3 Counties match Away v Wheathill A – 11.5.13

Mandy, Sylvie and Rod did not know what they were letting themselves in for when they agreed to play in 3 Counties for the first time.  Order emerges from chaos...eventually.  The cards were a mess, what with two different layouts and the wrong adjustment shots allocated first time round and then to cap it all, the heavens opened.  Cards written in ink...fill in the blanks!  This was the first match of the Summer League.    Summer mind.  Why then were we all huddled into Wheathill's starter hut in full waterproofs and winter underarmour.   Very friendly!  

I witnessed Karma that day.  When Ray last played 3 Counties at Wheathill he upset the opposition by playing out of his socks.  He and Sandra Basford won by miles.  “Bandit” was shouted from the roof tops, but he couldn't do it again for us. We came up against a Wheathill player, who a fortnight ago was thinking of selling his clubs but on Saturday he turned the corner – he parred the first 5 holes and couldn't do a thing wrong.  It happens.  We lost one other game but won the remaining three, giving us the winning match points...14 points in total.  Our reserve pair lost on the 18^th.

Thank you to all the team, Stacie Watts, Sam Clarke, Angela and Dave Baker, Sean Monaghan, Sandra Basford, Nigel Brighouse, Mandy Head and Sylvie and Rod Tucker. 

Our next match is Away at Folke on Saturday, 1^st June.  First tee 1.00 p.m.  Anyone interested in playing please sign the sheet in the corridor.  You will be sure of a good time.

Gill

Now a fresh start. League...these are the dates for your Diary.

Saturday, 11^th May, Away to Wheathill A

Saturday, 1^st June, Away to Folke

Saturday, 29^th June, Away to Wheathill B

Saturday, 13^th July, Away to Wincanton

Saturday, 17^th August, Home to Wheathill B

Saturday, 31^st August, Home to Wheathill

Saturday, 7^th September, Home to Folke

Saturday, 14^th September, Home to Wincanton

All Welcome. Please sign up on noticeboard lists

Gill

3 Counties

Winter Knockout Final – 30.3.13 at Wheathill

Do you want the bad news first?  Long Sutton did not win Gold, but we did win Silver!  Second in the Final: a vast improvement on the year before when we didn't get off the starting blocks in the first round, but still hard not to be disappointed.  Your own game is burned on your mind, with all the ‘what ifs’ but there are 5 matches out there, all fighting their own battles.  It’s like watching the lottery draw…who knows what the luck will be.  We all teed off hoping that today would be the day when the ball would work for us and luck would be on our side but 18 holes is a long way.  Nobody goes out to play badly...it's mortifying when shots simply won't work. The pressure produced good golf on both sides, as well as mistakes. 

Matchplay is a battle of nerves and tactics.  The pressure see-saws from person to person, shot by shot and Luck is a fickle Lady.  It's a test when your partner plays a hockey shot off the first tee (smile encouragement indeed!)  We were still looking good until Liam putted in from off the green.  I grit my teeth and tell myself it's not a good sign to win the first hole, but hole 2, hockey still in evidence!  At least my putting holds up to the pressure this time but on the 3^rd, I am left with the memory of my leaving the putt sitting on the edge to halve the hole.  I hear “Oh Gill”, and again on the next pressure putt “Oh Gill”.  I remember Andrew's matchplay advice.  He's not going to rattle me I think.  Stay calm, but it's a long time to wait.  We are 5 down on 10, despite Ray’s fine 4 nett 3 on 6.    Finally, the tide turned.  My drive on 11 went straight as a die to the pin.  I turned away.  “It's going in” they said.  I looked back and it was 2 foot short of the hole.  When will I do that again?  Not in a long while.  “You can have that or do you want to putt it for the birdie?”  Silly question!  “I’ll take it thanks”.  The 13^th is the dreaded Oak tree in the Middle of the Fairway hole.  I am 5 foot (well, nearly) playing with 3 men, including Liam, 6 foot plus, off 12, and Andy off 13, and joy of joy, it's me who ends up being 4 nett 3 on the green”...”Your hole”, said Liam, picking up his marker.  One to relish!   Ray used his hockey tactics again on 14...it doesn't matter how you get over the ditch... to win the par 4, 4 nett 3.  We are now 1 down and they wished they’d made me putt the 2 footer.  Ray’s hockey shot cleared the ditch on 15 and put the pressure on them to make the slithery downhill putt...and they did.  Par 3 halved in 3.  I may have missed some short putts but I sank the 12 foot putt on the 17^th to make us all square going up 18.  I am safe, Ray long, Liam bunkered and Andy centre of green.  I made the return putt for 4…I want to point out pressure putt and with an audience, but Andy held his nerve and made the 3 to win.  There you have it.  A fight to the last putt.  Unfortunately for us, on the 18^th Lady Luck (or skill) was with Dave, in Nick and Sam's game...Dave was plugged in the bunker guarding the pin.  Both Nick and Sam were safe, but Dave powered it out and won the hole.  Nothing you can do against that.  These are the things we need to remember and meld with the disappointment in losing.  This will make us fiercer opponents next year. Val and Sean won their match.  I know you shouldn’t dwell on What if, but I can’t resist.  “What if we had won those two on the 18^th?”  It could have been another story.  

