Greenkeepers’ Revenge Proves A Hit

Greenkeepers’ Revenge Proves A Hit: A new competition, called Greenkeepers’ Revenge, was recently staged, much to the amusement of the Honiton members.

The competition, introduced this year by club captain Richard Beard, offered the opportunity for the greens staff to get their own back for all of the golfers walking over their workplace all year!

Their remit was simple: set the course up, however you like. This meant that no pin position was out of question (even in a bunker on 18), any obstacles were fine, and tee boxes could be placed wherever they felt like.

This resulted in the second hole becoming a 95-yard bunker shot due to the pile of sand to be teed from, various machinery and equipment lying around, hosepipes circling cups, and, as mentioned, a hole in a bunker on 18! With all of this taken into consideration they also seemed to be able to order in some horrible weather for the day; with the glorious summer we have had almost a distant memory, it proceeded to rain very heavily throughout the whole competition.

Some 40 players braved the very challenging conditions, both course and weather, to compete in the Texas Scramble format.

As you would expect, there were some very mediocre scores, but there were also some very respectable ones.

The event was won in the end by the three-ball team of club captain Richard Beard, Peter Wainwright and Paul Vaughan with an excellent score of 65.6.

Once everyone had dried off and taken shelter back in the clubhouse the party of the greens staff conducted the maiden presentation of the trophy, made by head greenkeeper John with various things from around the course.

All in all, a very good day was had and the greenkeepers are already plotting how to make next year’s revenge even harder.

The main talking point of the Honiton seniors’ September Medal was the hole-in-one achieved by our president Max Pipe on the second hole, writes Ann Desmoulins.

This, together with some other sparking golf, enabled him to record a nett 65 and to be presented with the tankard for winning the competition.

A mighty close second was Peter Clarke, who also carded a nett 65, but was edged into second place on countback.

Third was Phil Faulkner with a nett 68 and fourth was John Fleetwood, also with a 68, but again, edged out on countback.

In Division Two, the winner was Fred Thomas with a nett 67.

Second was Bob Cockett with a nett 69, third was Robert Canterbury with a nett 70 and fourth was Brian Hoepelman with a 71.

There were five twos recorded and scored by Ron Jones and Mike Stroud on the second, by David Scott on the seventh, Peter Clarke on the 11th, and, with two superb shots on the par four 12th hole, by Peter Blake.

Of course, there were another two twos for Max [Pipe] for his hole-in-one. Each two was worth six balls.

The latest Honiton Tuesday Mixed format was an American Foursomes.

Thirty-two players took part and the clear winners, with an impressive score of 45 points, were Sarah Dawe and John Frith.

Heather Clarke and Stan Squire took second place with 42 points and Elizabeth Ward and Phil Wall came third with 40 points.

Fourth place went to Andrea Squire and Peter Clarke with 36 points.