Bringing out the silver at Selsey

There’s veterans, men’s and ladies’ reports plus news of an unusual new feature and a great fundraising effort at Chichester Golf Club.

SELSEY

The club’s veterans held their latest presentation day, on which a donation was made to the Selsey Community First Responder scheme.

The day started with 26 members having a shotgun start and happily the clouds dispersed and the sun shone on a breezy day.

The course is still in a very good condition and the greens are returning to their former splendour after the work carried out on them a few weeks ago.

The first presentation was made by the chairman to the Selsey Community First Responder Scheme – a cheque for £260 was given to treasurer Bernie Stevens and president and Liz Watson.

The amount comprised £130 from the veterans’ section and the same amount from the main golf club. Club captain Tony Nelson was in attendance.

The veterans championship was won by club president Keith Homer while the summer foursomes went to David Winter and Terry Chapman. The Bill Downham Cup was won by Martin Sharpe.

After these presentations the weekly competition prizes were awarded and the members went home happy with some new bottles for their drinks cabinets.

CHICHESTER

Chichester Golf Club welcomed Ryan Garnett to the Tower course to complete a charity event for a school project.

Ryan braved harsh weather conditions and played 36 holes of golf and raised an incredible £483. He kindly donated all his hard-earned money to Cancer Research – which is Chichester Golf Club’s captain’s charity.

A club spokesman said: “What a fantastic achievement from this enthusiastic young man – well done Ryan.”

With the US presidential election heating up by the week, everyone has their own opinions on Trump and Clinton.

Well, now’s your chance at Chichester Golf Club to let your anger out on whichever candidate is infuriating you the most.

Staff have pinned up two separate boards on their driving range - one showing Clinton and one Trump. Which one will take the biggest battering?

To give it a try, call the club on 01243 533833.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park seniors made their traditional visit to Corhampton for the final away match of a long season.

Both teams were evenly matched handicap-wise but home advantage gave Corhampton a narrow 3½-2½ victory.

Opening duo Gary Strowbridge and Nick Austin found themselves three down after seven holes before a stunning win by Nick Austin on the eighth hole reduced the arrears and gave them hope.

They remained two down until the 16th when Gary Strowbridge used his shot in hand to good effect to win the hole, and then proceeded to win the 18th to level the tie.

Brian Carpenter and Brian Brockhurst did well to win 4&2 as Brockhurst had to retire unwell before the end. Chris Hutchings and Bill Brownlee won by the same magin, but the home side clung on for a narrow win.

Cowdray seniors welcomed Alresford, for the first time, for the final match in their extensive round of inter-club matches.

After a 5-3 defeat in the away game earlier in the season, Cowdray won 7½-½ in thsi return fixture.

With Cowdray’s rolling fairways and fiendish greens in magnificent condition, all the ingredients were there.

Match manager Mike Hughes was able to select an unusually-strong Cowdray side. Hughes and Terry Adsett led the home side off against Alresford’s seniors’ captain Geoff Jenkins and Terry Dean.

After nine holes Cowdray were one down, but on the back nine, Cowdray’s Adsett showed the way with a great display of putting to give the home side first blood by 3&1.

Cowdray seniors’ captain Derek Smith and Ian Heustice notched a 3&2 win. Because of their low handicaps, Phil Harrison and Bill Birnie had to concede many shots to their opponents but they came back with a half in the penultimate match.

The final match, featuring the in-form John Doran and Nick Austin, brought a nail-biting finish as they won the last four holes to win by one.

This was a fitting finale to an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable season of seniors’ matches.

Alresford’s captain praised Cowdray’s great course, confirming this will be the first fixture in his members’ diaries next season.

Results: Mike Hughes & Terry Adsett won 3&1; Derek Smith & Ian Heustice won 3&2; Dave Lucking & Brian Carpenter won 2&1; Bill Brownlee & Graham Evans won 3&2; Trevor Edwards & Dave Coombes won 4&3; Brian Brockhurst & Colin West won 6&4; Phil Harrison & Bill Birnie halved; John Doran & Nick Austin won 1 up.

