Friday 5th December 2025

Are you getting lots of Christmas Post ?

A Friend of mine is collecting stamps, which he sells in aid of a local Hospice.

If you are happy to tear them off the envelopes and drop them off up at the Club I can ensure they are delivered to him in bulk.

You can stuff them in the Mail Box alongside the filing cabinet in locker room if that's OK with Treasurer. Or get to me any other way. No panic, I'll keep open until last Day of Christmas. JKP

🙏 日本語の「ありがとう」入門——気持ちが伝わるベストな言い方

Friday

Most had believed the forecast and stayed away. 3 Earlies and 8 Late Players went out - knowing that the wind would ramp up to 50 Knots and bring heavy rain.

Roger, Ian & David had a very pleasant round, came in with a level Par 71 and took all the money. Ian complained that the back of his heel got wet just as he entered the Clubhouse....

3 Groups went out later, off Red Tees which is much simpler but the Stroke Index off Red is rather strange.

Terry R is pictured walking down the 1st Fairway, but only 29 paces were needed to reach his ball that the shiny new £450 Ping G340 Max had achieved.

Off Red Tees, 5th hole is only a Par 4 and Stroke Index 13 - which meant no shot for Terry and 2 from 3 Scores on that hole were 1,0,1,1 from the 4 Teams.

11th Hole was SI 18 Points were 3, 2, 0 and 1

Anyway Earlies were home & Dry. Barrie & Bob gave up after 14th as it was getting quite miserable. Farmer Bob Threesome played 13th, walked to 16th and failing to get a last gasp "2" - walked across to Clubhouse as rain got heavier.

Somewhere, out in the country - about 3 holes behind were Mike 'The Grinch' Hone; Terry 'I don't like the cold' Rutherford and Dave 'The Forecast looks fine on my Apple iPhone Pro MaX2" Mugridge - played on to the bitter end, got soaked and won absolutely nothing.

No Twos or Birdies by anyone.

Vice-Captain Ian was in charge but just managed 11 Holes on his own.

Wednesday 3rd December 2025

Christmas Cracker

Scoring off Ladies Card

Seniors & Ladies Christmas Cracker Texas Scramble

Wednesday 3rd December 2025, Red Tees, Cricket St Thomas

(30%/20%/10% from lowest to highest playing handicap)

View Statistics for this Competition

Results		Score
1st	Kay Fawcett, Michael Hone, David Mugridge	60
2nd	Jeremy Blackburn, Mark Haskins, Chris Hiam	60
3rd	David Hannaford, Barbara Shaw, Ian Thomas	61
4th	Loren Dearing, Roger Evans, Dennis Hussey	61
5th	Richard Forster, John Griffiths, Mark Sanders	62
6th	Danny Dowell, Derek Gardener, Paul Shorrocks	62
7th	Emma Hilton, Steve Holt, Graham Lloyd	62
8th	Gordon Brent, Jozef Kotwica, Liz Stevens	62
9th	David Asquith, Barrie Heath, Emma Hodgkinson	63
10th	Nick Gabb, John Pearce, Mairi Wandless	64
11th	Julie King, James Siabi, Rod Stevens	64
12th	Norman Markby, Andrew Rowland, Janet Warner-Booth	64
13th	Jacqui Hill, Charles Summers, Eric Williams	65
14th	Mary Bryant, Rob Coombs, Bob Dennett	66
15th	Sara Fright, Martin Leigh, Peter Spencer-Farr	67
16th	Keith Branchflower, Ruth Dowell, Steve Kitcher	68

Kay Fawcett, Michael Hone, David Mugridge
Winners with 6 Birdies and Nett 60

Buggies were banned through yesterday's rain - but what a beautiful day it turned out to be.

Nick Gabb, John Pearce, Mairi Wandless

On 5th Tee with Mist in background and early frost , made Par 5 on this hole as front 9 looked very promising. 3 drives each thanks to excellent course management by Cool Hand Nick

Jeremy Blackburn, Mark Haskins, Chris Hiam 2nd Place on Countback Nett 60

It really was a beautiful Day - Look at that Sky as Temp crept into double figures...

