Pairs Stableford Friday December 29th 2017

 

.

The last competition of 2017 was a pairs event –  Dave Wareing and Kevin Watson were the best on the day but you don’t always need a partner to get in the prizes! Tony Andrews didn’t have a partner and had to rely on the luck of the draw, but his ‘ghost’ had one of the best scores, so always keep going!

.

1st     Dave Wareing & Kevin Watson………………………..46pts

2nd   Ian Whyte & Dave Cooke………………………………..44pts

3rd    Tony Andrews & Ghost…………………………………..43pts

.

Dave and Kevin…………

.

Dave Cooke and Ian Whyte………………………

.

 

Tony with ‘ghost’ partner hovering in the ether……

 

.

I was lucky enough to have 15 years old Megan Williams as a partner – surely the biggest age gap of the day, with me being 56 years older! She plays for Lancashire girls and surely has a bright future. She pointed out that her society handicap was 8 shots higher than what she plays off at home so asked for it to be reduced. It maybe cost us a prize as we were only 3 strokes short!

.

the coaching has produced a lovely swing……………………..

.

a drive, an iron, 2 putts – an easy par for Megs on our dreaded 10th hole…………………..

 

.

You can find a simplified explanation of the 2018 green fees on the CDA Golf Society (group) page on Facebook.

.

Next week is the first Apollo Air stableford of 2018.

.

Wishing a happy and healthy new year to all our members.

.

Barry

 

 

Read Full Post »

GNK green fee and buggy charges 2018

Message from Chris Aherne

 

Our rates will be the following:

High Season(Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Sept. Oct. Nov) at all 6 GNK Golf courses

€48 per person sharing a buggy

€37 walking

Low Season(Jan. Jun. Jul. Aug. Dec.) at Saurines Golf, La Torre Golf, Hacienda Riquelme Golf and Alhama Signature

€40 per person sharing a buggy

€35 walking

Green fees do not include the €3 daily license fee for non Spanish Golf Federated players.

Golf Society rates only apply to groups of 12 players or more.

 

Its important to note that the green fee including a buggy applies to golfers sharing a buggy.  If only one player is using a buggy the fee will be the respective walking rate plus our standard buggy fee of €32.  Therefore, I encourage societies to bring an even number of golfers.  The odd player of course can choose to walk and just pay the walking fee.  As many of your members are also members of GNK Golf and will probably play with a non GNK Golf member and want a buggy; it would be best if the member of GNK Golf went to the pro shop and purchase a buggy at member price, €25.  Then the non GNK Golf member can pay his/her half of the buggy directly to the GNK Golf member.  I would encourage the society to try and pair players according to following provisions:

1. Non GNK Golf members paying the society rate sharing a buggy.
2. GNK Golf members and society players who wish to share a buggy.
3. Walkers

Read Full Post »

Clover Xmas Stableford Friday December 22nd 2017

 

Tony Andrews shows that it’s not about the clothes, it’s the swing…..

 

.

This week was the annual Clover Xmas special, a stableford with a twist – 2 gifts from Santa, one free throw at any time during the round and a mulligan (replay one shot you weren’t happy with!). Players wore Santa hats (provided if they hadn’t got one!). Peter Reeves got into the Christmas spirit, dressing appropriately for his role as starter.

.

Was it Peter or the real Santa?

.

Mulled wine and mince pies were provided before the golf, and  the society put on a buffet for golfers at the evening presentation. Thanks to Alicia and Ken who prepared the food, helped on the night by Tanya Busby and Lynn Simpson.

Everything looked very Christmassy, but the thermometer (in the shade) showed 23 degrees. 31 players took part and the clear winner turned out to be Alicia.

.

1st      Alicia Saunders …………………………………42pts

2nd    Dave Cooke……………………………………….37pts (on countback)

3rd     Jim Alwell…………………………………………37pts (on countback)

4th     Phil Cooke…………………………………………37pts (on countback)

.

Alicia gets the trophy, but don’t they look silly wearing Santa hats?

.

.

perfect Spanish weather for winter golf……………

.

never seen anyone here before! Jan Bosch cleared the par 3 11th by at least 50 yards!

.

Some good photos (supplied by Lynn Simpson). Notice we had a celebrity helping out at the presentation – you can always rely on Ricky Comber to steal the show!

.

.

And there was a special celebration for Tommy Toner who had tried to keep his 60th quiet, but no chance once Dee found out……………………

.

