three-some to collect on the day.

The game requires a great deal of skill in choosing the right two clubs for each hole. It will take you out of your comfort zone!!!!

The fee for the game is £2, which is donated to the Captain's Charity for this year Prostate Cancer UK. There are very generous prizes (I kid you not) for those who come in the top three.

Tee times are on the website now. If you haven't yet signed up then please add your name to the tee time list next week.

I will be posting on the notice board in the Sports Bar, sign-up sheets for The Hot Toddy Trophy (15th March), Winter Stableford Round 5 (17th March - the old tee time sheet is scrapped when the game was cancelled in February), and the first Home Fixture against Carswell (24th March). Please sign-up asap, and don't leave it to the last minute.

Results from the 4BBB played today ...

Since all three pairs came in with 40 points, and all three pairs started on the tenth tee, I needed to consult a document to verify I was using the countback rule correctly. The following information was taken from Golf Monthly - February 2015.

"In an 18-hole event, ties are separated by the best score over the final nine holes. These are the final holes on the standard scorecard. Thus they are the course’s 10th to 18th holes rather than the final nine holes a player might have played, which may be different if it was a shotgun or two-tee start."

Now that's settled the results are:

FIRST: Geoff Mills and Martin Buckingham 40 points (CB 22 points)

SECOND: Dinger Long and Rae Comley 40 points (CB 19 points)

THIRD: Bob Harvey and Andy Wright 40 points (CB 18 points)

Today was prize giving day. Photographs courtesy of John Alexander.

Bert Hale receiving the Monthly Medal for February

Barry Lund receiving the Eric Clack Memorial Trophy

Frank Hay was designated the Bandit-of-the Month for winning too much!!!

Visit the new Golf Shop - YesPleaseGolf - now on site at Witney Lakes Resort (next to the driving range).

Remember to collect from Reception, your golf range 10 credit card for a complimentary 300 golf balls to use on the range - this applies to strictly members only.

Enjoy your golf.

Results from the Eric Clack Memorial Trophy played today ...

Since this competition is played off the yellow tees under Winter conditions it does not count as a qualifying competition for handicap adjustment.

DIVISION 1

First: John Alexander 35

Second: Mike Smith 34

DIVISION 2

First: Frank Hay 34 CB

Second: Bert Hale 34

DIVISION 3

First: Barry Lund 36

Second: Dinger Long 30

Congratulations to Barry Lund for winning the Eric Clack Memorial Trophy for 2016.

Sad news ...

I am sorry to have to tell you that Leon Goudal passed away today in hospital from a massive heart attack. Leon's health has not been good for several years and as such we saw less and less of him at the Club. Leon was a keen golfer and member of the Seniors for many years and will be greatly missed. I shall bring in a card of condolences tomorrow for all to sign.

The week ahead ...

Firstly, did you read your Newsletter from Witney Lakes this week? If you did you will have seen the following announcement ...

"Members - Be Our Guest

On a similar note, given the recent course closure due to the bad weather, we would like to offer Golf Members 5 One-Day Guest Passes to use the Health Club (Resort Members are welcome to use these for guests) as compensation.

Alternatively, you may prefer to receive 300 Range Balls instead with our compliments.

For more information, or to arrange your passes please contact James Timber on 01993 893011"

I simply asked at reception for my complimentary range ball card, and one was given to me without any fuss or bother. Thanks Witney Lakes - a nice gesture.

Our golf at the moment is being controlled by our good old British weather, so whatever I say for playing next week could change so quickly.

Tuesday 23rd February is the Eric Clack Memorial Trophy. A Stableford game off the yellow tees. No pressure then! If you would like to play and haven't signed up, then please add your name to the tee times sheet on the Seniors' Notice Board in the Sports Bar.

Thursday 25th February is the four-ball-better-ball, with a split tee start from 8.00 am. Please see the tee times tab on this website. After the game there is the monthly prize giving in the Sports Bar.

As I look at the Seniors' Calendar for 2016, I notice that we are only a month away from the first of our fixtures. This will be a home match against Carswell on the 24th March. I will pin up a sign up list should you want to play. From the list I will select a team of 12 good men and true. I will be mixing both high and low handicappers, and will try to give all interested several matches over the season. Dress code for the after match meal has been relaxed this year to smart-casual. 

Enjoy your golf !!!

Winter Stableford Round 5 CANCELLED for tomorrow

I have just received a 'phone call from Witney Lakes Resort informing me that the Golf Course will be CLOSED on Thursday 18th February owing to the heavy rain today and further rain expected overnight.

In the past we only ran 5 Winter and Summer Stablefords, therefore, owing to the knock on effect that a cancellation has, I am only going to run five Winter Stablefords this season - the final of which will be on Thursday 17th March, when hopefully, the course will have dried out a little.

See you next week for the Eric Clack Trophy (I hope).

Results from the Medal played today ...

