SeniorsCorner
Mike's Sensational Start - 24 May 2012
Earlier this year Mike Gardner and his family moved from Cumbria to the Wye Valley and while they were aware that this area is classed as being one of 'outstanding natural beauty', they did not think for one moment that their chosen golf course at the Gorsley based Ross Golf Club would fall into the same category. In describing the whole golfing experience when playing the Club's 18 tree-lined holes as being 'inspirational', Mike's exploits in competitions to date have witnessed equally 'inspiring' results for him and also his son, David, a 3 handicapper, where both previously played at Carlisle Golf Club.
Mike's latest success took place when 100 members competed for the Club's Annual Burns Trophy event with Mike's 38 stableford points, including an eagle at the 3rd hole, seeing him finish in top spot and enabling him to book his place at the Club's Annual Trophy Presentation evening in September. As his achievements in recent months have come with his handicap tumbling from 17 to 14, Mike also pays tribute to the relationship and coaching support received from the Club's Head Professional Tim Hall, for as they both arrived at the Ross club at much the same time, Mike was Tim's first customer.
Kevin D'Lonra and Richard Topping with 37 points each were runners-up in the Burns Trophy with other good scores being delivered by Colin Bennion, James Ford, Simon Davies, James Price, Tim Wyatt and Dave Gribble with 36 points each and Dave Gardner, Andrew Hobbs and Jason Bolton with 35 points each.
The season has also started particularly well for the teams representing the Ross Club and especially for 'A' team Captain Neil Lancett and his squad in their quest to gain promotion, and the 3.5 points to 2.5 points away win at the Tewkesbury Park Club in their latest match against much fancied opponents, has provided considerable satisfaction and encouragement. The Ross points came from wins by Jason Bolton/Ross Jenkins 6/4, Jamie Wilde/Harry Butler 5/4, Tony and Jake Howells 2/1 and a halved match involving Jacob Ashdown and afore mentioned Dave Gardner. Neil is also delighted that the 3 Junior players, Harry Butler, Jake Howells and Jacob Ashdown are all undefeated in league matches to date.
B Team Captain Colin Bennion and his squad enjoyed their first success on their season when they entertained their counterparts from Tewkesbury Park which saw the home team win comfortably by 5 pts to 1.
Equally Seniors Captain Cec Wheatstone and his Seniors squad, in having been beaten just once in the first 8 matches of their season of friendly matches, are delighted to be maintaining the standards and expectations delivered by Cec's predecessors. The latest confrontations saw a 5.5 pts to 2.5 points Ross win when Cirencester Seniors were the visitors and a particularly creditable 4 points all draw when Ross played at the Droitwich Spa Golf Club. At Droitwich the Ross points came from wins by Doug David/Geoff Baker 2 up, Mike Harris/Richard Escolme 4/2, Richard Nightingale/Ken Vowles 2 up and halved match results featuring Brian Clouder/David Rees and Graham Russell/Dave Thrower.
Octogenarian Helps to win Major Trophy
17 May 2012
A major event in the Club's Calendar is to honour the official 1965 opening of Ross Golf Club's delightful and unique tree-lined golf course and Clubhouse at Gorsley. In this respect members are indebted to Club Captain Neville Ovens and his wife Jean, who have for several years been responsible for organising the Anniversary Rose Bowl mixed foursomes 18 holes stableford event, with partnerships drawn at random, and also the dinner party which follows by way of celebration.
Octogenarian Gerald Turner was delighted that he was called upon as a last-minute replacement as Gerald and his partner Bridget Billington coped admirably with the day's highly testing conditons to score 32 points to win the Trophy, and book their places at the Club's Annual Presentational evening in September. In her first year at the Ross Club, Bridget has enjoyed a particularly good spell including her part in the winning team in the recent Ladies/Seniors Am-Am event. The runners-up with 30 points were Joan Punnett and Trevor Flowers.
Another member new to the Ross Club is Mike Phillips and he was able to make his mark recently when his 41 stableford points total in conditions which were very difficult for good scoring, resulted in him being a clear winner in the 2nd Round of the Club's Annual Layton Cup. 82 members took part in the event where the ultimate Cup Winner is decided by the best 3 rounds total of the 6 rounds played during the summer months. Mike was followed by Neville Ovens with 38 points, Richard Mackley, Jim Wilkinson, Gordon Brigg and Ian Caves who all scored 37 points each and Roy Taylor with 36 points.
Seniors Captain Cec Wheatstone and his squad enjoyed their second away win of the season at Stinchcombe Hills Golf Club near Dursley with an emphatic 6-2 victory with the Ross points being earned by Cec Wheatstone/David M Rees 4/3, Brian Clouder/Terry Savage and Graham Chick/Ken Vowles who both won 2/1, David Every/Bob Cooper 2 up, Richard Escolme/Malcolm Thornton 4/2 and Gerald Turner/Keith Ray 1 up.
Regards,
Keith Ray
19 April 2012
Another popular Club event saw the Ladies and Seniors get together to form 12 mixed teams in a Am-Am stableford competition with 2 scores required being best lady and best senior. Remarkably, 3 teams finished on a 78 points total so best back 9 performances came into the reckoning and this determined that the winners emerged as Bridget Billington, Pam Duke, Terry Savage and Jim Merritt leaving Lady Captain, Amanda Marshall's team as runners-up which included Jackie Wheatsone, Gerald Turner and Frank Gallagher. In 3rd place were Judith Landau, Denise Laird, Graham Baum and Nick Swan and nearest the pin winners were Lady Vice-Captain Jeanette Forrester and Doug David.
The Club's Seniors Over 55 squad Captained and managed by Clarkson Barclay and holders of the 2011 Gloucestershire Golf Union's Annual Under 55's knock-out Salver competition, defended their title with a home match against the Filton GC Seniors who, having been title winners themselves, were considered something of a tough assignment. First pairing of Colin Bennion/ Gwynne Morgan were soon 3 up but had to succumb to the Filton pair losing on the 18th hole by one down.
The second pairing of Tim Rigden and new boy Nigel Jennings produced some fine golf to fight back from 2 down after 2 holes to win 3/2 by dint of a eagle and 2 birdie's, one to within inches on the 9th hole.
The third pairing of Brain Prosser/Doug Duncanson were 2 up after 2 holes and were never headed, and went on to a comfortable 3/2 win.
In friendly matches for the Ross Seniors squad, in the care of Seniors Captain, Cec Wheatstone, the season started brightly with a 5 points to 3 win when Cotswold Hills Seniors were the visitors. Ross wins came from Cec Wheatsone/Richard Topping 1 up, Allan Bebb/Phil Wilson and Peter Lowe/Mike Archer who both won 3/2, David Thrower/Graham Weare 4/3 and halved match results for Peter Landau/Nigel Gibbs and Terry Savage/Graham Baum.
When the squad visited Worcester Golf and Country Club they were not quite so fortunate finishing second best by 4.5 points to 2,5 points with wins by Peter Chapman/Geoff Baker 1 up, Brian Clouder/Bob Cooper 7/5 and a halved match result involving Nick Swan/Peter Shaw being the highlights.
Regards,
Keith Ray