Golf Report is supplied by Dave Brown from The Corralejo Golf Society. When he is not trying to improve his handicap you can find him every night except Tuesday, entertaining the troops at The Talk of The Town.

If you are interested in joining The Corralejo Golf Society either as a guest or member give Dave a ring on (0034) 620 161 360 or write to him info@corralejogolf.com

On the last report I mentioned how our Captain Dennis May nearly had a hole in one, well since then we really have had a hole in one, and in spectacular style too...

Although not a society day, our first hole in one from one of our members was achieved at the Fuerteventura Golf Club on Sunday 14th January. It was the first Spanish Federation game of the year. I was playing with 2 of our society members Paul Benham and Dennis McKernon and making up the four was German George from Jandia. As it happened I was having my best round ever mainly due to my putting, everything seemed to be going straight in, I only putted 12 times on the front 9. Things were a little different on the back 9, especially when I pulled my drive on the par 3 12th into the lake on the left.

One of my fellow players, Paul Benham, had been having a nightmare of a game, which he blamed on his industrial injury, a cut on his finger, right where he had to grip the club. Well, his finger didn’t stop him hitting a corker of 5 wood off the 12th tee pitching 3 feet away from the pin and rolling in for his first ever Hole In One! If you were gonna have a hole in one, that would be the way to do it, it was a fantastic shot, and you could say he was a little pleased with himself and couldn’t wipe a beaming smile off his face for the rest of the round. Ironically, he scored 5 stableford points in one shot, I shot 1 stableford point in 5 shots! I did go on to shoot my best round of 79, 9 over par and win the tournament, but the day was most definitely Paul’s.

We also flew the flag for the society as they announced the order of merit or the ranking for all the tournaments last year at the club. We had 3 players in the top 5, out of an average of 70-80 players in each tournament, Jo McKernon got overall 5th, Paul Benham got overall 3rd and yours truly managed to win the 2006 ranking at the club! So all in all it was a great day for us personally and for the society. Anyway, onto the 2nd official comp of the year for the society.

TUESDAY JANUARY 23RD

Tuesday 23rd of January was our first official day at the new Salinas Golf Club, next door to the Fuerteventura Golf Club in Caleta. We’d played 2 fun games on this course before this event for the people to get used to the course and get to know their way around.  Yet again we had another great turnout too! With one no show we still had a total of 32 players of which 5 were guests.

The sun was shining, yet again, and only a moderate breeze, well to begin with at least. I was only commenting in the car on the way down that I have a fairly good memory, well I must have left my brain in the car as well as other vitals. I was on the first party out, and when I got to the tee ready for the off I realised I had left my water in the car, thankfully Dennis McKernon had a spare bottle he could lend me until we got back after the first 9. Something else I’d forgotten was how to swing a club! I couldn’t hit a ball to save my life!

Then when we got to the 3rd there was a hold up, as an infamously slow group were just a hole ahead and as ever slowing up play. It was then I realised I’d also forgotten the nearest the pin markers, I’d obviously tempted fate by saying I never forget things! As it happens, one of the caddies was nearby so I got a lift back to the clubhouse to collect the missing items, when I got back almost 10 minutes later it was just about my turn to play my shot! The caddy had asked the slow group to speed up or let people through so things did start to flow a little quicker.

It seemed the little rest did me good as well as i played a bit better after that! Nothing though to come into contention, ironically I did get nearest the pin on both the par three 5th and 12th holes, but forgot to put my name on the paper on the 5th, what a day I was having, think I need a holiday!

Accompanying me and Dennis McKernon was a guest Peter Ward from Runcorn. Peter had contacted me through our website and had also played on our Sunday comp where he scored a total of 28 points. This time round he was playing much better, on the front 9 he had 1 birdie, 5 pars 2 bogeys and a wet ball and scratch on the 5th! He also played pretty consistently on the back 9 giving him an overall total of 37 points off a 14 handicap narrowly beating off his nearest competition for the guest prize, Ian Murray who scored 36 points off 9.

In our members comp it was pretty close at the top too. As we had 4 ladies playing we drew them together as a four ball, and 2 of them came in joint 5th with 34 points, Alison Tanton (Sundays winner) and Eva Krivacska. It was a 3 way tie for 2nd place between this years Captain, Dennis May, Peter Flynn and hole in one star, Paul Benham who all scored 37 points. In a card play off on the back 9, Dennis May just scraped it with 2 extra points on the back 6 holes. They were all only 1 point behind the victor of the day, Big Jim Shade, who scored 38 points earning himself important points for player of the year and also a 2 shot docking off his handicap!

Nearest the pins were won by guest (now member) Charlie Ferrell on the 5th and wee Dennis May on the 12th.

In the 2’s comp the prize was split between Graham Thomson and the much featured man of the day Dennis May! Sweep winner was Mike Minihayne who got his days golf for free! I’m away for a couple of weeks now so there will be a slight gap in reports. The golf goes on though, with President derek Mac and vice Rob Hughes at the helm. Please contact Derek at Rogues Gallery bar in Corralejo or Rob at the Kings Arms bar in Caleta, or give Derek a call on the number below if you want to play over the3 next few weeks.

   Our next two events are on Sunday 4th and Tuesday 6th February at the Fuerteventura Golf Club. Tee times are from 10.00 am. The following 3 events will be at Salinas Golf Club on the 13th, 18th & 20th of February. If you would like to join us for these or any other events, or if you would like any further information about the society, please call Derek Mac on (0034) 646 672888 or drop an email to info@corralejogolf.com

See you soon I hope,

Dave Brown.