 

.

Next week is a pairs stableford.

.

The Grim Reaper came for me last night, and I beat him off with a vacuum cleaner. Talk about Dyson with death.
>
> A mate of mine recently admitted to being addicted to brake fluid. When I quizzed him on it he reckoned he could stop any time….
>
> I went to the cemetery yesterday to lay some flowers on a grave. As I was standing there I noticed 4 grave diggers walking about with a coffin, 3 hours later and they’re still walking about with it. I thought to myself, they’ve lost the plot!!
>
> My daughter asked me for a pet spider for her birthday, so I went to our local pet shop and they were £70!!! Blow this, I thought, I can get one cheaper off the web.
>
> I was at an ATM yesterday when a little old lady asked if I could check her balance, so I pushed her over.
>
> I was driving this morning when I saw an AA van parked up. The driver was sobbing uncontrollably and looked very miserable. I thought to myself that guy’s heading for a breakdown.

 

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas

.

Barry

Read Full Post »

Pairs Stableford Friday December 15th 2017

the winners were Mark & Neil……………..

 

.

The serious competitions for 2017 are now over, just a friendly pairs competition this week, and then the Clover Christmas bash on the 22nd. Thanks to Lynn Bell for acting as starter this week. The forecast was for 22 degrees, but the tops only came off for one hole early on, and then the wind arrived to make scoring difficult for the 16 pairs.

But Neil and Mark were runaway winners with an unbelievable 45 points – it was possible because they dovetailed perfectly with one of them doing the business at every hole.

 

1st    Mark Ambridge & Neil Simpson…………………….45pts

2nd  Chris McAllister & Pete Elgar…………………………41pts

3rd   Tom Toner & Shaun Cairney………………………….40pts

 

.

didn’t matter that Neil was in trouble at hole 4 – Mark made par for a net eagle!

 

.

the winners watch my partner Don Henry putt out on the devil’s hole, number 10………..

.

Next week is the annual Clover Xmas special, a stableford with a twist – 2 gifts from Santa, one free throw at any time during the round and a mulligan (replay one shot you weren’t happy with!). Players must wear a Santa hat (provided).

All arrive at the clubhouse for 09.15 for mulled wine and mince pies, and the society is putting on a small buffet for golfers at 7pm Friday night.

.

Not much this week, so here are some observations………………………

.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. 

A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well. 

He, who laughs last, thinks slowest. 

A day without sunshine is like, well, night. 

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. 

Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don’t. 

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool. 

The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there’s a 90% probability you’ll get it wrong. 

It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end-to-end, someone would be stupid enough to try to pass them. 

If the shoe fits, get another one just like it. 

The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those who got there first. 

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer. 

Torch: a tube for holding dead batteries. 

God gave you toes as a device for finding furniture in the dark. 

When you go into court, you are putting yourself in the hands of twelve people, who weren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty. 

.

Barry

Read Full Post »

Apollo Air Individual Stableford Friday December 8th 2017

Chris King was the first of the leaders out, and smashed his first drive a long way down the middle…………………..

 

.

The last Apollo Air of the year had 31 entrants and with only 2 ladies, no ladies prize. However, it was the deciding leg of the 12 competitions in 2017 for the overall champion (best 6 scores to count). Chris King and Kevin Smith were tied after the November competition on 222 points with Chris McAllister and John Collins with an outside chance of overtaking the leaders.

.

All four fought to the end, with Chris McAllister losing out with his 33 points. Kev thought he had done enough with 37 points and Chris King matched him with the same score. But it was John Collins who came from behind with 38 points, good enough to claim the first division prize on the day and amazingly improve his 6 scores by 10 points (lowest score drops off) to pip Kev by one shot!

.

What a finish yesterday with the top 3 overall all having the best scores (bar 1) on the day. Chris King had a 2 on the 12th (par 4) – 290 yard drive followed by 85 yard sandwedge that pitched close and spun back into the hole. Followed by a birdie 4 on the next for 8 points in 2 holes, but still not enough to tiptoe over the finishing line.

.

We mustn’t forget that it was also the monthly Apollo Air which was won by Terry Burgess – well done Terry!

.

Thanks again to Barbara Rollett for acting as starter this week.

.

Apollo Air winner

Terry Burgess (10.8)……………………………………..39pts

.

