Bringing out the silver at Selsey

There’s veterans, men’s and ladies’ reports plus news of an unusual new feature and a great fundraising effort at Chichester Golf Club.

SELSEY

The club’s veterans held their latest presentation day, on which a donation was made to the Selsey Community First Responder scheme.

The day started with 26 members having a shotgun start and happily the clouds dispersed and the sun shone on a breezy day.

The course is still in a very good condition and the greens are returning to their former splendour after the work carried out on them a few weeks ago.

The first presentation was made by the chairman to the Selsey Community First Responder Scheme – a cheque for £260 was given to treasurer Bernie Stevens and president and Liz Watson.

The amount comprised £130 from the veterans’ section and the same amount from the main golf club. Club captain Tony Nelson was in attendance.

The veterans championship was won by club president Keith Homer while the summer foursomes went to David Winter and Terry Chapman. The Bill Downham Cup was won by Martin Sharpe.

After these presentations the weekly competition prizes were awarded and the members went home happy with some new bottles for their drinks cabinets.

CHICHESTER

Chichester Golf Club welcomed Ryan Garnett to the Tower course to complete a charity event for a school project.

Ryan braved harsh weather conditions and played 36 holes of golf and raised an incredible £483. He kindly donated all his hard-earned money to Cancer Research – which is Chichester Golf Club’s captain’s charity.

A club spokesman said: “What a fantastic achievement from this enthusiastic young man – well done Ryan.”

With the US presidential election heating up by the week, everyone has their own opinions on Trump and Clinton.

Well, now’s your chance at Chichester Golf Club to let your anger out on whichever candidate is infuriating you the most.

Staff have pinned up two separate boards on their driving range - one showing Clinton and one Trump. Which one will take the biggest battering?

To give it a try, call the club on 01243 533833.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park seniors made their traditional visit to Corhampton for the final away match of a long season.

Both teams were evenly matched handicap-wise but home advantage gave Corhampton a narrow 3½-2½ victory.

Opening duo Gary Strowbridge and Nick Austin found themselves three down after seven holes before a stunning win by Nick Austin on the eighth hole reduced the arrears and gave them hope.

They remained two down until the 16th when Gary Strowbridge used his shot in hand to good effect to win the hole, and then proceeded to win the 18th to level the tie.

Brian Carpenter and Brian Brockhurst did well to win 4&2 as Brockhurst had to retire unwell before the end. Chris Hutchings and Bill Brownlee won by the same magin, but the home side clung on for a narrow win.

Cowdray seniors welcomed Alresford, for the first time, for the final match in their extensive round of inter-club matches.

After a 5-3 defeat in the away game earlier in the season, Cowdray won 7½-½ in thsi return fixture.

With Cowdray’s rolling fairways and fiendish greens in magnificent condition, all the ingredients were there.

Match manager Mike Hughes was able to select an unusually-strong Cowdray side. Hughes and Terry Adsett led the home side off against Alresford’s seniors’ captain Geoff Jenkins and Terry Dean.

After nine holes Cowdray were one down, but on the back nine, Cowdray’s Adsett showed the way with a great display of putting to give the home side first blood by 3&1.

Cowdray seniors’ captain Derek Smith and Ian Heustice notched a 3&2 win. Because of their low handicaps, Phil Harrison and Bill Birnie had to concede many shots to their opponents but they came back with a half in the penultimate match.

The final match, featuring the in-form John Doran and Nick Austin, brought a nail-biting finish as they won the last four holes to win by one.

This was a fitting finale to an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable season of seniors’ matches.

Alresford’s captain praised Cowdray’s great course, confirming this will be the first fixture in his members’ diaries next season.

Results: Mike Hughes & Terry Adsett won 3&1; Derek Smith & Ian Heustice won 3&2; Dave Lucking & Brian Carpenter won 2&1; Bill Brownlee & Graham Evans won 3&2; Trevor Edwards & Dave Coombes won 4&3; Brian Brockhurst & Colin West won 6&4; Phil Harrison & Bill Birnie halved; John Doran & Nick Austin won 1 up.

Cowdray Park seniors’ season-long competitions for the Carter Trophy and the Ken Young Eclectic Trophy are drawing to an exciting climax.

The Carter Trophy is a Stableford-based competition and, with only one round remaining, only four players have a chance of winning. Leader is Mel Milburn with 46 points, having taken the lead in July from Peter Laws after he suffered knee problems and was put out of action, but he has recovered and could be back in action for the final round.

The other two with a remote chance of winning are Mark Kelly and Bernie May, but they would have to win and Milburn fail to score a point.

The Eclectic is far more competitive, with only one point covering the top ten, and a further three points covering all the way down to Tony Castley in 28th place.

Leading by half a point is John Hall from five players on 57½ – Dave Hirons, Paul Owen, John Kitchener, John Doran and Phil Harrison, all of whom have scored pars or birdies on all 18 holes and have little margin for improvement.