Normality is beginning to make return
Some form of normality has returned to Lansdown as competitions have been brought back after lockdown. The first winners of the fourball betterball competition was father and son, Steve and Tom Morris, whose 44 points saw them take the honours, but only on countback from Ian Shone and Craig Stevens.
The next three places were also decided on countback as Andy and Amelia Matthews took third with 43, just edging out Steve Hillman and Simon Hale and also Andy Lee and Chris Sparkes.
The following week, the first post-lockdown bowmaker was won by Jon Green, Andy Pothecary, Alan Bickley and Richard Britton – their 86 points put them three clear of the field. Second went to the Stevenson family; David, Neil and Cameron, who were joined by Shaun Campbell, but again only on countback as Dave Chapple, Dave Wherlock, Tim Rickards and Patrick Harrison shot the same score.
The latest betterball competition was a very close affair with just one point covering the top four teams. Andy Rood and Alan Murray came out on top with 45 points, on countback from Lansdown stalwarts Terry
Corbett and Dave Lambern. Just one shot back in third was Ian White and Andy Lee, just pushing Glenn Minchin and Steve Watts into fourth.
The latest bowmaker has been won by Graham Morrice, playing with Alan Sheppard and Rob Archer, with 83 points, putting them four points clear of Mike Burt, Martin Coggins, Jay Harris and current club captain Paddy Crowley.
A further shot back in third was Mark Hand, Richard Crowley, Paul Jones and Ken Madden, which pushed the team of Alan Veitch, Lee Ricketts, Ron Harris and Terry Mallon on countback.
Lansdown has been delighted to secure many new members since re-opening in May but they still have room for a few more, anyone interested in joining this most friendly of clubs should just email, call or pop in to the club.
■ KINGSDOWN With further easing of lockdown rules last weekend, clubs and bars across the country have reacting quite differently to the new regulations.
Staff at Kingsdown have been working hard to ensure all the correct procedures are in place for the reopening of their clubhouse which took place on Tuesday.
Lynn Thornton, who is director of house at Kingsdown, said: “It was great to have the golf course back open in May but there is a sense that we have all missed the apres golf.”
The opportunity to properly catch up with your playing partners or just reflect on that missed putt on the 18th that would have made all the difference to your score.
In order to get the clubhouse ready everyone has been working tirelessly, to get everything in the bar and the kitchen fully compliant with the social distancing rules. This has also meant a full spring clean and urgent ordering of all supplies to ensure we are fully stocked to meet the demand. It was tight but the club was all ready to go on Tuesday and have been able to offer a full bar service, with drinks and a shortened menu.
Thornton said: “Before the most recent easing of lockdown, when players had finished their games they quickly disappeared back to the car park. Now our members and guests can go back to the clubhouse for refreshments afterwards. It all just adds to the sense of occasion and completes the golfing experience, even if it does mean sometimes listening to peoples excuses as to why they did not play so well.”