Thurlestone Golf Club

It’s that time again writes Lincoln Shaw.

The time when all those cups, shields, tankards and other tokens of success on Thurlestone Golf course are handed out.

Most of them bearing the name of someone who worked hard for the club in his or her time.

Long gone but fondly remembered, especially if there is a seat, a bench or some other resting place bearing what was once a familiar name.

Treasure them as you take your ease while waiting for that slow lot in front.

They don’t exist at my other club, Bovey Tracey, except at one hole, oddly enough the second. If you are held up elsewhere and need a rest you sit on the grass.

For the young ones at Thurlestone this is also the time for motherly inspections (Dads always seem more laid back and doesn’t fuss so much) to make sure everything is neat and tidy when they step forward to receive that prize.

A proper haircut, smart jacket and trous­ers. And for the girls a lovely dress instead of those well-worn jeans with a tear at the knee.

Being so out of touch these days I’ve probably got this all wrong, but who cares?

It helps to fill up a few lines in a week when real golf news seems hard to find. Except for the ladies of course.

My good friend Liz has come up with her usual excellent summary of what has been going on.

As follows: the ladies medal and closed meeting was played in very windy conditions which kept the scoring high and increased the CSS to 75.

Forty ladies played for nine trophies and there were also prizes for the runners-up – but no-one could win more than one prize.

The silver scratch prize, the Marshall Sal­ver, was won by Wen­dy Laud (6) 82, net 76. The bronze scratch prize, the Montgomery Rose Bowl, was won by Yvonne Pike (24) 96, net 72.

The Silver Han­dicap Challenge Cup was won by Victoria Gib­bens (17) 96, net 79. The Bronze Bowl for the bronze handicap winner was won by Sue Curry (25) 99, net 74.

The Mackenzie Rose Bowl for veterans scratch score was won by Joyce Drummond (17) 98, net 81. The Pearl Rowland Trophy for veterans handicap prize was won by Liz Line (22) 100, net 78. The Venerable Vets Scratch Trophy was won by Janet Richard­son (20) 103, net 83. The venerable vets handicap prize was won by Ann Best (25) 104, net 79.

The Cooper Putter Prize was won by Lizzie Britton with 29 putts. There were no twos scored and six cards were drawn for the prize money.

With a bit of space to spare, I hope, I am returning to a competition that, in a busy week, got less space than it deserved. And missed out on a photograph.

Showing seniors’ guru Chris Holmes, still in fine form despite all those organisational worries, receiving the handsome trophy he won, from its donors Eric and Shona Wilson. With apologies for not using it earlier.

That was an event that has passed. Now for one in the future that deserves support.

On Saturday, Nov­ember 21, there will be a competition to raise funds for a charity that has given splendid support to William, the grandson of Liz and Robbie Robinson, both familiar faces at the club.

It is the Children’s Liver Disease Founda­tion (CLDF for short) and the competition will be an 11-hole three clubs and a putter contest with teams of four. With extra prizes for longest drive and nearest the pin.

It promises to be an enjoyable day with a Christmas bazaar at the clubhouse and both festive fare and Christmas gifts on sale. A very good cause and I hope the weather is kind on the day.