Grateful thanks to all who played...Nick and Sam, Angela and Dave, Nigel and Sandra, Ray and our sole winners on the day, Val and Sean and thanks to all who contributed through the difficult winter.

Now a fresh start.  League...these are the dates for your Diary.

Saturday, 11^th May, Away to Wheathill A

Saturday, 1^st June, Away to Folke

Saturday, 29^th June, Away to Wheathill B

Saturday, 13^th July, Away to Wincanton

Saturday, 17^th August, Home to Wheathill B

Saturday, 31^st August, Home to Wheathill

Saturday, 7^th September, Home to Folke

Saturday, 14^th September, Home to Wincanton

All welcome!                                   Gill

Long Sutton v Yeovil - 23^rd March, 2013

The weather is still bedevilling us.  You wouldn't expect snow to close a course this time of year but it closed Charminster last weekend, which meant the semi-final had to be postponed to Wincanton this, so back to the drawing board for a team, with sickness around and bad weather looming.  Such is the determination of some of our players though.  Can you believe Angela was actually miffed when I suggested she missed this game, post-flu and freezing weather.  I would try and draught in some big, burly men to deal with the Wincanton Wet!  She got her way in the end though as I had gaps in the big, burly contingency and Angela is definitely a fighter...thank you to Malcom Dennes, Nick Stacey, Ray Edwards, Dave Baker, Nigel Brighouse and Sam Clarke, who took up the mantle of big, burly men!  I am grateful to you.

As expected, there was an unrelenting east wind blowing, cutting through your 'thermals'.  Outer Mongolia.  Hands so cold, you couldn't feel your club.  That may have been why Sandra Basford's ball nearly took me out on the second hole...(Hey, I'm on your side!), but it was good to see she was hitting a long ball!  One of our opposition, Charlie (Chipper), nearly took me out twice as well, with his sideways tee shot, but credit where credit's due, his chipping was spot on.  He kept putting it 3 foot from the pin from wherever and then did what you know you should do, but don't always...sank the putt... even more irritating.  We weren't the only ones out braving the elements.  Credit too to the Wincanton members.  They play qualifiers all year round and were out playing their Saturday Stableford in this Arctic cold.  A tough lot.

Pair one came in, Malcolm Dennes with Nick Stacey.  Those agonising moments, trying to tell from body language and in the end, desperately asking ...Did you win?   Yes.  Wow!  Pair 2, Sandra Ford with Sam Clarke... also winners...Sam's face struggling to stay straight, then bursting into a big grin,   Sandra making a 2 spot as well.  I was so pleased for them all.  Hadn't dared hope for top end wins.   Now all waiting on the last two pairs.  No offence, but I wasn't hopeful judging from glimpses out on the course.  In came Angela, bristling, Boudicca, electricity firing off her, her hair standing on end.  Body language...very cross! They had fought back but lost on the 17^th and she had never been so cold!  That just left Nigel Brighouse and Sandra Basford.  I didn't dare go and watch in case it put them off.  Oh, the tension as they came in, and yes, they had won...True matchplay...Nigel said he had played well to start with and had then gone off and Sandra had had to dig deep, winning on the last hole.  I kept pinching myself.  We have won haven't we?  3 and 2.  I really wanted to dance a jig and hug them all.  What troopers.

