ON Saturday, September 28, Thurlestone Golf Club held their Captain’s joint charity day fundraiser in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, writes Jim Stewart.

It was a major club event, involving all sections of the golf club from our green-keeping staff who prepared the course in fantastic condition to our chef who had arrived at dawn to provide bacon baps and coffee. The early registration desk in the pro shop was open before its usual time to prepare the day’s handicaps and cards.

A shotgun start meant everyone had to be at their relevant tees by 9.00am but a queue had formed in the pro shop for the day’s specials that were on offer: A ”Mulligan Pack” containing a free “Mulligan Shot”, a free drop out of any bunker, and a “Portuguese Kick” allowing a free kick of the ball anywhere on the course apart from the green. These were selling like hot cakes along with the “Buy a tee shot from the pro” on the first tee, which many members took advantage of Steve White or James Knight hitting the tee shot onto the first green.

The clubhouse had been decked out in red, white and blue bunting with balloons to match (mirroring the colours of the Devon Air Ambulance), with display tables supporting the many competition prizes and auction items on offer that afternoon.

There were 18 auction items, provided by generous club members, friends, club golf pros and tennis coach, associated golf clubs (many thanks to Torquay, Oake Manor, Dainton Park, Saunton, Hindhead), our local Thurlestone Hotel, Salcombe Brewery and the O2 Arena.

The finale of this was on the afternoon of the golfing event, with a live auction held in the clubhouse (members unable to attend in person were participating via Zoom). The auction was started by auctioneer and club captain Jim Stewart together with ladies’ captain Pam Adams who was presenting the vouchers and prizes.

In all, over 20 auction items were bought, which together with donations and other items sold on the day, amounted to a day’s fund-raising tally of over £10,500. A remarkable sum that pays testament to what can be done when members, staff and partner companies all pull together.

Thank you to all involved, and the winning teams were as follows. Men’s 4 Ball: Chris Oldershaw, Alistair Whalley, Don Thompson, John Rogers, Mixed 4 Ball: Bill Campbell, Tom Barlow, Trevor Doe, Janet Doe and Ladies 4 Ball: Julia Dorey, Liz Sharman, Heather Spencer, Sue Ansley.

Meanwhile, there was the Past Lady Captain’s Luncheon and golf competition on Monday, 30.

Rosemary Hills donated the trophy 40 years ago when she was captain and Joan Mackenzie, some years later, contributed a coaster as the runner up prize.

Pictured are Club captain Jim Stewart and ladies captain Pam Adams awaiting the shotgun start of the Devon Air ambulance fundraising day, which raised over £10,500.

IT was the second round of the Glendevon Trophy for Dartmouth ladies this week - a Par competition played in Spring and Autumn. It’s a rather unforgiving format, with no margin for wasting shots - something which Marilyn Lucas must have had in mind as she balanced on the bridge on the fourth hole to take her shot rather than taking a drop (as pictured above)!

Unfortunately, despite, or possibly because of the precarious position, she played too good a shot, with the ball moving a long way but in the wrong direction! Undaunted by that experience, Marilyn also played from the gulley on the fifteenth, but all to no avail as she finished in fourth place.

Ahead of her were Jules Vincent (+9), Chris Mushens (+6) and Alison White (+1).

A 9-hole Medal was played on the Dartmouth course and it was a first win in formal competitions for Anne Woodward. Anne’s pars on the first and ninth holes gave her a score of Nett 36, with the final par contributing to a countback win over Jodie Kenyon. Jan Thomas-Gourd finished third with a Nett 38.

Heavy rain may have disrupted the Men’s Midweek Stableford, with only two people completing 18 holes, but Saturday’s Mixed Stableford was untroubled by the weather, with some good scores in Division One.

John Taylor is making a welcome return to golf and had a pleasing second-place finish with 36 points. Kevin Eighteen parred six of the first nine holes to put together a solid 38 points to win.

Division Two scores were more conservative, with 31 points being sufficient to win - Lew Easter beat John Cousins on countback.

Finally, to the seniors at Dartmouth GC and after a weekend of storms and gales, they held a qualifying individual Stableford on Monday, September 30. This was the penultimate qualifier for senior of the year.

Championship blues were the starting points with the standard individual 95% equity allowance of course handicap in play. 23 players (15 Div 1 & eight Div 2) were in the frame for the respective honours. After a difficult start with plenty of surplus water, a largely fine day ensued!

It was not a high-scoring day for obvious reasons but Messrs Green & Forbes did their best to bring some normality to the round with mid-thirty scores with the former edging the latter in the overall and Division One standings.

These results had no real bearing on the Senior of the Year race which is now likely to be a two-horse race, Gary Bonser on 71 points and John Garner on 65.

Overall competition results: 1st Philip Green (35 points), 2nd Alistair Forbes (34), 3rd George Reeve (33), 4th Geoffrey Jewell (33), 5th Andrew Dix (33) and 6th Michael Whitelaw (33).

Birdie twos were scored by Robert Wotton, Tony King & Andrew Dix on the third and Alistair Forbes & Michael Whitelaw on the fifth.

Competition supremo Nigel Osborne oversaw the competition with his customary audit eye. Many thanks go to him.

With one qualifying competition to go the race is between Gary & John who are both in next Monday's Love Cup field.

The senior captain’s away day took place at Churston Golf Club on Thursday 26 September. After heavy overnight rain there was doubt whether the event would take place but the day cleared and some fine golf followed.

David Sparks came out on top with 36 points ahead of Andy Dykes and Tony King, both on 34.

Nearest the par three pins were achieved by Robert Isaacs-Berry, Gary Bonser, Stephen Haupt, Gordon Kidd and Malcolm Toone.

Thanks go to senior’s Captain David Sparks for organising the event and to the competition secretary for totting up the cards.

Next week sees the all-winners Love Cup event.