Worlebury captain hands over the reins

AT Worlebury Golf Club’s AGM, outgoing captain Keith Wharton passed the reins to his successor Paul Gardiner, after a highly successful year in office.

Gardiner proposed the popular Peter Phillips as his vice-captain. Keith, who has just completed his second stint as club captain, takes up the post as president from Frank Barlow, who fulfilled the position admirably.

In his outgoing speech, Keith wished Paul every success in the year ahead. He thanked the members for their generosity in supporting the following charitable causes: Captain’s charity (Weston Hospice Care) £1,700; ladies captain’s (Lighthouse) £1,110 ; seniors’ captain (Royal British Legion) £1,350 and club members Sue and Andy Collard for Bone Cancer Research in memory of their daughter, Mary, a figure in excess of £7,000.

Paul, a 17 handicap golfer, took up golf when a promising football career was ruined by a serious injury, initially starting at the Mendip Golf Club before later moving to Worlebury.

He works as a strategic land manager in the construction industry and is looking forward to the challenges which lie ahead.

He is particularly relishing the prospects of playing in the captain/pro matches with club professional Gary Marks and hopes this will improve his game sufficiently by the end of the year to see him have a lower handicap than his wife, Maxine.

In the forthcoming year, Paul has chosen cystic fibrosis for his charity; ladies’ captain, Marnie Sweet, the Children’s Hospice South West and seniors’ captain, Brian Book, Western Active Stroke Club.

Paul’s charity was given an excellent start on its first day when assistant bar steward, Libby Jude, did a sponsored silence at her shift at the club, raising well in excess of £500.

New Worlebury captain Paul Gardiner is flanked by Keith Wharton (left) and Peter Phillips.

THE midweek roll-up at Weston was contested in perfect sunshine, making excellent scores.

Despite recent rainfall, the course had drained superbly and with the fairways still allowing for roll and perfect greens, Steve Burrough and David Andow shared the spoils with 40 points.

With gusts of 45 mph forecast, the early risers enjoyed perfect golfing conditions on Saturday, knowing that a good score posted early would probably prevail.

The winner, seven handicapper Nigel Browne, posted an impressive 42 points to win by one from Paul Burns and Gordon Mitchell. Dave Andow scored 40 for the second consecutive round.

Teams of three ladies played a 6-6-6 competition and the captain’s team of Di Walker, Sue Garrett and Moira Parish thought they had won it with 76 points, but a score of 11 points on the 18th put the team of Wendy Homer, Sue Andow and Reine O’Reilly into the lead with 77.

Sparkling cocktails and cake was enjoyed by all following the golf, to celebrate a special birthday for vice-captain Tessa Williams.

The seniors’ Stableford was won by Mike Dyer bringing in a score of 41 points, followed by David Reynolds with 36 and captain Brian Whiddett with 35.

DAVID and Stephen Haines moved into the semi-finals of the West of England Winter Foursomes at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club with a comfortable 5&4 win over the Surry-based pairing of Yoginara Patel and Martin Aylett.

PGA professional David Haines who is based at Brean Golf Club, learned to play at Burnham with his younger brother Stephen, who is still a member at the club. He said: “We had a good start winning three of the first five holes, which made it even more difficult for our opponents.”

In the semi-final on February 9, they face the all-Burnham pairing of Symon Clifford and Stephen Thomas.

The lower half of the draw saw some tight matches, with club steward Jack Palmer and barman Simon Lord losing at the last hole to the Chipping Sodbury pair of K Rubel and A Ward.

The local pairing of Tony Mason and Andy Limage won at the 19th against Rob and Ben Stephens from Minchinhampton.

Andy Fisher won Division 1 in the Saturday Stableford with 37 points, just beating Robin Griffiths by virtue of a better back nine. Division 2 was won by Larry Summers with 35.

Highlight of the day went to Rob Sutton, who made a two at the first, holing out from over 150 yards with his second shot.

The midweek Stableford was won by James Penny with 40 points and Jean Booth completed a second win in as many weeks with a back nine victory over Carole Stratford in the ladies’ medal with a nett 78.

A WEEK full of exceptional scores at Wedmore started with a qualifying medal for the seniors in excellent conditions.

The lower handicappers in Division 1 particularly enjoyed themselves. Peter Laney was still celebrating his nett 65 when John Russell came in with a one over par gross 71 to give a 63.

This was still not good enough to win, however, as Tim Harris completed an incredible round two under par gross to match Russell with 63 and claim first place on countback.

Scores in the other two divisions were not quite so dramatic, but 66 was still an excellent score for Peter Searle and Phil Incledon to clinch wins in Divisions 2 and 3 respectively.

Barrie Gardiner was runner-up in Division 2 on 69, with Peter Spinks one shot back in third. Barry Stone and John Sim both recorded 70 in Division 3 with Stone taking second place on countback.

By the weekend, conditions underfoot had worsened forcing general teeing up which partly explained the incredibly good scoring. Round of the day came from Derek Moody whose nett 59 was incredible in any conditions.

This won Division 2 by four shots from Dave Clements and Peter Laney, Clements taking second place over the last six holes.

Countback was also required to sort out the places in Division 1 with John Wormald edging out Bill Lander after both scored 65. Graham Sugg was a shot back in third.

Chris McGowan took Division 3 with yet another 63, with Paul Matthews beating Marcello Di Mascio on countback for second, both scoring 65.

The only lady playing in the weekend medal was Saybria Sims who was two under par with a nett 70. She was also third in the ladies’ 15-hole Stableford, losing on countback to Sue Chambers for second place. Clear winner though with a six under handicap 36 points was Lind Roberts.

On the same day, the ladies’ team made an early exit from the Mail on Sunday competition, following a tough tie at Bristol and Clifton.

Tim Harris who won this week’s Seniors Medal with a 2 under par gross 68.

BRISTOL-based Brean members Andy Chapple and Nigel Hodges took advantage of their shorter trip as the Sunday event of the Car Rally weekend, when Brean Golf Club go on tour which this year was played at Thornbury.

The blind pairs Stableford only just survived the weather as the forecasted heavy rain fell during the morning.

Chapple had the best individual score of the day with an impressive 41 points, closely followed by Roger Vaughan on 40. Nigel Hodges was first out the bag followed by Chapple giving them a total of 70.

Runners-up were Roger Vaughan and Kevin Davies on 69, ahead of a Chris Fairchild/Hodges pairing on 68.

Mike Allen has started 2014 in great form and added his third victory of the calendar year with success in the Boycie Trophy at Burnham and Berrow.

Allen carded 36 points win by four points ahead of a trio on 32. A countback was required and youngster Ben Haines relegated chairman Tony Roper to third and Jenny Vaughan to fourth thanks to his back nine score.

Pete Douglas notched another victory in the seniors’ Winter League competition. When the partners were drawn out, Ken Ponter and George Stratford joined Douglas and in the stand aside scramble format, they scored an impressive score of 62.8.

The trio of Geoff Seaman, John Sherwood and Barrie Yearsley ran them close as they ended on 63.2 in the runners-up position. In the third spot, were Roger Phillips, Len Young and Stuart Adams on 67.3.