Saturday January 29th – January Medal and final ’21 W. E Tom Shield

Despite the over 70mm of rain falling late in the week and a drizzly, humid morning the January  medal drew another strong field.  The day also saw the final of the 2021 W. E.Tom Shield.  Play began under overcast skies with misty rain.  By about the 5th hole jumpers came off and the skies cleared.  The heavy rain of Friday night meant much softer fairways and the S/SW wind saw all golfers second guessing their club selections, those who made the correct decisions were able to score well.  The W. E. Tom Shield final was at tight match.  Gaunt/Hocking went two up after the 6th but Chisholm/Nicholls fought back to take a one hole lead after the 13th.  Les Gaunt then played top golf to take the next three holes;  2Up with two to play.  Chisholm/Nichols won the 17th but the 18th was halved giving Gaunt/Hocking the win – 1Up.

It was wonderful to welcome Dalhousie President Mary Campbell and past captain Geoff Pike and son Patrick back to the club.  Sadly we also farewelled eight time club champion Les Gaunt who is heading north.  On a top afternoon to be out the park the results were;

Winner & January Medalist; Toby Clement – 92/22/70

2nd; Mitch Atlas – 82/10/72

3rd; Steve Wilkins – 91/18/73 C/B Davey Kenney (16) & Scott Williams (14)

NTPs; 1st – Davey Kenney, 15th – Toby Clement

Least Putts; Mick Squire – 25.

RGC Captain Mal Mottram with January Medalist Toby Clement

W. E Tom Shield Final

Les Gaunt (0)/Kieth Hocking (23) D Pat Chisholm (6)/Mick Nicholls Jnr (12) – 1Up

2021 W. E. Tom Champions Kieth Hocking , Mal Mottram (RGC Capt) & Les Gaunt

Wednesday January 26th – Stroke & Putts

A scorching hot day with some pretty good scores for the Wednesday competition.   There was lots of run to contend with on some fairways. The bird damage was sporadic with evidence of lots of repairs to the greens.  Thanks to all who help to maintain the greens and try to keep the corellas at bay and of course to all the other volunteers who work across the course. The greens are otherwise in very good condition.  Results     (Red Tees)
1st.         Simon Donovan. –  77/8/69 count-back
2nd.       Rob Rea – 84/15/69
3rd.        Andrew Clement – 76/5/71  count-back Chris Manktelow and Keith Hocking.
NTPs.   15th – Keith Hocking
Least Putts. Simon Donovan – 24

Saturday January 22nd -Stableford & Semi Final W. E. Tom Shield

A strong field assembled for the club’s stableford round.  There was a gentle wind from the S/SW, just enough to that the edge off the expected heat of 32º.  The day also saw the semi-final of the W. E. Tom Shield.  The irrigation had worked extremely well on most fairways but the ongoing heat and lack of rain was beginning to show; players got excellent value for well struck shots.  Again, the greens and surrounds were in immaculate condition; the corella damage, whilst annoying, has been contained and repaired areas show excellent growth of new grass.  The W. E. Tom semi-final was an up and down affair.  Squire/Clement took an early lead before Nicholls/Chisholm fought back to eventually take the day.  On a hot, slightly breezy afternoon the results were;

1st; Ron Walker (26) – 43 pts

2nd; Keith Hocking (31) – 42 pts

3rd; Mitch Atlas (11) – 39 pts C/B Mick Nicholls Snr (24)

NTPs; 1st – Mick Squire, 3rd -Wendy Goden, 15th -Steve Wilkins, 16th – Brad Klaaysen

W. E. Tom Shield Semi-final

Pat Chisholm(10)/Michael Nicholls Jnr (17) Mick Squire (0)/Andrew Clement (6) – 3/2

Final of the W. E. Tom Shield

Les Gaunt (0)/Keith Hocking (23) Vs Pat Chisholm (5)/Michael Nicholls Jnr (12)

Wednesday January 19th – Stableford

Another warm sunny day with a good field.  Results were;

