There have been large numbers of visitor groups staying at the hotel and the course has certainly been busy, writes John Bridgman.

Everyone has been able to enjoy the course which, as I reported on last week continues to flourish and be beautifully manicured.

This last weekend saw over one hundred and sixty players contest the Mitie Cup.

The sponsors of the event year in year out, for as long as I remember, are the Freeman family. Dave and Gill have been golf ambassadors for our club for over twenty years now, raising a great deal of money for charitable causes. So, who came out lucky this time around? With a very creditable score of 40 points the men’s winner was Ian Kirk, and the ladies winner was Katie Blake scoring 35. The competition is played as a qualifier under stableford rules.

Division One was won by David Cockayne Jnr with 39 points. Second saw James Harris in on 37 and a better back nine from in third place Lee Nattrass also on 37.

Division Two had Tony Marshall home on 37 and a better back nine, from Anthony Cooling also with 37 points. Lee Mottram came third with 36 points.

The ladies winner was Katie Blake with 35 points, from in second place Rebecca Tike on 34 and a better back nine from Norma Foster also on 34.

Division Three saw the outright winner Ian Kirk score 40 points home first with Aston Mills in second place from Terry Wheatley in third, both scoring 36 apiece. Aston had the better back nine score.

Roger Barnes, the Acorns captain reported that an eclectic and qualifying round took place midweek, the winner being Phillip Corcos with 43 points from in second place, Pat Thomas 39 and in third place Lee Dumbrek with 38.

The midweek medal had Jonathan Veale home with 73-5=68 and a better back nine from Chris Turner 77-9=68. Third place was taken by David Cockayne 75-5=70.

The Woodbury Park seniors’ played out a stableford called ‘Nip and tuck’, ( I didn’t realise so much cosmetic surgery took place in a round of golf!).

First home were Rob Dart, Bill Kirk and Kevin Wortt with 73 points. Second place went to Norman Baker, Alan Stone and Terry Tilbury on 70, and third Roy Barber, Brian Major and Brian Smith scoring 68 points.

Another week has passed us by and it has not given us the impression that summer is here. No doubt it will hit us when we least expect it. I look forward to that, in the meantime happy whacking, cheers John.