1st Dave Clements
2nd Don Turner
3rd Alec Madden
18 hole Individual Stableford Competition
Congratulations to the twelve members and one visitor who turned up at this 'wee gem of a course'
( as Norman McMichael aptly calls it ) to participate in our first event of the 2021 season. The course provided a decent challenge and the warm weather provided perfect conditions for playing golf.
In second position scoring 34 points was the ever consistent Don Turner. Playing off a 16 handicap Don nudged his playing partner, 17 handicapper Alec Madden, into third place by virtue of a better back nine.
Three of the society stalwarts, that one would have expected to tame this wee course, surprisingly struggled to return 29 points with Wilfie Harrison (21) ( his handicap not age that is ), capturing the 4th position on a back nine countback from Joe Connor (12) who took the 5th spot followed by John Lee(13) who had to settle for the 6th place. Having three dings on your card didn't help your cause much John. Having said that John wasn't the only one to record a few dings in fact Alec Madden was the only player to have a ding free round. The rest of the field had a few dings here and there but George Johnston took pride of place - playing off a 13 handicap he scored 12 points on the front nine but then recorded 6 consecutive dings on the back nine! What a disaster! Alan Campbell didn't fare much better with his 26 handicap but surprisingly he picked up enough points to get his name on the 'Player of the Year' Leaderboard – really well played Alan.As for the rest of the field. Getting off to a flying start with 8 points in the first three holes, Norman McMichael was on cloud nine but was abruptly brought down to earth when he paid a visit on the 4th hole to one of the many drains that transverse this course. As well as losing his ball he lost his patience and with it the will to win. Society Captain Jack Logan, cock-a-hoop after returning two consecutive rounds in the '40s on his home course (Portstewart), was the odds-on favourite to top the leaderboard at this event but could only muster 27 points even with his 25 handicap.
As referred to above we had one guest at this event and it would be remiss of us not to give him a mention. Nicknamed De chambois (due to his ability to hit a golf ball the proverbial mile ) James McKay playing off a 15 handicap returned a respectable 26 points. If only James could learn to chip and putt he would be unbeatable.
All in all while few of the members covered themselves in glory at this event none of them went home dejected. After all, for most, this was the first time, since the Corona Restrictions were relaxed, that they had put foot on a golf course and were only too happy to be able to do so!
In the meantime before the next outing at Moyola Park Golf Club on Monday the 21st June 2021 a wee bit of practice wouldn't go amiss.