Now we are in the Final, playing against Wincanton...they of the Winter Qualifiers in All Weathers!Bring it on.  We're up for it.  We've enjoyed the excitement so far and we'll enjoy the end, whatever.

The date is Saturday, 30^th March at Wheathill.  First tee 10.30.

Any volounteers for the team please contact me on 07850595771 or sign the sheet on the club noticeboard.

Thanks

Gill

3 Counties – Final round of Winter Salver – Cannington, Saturday, 9^th March.

The 3 Counties certainly keeps you on your toes...take nothing for granted!  The gods are playing with us.

Friday found me possibly two players short of the twelve needed for the last Winter Salver  at Cannington, but fate intervened...Richard Bartin, arriving for rollup, said “Yes”, so one slot filled!  Text from the last man.  ”Sorry, can't play,” so still one short.  Unfortunately, then had to dash to Taunton...family crisis...and couldn't get back to phones and computer until mid-evening.  “What's this?” I muttered, when I logged on to emails.  It looked as if I had booked myself a tee time at Long Sutton mid-day on Saturday and Jean Padfield had asked to join me!  “I know my brain's going soft, but how did I do that?”  Even more confusing, I could see Ray's name in the time above.  “Have we fallen out?  What's going on?”  It turned out to be Ray's fault (of course!) but I don't think even he knows how he managed to get  two tee times booked for Saturday, when he thought he was asking for two tee times on Mark Royal Day...aka MR DAY as typed by himself.  It all worked out though...I rang Jean to apologise and she agreed to fill the last slot!  All part of that cosmic plan.

On the day, cards all done.  Team all present and correct.  All organised I thought as I rushed to the first tee...Captains out first this round.  A lot of talking and fidgeting going on.  I assumed this was because I was last to the tee...no I didn't say late, just last...but when I got there I was told  “The red and yellow tees are on boxes, the whites are out on the proper tees, so better the ladies go off the whites as well.”  “Pardon?!”  I couldn't believe my ears.  Geoff had said the whites would be back on grass for us.  Poor man forgot to say it was a mixed competition.  More arguing when I was told...”And play off the white card”.  “Well, we didn't.  We played off the red, with our adjustment shots and that was hard enough.  Once playing though, I appreciated what they were saying.  The tee boxes were moved out of the way in a lot of places and wouldn't have been good, but it certainly felt hard to compete.  We had five ladies playing, whereas Wincanton only had one and Folke and Cannington none.  In addition, two of our ladies are outside of the 24 max. handicap...not usually a problem...off red tees.

It was a shame in that it spoilt some people's games, but it raised others, and come the end, the fun took over, as it always does.  Everyone was watching the scores as they were posted, trying to get clues from body language: jeers and cheers.  All good fun.  Their 'Fine a Friend' for charity had everyone laughing, misdemeanours ranging from a captain wearing a shirt that looked like a deck chair, to our being 'late' for the Wincanton round, an air shot on the first tee and clubs being thrown further than the ball.

Then, the serious business.  Before play, the positions were Folke first, 42 points clear of Wincanton.  We were third, 12 points behind Wincanton, and 2 points ahead of Cannington.

The results on the day were Cannington first, 323,  Folke 304,  Long Sutton 294, Wincanton 270, giving  the final results Folke 1235, LONG SUTTON 1183, Cannington 1181, Wincanton 1171.

Especially well done Long Sutton...2^nd by 2 points.  I'll take that.  Good battling and thank you to the gods!  Richard Bartin was our top scorer again with 33, then Steve, Sam, Sandra and Jean, all with 32,  Nigel Brighouse 30, myself 29,  and so on.  Good scores, all things considered, on a course I would  enjoy playing again...off the reds.

