Ben Rhydding

back in action

AFTER weeks of course closure, Ben Rhydding Golf Club members played the March Medal on Sunday. The course played its full length and was wet in places. This did not deter members and excellent scores were returned in both divisions.

First Division - 1, P Atkinson, 72-12-60; 2, T W Rockett, 74-12-62; 3, J Rishworth, 71-8-63 on last nine from 4, C Singleton, 76-13-63.

Second Division - 1, B Robinson, 82-27-55; 2, S D Watson, 80-19-61 on last nine from 3, R Andrews, 79-18-61; 4, D Phillips, 78-16-62.

There were three twos - P Atkinson, I W Jowett, A T Coates.

Ben Rhydding Ladies played a nine-hole medal round alongside their Winter Eclectic Competition.

Results - 1, S M Towler, 40 (7) 33; 2, J Sheldon, 46 (111/2) 341/2; 3 H M Sefton, 53 (18) 35; 4, A Wilson, 54 (161/2) 371/2.

Four-ball at

Otley GC

SATURDAY saw 44 pairs taking part in a four-ball, better-ball Greensome Medal competition at Otley Golf Club.

Normally there would have been more entrants but many of the regular competitors are on a trip to Majorca, hopefully enjoying golf in the sun.

Leading scores: R F Hannan (11) and M Wilson (19), 63; C Toft (six) and A Holder (13), 65.5; R Hodges (27) and D Murphy (14), 65.5; A Driver (13) and G Parker (13), 67; P A Darby (12) and I Thomson (18), 67; J Kellett (19) and P Benton (15), 67.

Ilkley Ladies

Thirsk and Northallerton Golf Club hosted the final round of the Harrogate and District Winter Foursomes.

Whilst the Ilkley course was still suffering several inches of snow, the players at Thirsk enjoyed clear blue skies above, but solid frost underfoot which made playing conditions interesting.

The three Ilkley couples bravely gathered together 70 points, giving a cumulative total of 426 points over the six matches for a final position of ninth.

Unfortunately the thaw did not come in time at Ilkley to allow the 'opening event' of the year, The Bring and Take, to be played last Tuesday. However, ladies gathered in the club house for bridge followed by soup and sandwiches, after which the lady president, Joyce Bennett, and the lady captain, Lady Ognall, said a few words of welcome to everyone and particularly to the new members.

Presentations were made to the winners of the following competitions:

Silver Trophy - A Newman; Bronze Trophy - M Dodd; LGU Medals - A Newman (silver), J Foster (bronze).

Winter Eclectic (Ilkley Moor Spoons) - A Newman (silver), S Metcalfe (bronze division one), J Palmer (bronze division 2); Grannies' Trophy - P Gladstone; Non-Grannies' Prize - G Bean; Captain/Pro Winter Challenge - S Hatfield and M Mitchell.

By Thursday, March 8, thankfully the snow had disappeared and the March Medal postponed from the previous Thursday was played. The winners, obviously not suffering as much as some of us from lack of practice, were:

Division One - A Newman 82-4-78, narrowly on the back nine from runner-up L Brand, 82-4-78.

Division Two - S Hatfield 100-21-79; 2, M Pack 108-26-82 just ahead after a count-back on the back nine from J Bennett 104-22-82.

The competition scratch score for the medal was 76, reflecting the general playing conditions.

Horsforth GC

THE March Medal at Horsforth Golf Club was played on Saturday over 16 holes, when 146 members entered.

Division One - 1, D Armitage (12), 55; 2, D Howson (8), 56; 3, S Rothwell (10), 57, best back seven.

Division Two - 1, R Baldwin (16), 55, best back seven; 2, G Jackson (16), 55; 3, M Crossling (18), 57, best back seven.

Division Three - 1, J Dale (20), 53; 2, M Taylor (23), 56; 3, S Russell (25), 56.

A Greenhalgh had a home advantage in the first round of the National Club Golfer Handicap Championship this weekend. He beat his opponent from Woolley Park Golf Club four and two.

The Men's 'Mail on Sunday' team was knocked out of the competition on Saturday by a team from Easingwold, the match ending two-two with Horsforth losing in the extra hole play-off.

The snow was still with us on Tuesday so there was no Ladies' competition played. However, on Sunday, the Ladies' Daily Mail Foursomes partnership of J Heap and P Forber beat a pair from Cookridge Golf Club on the 19th hole.

Rawdon Golf

Club stableford

THE Men's March Stableford was played at Rawdon Golf Club on Sunday, March 11. Results were:

Division One - 1, T Wilson (11), 45 points; 2, H E Schofield (12), 44; 3, C N Shackleton (4), 42.

Division Two - 1, P Prus (19), 45 points; 2, S S Moorhouse (16), 43; 3, R Stokes (16), 42.