1stLorraine Robb – (44) 40pts

2ndDarlene Baker – (19) 34pts

3rd: Rob Slade – (15) 33pts

NTPs;  3rd – Darlene Baker, 3rd & 16th – Michael Squire

Saturday January 15th – Guest day, Texas Ambrose

As with last week excellent rain fell all around Romsey but the town received less than 5mm on Friday morning.  Some innovations had stalled the corella attacks on a few greens but the birds had still made their presence felt.  A few large branches came down on the 8th fairway making for a busy clean-up early on Friday so a busy end to the week.  The round of Texas Ambrose got underway with clear skies and a steady south/south-westerly wind. The fairways had dried out a little but the greens and surrounds were in top nick, largely because of the ongoing work of Steve Wilkins who daily repairs the damage caused by the corellas.  It was good to welcome back  Michael McCarten, on leave from the 7th Regiment.  This form of Ambrose, taking the best two stableford scores on each hole, often returns high scores; everyone knew they had to play well to be in with any chance of winning the day.  On a warm, clear, breezy afternoon the results were;

1st; Mick Nicholls Snr(24)/Darlene Baker(19)/Keith Hocking(32) – 96pts.

2nd; Steve Wilkins(18)/Anthony Lakey(19)/Rob Rea(19) – 94 pts.

3rd; Les Gaunt(9)/Andrew Clement(8)/Craig Sandy(20)/Mitch Clement(10) – 93 pts

NTPs; 15th Les Gaunt & Darlene Baker, 16th Brad Klaaysen

Wednesday January 12th – Stroke, Rd 1 Rose Scanlon Shield

Despite the warm weather there was a strong field for the first round of the Rose Scanlon shield with close results.

1st – Darlene Baker – 86 /20/66

2nd  – Steve Wilkins  – 82 /15/67

3rd – Shirley Shelton – 95/25 /68

NTP – 16th Darlene Baker

Saturday January 8th – 4BBB Stroke

Heavy rain had been predicted from Wednesday but only a good sprinkling arrived over Friday night, nevertheless players had to cope with wet fairways and greens as well as the summer corella damage on some greens and across most of Romsey Park.  The damage is so great that a few areas of the rough looked as if they have been ploughed!  The light drizzle continued as players headed out to the tee for the club’s 4BBB Stroke round, it was not until half way through the round that the drizzle lifted and players considered taking off their jumpers/waterproofs.  Despite the conditions teams found one player scoring well on just about every hole.  It took an excellent back nine to seperate the winners from the remainder of the field.  On a cool, damp afternoon the results were;

Winners; Shannon Wright/Mick Nicholls Jnr – 63 C/B from Ron Walker/Clive Mensforth & Steve Wilkins/Davey Kenney – 64

NTPs; 15th & 16th Mick Nicholls Snr.

Wednesday January 5th – Ambrose

January 5th Ambrose was played with the results being very close.

1st; Jenny Hartley/Darlene Baker/Beryl Cole 71/ 11.5/62.5

2nd; Steve Wilkins/David Kenny 70/ 6.5 63

3rd; Rob Slade/Pat Chisholm 71/6.5/64.5

 

Saturday January 1st – December 2021 Medal, stroke & putts.

A predicted temperature well over 33ºC activated the club’s extreme weather policy and saw play begin at 8.30.  With Christmas Day being on a Saturday it was decided to move the December Medal to New Year’s Day.  The strong field had virtually perfect conditions with only short periods of a strong wind from the SW.  The course was in top nick with good cover on the fairways and greens.  The Corellas have returned and begun their efforts to dig up the greens.  So far they have really only attacked the 7th and 16th.  This year we are trying nets over sections of the greens to see if we can limit their damage.  The excellent condition saw many players play to or better than their handicap but the winner was way out in front of them all.  Coming back from a shoulder injury he was able to play the excellent golf we have come to expect.  Groups were back in the rooms by 12.30, just as the temperature began to climb well into the 30s.  On a good day to be out in the park the results were;

Winner & December Medalist; Michael Nicholls Jnr – 82/18/65, 2nd Bob McLennan – 85/16/69 CB John Freestone – 96/27/69

Other good scores were; Scott Williams – 87/14/73, Rob Rea – 93/19/74, Les Gaunt – 82/8/74 & Mick Squire – 77/3/74

NTPs; 1st – Mitch Atlas, 16th – Clive Mensforth

Least Putts; Michael Nicholls Jnr – 23.

RGC Captain, Mal Mottram with December Medalist Michael Nicholls Jnr