For once the weather was almost great for the 15 players who attended Northcliffe to play for the Mel Smart memorial trophy.
Although the numbers were slightly disappointing, a great day was had on a course that was presented in the usual great condition that we have become accustomed to.
To keep with Melvin’s traditions we play a good old fashioned medal style competition which is now the only one played in this format through the season and as usual it did show a true test with only one player breaking par.

On to the winners……
Par 3’ we’re taken by Nigel Owram on hole 4, Josh McMahon on hole 12 & Ian Dyson on Holes 8&18.The captains prize on Hole 1 was won by Paul Kilburn.
The 2’s club saw a first for me with only 2 players involved but bizarrely they both had 2 each and these were Nigel Owram & Ian Dyson.

The main prizes were as follows….

3rd with a score of 74 was James Hardy

2nd scoring 72 was Luke Wirrolow

The winner of the 2023 Mel Smarth memorial with a fine score of 70 was Paul Kilburn.

Well done all!

 

Our next meeting is the final one of the season and involves the AGM meeting. This will be held at Low Laithes G.C. and all the info can be found, as usual, in the events section of this website. It is 27 holes with breakfast and lunch included at a cost of £50 plus £5 for the sweep. Booking is now open for this event. Please try to attend if possible so we can discuss events moving into the 2024 season.

See you there!!!!

 

Friday brought a damp & indeed, a wet visit for the society to Pike Hills Golf Club on the outskirts of York. Although a club once owned by the railways, It is a club we have not visited for a number of years and although the weather was damp and dreary, the welcome from the club was warm and welcoming to say the least.

14 golfers took to the well presented, relatively short course. However, shots didn’t need to be far off the ‘Tiger’ line to see ones ball in trouble with many fairways lined with the dreaded out of bounds or red staked water hazards.

Given the wet conditions the scoring average was a very respectable 31 points and for the first time since we moved to the buffer zone system, the third placed player finished in the said buffer zone meaning he doesn’t lose a shot. True tight scoring round by the field of players. All scores and handicaps will be uploaded in due course but a there will be a delay as I’m away for the next 10 days!!

Moving on to the prizes and i’ll start with mentioning there we no visits to the 2’s club this time round meaning £14 will be carried over to the next event.

The nearest pins, par 3’s……

Hole 7 was won by Kev Harper and from Kev we move to ‘Wev’ (Lee Wetherill) who won the 9th Hole. After that there was just one more par 3, the 15th which was won by Roger Worth.

Captains prize for the nearest in 2 on hole 11 was taken by Wayne Jackson.

The top 3 players…….

In 3rd place with a score of 34 was Mark Halliday. In 2nd  place scoring 36 was Billy Milne and in first place with a super score of 37 points, Winning the Hickling trophy was Roger Worth.

Well played Roger and well done to all who won a prize.

Moving onto the next event which will be our Captains Day taking place at Normanton Golf Club on Thursday 3rd August. The full cost of the day will be £50 & as this is hosted by our captain Mike, I ask that payment is MADE IN CASH ON THE DAY as he is the person who has organised the day.

It would be great to see as many of you as possible to support Mike at his event.

Thats all for now, keep smiling and see swinging!!!!!

 

A healthy 20 players turned out on a fine and dandy, warm & sunny day to play for the Richmond Trophy on a course that was in impeccable condition with the undulating greens causing the usual chaos for some.

The morning started with half a pig in a breadcake, making the bacon sandwich only ever beaten in my experience by Woolley Park but it was a very close run second.  After the pig sandwich we encountered the first 9 holes of medal after it was agreed that playing the Stableford in the afternoon would save both time and face for those like myself who wasn’t exactly straight off the tee!

Lunchtime brought more great food by the way of Pea & Ham soup with a huge selection at sandwiches which went down very well.

The afternoon 18 holes were played in glorious sunshine showing the course in its full glory enhanced by the amazing tree work & the welcome removal of 1 or 2 bunkers around the course. The course really does get better every year and one most will agree has been the best we have played so far this year and maybe the best we will play in a while.

After the 18 holes we sat down for steak pie with chips and peas followed by sticky toffee pudding. It has to be noted that the pie was a huge improvement on last year as was the rest of the days food offerings.

Thanks once again has to be expressed to the club and their staff for the amazing hospitality and I’m sure everyone can’t wait to return next year.

On to the prizes, starting with the nearest pins on the par 3’s….

Holes 4 & 9 were both taken by James Pickersgill. Hole 7 was won by Paul Kilburn. Hole 12 was Aidy Hope & hole 18 was won by Nick Mcevoy. The captains prize for nearest in 2 on the 17th was taken By Lee Wetherill.
There were 2, two’s, taken by Steve Patrick & Rob Russel.

To the main results of the combined scores of both morning and afternoon with points awarded in descending order seeing the winners of each round receiving 20 points down to last place receiving 1.

3rd place with a score of 31 was Kevin Harper (11 & 20 points)

2nd with a score of 35 (20&15)

1st and winning the Richmond Trophy 2023 was Paul Kilburn with consistent scores 19 & 18 equaling 37 points.

Well done to all who won a prize and a big thanks who turned out to make it a fantastic day. Hope to see you all again next year plus a many more who couldn’t make it this year.

Finally on Richmond….. I have had a proposal to make an exciting change to the Richmond competition format. I personally think it’s great idea and one I will share details at this year AGM in September at Low Laithes so make sure your there to cast your vote on the change and other decisions.

Our next outing will be at Horsforth G.C. on Thursday 29th June to play for the Webster cup. The cost will be £30 plus £5 sweep for non members and for members of the club it will be £5 for the sweep, plus the cost of a bacon sarnie! We are to meet at 1030 for an 1130 tee time. I’m now taking payments for this fixture. Full details can be found on the events page of this site.

Thanks as always to all of you for the continued support of the society, it really does put a smile on my face to see the great numbers attending.

 

A warm & friendly welcome awaited us at Ilkley G.C. on Thursday 23rd March, however the weather gods didn’t get the sunshine memo so provided us with shower after shower with one particular downpour that made conditions pretty tough for the closing holes. The course was in pretty good condition considering all the rain of recent times together with the fact that greens had been worked on in preparation for the upcoming season.

After the usual bacon sandwich, 19 hardy golfers took to the course in the picturesque surroundings of the Wharfedale valley to tackle a pleasant, flat course with the River Wharfe meandering through several holes. Target golf was the order of the first few holes with three par 3’s in the first 5 holes. These together with 2 par 3’s on the back 9 saw a total of 6 players paying a visit to the 2’s ‘club’ which appeared to have an open day, letting so many in!! Entrants included Pete Ferris, Alan Ashbee, Luke Wirrolow, Nigel Owram & James Pickersgill who felt it was so good in the club he visited twice!! Nearest the pins on those par 3’s were won by Nigel  Owram, James Hardy (2), James Pickersgill & Luke Wirrolow.

The Captains prize for nearest in 2 was on the 10th hole & was won by James Pickersgill.

To the top 3 places……… Alan Ashbee was 3rd with 34 points beaten on a count back by Richard Teale who finished in second. The winner with very respectable score 35 points, a great score in the conditions, was Lee Worth.

After the golf we were treated to soup and sandwiches which went down well to help warm us up and dry us out in the clubhouse. A special thanks to Ilkley Golf Club who provided us with a super value, great day out. I will seek feedback as to whether we return next March.

Well done to all who won a prize.

Our next outing will be a visit to Selby G.C. on Friday 21st April meeting at 1030 for the traditional bacon sandwich with tea or coffee followed by a round of golf from 1130. All details are on the events section of this website.