Golfers have taste of the Orient down to a tee

Lyne is half Chinese and half Philippine, but the theme for the drive-in was Japan as Lyne met husband Mark there and they lived there for 12 years, during which their children were born.

She explained: “The red wooden structure was based on a Japanese Torii gate and was made by my husband, with a sign above saying Lady Captain 2015.

“The ladies of the committee joined me in dressing up in a variety of costumes, with a Chinese/Japanese theme. The club captain and vice-captain also dressed up and met me at the tee, with glasses of champagne for all the ladies.

“We modified the starters’ hut and made it into a Japanese tea room for the day, with Mark serving refreshments to all the players.

“Once the drive-in was over, I changed into a red Japanese Happi coat, which allowed some movement so that I could play golf. It obviously was a Happi coat, as we won the team competition!”

Scores: 1 Lyne Watson, Nicki Vincent, Berit Smallcorn, Sue Redmond 81pts; 2 Chris Puddicombe, Gill Twyford, Lynn Miller, Ann Bushell 77; 3 Georgina McCormack, Liz Quinton, Eileen Morris, Sheila Hendrick 74.

More than 40 players entered the Daily Mail Foursomes. Ian Stoneham and Martin Leo won with a nett score of 66.5, which was only one over par gross.

There was a three-way tie for second place with nett 71.5. Second on countback were Dave Grover and Gary Embleton, third were John Cable and Bill Prior, and fourth Norman Lee and Cameron Lang.

The winners go through to represent the club in the national competition.

Bognor seniors had two fixtures in a week. In the first away at Royal Winchester, they lost 6½-1½. On a rainy day, Mike Wadley and Vic ward were the only winners for Bognor.

Results: Alan Fitzgerald & Mike Oates lost 3&1, Mel Henry & Trevor Till lost 2 down, Mike Walsh & Clive Millett lost 1 down, Gary Steventon & John Owen lost 3&2, Derek Whiting & Peter Collins halved, Frank Hodder & Tony Wells lost 2&1, Mike Wadley & Vic Ward won 4&2, John Woodhead & Alastair MacDonald lost 2&1.

At home to Ham Manor, two Bognor players forgot about the game and were hastily called from their homes, while Dave Turner turned up at Ham Manor for the match. It wasn’t a good day for Bognor as they lost their 100 per cent home record, going down 4-2.

Results: Alan Fitzgerald & Allan Delves lost 3&2, David Turner & Alastair MacDonald won 4&2, Clive Millett & Dennis Burke lost 1 down, Gary Steventon & Frank Hodder lost 3&2, John King & Richard Hedge won 3&2, Peter Collins & Hugh Diaper lost 3&2.

Bognor seniors’ Autumn Cup attracted more than 70 players for a shotgun start. Chris Hickling did a great job in organising the competition. There were closest pins on all par-threes and even a closest-the-pin in two on the 16th.

Seniors’ captain Alan Fitzgerald presented the prizes.

Division-two winner was Malcolm Dodds with 40 points, division-one winner was Trevor Till with 40. The Autumn Cup was won by Rob Redmond on countback with an excellent 41 points ahead of Steve King.

Redmond won this competition last year. Closest-the-pin winners were Jim Catt, Trevor Till, Graham Lucas – and Mike Walsh with two.

Alan Fitzgerald presented Cliff Willis with the Fletcher Trophy he recently won with a magnificent 45 points.

COWDRAY PARK

Conditions for Cowdray Park seniors’ October Stableford were better than expected. The fairways were soft underfoot and the weather was exceptional for the time of year.

Players took advantage of the ideal conditions with scoring being better than recently, with 17 players scoring par or better.

Winner of division one with 42 points was Phil Pett, building on his good display in the August Stableford. Late in the day Pat Harrison returned with a score of 41 to claim second place and earn a late place in the Champions’ Trophy next week.

Losing third place at the death was John Doran with 40.

In division two, Brian Carpenter was top with 42 points to earn himself a two-shot handicap reduction. Second place was Paul Chater with 39 points, also earning a place in the Champions’ Trophy.

Tony Castley had held second until Chater’s return, with 39 points, carding his best score of the year so far. Unluckiest player of the day was Alan Godfree, whose tee shot at the par-three 11th hit the pin but ricocheted off the green.

In the Carter Trophy, leader Harvey Terry was absent but only Brian Carpenter took advantage – and is now the only only player who can overtake Terry. Eleven players scored twos: John Sanderson, John Doran, John Newman, Dave Lucking, Terry Adsett, Peter Hardcastle, Brian Carpenter, Tony Castley, Clive Brine, Barry Overington (two) and Alan Robinson.

Leading scores: Div 1 – Phil Pett 42pts; Pat Harrison 41; John Doran 40; Jan de Vries 39; Allen Sibley 39. Div 2 – Brian Carpenter 42; Paul Chater 39; Tony Castley 39; Alan Godfree 37; Phill Morris 37.

The finalists have been decided for the final of Cowdray seniors’ singles summer knockout tournament for the Lait Trophy, donated by former member Bill Lait.

Bill Hummerston (handicap 14) had a tough road to the final, beating Paul Owen, David Manning, Mike Burgess, John Newman and an in-form Peter Hallt after extra holes in the semi-final.

Blocking his way now is the consistent Jan de Vries (11) who disposed off Keith Chapman, Peter Laws, Terry Adsett, Pat Bonner and Richard Keep in the semi-final.

Cowdray ladies played a Stableford.

Results: Div 1 – 1 Jill Parry 39pts, 2 Mandy Lucking 37, 3 Lil Cummins 35. Div 2 – 1 Sue Morris 38pts, 2 Sally Williams 34, 3 Marnie Evans 33. Div 3 – 1 Jenny Nichols 33, 2 Judith Brownlee 31, 3 Chris Sommerville 23.

SELSEY

On a very wet and windy day, the annual Max Faulkner Claret Jug was played. This is in memory of Max Faulkner and his father Gus, who owned the golf course from 1949 to 1957.

The competition was first played in 2000 and four players from each section of the club were involved. Sharron Williams became only the second lady to win the trophy, with a nett score of 64. Ray DeBuse was runner-up with 68.

The jug was presented by Peter Grindley, the club professional.

The ladies completed 14 holes in the give and take event, for which every player donates and wins a prize. Sue Bligh won the event.

A Christmas competition was played over 14 holes. Sue Bligh was the winner with 26 points and Eddie Williamson was second with 22. Two Christmas competitions have been rained off and the ladies hope to reschedule them before the end of October.

In November the ladies will play nine-hole roll-ups on Monday and Friday mornings. If any ladies are thinking about playing golf in 2015 and would like to come along to play on a Monday or Friday, contact Beverley Guest on 01243 605503.

ACES

Two local golfers have scored holes in one to win limited-edition BOSS watches.

Malcolm Bell, 67, scored his ace on the 151-yard par-three 13th at Chichester GC, and the 11-handicapper was rewarded with membership of the exclusive BOSS Watches H1 Club and a specially-commissioned commemorative timepiece.

Bognor’s James Jackson, 17, a 26-handicapper, scored his on the 155-yard, par-three third at Chichester.

The luxury German brand has again pledged to reward club golfers with an exclusive watch for every hole-in-one recorded during a club competition in 2014 after giving away £600,000 of limited-edition mementos in 2013.

The scheme is open to any golfer whose club uses HowDidiDo – a free-to-use, web-based social network for golfers – and anybody playing in official club competitions is eligible.