Cirencester Golf Club

Captain’s Drive-In 2020

A LARGE crowd of members was on hand to celebrate the arrival of the New Year at Cirencester Golf Club for the traditional Captain’s Drive-in on January 1, writes Danny Hall.

Six players, including three of the new captains, came forward for the knee-knocking test of driving from the first tee under the forensic but kindly gaze of the members.

Not just pride was at stake as members had been asked to predict the aggregate yardage of the six drives.

The biggest cheer came when Theo Skinley, deputising for the holidaying 2020 junior captain Owen Harrison, nervelessly found the fairway. Eight-year-old Theo is the youngest player ever to take part in the Captain’s Drive-in.

Unlike Theo, club pro Ed Goodwin could not find the fairway, instead carving his drive over the trees on the right and into the driving range, which took a considerable distance off his normal tee shot.

The other four stepping up to the plate were 2020 captains Steve Bishop (club), Erika Brooke (ladies), Andy Ponting (seniors) along with vice president John Parsons deputising for president Bob Hadley.

The total yardage of 888 was correctly estimated by Jan Stephens. It’s the second time in recent years that Jan has walked away with the cash jackpot thanks to her uncanny predictive skills – or those of husband Paul!

Christmas Social Bowmaker

SOME implausibly good scores were recorded in the Christmas Social Bookmaker, a four-man stableford competition with three of four scores to count on each hole.

High handicappers Andy Morris and Richard Merry, who had a top-10 finish in the Gillman Salver this season, showed their liking for the team format when, ably assisted by John Davies and Steve ‘Titch’ Titchener, they raced to success.

The 129-point total equates to three scoring players all posting 41 stableford points over the 18 holes.

The other quartets on the podium – Adam Collins, Paul Simpson, Lester Woods & Andy Reynolds, along with Paul Loxton, Steve Broadhurst, Tony Wilkinson & Ali Carter – must have felt they had their hands on the top prize when signing for 127 and 126 points respectively.

RESULTS

1st: Andy Morris, Richard Merry, John Davies & Steve Titchener – 129pts.

2nd: Adam Collins, Paul Simpson, Lester Woods & Andy Reynolds – 127pts.

3rd: Paul Loxton, Steve Broadhurst, Tony Wilkinson & Ali Carter – 126pts.

Mixed Teams

1st: Tony Holdway, Mark Jameson, Keith Hodgson & Sue Hodgson.

2nd: Sam Mitchell, Deb Organ, Jonny Cowley & Ed Goodwin.

Ladies’ Team

1st: Sue Bremner, Jane Muncer, Jan Stephens & Elaine Killick.

Seniors’ section

Texas Scramble

PERENNIAL early starters Nigel Curtis, Dave Jones & Pat Waldron teed up at first light to set a pace which could not be matched in the Seniors’ Texas Scramble on December 23.

They posted 10 birdies in the three-man scramble format and were particularly strong through the tougher back nine on their way to a nett 55.7 and a runaway victory.

In contrast, runners-up Brian Whittaker, Tony Killick & ‘Perry’ Mason enjoyed a exceptional front nine but could not get the putts to drop on the inward half, recording just one birdie from the turn.

Nevertheless, like the winners, their card was bogey-free as they signed for a very tidy 59 points.

RESULTS

1st: Nigel Curtis, Dave Jones & Pat Waldron (55.7); 2nd: Brian Whittaker, Tony Killick & Terry Mason (59); 3rd: Simon Burrows, Ray Russell & Ross McDonald (59.4); 4th: John Hall, Andy Ponting & John Parsons (59.7); 5th: Jeff Salter, John Appleby & Stu Michaelis (60.4).

Ladies’ section

Ladies’ New Year Stableford

ANGELA WOODWARD came out on top of the 23 ladies who took part in their New Year Stableford with 27 points.

She was closely followed in the 14-hole event by Sheila Lowbridge (26), who beat Emily Gorman (26) on countback.

Ladies’ Secret Santa Bowmaker

ON Saturday, 27 ladies played in nine teams of three for the annual Secret Santa Bowmaker competition, also over 14 holes. The festive spirit was evident in the form of Christmas jumpers, earrings and tinsel galore and everyone took a small Christmas present and placed it in Santa's sack prior to playing.

The winning team comprised Jane Muncer, Linda McIntosh & Gill Hunter with 65 points.

Second was Paddy Challens, Jan Stephens & Emma Brereton on 64 points and third was Muriel Telling, Deb Mills & Heather Morley on 61 points.

Chris Park and Jane Muncer achieved birdie twos on the par 3 2nd and 11th holes respectively.

After the golf all the ladies sat down to a lovely tea of sandwiches and cakes in the James Braid Room and opened their Christmas presents.