Mendip News

FANTASTIC FLAG

The Wednesday Flag continues to be a popular event where any member with a handicap is welcome to turn up and play. The guys meet up in the clubhouse from 11am where a draw takes place along with the decision of the format for the day. This gives members a good opportunity to play with different people with varying handicaps. The tee is reserved from 12pm - 1pm every Wednesday and all are welcome. Below are some pictures from the recent Flag
on 28th July.






PROFESSIONAL PITTS PERFORMS

Mendip PGA Professional Kevin Pitts travelled to Wales at the Weekend to compete in The Rhondda Centenary Pro - Am. The format of the day was best two scores to count from the Pro and his team of 3 local Members. Kevin was also competing for the Professional prize with his own individual score on the day. Pitts found form and carded a One under round of 69 to come third overall. His solid play then earnt him and his team first spot with 87 points. His sparkling round included an early purple patch where he recorded five 3's in a row on the front nine putting him at -2 at the turn.  Unfortunate 3 putts at 10 and 11 put him back to level but a chip in for birdie on 17 got him in the red once more. A  solid par up the tough 18th saw him secure 3rd position on 69 , only two strokes from the winning score of 67.

Follow Kevin and John's progress throughout the Season at www.pga.info 

              

HURST ON FIRE!

Mendip Golf Club Member Tom Hurst is playing the golf of his life at the moment and in doing so has qualified to represent The England Schools U19's Squad against Wales. The 19 year old, 3 handicapper, had to go through a series of qualifying events, finishing top 10 at all 3 venues and securing his place in the squad. Tom who has been playing golf since he was 13 will travel to St Pierre in August for the big match, we wish him luck.

The Coronation Cup took place at the Weekend, overall winner was Chris Lindley 67cb, second went to Paul Reakes 67. Division one winner was Tom Rawlings 69cb, second went to Rick Kefford 69. Division two winner was Doug Badenoch 70cb, second went to Eric Jordan 70. Division three winner was Trevor Foster 70, second went to Dave Ashton 71.


 

CHAMPION BROWN
 
The Annual Mendip Ladies Club Championship took place last week, a 36 hole competition played over 2 days. Saturday was a sunny but blustery day which suited Chris Wlliams, achieving the best nett score with 76. Sunday was less windy and Jenny Merrett took full advantage when making a nett score of 74. The overall winner and Lady Champ 2010 was Gill Brown with an impressive gross score of 170, runner up was Jo Espley with 181. The nett winner with a score of 156 was Daphne Irons and second place went to Sally Scott with 160.


The latest outings for the Ladies Alliance A Team brought them 2 good wins against Wedmore and Wells.  This gives them a total of 78 points after 8 matches and puts them at the top of Division 2. The Alliance B Team did not fare quite so well, losing away to Orchardleigh.





CAPTAINS CHARITY DAY HUGE SUCCESS

Mendip Golf Club captain Bob Clark raised almost £9,000 from his Captain’s Day with the promise of more to come for Diabetes UK, his charity for the year.

A variety of good causes have now benefitted by almost £120,000 from the time the day was inaugurated by former captain and chairman Tony Williams in 1999.

Despite the heavy rain that drenched all but the earliest starters, the day was a resounding success.

Well known Chew Valley sportsman Mr Clark, from Bishop Sutton, said: “The response from the hard-working members of my committee, the club members and officials and the many donors of gifts and prizes for the raffle and auction was simply amazing.”

He was also helped by his family who turned out in force during the evening for the prize presentation and auction conducted by popular Chew Valley auctioneer Jim King.

Mr King managed to add more than £1,200 to the fund and sold a mixed bag of items that included golf and fishing days, Bath rugby tickets, beer and spirits, framed pictures by local artist David Young and even a pig.

Mr Clark chose Diabetes UK as his charity because one of his young relatives was stricken by a disease that as yet has no cure. Zoe Steer, the Taunton-based regional fund raiser, accepted the cheque for £8,975 and gave a brief outline of the work undertaken by Diabetes UK.

The players from 44 teams representing 23 different clubs were on the course for almost 12 hours from 8.30am. The morning starters were the fortunate ones and the club’s vice captain Steve Rawlings from Gurney Slade was quick to acknowledge his good fortune as his Mendip team took first prize with 93 points, 21-under-par.

After accepting his prize of a golf bag he sympathised with the rain-sodden afternoon players and said: “We were blessed with perfect weather and were lucky we didn’t get wet. It was a perfect day and Bob has been rewarded for the efforts he and his helpers have put in.”

He was partnered by fellow Mendip members Chris Bennett, James Baughan, Tim Fowler. They finished three points clear of a team led by June Millington, Mendip’s former Somerset county player who has won a record number of club championships. She was assisted by a trio from Farrington Golf Club, her son David, the club’s champion and Somerset county first team player Tom Small and Clive Slocombe.

A Mendip quartet sponsored by JAF Products supplied the third team of Roger Willis, Neil Bath, Gavin Maguire and Chris Bounds who scored 86 points.

Throughout the day there was a pitching competition beyond the 18th green, a barbeque on the tenth tee and a beer tent sponsored by Butcombe Brewery and the Ring o’ Bells at Hinton Blewett on the 17th tee, all manned by volunteers from the club.