On a morning full of Spring promise, twenty-seven women set off in good humour to prove their handicaps in the Flag competition. At 8am, there was still a heavy frost sparkling on the fairways and greens which quickly melted away as an almost warm sun smiled on us for the whole day. Mud and boggy bits were still to be found on a number of holes but there are signs of the course drying in places. Greens were unpredictable with some new hole positions making putting more problematic than usual for some of us.
It was a closely contested competition with three of us reaching hole 18 before running out of shots but the winners, and there wasn’t much distance between them about 100 yards from the 18th green, were:
1st Mandy Lawson (105 shots)
And
2nd Lisa Martin (90 shots)
Many congratulations to you both! There were no two’s.
There was much to make us smile while we were out: the daffodils are appearing with their bright yellow flowers, trumpeting the coming of Spring; flocks of green parakeets flying noisily overhead; dabbling herring gulls, deceiving the worms; Egyptian geese honking their mating calls and spreading their love around (also known as goose poo!); and almost hidden at the back of the 3rd green, small clumps of Galanthus, the dainty white snowdrop. To paraphrase Wordsworth, ‘A golfer could not but be gay/In such a jocund company.’
The three playing in the 9-hole Stableford also enjoyed their morning.
Next week on March 12th, we have the March Stableford, our first qualifying competition for some time, with the alternate on Sunday, March 9th; then on March 19th there is the Bisque Salver which is a Board competition for which the sign-up, now open, is in three’s.
On Friday, March 21st is our friendly Women’s Captain vs Vice Greensomes competition over 13 holes. Sign up for this is open now and all Divisions and Academy Year 2 can play. Teams will be drawn on the evening of March 19th.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available from 7:45am in the entrance with a semi-shotgun start at 8:30am.
Please sign up for the lunch after this competition on the list in the Locker Room.
Then on Wednesday, March 26th, there is a Medal with the alternate on the Sunday before.
There are 9-hole competitions as well on each of those Wednesdays.
The diary for the Summer season has now been updated. There are paper copies in the Locker Room but it can be viewed on the website here.
Last Sunday, the Captain’s Charity concert to raise funds for The Nightingale Cancer Support Centre was a great success. Our harpist, Andrew Knight, had chosen a mixed programme to appeal to all tastes and the audience were captivated by the sounds and versatility of the harp. We raised £1,190!
Next Wednesday, March 12th, I am hoping that there will be a photoshoot after our golf for the Nightingale Hike on Friday, May 16th. Will all involved please listen out for a photocall!
There are still tickets available, £18 per person, for the Kings Cross Walk with Polly Schlesinger on Monday, April 28th. Please sign up here.
Our Women’s Golf Pro, Nicola, is celebrating International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8th with two sessions (12pm and 3 pm) encouraging women to introduce friends and family to the sport. Do come and support the day.
I am hoping that this wonderful weather continues, and the course dries out a little more. Instead of a golf quote, I will leave you with a few more words from the poet, William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850) as they may resonate with you all after a satisfying day’s golf: ‘And then my heart with pleasure fills/And dances with the daffodils’.
Indeed, it does! Happy Spring Golfing everyone!
Alison Towndrow
Women’s Captain