December 15th 2007
KEN MACDONALD & Co COME OUT ON TOP
Saturday saw our traditional break from “normal” winter league duties with the club staging the annual Ken MacDonald TeXmas Scramble. The “scramble” format is always a fun event, and gives all participants the chance to shoot some low scores, and (hopefully) break par on the course. For many of us, this is the only time we see a minus, or close to par score, on our cards, and the break from what can appear to be the “grind” of the league is very welcome indeed. Especially when Ken is paying for a sumptuous buffet and some free drinks out of his own pocket afterwards. Many of us (golfers, and teams of golfers) have benefited from Kens’ generosity over the years, and without such valuable members of not only the club, but the wider community, many things would not be possible.
I mentioned this before whilst canvassing for support for the golf team’s trip to Rhodes in June this year, and with Ken amongst the very first to offer his support, it is perhaps fitting at this time of year that we mark our gratitude to him, and others like him, who regularly give from their own hard-earned money to ensure many groups are supported locally, and on their ventures nationally and internationally.
Then he has the gall to captain a team which pipped the runners up (including me) to win his own tournament by one stroke. He already has his name on the trophy, now he has his name on the plinth. Along with regular winter league partner Dave (I’ll catch you up later) Rattray, Brian Geddes and Colin MacRitchie, he shot a splendid 6 under par 37 (less 2.8) 34.2 to beat the team of Cal Robertson, Richard Galloway, Neil MacKenzie and Norrie”T” MacDonald, 38(2.8)35.2, into second place.
Third place was claimed by the team of K.W. Galloway, John Macleod, Andy Macdonald, Neil Rowlands 37(1.6)35.4
Well played Ken and team, and thanks from everyone who enjoyed an excellent day.
Despite a full trophy cabinet, Ken still displays a desire to win which is remarkable for a man nearing retirement. The senior section, however, are delighted at his desire to remain not only committed to working in the legal profession 5 days a week, but also to compete (almost exclusively) at “ordinary” member level. Should he ever decide to mix it fully on the legends tour, then the sweep money will surely not be crossing cattle grids with such alarming regularity as of late.
Story of the day, and once a team again hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons, concerns the “Laurel & Hardy” (sorry lads) of the winter season. Standing on the last tee, and at four under par ,were the team comprising of David Black, Murdo “Hollo” MacLennan and Stan “Biddley” MacLeod and Ollie ”Five” MacIver. A healthy handicap ensured that a birdie (or possibly par) at the last would have meant a very decent finish, and possibly a chance of winning. No pressure then on the man entrusted to hit his teams’ final tee shot off the day, Alan /Stan/Biddley MacLeod. Let me explain at this point that over the 12 holes, each member of the team must have 3 tee shots “counting”, and by skilful manipulation you should try to ensure that as the round progresses you should endeavour to have your most reliable player hitting the penultimate shot, (hopefully) when your last hole is a par three. Normally Alan can be relied on to be a very safe pair of hands, but with the expectation of his partners weighing heavily on his shoulders; he pulled his shot into the trees. “That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into” remarked partner Kenny/Ollie/Five, as he saw his dreams of winning at least something this winter disappearing. A subsequent five was scrambled, but the chance was gone. At least he could console himself with Morag’s finest offerings as the buffet and post-round post-mortems were “digested”.
The news of the senior’s section is once again brought to us from my”correspondent”
Senior’s Winter League – w/e 15/12/07
There was a full turn out last week with eighteen players submitting cards for the senior’s League.
It’s quite a sight watching so many elderly gentlemen emerge from the locker room at 1 o’clock on a Monday afternoon heading for the first tee. There follows an unseemly scramble for pole position at the Long Miller, but at the moment Fred always seems to get there before anyone else.
At some point in every golfer’s career, he will feel the need for a new set of clubs. Nothing else will provide the dramatic improvement that his game needs.
In Dennis Hall’s case the need was so great that he recently headed off to Australia to purchase some new hardware. It paid off last week when he returned an almost faultless round that earned him 29 points (a net score of 5 under par) and left the rest of the field trailing in his wake. In six successive holes from the Heather to the Ditch he recorded five pars and a birdie – impressive golf by anyone’s standards, far less a septuagenarian.
There is always the notion amongst Senior’s that finishing with 24 points is nothing more than shameless preservation of one’s handicap. It should be noted that Dixie MacLean won the Friday sweep with 24 points.
Need we say more?
Senior’s -Top Scores
Dennis Hall 29
Fred MacLennan 26
John MacKinnon 25
‘Bronco’ MacArthur 24
Robbie MacRae 24
Texmas Scramble 2007 Winners
Bryan Geddes, Dave Rattray, Colin Macritchie and Ken Macdonald
Bryan Geddes, Dave Rattray, Colin Macritchie and Ken Macdonald
Dennis Hall