Cowdray Park seniors’ season-long competitions for the Carter Trophy and the Ken Young Eclectic Trophy are drawing to an exciting climax.

The Carter Trophy is a Stableford-based competition and, with only one round remaining, only four players have a chance of winning. Leader is Mel Milburn with 46 points, having taken the lead in July from Peter Laws after he suffered knee problems and was put out of action, but he has recovered and could be back in action for the final round.

The other two with a remote chance of winning are Mark Kelly and Bernie May, but they would have to win and Milburn fail to score a point.

The Eclectic is far more competitive, with only one point covering the top ten, and a further three points covering all the way down to Tony Castley in 28th place.

Leading by half a point is John Hall from five players on 57½ – Dave Hirons, Paul Owen, John Kitchener, John Doran and Phil Harrison, all of whom have scored pars or birdies on all 18 holes and have little margin for improvement.

A further half-point behind are Steve Tkaczynski and Dave Gaff, both of whom have margin for improvement, whereas Chris Hutchings and Harvey Terry, on the same points, will have to produce something special to go to the top.

There are players lurking just behind who are quite capable of producing a fine round and surprising the leaders. The final qualifying round for both trophies is November 10.

Cowdray ladies played a medal round on a lovely sunny day.

Results - Div 1 - 1 Angela Pike 73; 2 Marilyn Davis 76; 3 Joy Reineck 77. Div 2 - 1 Catherine Staples 78; 2 Vicky Lush 78; 3 Caroline Haynes 78. Div 3 - 1 Helen Chapman 80; 2 Carolyn Scott 80; 3 Pat White 85.

BOGNOR

Father and son Dave and Gary Maskell have won Bognor’s Daily Mail Foursomes with a nett score of 64.5. They will now go forward to represent the club in the national competition next year.

Richard Longhurst & Stuart Poyser came second with 69.5 and third were Alistair Murray and Trevor Ridgers with 72.

Bognor Seniors hosted Ham Manor and visited Royal Winchester.

In the home match, the weather was brilliant and the course in excellent condition and even though all the matches were fairly close from the first, Ham Manor ran out 4-2 winners.

Ham Manor captain John Barr had a brilliant back nine, equalling and bettering Bognor captain Jim Catt’s excellent play. One chip in from the ninth fairway to the 12th hole was unbelievable, and it ultimately changed the match.

Results: Jim Catt & Allan Delves lost 4&3 to John Barr & Bob Hutchings, David Turner & Mike Wadley lost 2&1 to Jim Miller & Steve Mountain, Hugh Diaper & Alan Fitzgerald won 2&1 against Steve Tellyn & Bernard Jacobs, Clive Millett & Peter Collins lost two down to Mick Edgell & Brian Trigg, Andy Isitt & Barry Ingate lost 2&1 to John Baker & Colin Ross, Mike Matthews & Ken Catt won 2 up against Ian Bull & Ray Potter.

Bognor won at Royal Winchester for the first time in many years. A stirring pre-game speech by Bognor captain David Turner worked wonders for all pairs, except his own, who were thrashed 6&5 by the Royal Winchester captain Mike Deren and partner Dave Young.

With the first two pairs going in Winchester’s way it looked bleak as Bognor’s third pair were two down with only three to play, but three fine pars on the closing holes by Mike Oates ensured his pairing halved.

After that all three remaining Bognor pairs won their own matches, with final result being a 3½-2½ win for Bognor.

Results: David Turner & Gary Steventon lost 6&5 to Mike Deren & Dave Young, Andy Isitt & Clive Millett lost 5&3 to Dave Rennison & Maurice Elsworthy, Mike Oates & Allan Delves halved with Geoff Whittle & Richard Stones, John Woodhead & Barry Vanstone won 4&3 against Chris Coates & Alan Webb, Alan Fitzgerald & Ian Bright won 2&1 against Ken Wyatt & Robert Jackson, Rob Redmond & Mike Matthews won 2&1 against Barry Girdlestone & Bob Sprague.

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