Thank you again to all who contributed to the four rounds – Chris Binding, Norman Banfield, Hughie McGuire, Julian Lawrence, Julian Odierno, John Drummond, John Evans, Luke Nutland, Richard Dore, Richard Bartin, Stephen Southgate, Sean Monaghan, Sam Clarke, Steve Stopforth, Sandra Basford, Dave and Angela Baker, Hilary and Malcolm Dennes, Sandra Ford, Nigel Brighouse, Val Fraser, Jean Padfield, Ray and myself.                     Gill

3 Counties Winter Salver – 'Home Round' at Orchardleigh

Thank you to Graham and Peter for enabling our home round to be played at Orchardleigh, when there were fears  our part of Somerset would never dry out!  Once offered, we jumped at the chance to play such a beautiful, parkland course.  It is much appreciated.  There were some tired legs come the end, and we were more than ready for our roast pork.  Thank you to the team on the day, re-jigged at the last minute because of flu and back injury!

Steve Southgate, Richard Dore, Dick Bartin, Luke Nutland,  John Evans, John Drummond, Sam Clarke, Sean Monaghan, Sandra Ford, Sandra Basford, Ray and Gill Edwards.

Ray had our highest score on the day, 35 points, but he signed for 34, not noticing he had only been given 2 points for his 3 on the last par 3 hole.  Second on the day (on countback mind) was Sam with 33...but I am sure he has already had a Highest on the Day(?), which could bring the prize down to me!!   

If anyone would like to play in our last round on Saturday, 9^th March at Cannington, please contact Gill on 01935 823912 or 07850595771.

3 Counties Report – Winter Salver at Folke - 23^rd February, 2013

If you knew the temperature was not going to rise much above freezing and that it would manage to snow from the moment you teed off, you would think twice about playing golf, let alone playing at Folke.  You can see from the picture just how exposed the course is.  What a cold wind.  Where are the rest of the team while Val tries to ignore the out-of-bounds farmyard on the left?  They've got sense.  They are hugging the wall until it's time to step out onto the tee!

Thank you to the team...Sam Clarke, Chris Binding, Hughie McGuire, Richard Dore, John Evans, Dave and Angela Baker, Sean Monaghan, Sandra Basford, Val Fraser, Ray Edwards and myself. 

We came in feeling quite privileged...we know spring is round the corner.  How?  We were able to play 18 holes and saw the ball rolling! 

Unfortunately, we came last on the day...Long Sutton 293, Wincanton 299, Cannington 302 and Folke 330.  You can see a pattern here...Wincanton and Folke top scorers on their home courses.

Our home round is next Sunday at Orchardleigh.   Should we all have extra adjustment shots, the men as well, to make up for not being on our home course?!

We had four scores in the thirties...Dave, our best, had a respectable 35 pts, Richard Dore 32 Angela 31 and I scraped 30. 

The Leaderboard now looks like this...

                                                            Folke           627

                                                            Wincanton   607

                                                            Long Sutton 584

                                                            Cannington  580

 If anyone is interested in playing next Sunday at Orchardleigh, please let me know.

Gill

01935 823912

3   C O U N T I E S

 Winter Salver at Wincanton, Sat. 16^th February

REPORT  The Salver is played with one from each club going out as a 4 ball, 12 in the team, best 10 stableford cards the team total.  With the weather the way it has been,  this first round has been rearranged more times than...well, I won't say whose face! 

Cannington, Folke and Wincanton all arrived on time to start at 10...unfortunately, I still had 11.00 as the first tee on my sheet.  At 10.10 I got 'the call'.  Panic stations!  Lucky the road is dual carriageway.  Folke Captain had the mix sorted until we could get there and order was restored.  Apologies for having kept so many people waiting. 

The last piece of the jigsaw was at 11.30.  Just when thought we would  only have 11 in the team, Dick Barton arrived on time for the 11.00 start!  Glad he did, as he brought us in 34 points.

Totals so far – Wincanton 308 (Maxine had 40 points!)

                         Folke – 297

                         Long Sutton – 291

                         Cannington – 278

Thank you to all who played – a different mix as so many 'regulars' were unavailable...

Norman Banfield, Chris Binding, John Drummond (off his sick bed), Hughie McGuire,

Julian Odierno, Julian Lawrence, Luke Nutland, Sean Monaghan, Dick Barton, Sam Clarke, Ray Edwards and myself.

