^{A cold, frosty morning heralded the latest Stableford Competition. Twelve brave men and true, well twelve
members anyway, braved the elements for an excellent day’s golf at Rookwood. The course was certainly in fine condition, better than several of our local home courses, though the frosted greens produced some interesting challenges. Some of the approach shots, once landing on the greens resulted in a lengthy return shot back on to
the green. One or two such shots would have qualified for the longest drive competition.}

The hospitality at Rookwood was first class with an early bacon roll accompanied by coffee; the after-match meal of Steak Pie and vegetables was both welcome and most satisfying. Thanks to all the staff at Rookwood and to Roger Pitts for choosing and organising a splendid event.

The tone for the day was set by the late arrival of Graham Sinclair – fines master for the day! Several other fines were imposed, not least to Paul Holmes for his lack of subtlety – twice giving grief to the fines master just before the fines were imposed. Luckily his timing on the course was better. Others included Brian Stickley for spending an inordinate amount of time looking for his ball on completely the wrong side of the fairway; to John Masters for commenting on his handicap being severely cut, yet again. Roll on next month’s cut– not!; Bos should have been fined for his lack of care/spectacle abuse – he lost his £250 glasses somewhere before the ninth. Obviously, not being able to see helped his game considerably as he birdied the 11th and won the longest drive on the 15th, actually launching a monster right down the middle of the fairway.  Let’s hope he gets a new pair for next month’s challenge so that he gives others a chance. Clive Dolan was fined for aiming for the wrong gap and Roger Pitts was fined for putting the nearest the pin marker on the longest drive hole. There were others so memorable that neither Roger nor I can remember them.

^{Extra 3rd place prizes were awarded as no one from Div 2 managed to hit the green for their nearest the pin competition or hit the fairway on their longest drive.}