December 22nd 2007
D.J & SPIDER IN THE “FRAME” AT LAST
With the “silly season” upon us again, next Saturday will doubtless reveal what the non-golfing population will have deemed appropriate, witty and no doubt “essential” items for the (non) discerning golfer as Christmas gifts. There will have been automatic score calculators (save yourself the money and buy a pencil), ball washers (a golf towel will do) and all manner of “loud” clothing with “golfing themes” emblazoned garishly across chests and sleeves.
Whatever you have learned about golfing attire from the television and the media remember two things: a lot of the people you witness dressed as Coco the clown are Americans, and most of them are paid handsomely to endorse the sponsor’s products.
We do have our own share of “comedians” amongst our membership, and Trinny and Suzannah could do worse than attempt to address some the fashion outrages committed regularly, but on the whole most Stornoway members are very conservative when it comes to what is deemed “proper” for keeping the elements at bay.
Ian Poulter & Co have tried hard to “raise” the profile of golfers and fashion latterly, but when whatever it is you plan to wear to impress, needs ( by dint of climate) to be covered by a waterproof suit, then it can sometimes be difficult to make an “effort”.
We have many finely turned out golfers , indeed several who hope to make the catwalk yet, but since the heady days of Murdo”Griddy”MacLeod and Graham”Pedro”Morrison , no-one has “upped the ante” as far as sartorial elegance on the greens is concerned. Who can forget their stunning matching cardigan and “bunnet” ensemble several years ago?
Maybe we can get a local retailer to present a prize for anyone who “raises the bar” as a fashion icon locally.
Anything that doesn’t involve denim, football strips and wellies.
Not only will Xmas bring an abundance of many items not necessary to the golfer, it will hopefully have brought all honest golfers into line with the new R&A regulations and the very necessary requirement to comply with the rule regarding drivers. I hope everyone who needed a “legal” driver was in receipt of one, and that 2008 sees us all long and straight (any way you want to).
So who were the longest and straightest last Saturday? Well the answer to that is hypothetical, but the team who got the ball around in the lowest score on the day were the pairing of D.J.Smith and Davie”Spider”MacLeod. Still smarting from my having taken their picture somewhat prematurely several weeks ago, they managed to pip current league leaders Murdo&Magnus Johnson by one shot carding a fine nett 37 in the morning. This moves them into third spot in the league table, but sees the twins extend their lead to 11 pts at a crucial stage. Second placed team John “Shillegan” Gilles and Greg Brown also scored a vital 5 points to stay within touching distance. Paul MacLean and son Jordan also scored well last weekend to move into the top five, and Al “Greens” MacLeod managed to score on his own to help cement his and partner Ali Nicolson’s position on the leaderboard. Well done to all.
Saturday highlighted the difficulty rational men have when presented with emotional decisions, adversity and simple arithmetic. When wagering and scoring are concerned , then it is sometimes wise to take counsel from Rita Mae Brown who said “Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment.”
Neil….I hope you are right, but seven points clear, though impossible, is a dream we both share (the end of the season will do)
Kenny…You can mark my card any day. Soon I’ll be off scratch.
Scores Saturday 22.12.07 Gross H/C Nett Points
DJ Smith & D Macleod 43 6 37 15
Mag Johnson & Mur Johnson 39 1 38 11
J Maclean & P Maclean 42 4 38 11
N Munro & J Mackinnon 49 10 39 8
Ross Macrae & P O'Brien 47 8 39 8
A Todd & C Macleay 51 11 40 5
J Gillies & G Brown 49 9 40 5
M O'Brien & M Fraser 43 3 40 5
D Murray & D Maclean 52 11 41 2
H Lloyd & M James 49 8 41 2
Ali Nicolson & Al Macleod 44 3 41 2
League Leaders Points H/C
Murdo & Magnus Johnston 70 +2
J Gillies & G Brown 59 8
DJ Smith & D Macleod 57 3
Ali Nicolson & Al"Greens"MacLeod 55 2
J Maclean & P Maclean 53 2
My correspondent from the senior section again provides this weeks news from the “Legends” League. It is not often this writer gets called a “junior”, but for the weekly donation of a £1, it may just be worth joining them more often.
Senior’s Winter League – w/e 22/12/07
A week with plenty of sunshine and very little wind gave us ideal conditions for winter golf and this was reflected in the large turn-out again this week. We even had the pleasure of the company of a “junior” member looking for a game on his day off. It cost him a pound, though!
Numerous players beat the par score of 24 points, with some of the best form and consistency coming from Jimmy “Agga” MacKenzie, Duncan MacLean and Cammy MacLeay.
Misfortune seems to accompany golfers wherever they go – witness events on the Heather last Wednesday. A three ball had played their tee shots and were about start off up the hill when a crow descended from the heavens and picked up Harris MacKenzie’s ball. No sooner had the shouting died down than a dog enters stage right, picks up Norrie MacKenzie’s ball from the middle of the fairway and heads off in the direction of Marybank. Norrie Munro had the cruellest luck of all. His ball lay, unmolested, in a deep divot just off the fairway and ineligible for any form of relief. As Monsieur Gilmour would say “C’est la vie!”
Senior’s -Top Scores
Jimmy MacKenzie 27
Duncan MacLean 27
Cammy MacLeay 27
Dennis Hall 25
Jim Watson 25
Mick Butterworth 24
DJ Smith & Dave Macleod