Royal Navy armed with trophy after forces' golf day at Bognor

Excellent scores were achieved in an event which fittingly co-incided with Poppy Day, with Jim Morris scoring 40 points for the RAF, Aitken Thomson 38 for the Army and Doug Hamlett 36 for the Royal Navy.

With an average score of 34, the RN, led by Frank Hodder, took the honours with the RAF second on 31.2 and the Army on 29.1. It’s the ninth year the inter-services competition has been played, the Army having won four times, the RN three.

First in group A was Mike Oates with 40 points, second was Jim Catt with 39 on countback from Richard Hedge.

Second to Jim Morris in group B was Mike Wilson with 39, third Doug Hamlett and fourth Paul Irish, both on 36.

John Woodhead had the longest drive on the 17th, Mike Wadley was nearest the pin on the second and tenth, nearest the fifth was Bunny Blackman and on the 15th it was Mike Oates.

Vets’ captain John Owen thanked all for their support and generosity towards the Poppy Appeal. Boosted by the auction of three England cricket ties donated by Peter Lush, club member and manager of the England cricket team from 1986 to 1991, the poppy tin became rather full with £162 raised.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park seniors’ November Stableford was held on an unseasonably warmy day. Opportunities for good scoring were there, though the pins were still in difficult positions.

Captain Peter Burton and vice-captain Bill Hummerston returned fine cards of 39 points, with the vice-captain rather ungallantly pipping his captain on countback.

This score was soon replicated by former club captain Harvey Terry and Brian Brockhurst, but they were all trumped by the improving Cliff Davis, who registered 41 points. Immediately following him in was Keith Barker with 40 to claim third place. Performance of the day came from octogenarian Eric Hobbs, who scored 38 points and registered his second top-ten finish of the year. Scoring levels seemed to taper away as the weather got warmer until Sam Howes came in with 41 points to take first place on countback.

His handicap will now be reduced before playing his singles matchplay final against Phil Harrison, who proved himself in top form with a solid 38 points. The captain was assisted with scorecards and the raffle by Gary Strowbridge and John Sanderson, with the raffle raising £152 for Help for Heroes.

The Stableford signalled the end of this year’s Eclectic and Carter trophy contests. Both competitions provided thrilling finishes to top off a highly-successful season for the seniors section, which continues to expand in quantity and quality.

The result of the Eclectic mirrored last year’s tight finish. Phil Harrison won by 0.5 points from John Doran, who’d had his handicap reduced before this competition, whereas Harrison had his handicap reduced initially but restored in time to clinch the title.

Notable progress was made into the top 20 by Sam Howes, Peter Burton, Tony Castley and Bill Brownlee, which should give them encouragement for 2012. A total of 144 players submitted cards during the year.

The Carter Trophy was more straightforward with leader Peter Clarke unable to defend his lead following a shoulder injury. Only one player took advantage of his absence, Cliff Davis, who finished second in the Stableford on countback, to gain his sixth top-ten finish and added 14.5 Carter points and clinch the competition by two points.

A total of 74 members garnered points by finishing in the top ten this year.

Cowdray Park, previous winners of the Surrey & West Sussex Winter League, entertained current champions Bramley in what’s always a close-fought match, with both sides fielding strong teams.

The home side ran out out 3½-½ winners, although the individual legs were fiercely contested.

Brian Bulpitt, making his debut for the home side, celebrated by partnering Chris Dormer to a win. This result gave Cowdray Park seven points from their first two matches, both at home, but the current pace-setters are Puttenham, who have racked up 13 points from their opening four matches.

Results (Cowdray names first): Terry Jasper & Mike Purdie beat Mike Burnham & Terry Newman; Chris Dormer & Brian Bulpitt beat Frank Mangan & Gren Boyden; Dave Lucking & Brian Carpenter beat Mike Whitaker & Dick Humphrey; Dave Tilley & John Doran halved with Terry Vermigie & Phil Herbert.

Cowdray Park’s November Medal brought a very good turnout of 88. Division one’s Rob Marjoram, with a nett 67, was the overall winner.

Division-two winner was Martin Donohue with 70 while division three was taken by Barry Overington with 72.

The 19th Hole Cup, a greensomes stableford, was played on a sunny but windy day featuring 42 pairs. Three pairs finished on the same score.

Results: 1 Phil Harrison & Shaun White 40pts (countback), 2 Sean Gallagher & Debbie Cheasley 40,

3 Paul Dudman & Mick Whitcomb 40.

CHICHESTER

Yellow ball competitions were the choice for Chichester ladies to support Children in Need.

Each team member rotated the use of the double-points yellow ball on each hole. Desperate not to lose it, tensions mounted as each hole was completed. The prize for returning to the clubhouse with the ball was three extra points.

The winning team with a massive 146 points was Kathy Donohoe, Erica Ellicott and Trish Robertson. Close runners-up with 145 were Caroline Hawkes, Angela Perkins and Jane Buckley.

A total of 52 players took part with all money going to Children in Need.

AVISFORD PARK

The club monthly Stableford saw Dave Rudman win division one with 38 points and Donald Every take division two with 39.

The ladies’ Stableford winner was Rosemary Dabinett with 32 points while the midweek Stableford was won with 39 points by Vinny Lampitt.

The midweek medal winner was Robert Kuszka with a nett 66 and the seniors’ Gerry Reid Trophy saw Mike Gammon win with 39 points ahead of Brian Parkinson (38).

The cross-country runners-up were Stuart Rackham, Darrin Bird and Mick Dunn with a nett 31 behind winners Lee Rogers, Paul Rosin and Russell Evershed (30).