Close Call at Close House

The Men's team played their Hadrian League match away to Close House yesterday evening. This is Close House's first year back in the league following a gap of 5 years and many of our team had not previously played the course, which is a big disadvantage. In cloudy and windy conditions, the team of Graeme Hewitt, Daniel Trotter, Craig Wilson, Ian Davidson, Ronnie Dixon and Paul Shanks started on the 1st tee with the team's unbeaten league position very much in their hands. Some difficult holes and even more difficult greens had all the team members struggling to stay on level terms, and after 6 holes, 4 members were down. As they came to the end of the 14th, Graeme was all square, Ian was all square, Daniel had lost 6 and 5, Craig was 2 down,Ronnie was 2 down and Paul had won 5 and 4. Things were looking a bit grim and Brian King and myself were chewing our nails. However, some tenacity in the last few holes rescued the day and Graeme went on to win 2 and 1, and Ian won 1 up. So 3 wins and 6 league points and an honourable draw 6 - 6. The match was followed by a team meal in a private dining room in the mansion. Well done to the team ... during the month of May we have played 4 matches, with 2 wins and 2 draws. A great achievement by all concerned.

Mixed Open 2009

The Parklands Mixed Open event was played this Bank Holiday Monday in glorious sunny weather and with the course looking an absolute picture. 38 couples entered the event, the majority being Parklands members. With Danny Hall as the starter, the day started well and ended well with a presentation in the clubhouse at 4.30pm. The competition was very close with the five prizes decided over a single stableford point. The results were :-1st Geoff & Candy Brown (Parklands) 41pts (Back9); 2nd Ronnie & Natalie Dixon (Parklands) also with 41pts; 3rd Owen Fortune & Denise Swindlehurst (Parklands) 40pts (Back 9); 4th D & C Scott (Morpeth GC) 40pts (Back 9); 5th Ian Thompson & Mary Wright (Parklands) 40pts (Back 9).... no this was not a misprint I was part of the winning pair ......

Many thanks to all the members who made this event happen and not least to Maureen Jenkins for her work on the day and Kath Morpeth for all the work on the day and all the days and weeks leading up to the event. The competition is run for the benefit of the members and visitors and we do not plan to make a profit on the day. However we did hold a raffle and the proceeds of this and the small profit has put an extra £140 into the Maureen Braven bridge fund. Well done to all who played and bought raffle tickets.

No shoes for Tommy

Despite the requests not to leave shoes on the paved area at the front of the clubhouse, the occasional pair still appear and sometimes disappear when the staff move them to more appropriate places, like the litter bins or the skips. So when Tommy Watson went out to play last week, he left his everyday shoes in his golf shoe bag under the bench, and upon his return from the course, he thought the staff had moved them to teach him a lesson. However, in this case they really had be stolen, some toerag thinking they were getting a pair of golf shoes took them away only to find a pair of Tommy's everyday footwear. Tommy has requested a review of the security camera and hopefully we will catch the idiot with the foot fetish. Tommy had to go home in his bare feet (see photo)

Hadrian League Standing 21 May 09

Such an elevated position ... let's keep it that way team.

Curry Night Success

The curry night held in the club house this evening was a real success and was much appreciated by all the members and guests who attended. The event was a joint venture between the management and the caterers, Lynn and Cheryl. With around 50 people taking up the offer of a choice of 3 curries and a pint of beer or glass of wine for £5, the event was a successful social night and hopefully a venture worth repeating. We look forward to the next evening .... an Italian night ... pasta and pizza?

Stocksfield Success

The Men's team continued their superb start to the season with another win in the Hadrian League in a home fixture against Stocksfield. The evening had threatened rain, but thankfully the golfing gods decided we would stay dry. The team was Graeme Hewitt, Daniel Trotter, Craig Wilson, Ian Davidson, Ronnie Dixon and Paul Shanks. Three of the games were convincing wins for Daniel Trotter 4/3, Craig Wilson 4/3, Ian Davidson 3/2. The other three games went a little 'closer to the wire'. After a very tight game, Ronnie Dixon finished the game on the 18th winning 1 up. Graeme Hewitt's match was even tighter and Graeme went down the 18th 1 down, only to win the hole and secure a hard fought half. Paul Shanks also went down the 18th 1 down and had a putt to halve his match only to watch it turn agonisingly away from the hole in the last few inches and he lost 1 down. We dined on lasagna and chips at 10.00pm with a convincing 9 - 3 win under our belts. A great result again for the team.

Captain's Charity - Alzheimer

Many thanks to all the members and visitors for their generosity on Sunday with the purchase of tickets in the raffle run in conjunction with the Men's Open Competition.

The raffle raised £160 for the Captains Charity which in 2009 will be used for a local Alzheimer charity.

The winners were 1st M D Cook - Fourball at Gosforth GC ; 2nd G Henderson - Polo Shirt ; 3rd C Wilson - 1lt Bells Whisky ; 4th W Sydney - 1lt Teachers Whisky. Thanks again everyone.