Stornoway Golf Club

February 16th 2008

TANGERINE DREAM

The past week has seen , for the first time this year, enough light available for those of us desperate to play some golf, other than on a Saturday, to be able to venture onto the course after work. The holiday weekend saw the juniors out in force , busy practicing and playing in ”bounce” matches , fine-tuning their skills for what will hopefully be long ( and successful) seasons ahead. The weather has been kind, and with even only an hour of “extra” golf a week (more if you are keen, or lucky), with the course in such fine condition, it is difficult not to begin to think about 18 holes, and summer golf.

“Wait a minute!” I hear you say. We have three weeks of the winter league left, four weeks of “winter play”, an A.G.M just past ( well it will be by the time you read this), subs still due, and titles still to be won. Am I getting just a little ahead of myself? Probably; but when we have the greens in such fantastic condition this early in the year, all the fairways having been cut at least once, and are looking forward to the bunkers being back in play soon, then it’s difficult not to look beyond ones nearest horizon. Especially when your winter golf hasn’t exactly set any heather alight.

There are still many folk left, in all competitions, who are in with a chance of winning their respective titles, and whose horizons are still, firmly, in front of them.

In the men’s league, there are twelve teams within but a clear win of the long time leaders, Murdo & Magnus Johnson. In the legends league, two dominate, but there is still plenty of time, and the Juniors have a serious battle between the four main protagonists ongoing.

Once these titles are decided, and the Onetel-TalkTalk trophy too, we move onto an entirely new, end of league format. Aptly named the “Winter Thaw” it will get us all used to playing on our own again (most of us), and ready us for the summer ahead. The idea behind it comes from the forward thinking Match & Handicap convenor, Dave Gilmour, and many of us are grateful for this early chance to break from what has become a bit of “tradition”. Many of us are eternal optimists too, and having done nothing, playing-wise, all winter, we fully expect to take every new competition or format by storm (aye, right!)

Taking the points by storm on Saturday last were the tangerine dream team of Ali”Baba” MacLeod (very apt for an “Arab”), and John “Morning, noon and night” Edward.

On the way to the locker-room I left Zebo in the clubhouse sitting very comfortably on a score of 40 nett , achieved with partner Ian”Todd” MacKenzie, ( 41 won the week before), and I opined that that would either win, or score “serious” points. I hadn’t put my shoes on before I was regaled with tales of an incredible 39 from Domhnall “Hamish” MacLean & Jim “Wellies” Watson. Incredible in DH still being in a state of shock that not only had JW turned up, but that after the previous day’s debacle on the greens in the Bodach’s league, he managed to find the hole at all, never mind so parsimoniously with the putter. I left them my camera to take a picture of themselves for this week’s paper. Luckily you have all been spared, but when this pair hit form, you may not be so fortunate in the future.

The last group off the course on Saturday afternoon broke their hearts by eclipsing their score by a single stroke and claim maximum points. Well done to Ali & John. Shame about the upcoming League cup final.

Zebo and Ian have the consolation of leading the Onetel-TalkTalk competition by three clear shots, but I fancy they have their eyes on the bigger prize, and are very handily placed indeed.

Small correction to last week’s mis-information regarding the current holders of the OT-TT trophy. It was won in 2007 by Murdo’s O’Brien and Fraser. He might be an ex-Chief Inspector, but he still has the gravitas, you know.

Last year I made much of the importance of supporting the club by attending the AGM. This year I would like to believe that everyone already knows (knew) that

participation in the club’s affairs is the only way to have representation from the wider membership. It’s your (our) club, and I think we need to accept that it doesn’t run itself, and it doesn’t function without input and support from all members. Let’s see everyone participate in the success of the club this coming year.

From my senior correspondent…..

It never ceases to amaze how a few days of high pressure over Scandinavia makes us forget that we ever had a winter far less a wet, miserable one. With the sun shining for most of the week and the wind barely ruffling the flags some really good scores should have been posted. Not so! At our level it appears that there is very little co-relation between good weather and good scoring.

Out of 19 cards submitted for the Bodach’s league only Norrie Munro managed to beat the par mark of 24 points. Even then, his 25 points were hardly earth shattering but it was just enough to overtake Dennis Hall at the head of the table. It looks like those two are being left to contest the top spot as nobody in the rest of the field is making a move to catch them up.

So many people turned up for Friday’s sweep that we almost had to call out John Graham to get us started. Best card of the day was an excellent

29 points from Norrie Mackenzie, proving that you don’t have to hit the ball a mile as long as you can keep it straight down the middle.

Scores Saturday 16.02.08 Gross H/C Nett Points

A A Macleod & J Edward 48 10 38 15

DJ Maclean & J Watson 48 9 39 12

Sandy Bruce & E Mackenzie 45 5 40 9

I Todd & Zebo 46 6 40 9

R Rankin & L McGeoghegan 50 9 41 7

P Dickie & S Macdonald 47 6 41 7

Chris Kelso & DR Macarthur 50 7 43 3

D Rattray & KN Macdonald 50 7 43 3

N T Macdonald & NE Mackenzie 48 5 43 3

M Macdonald & I Macritchie 48 5 43 3

J A Macleod & KW Galloway 47 4 43 3

DK Macleod & S Moar 46 3 43 3

League Leaders Points

Murdo & Magnus Johnston 84

Ian Tood & Zebo 83

Arthur & Douggie MacIntosh 83

C Robertson & R Galloway 80

David Black & Murdo "Hollo" MacLennan 78

Senior -Top Scores

Norrie Munro 25

Harris MacKenzie 24

Mick Butterworth 23

Norrie MacKenzie 23

Peter O'Brien 23

Senior League Table

Norrie Munro 245

Dennis Hall 243

Norrie MacLean 229

‘Bronco’ MacArthur 229

Junior Scores Saturday 16.02.08 Gross H/C Nett Points

Stewart Munro 56 10 46 10

Stuart Macaulay 67 18 49 8

Mark Nicolson 76 24 52 5

Scott Macaulay 56 2 54 3

Kenneth Macleod 68 13 55 2

Junior League Leaders Points

Scott Macaulay 87

Stuart Macaulay 85

Kenneth Macleod 76