Horsham golfers back in the swing of things

It is great to see so many people out enjoying the spring sunshine. Chilly mornings and warm, sunny afternoons have been the order of the day as Horsham seniors return to regular competitions and matches.

One of the first competitions was a Canadian Foursomes, played over two days.

Each pair play to a joint handicap, both players take their drive and second shot, they then choose the best and play out the hole taking alternate shots.

The Tuesday competition saw Chris Stapley and Jill Jordan winning the Bryan Day Trophy with 44 points, coming in second on countback were Richard Lodge and Dave O’Flynn also on 44 points.

The Wednesday winners were Hugh Duncan and Colin Varty on 46 points, with Charlie Malsbury and Malcolm Field second on countback with 44 too.

A Texas scramble competition requires each member of the team to drive off, then choose and play from the same spot as they play each shot towards the hole.

It is always fun and when it is scored with a modified Stableford system it makes it even more interesting.

It tested the mathematical skills of each team of four over the 18 holes. An eagle scored 7 points, a birdie 5 points and a par 2 points but beware the bogey at -3 points and the double bogey at -5.

With a hatful of eagles and birdies the winning team of Sue Lyons, Kevin Walker, Jenny Elliott and Chris Stapley came in with an impressive 78 points. Second with a creditable 71 was John Wrighton, Clive Limbrick, Kevin Daly and Dave Bingham.

Wednesday winners were Martin Tigg, Mark Smith, Andy Kidd, and Bob Symonds with 65, second were Nairon Khan, John Homeyard, David Taylor and Paul Dudman close behind on 64.

Horsham Seniors’ first match of the season was a friendly at Dorking. Conditions were good and the day enjoyable. Richard Lodge was team captain playing with Mark Smith.

Horsham lost 5-1 but there was a win for Andy Wachnianin and Trevor White at 2-1, and a couple of close matches with Hugh Duncan and Ian Cherriman losing 7-6 and Bob Smith and Chris Macauley losing 4-3.

MANNINGS HEATH

A warming drink at Mannings Heath’s popular halfway hut won’t cost Stuart Sandell a penny for the next year after he won the club’s +1 Cup.

The prize, and the trophy, are both sponsored by member Darren Hanison who took over running the hut last year and renamed it ‘The +1’ in recognition of its location behind the 10th green.

Played over a whole weekend the competition used a modified Stableford format with extra points for birdies and eagles (+2 and +5), deductions for bogeys and double bogeys (-1 and -3) and zero points for nett pars.

Sandell had plenty more good holes than bad ones to finish with an excellent +14, three clear of Colin Cloy and five better than Andy Belton who had the best Saturday round.

This year there was also a Junior +1 Cup, claimed by Max Belcher on +8.

The weekend saw Heath’s men play their first friendly match since 2019, going down by a single point at Kings Hill in Kent after their hosts staged fine back nine recoveries.

The return leg will be played in June and Heath are hopeful they can retain the Kings Hill Shield for a fifth year.

The ladies, meanwhile, staged their first medal of the year and Sybille Shababi and Julie Law continued their superb post-lockdown form by claiming top places for the third week running.

Shababi, off 29, took the winner’s prize money with nett 73 and 17-handicap Law was close behind her with a nett 75 that included six pars. Lynne Jones took third spot with nett 76.