Two new captains were installed at Wedmore Golf Club, with the ladies and seniors also holding their annual meetings.

IT WAS all change this week at Wedmore Golf Club as both seniors and ladies sections held their annual meetings and installed new captains.

The seniors came first and their AGM was preceded by the annual contest between the captain’s and vice-captain’s teams. The result this year was a win for the vice-captain.

Best scoring pairs were Terry Simpson & Graham Stock and Peter Rowntree & Alasdair McDonald, who both scored 37 points from 15 holes. Simpson and Stock took first prize on countback.

At the meeting, Jim Crick handed over to Mike Tanswell who introduced his charity for the year as GOSH, the children’s hospital which has played a vital role in the life of his grandson.

The ladies played a full-blown bowmaker prior to their meeting which saw the team of Mary-Lou Denny, Carol Horsley and Shirley Gooding recording a convincing victory.

Their score of 74 was four better than runners-up Gina Falcon, Sue Chambers and Sarah Matthews with third placed Sue Tarry, Saybria Sims and Di Cornelius another four points back.

There was a further win for Mary-Lou Denny at the meeting where she was declared most improved player of the year. Prizes for the best eclectic scores in the summer competitions went to Janis Lawrence in bronze division and Sue Tarry in the silver.

This was particularly appropriate as Sue was incoming captain, taking over the reins from Ann Adams. She introduced the second of the captains’ charities for 2016, the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

THERE was a full turnout for the second round of the winter mixed greensomes at Worlebury.

The weekend’s heavy rain had stopped, but a strong wind made life difficult for the field. Lady captain Maxine Gardiner and her partner Barry Saunders, made light of the conditions, winning the day with 41 points. This was two better than their nearest challengers, Russell Bourton and lady president Jill Phillips, who pipped Lisa Griffiths and Darrell James on countback.

The ladies held a winter bowmaker which produced a close finish with a single point separating the top two teams. The trio of Ginette Bright, Lisa Griffiths and Jan Simms with 60 points, edged out the team of the current lady vice-captain Michelle James, her vice-captain elect, Sue Kinch and Lynn Pope. Hazel Cox, Janet Jamieson and Janet Keight were third with 55.

The seniors’ November Stableford had a good sized field with Geoff Wildman and John Jones’s 39 points in Division 2, the best score of the day. Wildman was given the verdict on countback from Jones. John Taylor came third with 36 points beating Dave Murrant on countback.

Seven handicapper Jeff Banfield won Division 1 on countback with 37 points. Making a rare appearance on the rostrum was seasoned campaigner Wally Hartree, who came second on countback. Brian Matthews’ 36 points took third place on countback from Pete Gilpin who, along with Bob Webber, unluckily, lost out once more.

Club professional, Gary Marks, is hosting a preview evening in the clubhouse on December 3 between 4-8pm, when Footjoy’s full range golf shoes will be on show. Orders on the day will attract a 10 per cent discount. Club members and the public will be made most welcome.

PHIL Hodgson has endured a tough couple of months on the golf course, but he bounced back to his best with a superb nett 64 in tough conditions at Brean.

His score brought him Division 1 success and also the Bill Anderson Memorial Trophy, which was awarded to the best score on the day.

Hodgson held a three-stroke advantage over Steve Bateman, whom he played alongside in the persistent and sometimes heavy rain. Hodgson and Bateman were joined by Stuart Wills in a low scoring trio, but his nett 68 was one shy of Bateman’s effort and only good enough for third.

The top two in Division 2 played at the start and end of the field. For much of the day early starter Matt Haskins held the lead with a nett 69, but Chris Fairchild came in late to pip him by one. Division 3 was won by Kevin Davies with his 73, ahead of Dave Stacey.

The second of the Christmas competitions at Brean is the turkey greensomes and cousins Dan and Tom Broom left the other pairs in their wake as they shot a superb gross 67 on their way to a superb 48 points.

This gave them a six-point winning margin from Brian Read and Nigel Ellis, who in turn were one point clear of Andy Thomas and Adam Cox in third.

The three lowest handicappers in the field for the November seniors’ medal filled the top three spots at the end of the day.

Twelve handicapper Barrie Tucker led the way with his nett 69 which gave him a two-stroke advantage. Handicap back marker Pete Douglas took second on 71, but only after a countback with 11-handicap Barrie Yearsley.

THE first Christmas Turkey Trot of the season at Weston was played in conjunction with the Quarterly Cup.

In horrendous weather with winds of 40mph plus and driving rain, the course was fully open on all greens and tees, even after three inches of rain that had fallen in the previous week.

The overall winner was six handicapper Chris Evans with a superb 38 points. Second in Division 1 was Neil Crispin on 37 and third Steve Thomas on 36. Division 2 winner was Robbie Orr with 37, followed by Steve Petrie (36) and Micky Brueford (36).

Saturday also saw the club’s trophy presentation evening with over 60 attending.