With the weather turning ever more inclement, we still have some golf to report from last week.
But before we get into that, and around this time of year where reflection and giving are such core themes, a word for our fantastic greenkeepers.
Now, there will always be differing opinions within a club membership when it comes to the golf course – when you have hundreds of people this is inevitable.
Greenkeeper Nick Brewster tackles the wintry conditions Picture: Dan Cole
Why is it closed? Why are we on temporary greens? How come we have moved to mats? Why isn’t there enough sand in the bunkers etc!? But without our dedicated and hard working greenstaff, there would be no course and nothing to whinge about!
They are out on the course come rain or shine, desperately trying to keep on top of grass growth in the summer, and desperately trying to keep the grass alive and manage wear and tear in the winter. And that’s all while we are firing little missiles at them while they are trying to do their work!
On a balmy summer’s day it can seem like the dream job to be out there in nature, but when the frost hits and the pins still need to be changed, they are up for the challenge.
Every time you are out on course, be sure to say hello because without them there is no game.
Stowmarket GC
Stowmarket members competed in a Stableford competition across the weekend.
On Saturday, Dale Rozier was head of Division 1 on 38 points. Ian Hurst-Cotton was second on 37 and Matt King third on 36.
In Division 2, Max Skinner was first with 34, while Ben Mills and Bill Smith were in the minor placings on 33.
Matt Smythe recorded the best score in Division 3 with 38 points, Callum Braker was second on 37 and Tony Gomez third on 36.
Then, on Sunday, Sam Hardwick scored 40 points to top Division 1. Andrew Grogan was second on 38 and Gareth Knowles third on 37.
Adrian Baker had the round of the weekend with a superb 41 points in Division 2, while Damon Large got the nod from The Count ahead of Steve McAlister after the pair both score 37 points.
Division 3 saw Jake Simpson in first place on 34, Bob Langley second on 31 and Archie Simpson third on 29.
Thetford GC
This weekend saw one of the major fun events held at Thetford, the snappily titled ‘Everyone’s a Winner’ Texas scramble – so called because all players win a prize.
Unsurprisingly, the course was full early, with the greenkeepers starting at 4am ready for the 8am shotgun start.
There was a wide range of scores – a 20-shot span – from those in last place (nett 75) to the winners Joe de Feu, Olaf Gent, John Hopkins and Dean Scott. They shot an incredible 17 under par gross, for nett 55.
Even more incredible was that there was another team who had the same nett score. After The Count had done his calculations, Harrison and Tristam Adams, Ashley Forbes and Chris Oxborrow were the ones who missed out on top spot.
The prize-giving is always a fun and long affair with more than 100 winners stepping up to collect their prizes ready for Christmas.
It was also time for this year’s Thetford Captains to drive in to office. All rose to the challenge and hit excellent tee shots, cheered on by a large crowd of supporting members.
The club captain is Mark Twogood, the ladies’ captain is Caroline Beaumont, the seniors’ captain is Nicholas Marshall and the junior captain is Cameron Tilly.
The Captains’ Charity for 2026 is the Fragile X Society. Twogood said: “One of our former members, Jess Morris, now has a son Ernie, who was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome. The Fragile X Society has provided support to the family for this extremely very rare condition.
“I am delighted that we at Thetford Golf Club can contribute across the year to help this organisation in some small way, and through them Ernie, Jess and their family.”
Bury St Edmunds GC
The traditional Turkey Trott Texas Scramble was the highlight of the Bury calendar this past week.
A shotgun start saw a full field take to the course, but with teams drawn randomly out of a hat, the scoring was not quite as ludicrous as sometimes seen in scrambles!
With each team receiving 10 per cent of their total handicap (12.5 per cent for teams of three), that extra decimal place could prove crucial. And so it proved with the top two teams separated by just 0.1 of a shot!
With a nett 63.6, the winning team comprised Kinglsey Young, Richard Conway, Peter Thomas and Joan Hogarth.
The disappointed team who finished on 63.7 were Charlie Goodridge, Caroline Ferber, Paul Elstone and Alex Sumpter.
Even more poignantly was that Charlie grandfather Eric Goodridge (Eric’s Prime Cuts) had provided the meat vouchers to be given as prizes. What a story that would have been but Young, Conway, Thomas and Hogarth had other ideas!
Have a great golfing week.
