John Meredith fights off Junior challenge

This weeks Sunday Stableford on the 25^th November saw 39 entries with John Meredith carding the best score of the day with 39 points to take Division 2 from clutches of two juniors. Young David Hartley narrowly missed out in the back nine to John while third place went to fellow junior Steven Cooke beating Malc Williams on count back. Division 1 went to Chris Pink scoring 38 points, while three players tied on 36 points Miles Oldershaw finished in second on count back from John Veal in third and Mike Hailes in fourth.

The day before conditions were a lot harder with a stiff breeze in the players faces on the back nine, best round of the day was returned by Graham Wells with a nett 66 in Division 1 of the medal. Kevin Garrett took second place with 70, two of the Wright family finished on 72 with Dave taking third place from younger brother Derek on the back nine. Division 2 was won by Pieter Sheldon with a 68, two shots clear of second place Hugh Morrison on 70 with Malc Williams and Kasey Tuckey tying on nett 73.

Graham Wells also featured in the prizes of the mid week stableford taking first place in Division 1 with 39 points ahead of Bill Hinchen in second with 36, Ray Cooke took Division 2 with 37 points only a point clear of runner up Ken Johnson on 36.

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the November edition of the Club newsletter. Whether you’re planning to put your clubs away for the winter and hibernate or earnestly prepare for the new season over the next few months, I can assure you we have something to interest you, be it our new teaching professional or some exciting social events.

James Veal PGA Professional

James Veal was appointed Club Professional with effect from 1^st November. Having grown up on the course, previously winning the Club Championship and jointly holding the course record with Derek Wright, it can be said that he knows his way around the course. His Professional career started at Shanklin under Peter Hammond before moving on to Westridge Golf Centre, and he now returns as our first professional since we became a members Club in 1976.

He hopes to introduce new golfers to the Club, provide a teaching service to current members and increase his teaching of the juniors, which he has been doing for some years now. The junior roll-up will continue throughout the winter on a Saturday morning and he has already held a Juniors Golf Day during half term which consisted of 6 ½ hours coaching, covering putting, long game, lunch plus rules, short game clinic and a 10 hole competition with prizes all for just £20!

James can be contacted at the Club or on 07808 395320 and his tuition rates are as follows:

Member / Non Member

½ hour individual £15 / £17

1 hour individual £25 / £27

On course and video also available.

Discounted packages are available for group lessons or for blocks of four individual lessons.

Rules 2008

You are all probably aware that the Rules of Golf will be updated from 1^st January 2008, the new version of the rules book will be available from the bar once they have been delivered from the R&A. On the same date the “Non Conforming “ Drivers rules come into force. If you are unsure if your driver is legal or not please check the R&A website at www.randa.org where there is a full list plus photographs.

Fairways End

Dave and Cheryl would like to thank all the members for their valued custom since taking over in March and would like to take this opportunity to let you all know what is happening this winter.

Winter Opening Times

Monday – Thursday 11:00 to 15:00

Friday 11:00 to 20:30

Saturday 09:00 to 17:00

Sunday 09:00 to 16:00

From now on at weekends, breakfast will be available from 09:00. There will be a Friday Night Special Menu, and a three course roast Sunday Lunch for £9.95 – a full menu will also available.

Monday – Friday Lunchtimes - two course specials £5.95 or bring a friend and two can eat for £10.

If you want to see how Fairways End can really perform book into our fine dining evening on Saturday 24^th November held in conjunction with Medina Wine. Dave’s pedigree as an award winning chef at the Farringford combined with a different glass of wine with each of the four courses and ambient setting with classical background music will give you a night to remember– please don’t forget to book your taxi home.

Forthcoming events

We are planning a busy run up to Christmas with hopefully something for everyone.

Saturday 24^th November

Fine Dining Evening

Monday 5^th December

Seniors’ Dinner

Saturday 8^th December

Barry Hunter’s “Christmas” Quiz

Thursday 6^th December

Ladies’ Christmas Lunch

Saturday 22^nd December

Christmas Social

Wednesday 26^th December

Three Club Event

National Trust Cattle Grazing

At the AGM in January the membership will be asked to approve an extension to the area grazed by the National Trust through Den Philips farm at Compton. The area in question is on the south side of the downs below the 11^th and 12^th holes; white posts will be erected to show the line of the new fence which will start from the end of the existing rabbit proof fence adjacent to11^th tee and continue diagonally down the slope to the “Whiteways” car park on the Military road. The area is well out of normal play and would take a very vicious hook from one of our longest hitters to get anywhere near it. Please take a look before the AGM.

