Winter Rules

All England Golf have decided that the winter rules for 2016 will be extended
until the end of May 2016. Therefore you may pick and place for another month.

Belfairs Cup Qualifier
(male members only)

Please note the above Qualifier may also be played on Wednesday the 27th April,
the other dates are Friday 29th Saturday 30th and Sunday 1st May - these
3 dates are also the medal days.

The Spring renewal of the Roger Foreman Shield was played on Sunday and in another closely fought, but very sporting contest, Belfairs retained the trophy beating Southend GC 9 ½ - 6 ½.

David Watson’s nett 68 (90-22) secured the Mid-Week Medal with consistent Neil Arends (89-20=69) in the runner-up spot and Mike Wellham (90-19=71) in third.

Rick Chadwick made a welcome return to competitive golf and his 36 points was enough to take the single stableford with Chris Shawyer (30) in second place and Ray Jones third (28).

In the ladies section, Susan Meddle carded a nett 72 to take the Veterans Trophy from runner-up Hazel Webber (74) and third placed Christine Berry (87). In the Trust Stableford, Andrea Clarke comfortably captured first place with 30 points with Mandy Moir (25) taking second on countback from Terri Hirons (25)

28).

It was a night of brain teasers on Friday as Belfairs Golf Club hosted a Charity Quiz to raise funds for the local Disabled Riding Club. All raffle and quiz prizes donated by club members and friends of the riding school and the sell-out event included a fish & chips supper. The initial amount raised was £570, but on the winning team was Lesley Barry, Finance Director for Hockley based company Seetec, and she promptly announced that Seetec would match that figure taking the total raised to £1140. Paul Harford from the Disabled Riding Club said “It has been a great evening and we can now purchase much needed new riding hats for each of our members”. Belfairs club captain Chris Shawyer added “We are delighted that the evening went so well and we are especially grateful to Lesley and Seetec for their very kind contribution.   

Belfairs contested the first round of the Leslie Wood Team Championship on Sunday, but their campaign was short-lived, losing a closely fought match to visitors Crondon Park. The morning foursomes started all one way for Crondon taking a 0-3 lead until Rod Hall & Andrew Nash pulled one back and then Steve Mann & Kevin Buck steadied the ship to go into the break at 2-3. The afternoon singles was a much closer affair and Ray Hallett led the way with a fine 5&3 win, but despite further successes for Nash, Buck and Kevin Gough and a half for Peter Mahoney, Crondon rallied to take the tie 6 ½ -8 ½ .

It was a different story in the Daily Mail Foursomes however, as Lawrence Schooley and Baz Patel posted their third consecutive victory in the competition, this time winning at Rochford 5&3 against a strong home pairing.

High scoring was attributed to the blustery conditions in last week’s April medals. In Friday’s version, Frank Howroyd’s nett 73 (84-11) was enough to secure first place from George Moss (91-17=74) in second and Michael Flynn (92-18=74) in third.

On Saturday, Steve Bucke carded a 72 (88-16) to take first place from Alan Berry (90-17=73) and third placed Ray Beadell (91-16=75).

Countback decided Sunday’s contest with both Kevin Gough (81-9) and David Bucke (95-23) posting 72’s, but it was Gough who took the winner’s prize with Robert Clarke (101-26=75) filling third place.

In the ladies section Sue Meddle continued her recent run of form winning the monthly medal with a 75 (93-18) with Joan Smith (85-07=78) taking the runner-up spot on countback from Hazel Webber (104-26=78)

FRINTON WON 4 - 2 

The 1^st round of the Norman Plum Trophy was took place on Saturday and teams of 6 players each played home and away to Frinton Golf Club. In a closely fought contest, Belfairs home side held the visitors to 1 ½ points each, but Frinton proved too strong at home winning 2 ½ - ½ and taking the tie overall score 4-2. Congratulations go to both teams for the sporting manner in which the matches were played. 

The final of the Winter Singles was played on Sunday and consistent Baz Patel (18) needed his best form to eventually beat Andrew Nash (10) at the 18^th hole.  Patel’s recent string of wins has not gone unnoticed by the handicapper and an overdue cut is now imminent.

The ladies competition diary started last week and the opening full stableford event saw Sue Meddle (18) comfortably winning with 30 points, from runner-up Hazel Webber (26) 25 points and third placed Linda Wellham (27) 22 points.

Inter-club competition finally got underway with Belfairs competing against Langdon Hills in round 1 of the Essex Senior Championship. In a match played in the best sporting tradition, Belfairs put in a good performance, but it was the home team that took the honours eventually winning 7-4.

Two gold leaf events reached their conclusion last week with Brian Harvey and Frank Howroyd taking the Mid-Week Pairs with a 6&5 victory over Dave Slater and Neil Arends, followed by victory in the Winter Fourball final for Kevin Gough and Andrew Nash beating Steve Mann and Baz Patel 6&4.

Patel quickly gained some compensation by winning the Single Bogey competition, winning 4 up from Chris Shawyer (+3) and Ray Jones (+3)