Winter golf is always a challenge but a sunny, windless day makes it much more pleasant. Ten players took advantage of the better conditions and, although there were pockets of casual water and heavy conditions across the course, all players enjoyed the chance to play on our very well prepared golf course.

Daily comp results

Stroke Event
1st.        Jenny Hartley          102/23/79
2nd.       Darlene Baker         102/21/81
3rd.        Wendy Gosden       114/28/86

Stableford Event
1st.         Dean Jones              (4)     30 points
2nd.       John Freestone        (19)   25      c/b
3rd.        Hugh Williams          (20)   25

Least Putts
Jenny Hartley

Another still, sunny day on a cold, wet course.  Players again had to take the challenge of the cold air, soft fairways and casual water, “relief through the general area” was again invoked..  The Ambrose format, teams of three, calls for each player to have at least four drives and with the women’s layout considerably shorter than the men’s, mixed teams had quite an advantage.  All teams hit-off from the 1st at 10 minute intervals and pretty soon it was obvious that a team had to be quite a few under the card to have any hope of winning the day; some excellent golf was played.   On a cool, sunny winter’s day the results were;

Winners; Darlene & Roger Baker/Scott Williams/Ryan Davies – 69/11.1/57.9 from Jim Patton/Michael & Robert Bretherton/B Drummond –  77/15.6/61.4

After the wettest autumn in over 30 years the course was very damp with casual water on many fairways and plenty of  boggy, low spots; there was no run.  RGC secretary, Elaine Scanlon, continued her sterling work sending groups off from the “Green Shed” and later providing refreshments around the course.   Despite the challenge of the day another excellent field teed up on a still, sunny afternoon.  As the afternoon wore on the sun disappeared and the temperature dropped steeply.  The cold air and soft fairways made it difficult to card a good score, and only two players were able to better their handicaps.  The day’s winner put his first ball out of bounds so his final score, under very challenging conditions, was a top performance.  For most players a result close to  handicap was a good performance.  One of the wonderful things about golf is that everyone is included and this field ranged in age from 13 to 85, plenty of youthful exuberance and a few wise old heads.  On a cool, clear afternoon the results were;

Winner; Mick Squire (3) – 38pts from Rob Rea (20) – 37pts & Mal Mottram (8) – 35pts

It was a hardy group who headed out on a very chilly morning, happy to be out of isolation, happy to be catching up with fellow golfers and happy just to be playing golf.  Apart from large areas of casual water in low lying parts our Romsey Golf Course is in very good condition.   The fairways have a great cover of grass and the rough has been tamed well.  The greens, although winter slow, are in great condition and running true.

Darlene Baker (21) was the clear daily competition winner with 33 stableford points from Jennifer Hartley (23) 27 points.

On a cold and windy afternoon it was good to see a strong field tee up for the May Medal and The Medal of Medalists.  All fairways were very heavy and many had casual water which pulled shots up even quicker than the soft fairways.  Carts were asked to stay off the fairways to reduce damage or even bogging.  The wind, mostly from the Nth was strong all day and only the big hitters were able to get close to their normal length off the tee.  However as groups headed for the final few holes the wind really blew up moving balls on the greens and just about every high approach shot had to be spot on or risk being pushed well wide go the the green.  On a cold blustery day the results were;

Winner 2019/20 Medal of Medalists and June Medal; Toby Clement – 97/24/73 from Daniel Wright – 79/3/76 & Les Gaunt – 84/7/77

Least Putts; Les Gaunt – 27

2019/20 RGC Medal of Medalists & May Medalist, Toby Clement

A good field of 12 including social, nine holers and competition players braved the cold conditions to participate in the Daily Comp and Women’s May Monthly Medal. The temperature did not get much over 12°  and casual water was still an obstacle on some fairways so the golfing was tough.