Dates – Saturday, 23^rd February at Folke, 9.00 first tee

              Saturday, 3^rd March, our round at Orchardleigh instead of Long Sutton, 11.30 first tee

              Saturday, 9^th March at Cannington, 10.00 first tee

Please sign up if you are interested in playing.

Gill   

3 Counties – Winter Knockout

Well done to the team who played at Wincanton on Saturday, 2^nd February.  This was Long Sutton's first round of the Winter Knockout, playing against Bullpits, the game having been postponed from 19^th January, because of the snow and moved from Folke to Wincanton because of the wet.  Even free-draining Wincanton was not immune from wet though.  “Take relief from casual water”, we were told.  “It goes right across the 2^nd fairway” but no mention was made of the hollow which had turned into a pond 30yds long and 2 foot deep, still casual water and to top it all our opponent managed to spot his ball in it!  Still, the sun was shining and we were actually out playing golf at last. 

Moving swiftly past the reason why Ray and I were able to take the weight off our feet so soon, (and it wasn't so the men could watch the Rugby), we had a nerve-racking wait for the 4^th pair to come in.  The score so far was 2, 1 to Long Sutton.  Their game was still very serious on the 18^th,even needing the measuring of who should putt first, but Ben of Bullpits who won the Freeman Trophy Putting Competition the year before last, showed his metal and the score moved to 2 all.  Down to the last pairing...Sean Monaghan and Sandra Basford.  Would you believe it, they came up trumps, Sandra putting her drive on the green and sending Long Sutton through to the next round.  We wait for the result of the match between Yeovil and Folke on 16^th January to find out who we play.

The team consisted of Steve Stopforth, Sam Clarke, Hilary and Malcolm Dennes, Angela and Dave Baker, Sean Monaghan and Sandra Basford and Gill and Ray Edwards.

Our next game is a Winter Salver round at Wincanton on Sunday, 17^th February.  Please do sign the sheet in the corridor if you are interested in playing.

Gill

3 Counties - Freeman Trophy Day (2012).

What a day! and what a build up to it.  The rain just kept coming and coming.  Hats off to Graham, Peter and all the greens staff for the work they did in keeping the course playable.  We arrived in gloomy drizzle at 7.00 and set out in rain at 8.00, thinking why have the weathermen got it wrong again, today of all days?  But the clouds did clear and the sun actually shone.  We had many thanks for a good day and Wheathill emailed to say how much they appreciated the effort everyone at Long Sutton had made, and commented on how well the course had held up.  So many people helped, but thanks to Tommy for arriving at the crack of dawn to start the teams off and to Norman for finishing off, to Andrew's team in the shop, to Management and the catering staff for their hard work, and to Alec for the putting.  Thanks also to those players who were able to stay and help, to Ian Chandler for his 'running', to Carole Davies for the whiteboard and to Sandra for the miracle of spreadsheets! 

The evening saw the dining room  filled with 120 golfers, all determined to have a good time, whatever the prize announcements might be and joshing rival teams.  The room was filled with laughter and banter.  The champagne corks popped, as Wincanton were announced as Div. 1 winners.  Long Sutton won the Runners up Trophy.  One box ticked...we didn't drop back, having moved up last year.  Now for the next aim...can we beat Wincanton?  Our second trophy was as Winners of the Div. 1 Reserve Cup.

Then, a total surprise...Long Sutton won the Freeman Trophy for the second year running.  Prizes to Steve Stopforth for our Best Team Score, Stacie Watts for Ladies Longest Drive and Sandra Ford for Ladies Nearest the Pin.

A draw was held between the putting comp. winners, for 2 people to share the £50 prize money.  Sorry Sandra...your name wasn't drawn.  The other £50 now goes into St. Margaret's Hopsice Funds.

Folke were Div. 2 winners (2012), with Wheathill B second.  This means next season, Div. 1 will consist of Wincanton, Long Sutton, Wheathill A, Wheathill B and Folke.  Tasty times!

Thank you to everyone who contributed during the year, in large or small measure.  Whatever we win, if we win, that's icing on the cake...the important thing is for as many people as possible to share in the fun trying...and we certainly try hard!