Ladies Friendly Matches

We played away to Osborne, Cowes, Highcliff Castle, Cams Hall and Shanklin with home matches against Newport, Ryde and Cowes. It was a good season with players taking part who were new to golf. Results were excellent; we never lost a match – 4 wins and 4 draws. Matches were played in a friendly atmosphere with Matchplay format thus helping our new members experience head to head match conditions. They all enjoyed the matches and are already looking forward to next year.

For the first time Freshwater Ladies were invited to play in a Scratch friendly v Shanklin which involved our more experienced players mostly chosen from the Stoneham Cup Team. It was competitive but also enjoyable: we lost 4/3 (next year we host the match – blow wind blow!!!) but have great expectations for the future.

Greens

I think you will all agree that the use of the micro tines on the greens have proved far less intrusive and facilitated a quicker recovery. Work like this is always necessary but we will always try to minimize any negative effects on play.

We are beginning to see greater definition throughout the course; as always we must ask you to play your part during the winter. If at all possible, please leave your trolley at home and carry your clubs – the trampling of the powakaddys has the most detrimental effect on the growth of grasses. If you are unable to get round the course without a powered trolley, consider hiring a buggy for a change and share it with one of your playing partners.

If you do really need your trolley, please continue to avoid the rough – this is beneficial to both the rough and your trolley!

Christmas Presents

Our range of clothing and golf accessories is ever increasing. With Christmas coming, give your family a hint for jumpers, fleeces, gillets, polo shirts, hats, gloves etc all nicely embellished with the Club Badge. Gift vouchers are also available please ask Sue, Maureen or Keith they will be only too happy to assist.

Website

The latest addition to our website is the Club News page which is updated every Tuesday with who won what the week before.

These are the unedited reports that are sent into the County Press.

We will also be posting the updated winter knock out draws as the competition progresses along with any other breaking news that may be of interest to members.

New Members

A warm welcome to the following new members who have joined in the last few months:

Victoria Bassill

John Blakemore

Simon Bonser

Tom Branagh

Paul Brown

David Burrough

Shaun Clark

James Dawes

Gordon Day

Annette Edmunson

David Lindsay

David Lloyd

John Moss

Paul and Rosemary Nunn

Lee Ray

Peter Renouf

Julian Rowe

Philip Rustell

Michael Searle

Steven Snary

Peter Stenson

Philip and Elaine Todd

Bryan Wells

Robin Wilbourn

We still need more members so please encourage any new blood to come along and give golf a try.

Fairways End

in conjunction with

Medina Wines

Present

A FINE FRENCH DINING EVENING

Saturday 24^th November

at 7-30 pm

A sumptuous four course candlelit dinner with four different fine wines to complement each course all accompanied by the classical guitar.

The inclusive cost is £24 per person. There will only be six tables of six available so get your party together and book early.

When it’s full it’s full!

CAPEL TAKES STABLEFORD FOUR SHOTS CLEAR OF NEAREST RIVAL

Twenty eight members competed in the Midweek Stableford on Wednesday 14^th November with best round of the day going to Dean Capel in Division 1 with 42 points. In second place Les Mew with 38 points beating Keith Wright into 3^rd spot on the back nine. Division 2 saw John Wisker shooting 37 points for first place with Mike Dowsett in second on 35 points and third going to Rob Jackson on 34.

The weather played its part with the Saturday Stableford and only 15 entries, a good score of 37 points never the less took Colin Jones to first place with Bill Lavers in second on 34 points, Richard Frost wrestled third place from Dave Morey on the back nine.

Presentation Evening and Monthly Medal

Freshwater Bay Golf Club Captain Gary Holmes presented a cheque for £6,128 to the local Stroke Association at the Clubs Presentation Evening on Saturday on behalf of the members who had raised the money through out his year. He chose the charity after his son Danny suffered a stroke following an accident during a football match. Thanks to the efforts of the medical profession he has made a full recovery and is now studying golf at the Duchy College, Danny made a moving speech in which he highlighted the support of The Stroke Association and especially the Neurological Team at Southampton General Hospital in his recovery.

