Rye Hill

Today saw us beat the weather forecast, but only just. After the driest April on record and a warm start to May we where promised an absolute down pour. It did not disappoint with driving rain on the way to the course and while we where having breakfast, forcing people already on the course to come off as the ball would not roll in the standing water that was rapidly building around the course (see picture right) But dramatically for us it stopped just as the first group got onto the 1st tee. The first few groups had standing water to contend with, but after that it turned into a breezy muggy day with no further rain. This idyllic course in 200 acres of the Oxfordshire countryside gave us another great society golf day. Again only one golfer broke par out of the 28 that started. So after 85 round of golf this season only 2 golfers (3 rounds) have broke par (A testament to the handicap committee) lets hope this continues.

So for the second time in three events John H takes the top spot. His 3 under par round of 39 Stableford points saw him par half of the back nine for 4 under par and 22 points. His reward for a third consecutive podium position was a two shot cut in his handicap down to 20. Back in second spot was Gez who notched the lowest gross of the day with 85 and could have push John closer if his second to the easy 16th had not have gone into the bushes, which gave him his only blob of the day. Third place went to Bez who narrowly edged out Rick on count back. Both scored a one over par 35, but Rick will have come off the most frustrated. Standing on the tee on 16 he had 33 points and must have sensed a 2 or 3 under par round was easily on the cards. But for reasons only Rick knows it went pear shaped. His only consolation was a one third share of the "Captains Combo" and the "Nearest the pin in two" prize. Overall not a bad day at the office for Rick.

In a pack of golfers in the 30's Jeff W must have been rather frustrated. His front nine of 20 points was a perfect start but like Rick stood on the 16th tee with 31 points in the bag thinking of an under par round. But he sprayed his last 3 tee shots off into the trees leaving him with only one pint from the last three. Andy L keeps up is improved form with another solid round of 32, only two blobs all day but a few too many single point scores. Steve W was in the pack, taking the "Nearest the Pin" and leaving 5 or 6 putts out on the course, keeping him short of an under par round. Captain Pete had his best round for sometime, which could have been so much better without the three holes with 3 off the tee. Wiggy had a day to forget, not only was it his worst score for a couple of years at 22 but he had to purchase a waterproof suit from the pro shop which he ended up not using. (Looks nice though, see right)