David Hannaford, Barbara Shaw, Ian Thomas tip-toe off 14th - with 13 shots they were the danger team - but bogies on 14th & 15 cost them the overall win.

David Hannaford, Barbara Shaw, Ian Thomas 3rd Place with Nett 61

34 Birdies bagged today in high-class scoring

Nick contemplates 2nd shot on 2nd from Mairi's drive.

3 hours 30 minutes we were back inside. Nobody got a hole in one, so Captain James retrospectively cancelled that comp.

No Ladies made Green on 8th for NTP, so James retrospectively forgot to buy any wine and Mary forgot to put out Marker - so another win/win event.

Fierce Competition on NTP for Seniors on 13th - Once again, clever James saved time by not putting out signs - but Muggo had read the small print and stuck one within 6 feet. He marked it with a scrap of paper, which was just big enough for Barrie Heath to add his own Autograph for his effort that was 2 feet closer.

Then into Horizons which was beautifully decorated and heated to 26 Degrees which clashed horribly with mandate for everyone to wear artic Christmas Jumpers.

Another Test for the participants was the seating plan, which had the tables set up for 4 Teams of 2 , which challenged the 16 Teams of Three. Chris Hiam commented that this was harder than the 20% question on the 1% Club.

James could not convince Lady Captain
Mary to allow a game of Irish Bingo, so an enthusiastic entry just ate up the boxes of chocolates without leaving their seats.

It really was a very Social event and we appreciate the organisation. Seniors would find it very hard to exist without the help from the Ladies every Year.

Steve below demanded we make Mike Hone look Festive in the Photographs, but even with the latest AI Tools - it was a big challenge..until he heard the crunching sound of £20 Notes in the Captains hand...

James was far too apologetic in his closing speech. What happened , what didn't the weather etc - but take a look around James - it really was a lot of fun and appreciated by everyone.

Even describing yourself as a failed Sommelier in Tesco's was quite amusing.

We know you're struggling with a few health issues just now but you stepped up to be Captain and your efforts are treasured.

We are sorry for all of you that could not join us today - but Management make day to day decisions and we have to run with them.

Honour & her Team were kept busy with the Chicken Pie, Chips & Peas. Lovely juicy Pie and ideal for such a day.

£15 for a Meal with Coffee, 4 members of Staff running around and Crackers & Napkins on the Tables .

It was a Cracker !

Friday 28th November 2025

A very fine day with over 40 rolling up. James, Ian, Rob etc went out alone as no Club Buggies and another 36 had fun in the Sun.

( note Club was closed Sat am due to overnight rain)

We spend ages working out Handicaps for a Scramble - but as usual, we could just as easily played it off scratch - even this tricky format with ZERO spare drives.

Jolly Roger's Crew scored Gross 62

Really...Four "Twos" !!!

Wednesday 26th November 2025

Pictured on 13th Bob, Nick 1, Nick 2 & Muggo - taking relief from the Bunker.

Gordon, Jeremy, Neil & Ian were well ahead after 9 holes - 7 better than the Par 54 with 61 Points. Pictured Team had only 56 so they were 5 points behind.

The 13th, however, proved a turning point. The earlies scored a meagre 4 Points - Gordon was still celebrating his "2" on the 12th, Ian managed 2 points with a Team Total of 4 on this hole.

Farmer Bob, leaning casually on his putter, was licking his lips. None of the 4-ball had a shot as it was Stroke index 16 - but Bob made par, Nick 2 made par and Nick Gabb slid his ball into the hole for a Match-winning "2" and a Team Hall of 7 Points - Muggo took free relief from the bunker - but was not needed .

one hole later , the other Nick made a birdie 3, Dave & Bob made Par and their total of 9 points put them ahead of the earlies for the first time. They were even-steven over last few holes and the back-9 gave them the win after scored were tied.

I had to issue a public apology to Nick Gabb who was on the practice green for 40 minutes . I foolishly commented, as he finished every put , even those of a few inches.

" Why do you bother tapping all those in I asked ? "