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

Well it’s been a while! We’ve got a bit of catching up to do since the entity that was the Gran Canaria trip! So much has happened too, new records broken yet again and much more.....

TUESDAY 12TH JUNE

STABLEFORD COMPETITION

With so much to catch up on I’ll keep things as brief as possible! The first comp, only a week after the Gran Can trip had a great turnout. The majority of those who had been on the trip who were playing on the day were proudly wearing the now infamous red shirts! We had a total of 36 players including 10 guests. Everyone was knackered but still on a high from the trip. We were playing at the Salinas Golf Course and there was lot’s to play for including a rollover on the 2’s comp offering over 110 euro or share of as a prize. Making a welcome return was our ex-vice president Phil Richards, who has returned to the Island after a few years in the UK. Phil, famous for his Neil Diamond tribute show, has taken over Castaways Bar on the promenade of Corralejo’s seafront.

It was a high scoring day and some great scores were recorded on the day by both members and guest alike. Seven of the ten guest scored over 31 points on a course that they hadn’t played before, pretty good standard from players with handicaps ranging from 10 to 28.

The best of the guests turned out to be the best overall on the day. Nial O’Sullivan scored a whopping 42 points which won him the coveted guest prize and he managed to sneak in a nearest the pin prize on the par three 14th, a great day for him!

The other nearest the pin was won by someone else who was having a good day. Vice Captain John Burgess not only got nearest the pin on the tricky 5th, but also won the rollover 2’s comp all on his own, but not with a 2 on a par 3, but with yet another eagle 2 on the par 4 11th hole! And as if that wasn’t enough, he also beat off all competition from the other members to win the days’ comp too with a great score of 41 points! This of course earned him a 3 shot docking on his handicap bringing him down to 14.

The runner up on the members comp was Vince Price with 37 points who only loses 1 shot. The lucky person to win the sweepstake (for about the umpteenth time!) was Lynden Bartlam.

TUESDAY 26TH JUNE

Held at the Fuerteventura Golf Course, this event also had a great turnout of 32 players including 7 guests! The course was the venue for the 2004 Spanish Open, (read about it on our website www.corralejogolf.com) and is quite a difficult course as even the pro’s found out. But local knowledge counts for quite a bit and relatively speaking there were some good scores recorded on this event too.

It was very close at the top with 3 people tied for 2nd place with 36 points. Vince Price and Mike Thurman however were beaten on a card play-off on the back 9 by veteran 7 handicapper Jo McKernon.

The days’ winner was another lady, Aly Tanton who scored an impressive 39 points.

So it was ladies day at Fuerteventura golf club on this occasion, but the fellas did their bit to balance the books by Rob Hughes winning the 2’s comp on his own.

Mike Thurman got nearest the pin on 7 and then guest, now member, Peter Goodchap got nearest the pin on the 15th as well as taking the guest prize.

There were no lady guests incidentally or perhaps they would have won that too! Keeping it in the family with the sweepstake, picking out his wife as the winner, was Dud Tanton, mind you he’s still got a ladies handicap so fits in well with the winners!

TUESDAY 10TH JULY

Now entering the 2nd half of the year, we have just had our six monthly handicap review. Most stayed the same, with a select few getting the odd shot back and only 2 losing shots, Graham Thomson and Aly Tanton. Our review is based on the average of the best 2 performances over the 6 months, with a little observation from handicap secretary and President, Derek Mac.

Well, the new handicaps seemed to boost a few peoples confidence because we had the highest scoring day in the history of the society. 12 of the 22 members playing on the day scored 35 points and over! And there was a record number of 2’s recorded too! A whopping 6 people, Rob Hughes, Mike Thurman, Eddie Allen, Dud Tanton and guests John Pugh & Nigel Lennox all got birdies on various par 3’s of the course. Conditions weren’t that easy either, the wind was averagely strong from the North about 20-30 mph, quite gusty too.

Everyone seemed to have a good knock, I personally equalled my best ever round of 77, giving me 40 points which I thought would have been enough to win and to get me into single figures, but I ended up only tied 3rd with Dud Tanton. I did I think could earn shot of the day by my efforts on the 11th hole. The 11th hole at Salinas is a 291-metre dogleg right par 4 with a lake that starts at the end of the ladies tee and goes right to the front of the green. Theoretically you’re meant to go round the lake, but as its an index 13 hole, I don’t get any shots on it and it’s as risky going round the lake as trying to get over it in 1!

As the crow flies I estimate it’s about a 200-metre carry, and normally the wind is helping a little from behind and from the left. I gave my tee shot all I’d got but still wasn’t sure if I’d made it over, I took a provisional 3rd shot which went nowhere so I was reliant on my 1st shot. Thankfully, the lake was down about 5 feet and I found my ball in the lake just on the edge half covered by water! My provisional ball was gone so my only chance of scoring was to roll my trousers up and try to hit it out of the water. Knowing I was in for a soaking, my foot was already over flowing, I managed to get the ball out of the lake and onto the bank just before the green. Pleased with that shot, despite a wet foot, I then proceeded to chip my next shot into the hole for a birdie! That’s gotta get shot of the day surely!

Anyway, I did all I could including going beyond the call of duty to win, but my efforts were in vain as Captains cup winner, Eddie Allen romped in with a score of 41 points.

But even that was not enough to beat first time winner in the society, Mike Thurman, who has finally broken his duck with an amazing 43 points! Mike has been dropped 3 shots to 25 and Eddie 2 shots to 14.

Guest winner on the day was Darren Eadsay with 34 points off an 18 handicap.

Nearest the pins were won by Aly Tanton on the 5th and Rob Hughes got nearest on the short par three 12th.

Ian Robb swooped the sweepstake money making up for her not so good day out in the field!

Don’t forget our next events are Tuesday 17th & Sunday 22nd July both fun days followed by our main comp on Tuesday 24th July. These games will be held at the Fuerteventura golf course, with tees from 10am. The following three games, 31st July and 5th & 7th of August are at the Salinas Golf Club, tees also from 10am. If you would like to join us for this or any other events, or if you would like any further information about the society, please call Dave Brown on (0034) 620 161360 or drop me an email to info@corralejogolf.com

Cheers for now

Dave Brown.