Old Padeswood match and Arscott results via Mike Healey

Personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed a brilliant day in our match against local rivals Old Padeswood. We played an am/am at their place a couple of weeks ago but this time we played matchplay with our eight pairs. The result was an overwhelming win to Clays - 8-0 and all credit to the home team. I have to say that the teams getting on with each other so well, we could be considering am/am fixtures in the future. The course is looking so much better and the weather was a generous 21 degs, so what more could we ask from an inter-club match or even just a game of golf. All arrived back in good time and enjoyed refreshments in the sun before ascending for the two course meal that was arranged upstairs. Thank you to Hayley for an excellent meal and a big thank you to Malcolm for the entire organisation of the event. There were no twos recorded and the raffle ticket draw for wine bottles went to Peter Fraser and Jim Fenn (Captain of the OP). The opposition could not believe that we had 16 players to oppose them as well as 24 members out at Arscott for their Senior Open. I asked for the latter results to add to this report and right on cue, Tony Harcobe rang them in. The Clays results are below but the full Arscott positions are still to come. All in all a great day all round. Arscott Results: First: Richard Collier and Dave Palferman - 43 points Second: Daian Atkin andErnie Williams - 39 points (c/b) Third:Mike Hollings and Eric Thwaites - 39 points (c/b)

TANGO AND MEDAL RESULT FROM MIKE HEALEY

Seniors - I am starting with a quick report about last week's medal. The result is in ig for all to see but it is good to see one's name in lights as we don't all have the ig app. May Medal Result: Division 1: David Palferman - 37 points, Ernie Williams - 34 points, Andy Mitchell - 33 points. Division 2: Tony Harcombe - 28 points, Stuart Leyland - 27 points (c/b), Barry Dare - 27 points (c/b). Division 3: Paul Cheetham - 41 points, Peter taylor - 31 points, Alan Pocklington - 30 points. Well done all competitors. Before today's result, a few reminders - Malcolm has posted the starting line up for our match with Old Padeswood at home on Thursday. If you cannot make it, do let him know (we have reserves). He has also posted sign up sheets for the forthcoming matches versus Northop and Holywell. Do sign up on the noticeboard if you wish to play in these matches. Good luck to the 24 seniors who travel to Arscott this Thursday for their senior Open - we hope you all play well. Next Tuesday is scheduled for our Gemini Trophy - this is played in pairs, as the name suggests and you need to enter via the ig app. Don will most likely make the draw towards the end of this week. Finally, there is a sign up sheet on the noticeboard for the Welsh Greensomes pairs. The qualifier will take place next month but we are having a practice round beforehand (Tuesday 28th May). Today's golf - Tango. Some members were confused by the name, probably because we have rarely played this before. 1,2,3 and 4 to count - very simple. 36 seniors were in the hat and again with three tees to start from, all got away relatively spritely. The pace however, was not too great today and the later groups were somewhat tardy. We are still on preferred lies in the general area and the greens probably need a little more work before coming up to scratch. All in all, the course has shown a vast improvement and it was a pleasant day for a round of golf. Teams of four contested three prizes: Tango Result: First: Andy itchell, Brian Beaton, Tom Blackshaw and Tony Vesty - 90 points Second: Mike Hollings, Peter Taylor, Paul Cheetham and Graham Wright - 85 points Third: Mike Drake Keith Hawthorn, Steve Monk and Graham Bryne - 84 points (Quite a bit of prize money was uncollected - safe in kitty box!)

9x3 plus 9x2. April 30th 2024, Report via Mike Healey.

Today's Results - 36 seniors (another perfect number) arrived for today's kitty comp (9 x 3) plus (9 x 2). We were all pleased with the course being fully open, tiring as it was and also warned about greenstaff working on sanding the greens, following tining. It was great to get 3 starting tees back in the frame and at the end of the day there was very little hold up. All 9 groups arrived back in the clubhouse in reasonable time with 4 of the 9 cards returning good scores over 90 points. We all remained dry and returned for the 3 prizes on offer - read on for winners: (9 x 3) plus (9 x 2) Results: First: Reg Peacock, Chris Blazdell, Peter Taylor and Tom Blackshaw - 96 points Second: Don Wraight, Nigel Davies, Alan Barnsdale and Mike Parks - 93 points Third: Steve Graham, Wyn Jenkins, Mike Drake and Ian Ketland - 92 points Sadly the fourth group with 91 points just missed out on prizes.

