The B Teams of East Devon played their annual matches for the East Devon Trophy. This was its 37th year and was played for on Honiton’s course.

Due to Phil Wall’s absence (a tactically brilliant holiday in Scotland) the home team were led by last year’s captain Andy Harrison. Each club put out a team of 10 players who went out as four balls (one player from each competing club) with the trophy going to the best 8 Stableford scores from each team.

The weather was warm and the course was in good condition but scoring was hard due to the stiff wind and the very luscious rough just off the fairways. The result looked like being tight but Honiton kept out the boys from Axe Cliff by 10pts leaving Sidmouth third and East Devon fourth. Next year’s game is scheduled to be played at Sidmouth.

?This week’s Tuesday Mixed format was a Texas Scramble - played in teams of four. It’s work week at the club so some temporary greens were in play. The winners with 57pts were the team of Andy Sharland, club vice captain Dave Morgan, Rosemary Whiteley and Cherry Liell. Runners-up were Stephanie and Bob Barnes playing with Carol and Alan Booth

?60 Honiton Seniors entertained 120 players of a similar age to play in the long standing Henry Young Salver Seniors’ Open on Friday.

The popularity of the club brought players from as far afield as Weymouth, Bath and South Devon. Due to the deluge on Wednesday, organisers kept everything crossed that the competition would go ahead, but in the event the drying day on Thursday and the skill of the greenkeepers, the course was in great condition, though it was a real test from the back tees to yielding fairways.

Scores were surprisingly good with the visitors coming out on top. D Bernard, R Barber and D Gwynne-Jones from Enmore Park, Somerset amassed 44pts from their best score on each hole. Runners up with 43pts were J Maynard, R Stevens and C Wray from Fingle Glen beating P Waite, G Potter and K Collier from Bovey Tracy and Stover on countback. Best of the home players were Bob Cleal, Dave Maggs and Jim Wallis with 42pts.

The Seniors continued their good run in inter-club matches with two decisive 5 �- �. home wins in the last week, writes Janet Dack.

The first was a new fixture against Exminster and the visitors have a chance of revenge as the visit to Exminster has yet to be arranged.

Winners for Axe Cliff were John White/ Neil Moorcraft; Terry Jessup/Gerry Turner; Chris Walker/Bryan Dale; Rob Heard/Bill Polley and Malcolm Glass/Gilbert Cox. The half point was won by Jack Bannister/Peter Crosby.

The second and most recent match was the return fixture with Minehead and as the team won there in June a notable double was achieved. Winners for Axe Cliff were John White/John Mant; Peter Knighting/Bob Graham; Mick Tomes/Hugh Willis; Jack Bannister/Bill Polley and David Bailey/Iain Bain. The half point was won by Geoff Hubbard and Gilbert Cox. All was not gloom for the visitors as their captain, Cliff Day did have the consolation of winning the prize for nearest the pin at the 11th.

?The ladies of Axe Cliff competed for the Granny and the Non Granny Competitions combined with the MacMillan Spoon.

The winner of the Granny Bowl for the second year running was Glenda Board with lady captain Barbara Cummings winning the Non Granny Bowl and the MacMillan Spoon.

Let’s hope the fine weather continues as the ladies are looking forward to their Open meeting this Friday.

Axe Cliff Seniors held their second Invitational competition with competitors coming from all over the South-west.

The course and playing conditions were perfect and we saw Axe Cliff at its best. The final scores reflected the close contests that were acted out on the cliff tops.

As both scores were required on each hole to complete the card there was some pressure on team members not to let down their partner.

The winning score of 67 points by Gerry Turner from Axe Cliff and his partner Ron Stanley from Honiton was just enough to see off a score of 66 by Alan Vincent and his invited guest, Len Wright, from Honiton. In third place were defending champions Mike Tomes and his guest Mike Low from Wheathill Golf Club with 60 points.

The nearest the pin for visitors was won by Ron Stanley on the seventh hole and for the home players by Geoff Hubbard on the 11th. There was only one two recorded for the day by Len Wright on the 11th who was very satisfied with the amount of golf balls he received for his effort.

Everyone who took part had a really enjoyable day and couldn’t believe how they had managed to find one of the best days for weather they had encountered this year.

There was much talk from everyone in the clubhouse afterwards about what will happen when partnerships are renewed for next year’s competition – it seems they can’t wait.