Thanks go to 42 people and apologies if I have missed anyone out...to Stacie Watts, Haydn Gibson, Cameron Barrett, Colin Barrett, Steve Stopforth, Sam Clarke, Sandra Basford, Sandra and Rob Ford, Nigel Brighouse, Angela and Dave Baker, Hilary and Malcolm Dennes, Chris Gingell, Sonia and Steve Banks, Pam Frith, George Ceely, Vanessa Hayes, Mark Healey, Connie Stolworthy, Sarah and Steve Uzzell, Franco Calendrini, Nick and Ruben Stacey, David Edwards, Gwen and Brian Clarke, Margaret Bennett, Pat and John Whitehead, Mandy and Malcolm Head, Norman Banfield, Jamie Brodie, Julian Odierno, Ray, Tim, Henry, Rupert Edwards, and many more who were 'willing, if needed.'

Watch out for further sign up sheets for 3 Counties matches.  Do please sign up.  The more the merrier.

Gill

3 Counties Match Report - 16.9.12

We had a good win in our last match of the season, here at Long Sutton, against Wheathill A team.

Wheathill were unable to bring a Reserve Pair, so the points from that should make us the winners of Div. 1 Reserve Cup. 

Our team result was even better than I had hoped for...4 wins and a half...enough points to rocket us into 2nd place on the line with 76 pts.  Wincanton will be the clear winners, (112 pts!), Wheathill A 3rd, ( 71 pts), Yeovil 4th, (56 pts) and Cannington A 5th, (53 pts). 

Thanks to all who played this season.  You've been amazing.  I really didn't expect 2nd place for us.  Staying up was the main aim.

2nd place is icing on the cake.

I hope everyone will play again and look forward to seeing everyone when the Winter Knockout starts.

Please sign up to play on Freeman Trophy Day...Saturday, 13th October at Long Sutton.  Details on the Club Noticeboard.

Gill

 3 Counties League

We faced a worrying match on Saturday against Yeovil at Long Sutton.  Worrying because both teams were vying for 3rd place in order to stay in Div. 1 next year.  Such a relief when we won 4 and 1!  Well done the team.  Our 14 pts to Yeovil's 4 brings us up to the coveted 3rd place.  We can now chase 2nd place when we play our last match against Wheathill A on Sunday,16th September. 

See the Club Noticeboard for the sign up sheet to play on Freeman Trophy Day, Saturday, 13th October.  A team of 12 needed.

AFTER RESULTS RECEIVED: 10.9.2012

3 Counties v Cannington 'A' at Long Sutton - Well done to the team who played on Saturday, 4th August.  Yet another fun 3 Counties game.  I arrived at 12.00 to do the cards for 1.00 tee to find Cannington fining their Captain for getting them to Long Sutton for 11.00 tee!  Fines went into a wooden 'cottage' labelled "Fine a Friend".  Their Captain said afterwards that too much practise time had been their downfall, or maybe it was too much coffee that accounted for them losing 4 and 1.  Their first player was dubbed a hippy, because his ball skimmed off to the right, 'hugging the trees' and another defended his waistline, saying it had cost a lot to get it that shape, and so the banter went on.  The 'hippy' turned out later to be the President of Somerset Golf Union.  (Glad I didn't know that when playing!)  It says a lot that even when they were losing, they were fun to be with. 

I am really grateful to those who were active on Long Sutton's behalf, when they could have been watching the Olympics!  Thanks to Margaret and George for a good half in the Reserve Cup and to Steve Stopforth, Sonia and Steve Banks, Brian and Gwen, Pam and Sandra Basford, Stacie and Sam. 

Our fate as to whether we go down to Div. 2 hasn't yet been decided.  We have 2 crucial matches left...Saturday, 8th Sept. v Yeovil and Sunday, 16th Sept. v Wheathill 'A', both at Long Sutton. 

Ourselves, Yeovil and Wheathill 'A' are neck and neck on points.  Please get in touch with me or sign the sheet in the corridor if you fancy helping us in the challenge!

Gill

Report on the First 3 Counties Match, Long Sutton Home against Wincanton.

Report on the Winter Salver at Folke 18.2.12

I now know why I found it so hard to raise a team for this game...You all looked at the forecast!