1st division

1st     John Collins (11.9)………………………………..38pts

2nd   Chris King (3.6)……………………………………37pts

 

2nd division

1st    Kevin Smith (18.3)………………………………..37pts (on countback)

2nd  Jim Alwell (19.6)…………………………………..37pts

 

Best of series (Apollo Air 2017 Championship)

1st     John Collins……………………………………………226pts

2nd  Kevin Smith…………………………………………….225pts

3rd   Chris King………………………………………………224pts

.

Terry had the best score of the day……………………..

 

.

John came from behind to take the big prize and also won the 1st division in the process……………………

 

.

Kev was leading all year and made a valiant attempt to hold on, but had to settle for the 2nd division prize on the day………….

 

.

Chris played so well, but could not add to his many other wins in 2017………..

.

The course is looking really well as winter sets in (click the photo for a better view)……………………………….

.

probably the best looking hole is the par 3 3rd……….

 

.

and a view across the lake to the par 3 11th from the highest viewpoint behind the 14th green…………….

.

Thanks to Anthony Keating for these two contrasting vistas – Condado Saturday and Swindon (UK) Sunday!

.

Saturday………………

.

Sunday………………..

.

I am afraid that this week it is Pat Hughes who has been exposed playing a bad shot – on the 14th his ball was sat down in the first cut of rough, and after one of Pat’s ferocious swings it was still there………………………….

.

oops!

 

.

another swipe, and as you can see, the ball is on it’s way………………

 

.

Daniel Don made up the numbers in this group of challengers for the ‘best of series’ but holed out for a 3 here on the 11th………..

 

.

Next week is a pairs stableford event.

.

Sad news from our friends at Aguilon – Pedro, the barman from the clubhouse, has died suddenly. The club are holding a tournament in the next couple of weeks with all proceeds going to his family. Contact Les Raufer if you want to play or contribute anything   –  lesantas@yahoo.co.uk

.

.

 

 

Barry

 

 

Read Full Post »

4 Person Team Friday December 1st 2017

Clear blue skies but a bit windy and chilly – I am sure there are plenty in the UK who would swap with us!

 

.

This week was a 4 person team with 3 scores to count each hole. A sunny (but windy) day with windproof tops or waterproofs required for the full round and in the bar after. Only 2 of the 11 teams managed to beat the par of 108 points. The captain’s team just triumphed due to  a better back nine. Thanks to Barbara Rollett who acted has starter to give the committee a well deserved rest.

 

.

1st   Ken Saunders, Dave Storey, Dave Wareing, Terry Burgess……..109pts

2nd  Brian Ali, Rob Busby, Stephen Bell, Kevin Heslop…………………109pts

 

.

the captain picked a good team………………

 

.

only two at the presentation but managed to catch the runners-up later…………

 

.

It was nice to see Dave Rollett back after several weeks, but his high handicap team (23, 23, 23 and pro Neil Simpson 22) weren’t good enough………..

.

the ducks obviously felt safer on dry land after me and Neil had bombarded them in the lake – here Neil plays his second ball from near the ladies tee on 10……..

 

.

then they swam to the 11th to see what the good golfers were doing……………..

 

.

Dave played well but was often so unlucky as the photos below show…………..

.

Dave R was so unlucky where his drive finished on 18……………..

 

.

2nd shot didn’t move – now playing 3rd from his own divot…………..

 

.

probably easier to put it here to start with………..

 

.

Maybe I should have video’d the action but I didn’t know what was going to happen, and fortunately there is no sound on these pictures!

.

Next week is the final Apollo Air of the year, and we will find out who will take the annual trophy – good luck to the 3 or 4 players still in with a chance. If you want to know who they are, go to masterscoreboard and and look under ‘best of series’.

All fixtures for 2018 are now on masterscoreboard, so I will not be including them on the blog this year under the fixtures tab. A significant change is the Ladies Day major has been moved to Friday April 6th (the week after easter) and the Pairs Strokeplay event is now on Friday September 14th.

 

.

Late news…………………

2 of our members won prizes at the 6th (and final) event on the GKN tour at Hacienda Requelme. Chris King maintained his position as overall 2nd and won one year’s individual membership at the 6 courses. Also Paul Harrington finished in 2nd place on the day in category one. Well done to them both!

.

well done Chris!

.

and Paul also!

.

.

I am getting disillusioned with golf and may try a new sport – click on the link below……………………………

.

GoodbyeGolf(1)

 

 

.

Barry

 

 

 

.

Barry

Read Full Post »