The evening was attended by well over a hundred members and guests who were treated to a review of the 66 trophies competed for during the year followed by a hot buffet and dancing to Doug Stevens. Chris Winn, regional fund raising Manager accepted the cheque on behalf of the Stroke Association, paid tribute to the members who had raised the money, emphasising that Strokes did not just affect old people as demonstrated by Danny’s story and urged every one to have their blood pressure checked regularly.

The Millennium Trophy awarded by the Captain in acknowledgement of outstanding achievement, this year deservedly went to Graham Wells and Chris Tansley who played seven rounds in a day raising over £1200 for the Charity. Special mention was made of Jon Lavers and a team of area managers from Barclays Bank who using their pound for pound scheme raised £2600, club member Steve Orchard ran the London Marathon while Pete Bryan, Richard Couse and Adam Keen walked to every course on the Island over two days.

The final trophy to be presented was Junior Champion contested for the first time this year, donated by Steve Sargeant of LCM Systems and played in conjunction with the Club Championship was fittingly won by Brandon Thompson rounding off a fine year for him. Which has included wins on the Hampshire Junior Circuit against players three years his senior, the Island Junior Championship in September played at Shanklin and Sandown, being selected to play for Hampshire and accepted into their School of excellence program.

Back to golf results the midweek stableford Division One was resoundingly won by John Veal 43 points (five points clear of any one else in the field), in second place Barry Hunter with 38 points beating Bill Hinchen into third on the back nine.

38 points was good enough for first place in Div 2 for John Whitehouse with Pete Bryan in third losing out on count back to Brian Whelan in second both scoring 36 points.

Saturday saw thirty three entries into the Monthly Medal John Sexton came in third spot with a nett 67, Derek Wright carded an excellent 69 gross only to loose first place on the back nine to Mike Hailes; both players returning 66s.

A light hearted two ball scramble was played on the Sunday with first place going to Kevin Garrett & John Sexton with a nett 60, second place was taken by father and son pairing of John and James Veal with a 65.2, not a bad first outing for James having just started as the new Club Professional at Freshwater. Third place went to Stuart Morris & Simon Fisher with a nett 66

High Scoring Week - Especially if your names Cooke!

The fast paced scoring this week was started off by Tim Deville recording an unprecedented 7 up to take first place in Division 2 of the Mid Week Par, second went to Dennis Smith on 5 up with John Wisker taking third spot with 2 up beating Richard Couse and Barney Barnes on the back nine. Twelve players beat the course in total, Derek Worsley picked up first in Division One with 5 up followed by Keith Wright and John Crosbie both returning scores of 4 up and taking 2^nd and 3^rd place respectively.

Strong scoring continued for the Veterans Stableford on Friday with Terry Brown scoring 41 points to beat Peter Cooper into 2^nd on count back with Paddy Hodgson finishing in 3^rd place with 39 points closely followed by Mike Dowsett, John Davis and Ray Cooke finishing strongly on 38 points. This was the final round of the Ogle Tankards with Ray Cooke’s 38 being good enough to take the trophy with a 10 point margin, scoring a very creditable 229 total averaging 38.2 points for each of the six rounds. A late push from Peter Cooper picking up 9 points on the final round cut three shots off of Rays lead and leap frog over John Mew who finished in third with 215 points.

Saturday saw a Better Ball Stableford with the scores staying consistently high with first place going to Fred Smith and Dave Wright with 49 points finishing one shot ahead of Kev Garrett & Kev McArthur on 48. Third and fourth place also went to 48 points with two fathers keeping their sons off the podium, Simon Smith and Gary Cooke easing out Kasey Tuckey and Steven Cooke on the last three holes. Of the twenty pairs that entered only two pairs scored under forty points.

The Sunday Stableford had more father and son tussles in Division One with forty six entries over all Adam Keen shot 42 points to finish in first spot two shots ahead of his father Tony Keen in third spot, John Ing kept the pair apart with 41 points for second place. Four out of the top five places went to Cooke’s in Division Two; Gary Cooke scored 43 points to finish in prime position one point ahead of second placed Steve Sargeant on 42. Ray Cooke took third spot with a 39 from Steven Cooke in 4^th with 38 points and finally in 5^th place Dave Cooke on 37 points.

Isle of Wight Golf

The Isle of Wight Golf Union now have their own information page at

http://iwgolf.blogspot.com/