Mark Smith Golf Day 

A little reminder to all of our readers, the Mark Smith Golf Classic has been moved to Sunday the 7th May. Previously it has been held on a Friday making it difficult for people with work commitments. This year Stamford Golf Club have been generous to offer a Sunday to suit the majority of golfers. For more details or tee time availability, please contact me in the pro shop or email me here.

Manchester Alliance 

Wednesday 15th March and Vale Royal Abbey was the venue. One of, if not the most desired venue of the season. The sun was shining, the course was stripy and the start sheet was full! As per my newsletter last week, I was partnering Jamie Chadwick and what a partnership it was too. Beginning on the 17th Hole & stroke index 3, Jamie flushed his drive straight down the middle and we were away. 44 points later, we handed our card in to the recorder to learn we had finished in 4th place. 2 Eagles and 5 birdies simply wasn't good enough. 

  

It wasn't all bad news though, Stamford managed 2 teams in the top three of the Am-Am pairings. Dan Fox and regular playing partner Steve Finan managed to nose out Paul Traynor & Brian Thomas for second place on a card playoff.

Lombard Trophy 

A late one for the calendar this season chaps, but the Lombard trophy is always a sign the golf season is upon us. April the 22nd is set for the April monthly medal when we will be co-sanctioning the Lombard Trophy qualifier. For those of you who are unaware of its history, have a read of this link.

It could be worth having a chat to past winners Tom Howe, Russel Lodge & Anthony Sharples. I'm almost certain they will confirm the event is an experience worth trying for.




Masters Sweep 

Bring yourselves an extra £5 this weekend, I will be offering the opportunity to take part in the pro shop annual sweep for the 2017 Masters. Yet another sign the season has finally arrived! 




Saturday 11th March was a three man all fives competition. The team format offers a little relaxed golf for the first five holes as simply the best score of the three players counts. The following five holes are slightly tenser with the best 2 scores to count from three players. It's the final 5 holes of the 15 hole competition that decide the tournament where all 3 players scores count. After all, you don't want to let your team mates down, do you?! 

The winners Terry Seward, Colin Burke & Tom Moody showed no mercy as they claimed first place with 82 points to win by 4 points, quite a margin for any victory! Some 4 points behind, with a very respectable score of 78 was Paul Traynor, Chris Exton & Brian Thomas. One point back from them was Dave Boote, Mike Hamer & Martyn Taylor. 

It's been a real pleasure this season to see so many different names on the leader board each weekend. 


 

Week 16 of 17 weeks of the Winter League last weekend produced an unpredictable outcome. A slight change in the local rules with the introduction of Mats "through the green" played right into the hands of Chris Exton as Kevin Barber took a Weekend away. The ground conditions have been against the greenkeepers recently and I think it's fair to say we've been lucky to have even been able to play. 

The FINAL of the 2016/17 Winter league season is this Sunday. There are a cluster of names amongst the top with some very interesting mathematical equations most likely being put together by all of the contenders. What scores are possibilities and what scores do people have to better. It's a very interesting climax and one I will have my eye on come Sunday dinner time. Will Chris Exton hold on to the Jersey for the final? Will our new contender Dave Burns post a score? Or will Kev Barber snatch back the rights at the death. Whatever the outcome, the event has gone from strength to strength, it's made my Sundays more interesting and I've no doubt it makes winter golf a little more interesting for all those involved. 

Good luck & Game on!