Betchworth 2011

1. The Marsden Charity event was a tremendous success in all respects except the one we can’t control. The weather provided heavy showers in the morning and the afternoon and though there were sunny intervals, the overall feeling was of a wet day with lots of clothing to be dried out when we got home. Having said that, the biggest day in BAGS’ calendar worked out well and everyone had a great time, not only on the course but in the Clubhouse afterwards. There were a nervous few minutes during the early morning starts when reports were coming in of the 7th and 8th greens being flooded but the rain then stopped, giving the greens a chance to recover. Our timetable took a bit of a hit as a result but we finished the day’s proceedings just before 9.30 though many players had the stamina to stay beyond that. A quick head count showed in the main it was the prizewinners justifiably celebrating their performances!

2. The main team prize went to a new name – Perfect Divots – though it was a thinly disguised version of the Slap Rs from previous years, with only one guest change. So it’s congratulations to Peter Robertson and Steve Rout from BAGS and guests Adam Romain (he of the hole in one for the car a few years back) and new kid on the block, Steve Hyde. Peter has form in the Charity event having won the BAGS honours this time last year. The team’s winning score of 111 points was a little down on last year’s 118 by Hawk’s Hackers but in those conditions scoring was understandably more difficult. So a ‘perfect’ result though only two points behind were the always consistent Atlantic Warriors led as always by generous sponsor Mike and Andrew.

3. In the individual competition Gary Hamblin from the Cooper Cobham team took the title (and hamper) with 39 and there was a remarkable performance by Chris Romain who finished second on 38. I use that word deliberately as he was the main organiser of the day and so had much to think about before, during and after his round when he hosted a very successful auction.

4. So it’s well done to Chris for leading a great event which, though we don’t yet have the final figures, has raised at least £20,000 for the Marsden. Chris would be the first to admit the organisation is a team effort and I would like to put on record our heartfelt thanks to Keith Gatford and Steve Secker for their early morning efforts putting out all the sponsorship material on the course, to Heather and Pat in the refreshment cabin – they so deserved such a comfortable eyrie after years of standing in a windy tent! , to Chris and Jenny Little for checking the scores so carefully (Chris tells me they had to point out lots of mistakes to participants) and of course to the BP members who so valiantly started and spotted through everything the heavens threw at them that morning.

5. Ian, to whom we are very grateful for producing a complicated set of results so quickly, has now issued the Chairman’s and Treasurer’s rankings and we are clearly in for quite a struggle for supremacy over the second half of the year. While Kevin leads the Chairman’s with 112, Ian and Chris are only a point or two behind. At this stage it’s always interesting to look at the lowest score of the counting three and on this basis Chris (29) should find it easiest to advance his overall score. In the Treasurer’s it’s Chris who is in the lead but only by a miniscule .01 of a point from Graham so you can’t get much tighter than that. In the par 3 Robin Sewell leads as we move on to our next event at Copthorne.

6. The KOs are moving along well and just to remind you that the first round deadline of June 30th is nearly upon us. Roger points out that it is the winner’s responsibility to tell him or John the result since neither of them is clairvoyant!

7. Good luck to our Golfathon trio and we hope that they have favourable weather on their special day. As we also do on July 31st when Mike and Glenn host our final Charity event of the year, the much anticipated BBQ. The attendance is now anticipated to be around 50 and very soon Glenn will be e mailing those who plan to be there to ask them to contribute a specific dish, be it a salad or a dessert. Would you also please bring your own drink on the day and either send me £10 per adult attending or bring the money to Copthorne.

8. Those on the East Anglian Tour will soon receive a request for the final payment (unless on SO) as well as the separate cost if applicable for their round and food at Hunstanton. If you’d like to join us for what is sure to be a memorable few days, we now have two vacancies.

9. Just a reminder that BAGS membership carries with it the requirement (except in extenuating circumstances) to play in a minimum of 4 events in a season, the tour counting as one. As we have only four events left in 2011 apart from the tour, some members need to get their skates on…….

1st      Gary Hamblin   with 39 pts
2nd     Chris Romain   with 38 pts
3rd      Jim Askew        with 36 pts

1st     Chris Romain with 38 pts
2nd    Ian Barrett      with 33 pts (on countback)
3rd     Les Gorden   with 33 pts

2nd hole sponsored by Andrew McCaffery, nearest the pin, Brian Waldron 13 inches

12th hole sponsored by Alan & Lynda Bell, Nearest the pin in 2, Ian Sellers 11' 10"

13th hole sponsored by Dave Christie, nearest the pin, Colin Caulfield 63 inches

Les Gordon scored 13 points on the five par 3 holes so came out first in the par 3 competition, followed by John Hawley and Roy Jennings. Robin Sewell who came 6th here has played the par 3's pretty consistently so far this year so leads the overall competition for 2011. See the table for 2011 by clicking here.