Launceston Golf Club

Seniors Section

Away match v Bigbury — Sunday, April 7

THE sun was glinting off the channel, and Burgh Island looked resplendent.

The beautiful greens were running fast and true, yet still the Launceston team lost 4.5 to 1.5.

The day was somewhat spoilt with an injury to Gavin Torbett who had to retire. Gavin had pulled a muscle in his leg as he turned to catch his electric trolley, after playing just three shots! Gavin’s partner, John Mullins, then had to soldier on without a partner, and unsurprisingly, being outnumbered, lost his match.

Nearest the pin prize was won by Steve Hadfield for Launceston, and Terry Alderton for Bigbury.

Away match v Okehampton — Thursday, April 11

WHEN Launceston sent six ‘Senior’ golfing pairs to take on the Devon locals at Okehampton Golf Course, all players were treated to a beautiful spring day at the parkland course set on the edge of Dartmoor.

Although the course condition was good, the visitors found the Okehampton greens rather slow and just came up short by 3.5-2.5.

The hosts provided an excellent meal after the game. 

‘Nearest the pin’ bottle of wine prize was won for Launceston by Peter Tunnicliffe.

Home match v Yelverton — Monday, April 15

WARMTH, both from the hosts and the spring sunshine, greeted the six visiting Yelverton pairs at Launceston.

Sadly for the hosts, they suffered a third successive close defeat, losing by the same score as they did at Okehampton.

Launceston’s ‘captain for the day’ was Stuart Phillpotts, who also had the honour of winning  ‘nearest the pin’ at the par 3, 15th hole.

 

Away match v Tavistock — Sunday, April 25

TAVISTOCK was the venue for Launceston Seniors to play match eight of their 2019 schedule.

As always, Tavistock’s moorland course situated on the western slopes of the Dartmoor National Park, an area of outstanding beauty, lived up to its reputation as a great course to play, with its trademark fast and true greens. 

The weather added some difficulties to the day, beginning wet with a few stinging hail-stones. The Tavistock players are obviously used to such weather and managed to secure a narrow win, four and a half to three and a half.

Nearest the pin prize for Launceston was taken by Mike Jefferies.

Away match v Downes Crediton — Monday, April 26

THE Downes Crediton course was first laid out in 1972, when 87 acres of farmland was purchased from the Downes estate on the outskirts of Crediton.

The tree-lined parkland golf course is now an enjoyable golf venue and has good clubhouse facilities which the Launceston visitors were able to sample after the match.

Sadly for Launceston and their ‘captain of the day’, Robert Loughran, they were emphatically beaten, four and a half to one and a half by the Devon players. Only Launceston players, Steve Ham and Roger Peek, won their matches. 

Seniors White Trophy — Tuesday, April 23

LAUNCESTON’S Seniors play most of their competitions from the shorter yellow tee course but once a year they play from the further back white tees for the appropriately named White Trophy.

This slightly longer course still suited some of the players with some good scoring and handicap reductions.

Winner: Peter Tunnicliffe — 39pts; 2nd: Peter Wall — 37pts; 3rd: Martin Thompson — 35pts; 4th: Derek Ratcliffe — 35pts; 5th: Chris James — 35pts

Chris James also won the Captain’s charity nearest the pin prize on the 9th hole with a shot that struck the flagstick before dropping a few inches behind the hole, unlucky not to make the much sought after hole in one.

Mixed Section

Peggy Gillard Mixed competition — Monday, April 22

EASTER Monday is traditionally the day for the club’s only partners drawn mixed competition and men’s captain Paul Hicks and club president Linda Mullins took the honours with a score of 41 points, seven ahead of runners-up Kevin Dickinson and Joan Helme who were a point better off than Bernie Whitehorn and Sara Ross in third.