Results
Daily Comp Winner
1st.       Dean Jones                   79/4/75
2nd.     Darlene Baker               99/21/78
3rd.      C/b  Jenny Hartley       101/23/78

May Monthly Medal
1st.       Darlene Baker              99/21/78
2nd.     C/b.  Jenny Hartley     101/23/78
3rd.      Lorraine Robb.              Nett 88

Least Putts; Jenny Hartley.      32

It was a hardy, some would say fool hardy, group of golfers who hit off in the club’s stableford competition.  A few wise heads had looked out the window and phoned to cancel their round.  Heavy drizzle drifted across the course for most of that afternoon and umbrellas had to be used very carefully or a gust of wind would have them heading north.  Both dams were full to overflowing and there was casual water on almost every fairway however, the greens had held up well and were only a little slower than usual.  The cold air, drizzle, gusting wind and very soft fairways made for an extremely challenging round; anyone who was able to play near their handicap had a top round.  On a cold, damp afternoon the results were;

Winner; Davie Kenney (22) – 33 pts from Steve Wilkins (18) – 32 pts, Anthony Lakey (20) – 31pts & Andrew Clement (9) – 31 pt

NTPs; No NTPs due to Covid-19 restrictions.

As a further response to the Covid19 virus the Wednesday comp is currently being held as a week long “running” competition. This is
an attempt to offer opportunities to play on the course, and to optimise social distancing. Further changes include filling the holes with foam noodle pieces which prevents the ball resting in the bottom of the hole and allows golfers to remove their ball without contacting any other surfaces.
Our volunteers continue to do an amazing job and the near perfect condition of the course is a credit to them and is something all members appreciate.
Weather conditions were such this week that some holes were filled with rain water that forced the foam to float above the level of the cup so holing out was a new experience!!
The weekly comp was played over two days as chosen by individual members. A highlight of the round was Jenny Hartley’s chip in birdie on the third.
Conditions were very heavy with casual water across many fairways and preferred lies needed to keep clumps of mud off the ball. Many a time balls driven off the tee or fairways were plugged where they had landed without any further length which was a winter challenge for all. Darlene showed all the back yard chipping practice during lockdown has been useful by scoring the best round for the week.

Results
1st; Darlene Baker  (21)     34 Stableford Points
2nd; Jenny Hartley   (23)    29 pts
3rd; Beryl Coke        (27)    28 pts

Mother Nature put on a stunning late autumn day for the first weekend round of golf in seven weeks; clear skies, plenty of sun and virtually no wind.  The golfers of Romsey were keen to get back on the course  and handled the Covid-19 restrictions very well.  Groups teed off at ten minute intervals, all scores were checked and agreed to verbally and players forwarded a pic of their card to the captain at the end of the round.  Romsey Park and the golf course are currently in spectacular condition, trees trimmed and all grass well under control.  The colder air and the softer fairways meant that all  players lost distance so correct club selection was vital.  The greens were in good nick and putted very true, if a little slow early in the round however, most players were not too concerned with the scores, they were just happy to be out and about again.  On a stunning day the results were;

Winner;   Mitch Atlas – 83/10/73/Andrew Laing – 91/18/73 from Pat Chisholm – 86/12/74 & Jim Patton – 91/17/74

NTPs; 15th – Mick Squire

After a seven week hiatus some cautious reductions to the Covid19 restrictions have allowed a return to golf.  This news was gladly received by many golfers across the state not least of all by those at Romsey Golf Club.
It was obvious to all who played that a dedicated band of volunteers have not had a holiday and have been busy maintaining and improving the course. The fairways have a beaut cover of grass and, along with the surrounds, have been regularly mown.  The greens are in tip-top condition. The extension to the first green has come along well and is a great improvement.    A big thank you to all who have worked so hard on the course. The whole of  Romsey Park looks wonderful.
The morning rain deterred a number of golfers but a few hardy souls hit off early to participate in a stroke event. Others chose to return in the afternoon to play in the sunshine.  Dean Jones was not deterred by the weather conditions or a lack of practice and had a great round.  On a very challenging morning
the results were;
1st; Dean Jones –  72/5/67
2nd; Steve Wilkins – 100/19/81
3rd; John Freestone – 102/19/83