It started off bright enough and I thought this looks a lovely course. You can see for miles in all directions...hardly any trees, and in the summer it will be beautiful but today, no trees, no protection from that cutting wind. Once the weather closed in, so did the golf! I actually parred the first hole, when the sun was shining, but the second time around, a different story. Some of the team managed to get in before the worst of it but some of us had freezing cold stair rods in our faces one way and down the back of the neck the other. Oh the joys of winter golf! Angela and Dave weren't silly when they chose to play a poker championship in the warm instead of golf! We missed Cameron too. He was injured in rugby training, but thanks to Dave Edwards who cheerfully gave it a go. One good thing about playing when it's cold is coming back into the warm. Folke gave us a really warm welcome and the chat and joshing got louder and louder.

As ever, thank you to all who gave their support and played. We brought in some good scores...up into the 30's... but still not as good as the other teams' totals. It all now rests on the last match at the end of March when we play Wincanton, Yeovil and Folke at Long Sutton.

The unconfirmed results today were -

Folke 319 Total to date 944

Wincanton 312 936

Yeovil 293 914

Long Sutton 280 855

Anyone interested in playing on Sunday, 25^th March at 11.30 please sign the sheet in the corridor.

If you know of anyone playing beautifully to their handicap, push them my way... I've got a job for them.

Bandits apply here!

Gill

(Still not warm!)

Report on the Winter Salver ~ 28.1.12

Gill Edwards

3 Counties Freeman Trophy

Long Sutton was successful in it's bid to host the 3 Counties Freeman Trophy for the second successive year, so on Saturday, 8th October, Long Sutton was looking its best for the 120 visitors from the 10 clubs involved in the 3 Counties League. When the first competitors arrived in the early morning gloom, the weather had a definite feel of 'winter on the way', but the 3 Counties players are all a cheerful bunch and were determined to enjoy the day, come what may. You have to be made of strong stuff though, when as one of the first off the tee, in front of everyone, your ball curves out of bounds... closely followed by your 3 off the tee! Oh, nightmare. Poor man. A clamour of cheers and jeers went up but someone quipped "It's that new bag that's doing it! Ditch the bag!" and he went off with a smile on his face. Overall, this is the good-natured feel of the 3 Counties League and the day followed the same pattern. In the end, Wheathill's strong B team won the Freeman Trophy, with Long Sutton second.

The end of season cups were presented...

Long Sutton won the Div. 2 Reserve Cup and received the Runners-Up Shield for Div. 2. The trophies are now on display in the clubhouse. We now move up to Div. 1 for next season. A good start to life in the 3 Counties. There was high praise for the course, the meal and the welcome Long Sutton gave...More than one person said "I always love playing here".

Thank you, too, to the 3 Counties for inviting our Lady Captain to run a putting competition on the day. Alec's devilllish longest putt certainly added to the fun. Thank you to him and sorry if hilarity on the green put off players on the 16th tee! Eliza and her helpers thank all who helped to raise over £170 for the Alzheimer Society.

Finally, the draw was made for the Winter Knockout. In the preliminary round, Wheathill B are paired with Long Sutton to play on a neutral course. An exciting start to the next stage of our first year in the League. The venue will probably be the Newton Course but only if we can play in dry weather this time! Watch out for the sign-up sheet once the date is arranged.
Another target!

Gill

3 Counties

Well done and thank you to all who played in our first season. What an experience...different courses, sometimes even different rules (!) and out of our comfort zone but always friendly and a laugh.

Thank you everyone for making it such fun and for bringing Long Sutton success. As a result of being 2nd in Div. 2 we move up to Div. 1 next season

and

our Reserve Pairs have done us proud. "We are the Winners"...and Long Sutton's name will be engraved on the cup this year. Vanessa and Roy clinched the win in an exciting last game but thanks to everyone who contributed and special thanks to Cameron and James, our two juniors, who had an amazing win against the previously unbeaten Charminster Reserve Pair!

The fun doesn't end here though...See the notice on the board about the Freeman Trophy, Sat. 8th October.

This is the end of season Jamboree. We need a team of 12 to compete for the Trophy and other prizes. At the meal Cups will be presented and the Draw will be made, football style, for the 3 Counties Winter Knockout.

Don't miss the fun. Will we draw Bullpits!?! I almost hope so. Get our own back.

Sign up quickly!

Gill