Men's Chairman's Day Sunday 22nd August

With a large entry and the promise of an unusual format (a 2 ball Texas scramble), the tee was busy from 6.50am with members and guests clamouring for an early tee off. Apparently there was a football match on the TV and there was a rumour going around that the score would be 6-0. Kenny had made the theme for the day matadors or toreadors, with Debbie and Kenny dressing up to play the roles ... there were no volunteers to play the bull, but we were rewarded at the end of the 9th with very welcome beefburgers. The weather stayed kind and the competition was fierce for a very impressive prize table. The 'bookies' had made Karl Mossom and Sean Renwick as favourites and they were not far wrong when they came in second with a net score of 58.5. But they were beaten to the trophy and first place with a very impressive 57.25 by our very own Vice Captain, Brian Rutherford and the Club Champion, Ronnie Dixon. Thanks for a grand day Kenny and congratulations to all the prize winners on the day. Other photos are available on www.pics-by-geoff.photos.us.com/c1888243.html

TR Percy Winners - Photos

The recent success by our intrepid ladies who conquered both the weather and the opposition in their superb TR Percy Final is recorded for posterity on a few photographs on the photo website ... so if you would like to see the Lady Captain collecting the cup along with a few snaps of the team (a little wet) and the caddies ... please click on the following link ..... www.pics-by-geoff.photos.us.com/c1888023.html

Who has just joined the 'Hole in One' Club?

So who is the latest member of the 'Hole in One' Club? It's Anne Hope who achieved her spectacular feat at Bedlingtonshire Golf Club (our third success at that venue in as many days) in a mixed open event on Sunday. Playing the par 3, 6th hole (168 yards from the red tees), Anne did what we all dream of and holed out with her well struck tee shot. Although she and hubbie, Graham finished with a creditable 40 points they were squeezed out of the prizes, but this did not take the gloss off this superb occasion. Congratulations Anne.

Success for Rod Armstrong

The Hadrian League Challenge Cup (formerly the Troldahl Cup) was held at Bedlingtonshire Golf Club on Saturday 14th August. Parklands was represented by two players who had qualified in a Club Competition in June (The Cancer Research Trophy) Rod Armstrong who was best nett and Karl Mossom who was best gross.

The Challenge Cup is awarded to the best combined team result from all the clubs represented on the day and there are individual trophies for the best gross and best nett..... and it was Rod who played a stormer with a 82-9=73 to win the individual best nett trophy, much to his delight. A super win for Parklands and a trophy for us to collect when we go to the Annual Dinner and Presentation evening in October. Well done Rod ... a good days work!!

TR Percy Winners

The Ladies Team had a magnificent win at Bedlingtonshire Golf Club on Friday 13th when they won the final of the TR Percy Knock Out Competition, beating Matfen ladies 5 and 2 on a day that was wall to wall rain.

This is a great achievement for the team, for the Ladies Section and for Parklands. I do not have the details yet, but watch this space for more news of the match. Well done to all involved!!

Past Captains Dinner

The annual golf match and dinner was held on Sunday 8th August at the Club and we followed the traditional format of the ladies vs the gents in matchplay with the ladies receiving 4 courtesy shots. There were 12 matched pairs and the competition was keenly contested by some and less keenly by others. The match was followed by a dinner with our spouses and guests and 32 sat down to dine. As immediate past captains the organising of the event was down to Maureen Jenkins and moi. The dinner went well ... and we raised £90 for the Alzheimer charity. .... and the result ... another win for the ladies ... c'est la vie.

Lady Chairman's Day

Saturday 7th August was Lady Chairman's Day organised and run by Pat Mattinson. A large field of members and guests were greeted and treated with goodies at the first tee, and obligatory photograph, more treats at the gazebo at the 9th and then afternoon tea in the clubhouse at the end of the round. The weather was variable with some cold gusts of wind, heavy rain showers and some warming sunshine ... a typical English August day. There were lots of prizes consisting of Belleek Pottery and a full prize list is visible on the Parklands website for the rest of the week. The overall winner was the bandit Teresa Boyle with a 102-32=70, followed by Lynn Taylor 94-23=71 and Sam Malone 91-19=72.

In the Pond

Whilst playing golf yesterday, I went to look for my playing partner's ball (not mine ... honestly) which had inexplicably shot off the tee on the 3rd hole and into the pond. There was little chance of finding it because the pond is choked with weeds at the moment, like many of the water hazards on the course. However, I was impressed that the water lilies are flowering and I could not resist taking this photo on my mobile .... a pastoral scene or what?