Thurlestone Golf Club

The weather proved too much for the later starters on Wednesday as rain and gale-force winds drove half the field off the course after nine holes, or after two holes for some writes Liz Line.

Only 20 out of a field of 40 actually went out and only eight of them completed 18 holes.

The winner in division one was Jennifer Roberts (3) with 34, an excellent score in those conditions. In second place was Gill Hicks (13) with 33, also very good.

In division two the winner was Liz Barker (23) with 22 as the weather had deteriorated by then. In division three the winner was Sarah Hartley (35) with 20 points.

Gill Hicks got the only two of the day on the sixth hole; well done to all who went out.

Seasonal smiles came early for Ron Bancroft and Malcolm Gloster when they won the Thurlestone seniors’ Christmas greensomes with a score of 27 points over 11 holes on Tuesday, reports Alan Goldsmith.

Only 11? The clifftop course can lend itself to a festive combination which cuts out holes 10 to 16 – and that’s how it was played by more than 50 lunch-anticipating seniors on a surprisingly mild day when most of those who had dressed for Yuletide got rid of their Santa gear after the first couple of tee shots!

The event attracted an entry of 52 players plus additional guests for the lunch, at which seniors‘ captain Chris Holmes, ending his three-year term before handing over to Tom Burnett next month, presented the official – and some unofficial – awards.

The runners-up to Ban­croft and Gloster were Patrick Robinson and Terry Cook, on countback from Harry Cattell and Mac McCoy (25 points). There was a similarly close finish for fourth place, which went to Geoff Holt and Charlie Barker from Bill Hutchison and Gamini Goonesekera (24). Nearest the pin on the sixth and 17th respectively were Graeme Fairley and Nick Lipson, with bunker prizes for David Horne and Chris Miller plus lost-ball awards for Derek Harwood and John Davie.

The traditional putting contest, held in front of the clubhouse and organised by Gamini Goonesekera, was won by Graeme Fairley (33) on countback from Peter Coates, with Geoff Holt and Al Parker (34) also close.

Those receiving mystery prizes from Chris Holmes included Patrick Robinson, who managed to book a Thursday roll-up for fellow members at Thurlestone while he was staying in Gran Canaria; roll-up organiser and treasurer Geoff Holt; and Mike Morgan, who has arranged more than a dozen of the seniors’ annual trips to France.

On Thursday 120 men descended on the course for the Devon PGA competitions.

There were really three competitions going on. The Pros play an individual competition, then a competition with a professional and an amateur and then a competition with just two amateurs.

The winner of the professional competition was Paul Hendriksen from Ivybridge with 34 points.

The winners of the pro-am were Nicky Maddison and Roger Gay from Saunton with 43 points.

Everyone enjoyed the day and said the course was in stunning condition for the time of year.