Division 1
FIRST: Roger Laban 72
SECOND: Mike Smith 74

Division 2
FIRST: Bert Hale 71
SECOND: Frank Hay 78

Division 3
FIRST: Barry Lund 75
SECOND: Bob Harvey 77

Congratulations to Bert Hale the winner of the February Medal.

I will post the full results on the Sports Bar notice board the next time I visit Witney Lakes.

The going was pretty heavy today on the course, all those who got in the 70s did very well. I did notice there were 9 N/Rs, and the Captain got his highest nett score for many a year!

Weather over the next couple of days looks a bit iffy! I'll keep you informed via the website about the game on Thursday.

Results from the Individual Stableford Charity game played today ...

Firstly, thank you all for taking part in the event. Twenty-five golfers turned out, so we must have raised in excess of £20 with fines and the sale of badges. When the charity game is run again in a few months time more hazards will be included and the unit price of a fine may rise to 20p. Enough of my chattering and on with the results ...

Division 1.
FIRST: Dave Williams (20)
SECOND: James Barnatt (17)

Division 2.
FIRST: Doug Keen (19)
SECOND: Colin Baker (18)CB

Division 3.
FIRST: Derek Tidy (19)
SECOND: John Robinson (16)CB

In this game countback (CB) was still on the back, but limited to 8 holes.
There was one spoilt paper in Division 2, with the culprit not scoring on the designated holes!

Pray for good weather so that we can play the medal and winter Stableford next week.

Golf on Thursday 11th Feb

I heard that the back nine holes on the golf course were open today. If that is the case tomorrow we will play the individual Stableford charity game over 9 holes, then in for an early coffee. If all 18 holes are open then all well and good. The overnight weather is likely to be frosty and no rain so with a bit of luck the course just might be open for the roll-up.

Remember further information about the state of the course can be obtained from the Resort's Reception after 7.50 am - tel 01993-893011.

Medal Postponed until later in the month ...

Owing to the extremely wet weather in the last few days the Golf Course will remain CLOSED on Tuesday 9th Feb.

I will re-schedule the MEDAL for Tuesday 16th February.

All players involved in the U-Boat Round 2, will have extra time to play their matches up until Friday 18th March.

I will keep you posted as to whether the course will be open this Thursday.

Any questions please 'phone Witney Lakes Reception on 01993-893011.

The week ahead ...

On Tuesday 9th February we have the monthly medal. Tee times are available on the TeeTimes tab on this website. If your name does not appear and you want to play just turn up at the Sports Bar on Tuesday morning, after the last tee time on the list.

On Thursday 11th is an individual Stableford Charity Game. All proceeds go to Prostate Cancer UK. On every hole you have a chance to contribute a 10p fine for EACH of the following errors. 

A lost Ball, Air Shot, 3 putts or more, tripple bogey, out-of-bounds, land in a bunker.

Fine sheets will be given to all players at the start of the game. You must complete and hand in your fine sheet and score card in order to be considered for a prize at the end of the game. Donations into the charity box will be gratefully received.

Results from the Teesing Stableford played today ...

Division 1.
FIRST: Alan Lake (35)
SECOND: Geoff Mills (34)

Division 2.
FIRST: Gerry Collier (34)
SECOND: Frank Hay (33)

Division 3.
FIRST: John Robinson (33) CB
SECOND: Kevin Sheehan (33) CB

Stop Press - Mike Steward and Bob Harvey beat Barry Lund and Barry Holmes 6 and 4 in the second round of the U-Boat. Mike and Bob go through to the semi-final on the 22nd March. If you have been drawn in round 2, and cannot play on the 16th February, then please see you have played your match before the date set for the semi final. Thank you.

Results from the 3s, 4s and 5s played today ...

We had a good turnout of players today. The lowest team score was 64 and the highest 77. The top two teams to win prizes are:

FIRST: Mike Smith, Bert Hale and Derek Tidy [77 points]
SECOND: Frank Hay, Ron Feasey and Dinger Long [73 points CB]

just pipping the Captain's team, also with 73 points, into third place and no prizes!

The week ahead ...

Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits ... start of a new month, and Brian would welcome collecting your monthly game subscriptions this week ... please.

This week we have two roll-ups.

Tuesday 2nd is a 3s,4s and 5s Stableford TEAM game. Cards will be drawn from 7.50 onwards rather than you choosing your own teams.

Thursday 4th is a Teasing Stableford Red/Yellow/White INDIVIDUAL game.

Please remember to sign-up for the Monthly Medal, Winter Stableford 5, Eric Clack Memorial Trophy and 4BBB when you next visit the Sports Bar.

Remember I have postponed the second round of the U-Boat until the 16th Feb. If you cannot play on that day then please try to complete your game before the semi-final on the 22nd March.

Weather this week looks promising. Promising what, we shall see. Enjoy your golf!!!!!