October 2017
After a wonderful summer of golf the membership eagerly turned its attention to the Autumn/Winter fixtures. This period in the golfing year provides players with the opportunity to assess their games and to look forward to a different pace of life at the Club. As well as all the traditional fixtures, members had the opportunity to enter the Foursomes Premier League. Introduced to the calendar last season the league allows members to enjoy the most traditional form of autumn/winter golf. After all the interest the FPL created last season there was enough pairs registered by deadline day to form two very competitive leagues. The winners and runners-up from each league will go on to contest the semi-final and final in March 2018.
Thankfully the weather hadn’t yet realised it was autumn and players turned up for the October Stableford looking resplendent in short sleeves and summer colours. There were good turnouts in both the midweek and monthly competitions. Club Captain Graham Jackson picked up where he’d left off before his month long trip to America and took top spot in the October Monthly Stableford. Mick O’Conner tried valiantly to spoil the Captain’s return but had to settle for second. In the Midweek Stableford John Hawkins proved that practice does indeed payoff as he recorded a fine victory over the ever youthful Malcolm Rosborough and a strong field. Also at the beginning of the month members gathered to play in the annual Rosborough Cup. This immensely popular event pits the Captain’s team against the Vice-Captain’s team in the form of singles match play. Some early morning drizzle greeted the players as they played the early holes. Thankfully conditions improved a little but a strong breeze persisted all day adding a bit of extra spice to the matches. As reports started to drift back to the clubhouse it was clear that, just as in recent years, the final score was going to be close. In fact the match was so close that it went right down to the last game. Barry Watkinson, playing for the Captain managed to claw himself back to all square at the turn against Roger Woods thanks to a gross two on the par 4 ninth! The back nine would prove to be a tense affair with neither player giving much away. On the final hole Roger held on and secured the half that his team needed to lift the trophy 4 points to 3. At the prize giving Vice-Captain James O’Sullivan thanked his team for their tremendous effort and commiserated with Club Captain Graham.
In the middle of the month the Club held its Annual Prize Presentation. This special evening celebrates the achievements of all members but especially those who have won the major honours throughout the season. It was a wonderful evening enjoyed by all that attended.
There was much anticipation as members assembled for the annual playing of the Foursomes Plate. Once again, as in previous years, all those that took part thoroughly enjoyed the alternate shot format. Club Captain Graham partnered by “golfer of the year” John Dixon were the strong favourites to take home the trophy. However the great thing about sport and especially golf is that there are no certainties, and so it proved when Alan Smith and David White knocked the favourites off the top of the leader board to claim a dramatic victory. Everyone agreed that it was a fantastic way to end the month.