PAIRS BOTH SCORES TO COUNT. APRIL 25TH 2024. REPORT FROM MIKE HEALEY

Seniors - Are we finally moving into some summer golf? The sound of gang mowers across the fairways, dry conditions to play on and despite the early shower, enough warmth to finish off the round. 36 seniors popped their tallies on the board and we played a Pairs competition with both to count. The scoring at the top became very competitive with countback being required for the four prizes, as well as a good many middle to lower scores. Before announcing the four prize winners, a reminder that we are still a few names short for the match v Old Padeswood at home on 9th May (remember 20+ are already committed to the Arscott Open that day). Also another thank you to the fourteen seniors who brought their rakes and cleared both the 1st and 7th fairways yesterday. Your efforts have been most appreciated by everybody. There was some good scoring overall - read on for today's results: Pairs - Both to Count: First: Tom Blackshaw and Ernie Williams - 56 points (c/b) Second: Alan Barnsdale and Mike Drake - 56 points (c/b) Third: Andy Mitchell and Bob Brown - 52 points (c/b) Fourth: Steve Graham and Keith Hawthorn - 52 points (c/b)

Bonus Ball APRIL 25TH 2024, REPORT FROM Mike Healey

Seniors - The organiser lost his rag today with a series of 20p's and 50p's arriving in the kitty, but the discovery of a euro in the mix brought on the apoplexy. Let us just leave it at £1.00 coins would be most appreciated or change your coppers at reception, behind the bar or at the Co-op before arrival. 38 seniors turned up for a Bonus Ball competition so it was necessary to employ two ghost players to make up numbers to 10 x fourballs. The track was playing a lot drier and although we still employed preferred lies in the general area, we dropped the leaves, long grass, winter ruling. Overnight rain appeared to do no damage and it was even warm enough for jackets and jumpers to come off. 130 points was the expected par and five other teams were around the 120 mark. Read on for the three prize winners: Bonus Ball Result: First: Mike Hollings, Ernie Williams, Mick Carnell and Alan Barnsdale - 130 points Second: Paul Cheatham, Steve Monk, Colin Brown and Graham Wright - 123 points Third: Graham Bryne, Richard Collier, Ian Ketland and Paul Wallace Jones - 121 points Quite a number of you have agreed to come down in the morning ( 9.00am start ) for a session of grass clearance. Don't forget your grass rakes - there are a number of spares just in case. The aim is to clear as much cut grass as we can in two hours. Mark is briefing me at 8.45am but I think it is just a question of rake where you can and wherever you see piles of grass, especially up the 1st and 16th in particular. I have ordered coffee for just after 11.00am and Hayley will do breakfast baps if anybody wants them. See you tomorrow and a thank you in anticipation.

INDIVIDUAL STABLEFORD APRIL 18TH 2024. REPORT FROM MIKE HEALEY

Seniors - We cancelled the medal previously for non-qualifying reasons but still had a magnificent turn-out of 42 members this morning (something to do with sunshine?). The kitty comp calendar has been all over the place with closures so we opted for an Individual Stableford to get everybody out into the sun. The new handicaps threw a lot of us a curve ball but it was resolved through the tables in ig and following a conversation with Josh afterwards, he has now printed out a full competition table which we can refer to in the future. Further explanation next Tuesday. The course is once again drying in the wind and sunshine but it was still necessary to employ the winter rules that have prevailed since the beginning of November. There were a lot of cards around the 24/25 pts mark but there could only be 7 winners today with some countback required - read down for results: Individual Stableford Results: First: Bob Jarvis 29 points (c/b) Second: Chris Blazdell 29 points (c/b) Third: Peter Taylor 28 points Fourth: Alan Barnsdale 27 points (c/b Fifth: Peter Fraser 27 points (c/b) Sixth: Keith Hawthorn 27 points (c/b) Seventh: Jon Falcus 26 points

PAIRS BETTERBALL RESULT. APRIL 16TH 2024 FROM STUART MILES

Seniors, at last on the course and decent weather, is the weather turning around ?. 30 seniors placed their tallies up for a change of format from texas scramble to pairs better ball, a number agreed with so little golf played, playing as many shots as possible was a better option. Thanks goes to Steve Monk for doing the cards and giving out the money while Stuart was in the committee meeting. Result. 1st Wyn Jenkins / Peter Lord 29 points (back 9 countback of 15) 2nd Peter Taylor / Alan Barnsdale 29 points (back 9 countback 13) 3rd Reg Peacock / Tony Vesty 28 points. 4th John Falcus / Alan Pocklington. 27 points. Let's hope the weather stays fine till Thursday (and about 8 weeks more) so we can get out on the course again. With the calendar in disarray due to the weather and the cancellation of the medal Thursday's format is to be decided. One other thing Don has asked me to say is that there are slots vacant for the dgu match at Denbigh on Sunday 21st April, tee times at 15.20 and 15.29. If you are interested can you please contact Don.Seniors - Following Stuart's report here is a little general info - mostly dates. From Malcolm: Match v Northop (9th April) – postponed (bad weather). Now Tuesday 4th June v Northop (A). Match v Old Padeswood (19th April) still on at present. Am Am competition at their request. Match v Wrexham (16th May) – postponed by Wrexham (fixture clash). Now Tuesday 24th September(H). Next scheduled match v Old Padeswood (H) (Thursday 9th May) Sign up is now on the board but be aware that this match clashes with the Arscott Senior Open. From Club Captain: Captain's Drive-in postponed. Now on Saturday 1st June. Job Vacancy - there is a vacancy for the post of Safeguarding Officer at Clays. See any of the Club Captains or Josh regarding the post. Reminder that we have reciprocal arrangements with the following clubs: Eastham, Northop, Old Padeswood and Withington. Josh has more information and you will need to ring first before playing these courses. Finally - Tom has asked me to inform all regarding his change of e-mail address: jeanpierce00@outlook.com Mike H