On Friday 27 September the Society travelled to Las Ramblas for the monthly Stableford competiton. It was the first time for the majority of us, to have played this interesting and demanding course. We were pleasantly surprised with the excellent condition of the course considering the aftermath of the recent gota fria.
A challenging day which was reflected in the scores. The final results were as follows:
Winners of N.T.Ps were Russ Todd (5) Arty Crammon (11) Barry Wilson (14). Russ Todd won best front nine with 14 pts and best back nine went to Debbie Weedon 15 pts. In third place Jeff Lynch 26 pts second was Pete Cleaver also with 26 c/b and the winner of the day with 27 pts Arty Crammon.
After the game we travelled back to the Olde 9th in Quesada for presentations and refreshments. Once again, our thanks to Grant and the staff for our welcoming array of sandwiches and snacks.
In association with Costa Blanca Green Fee Services
For this month’s meeting a group of 33 players visited the established course at Altorreal taking advantage of the excellent society deal obtained from Costa Blanca Green Fee Services.
The weather was beautiful and the course in superb condition despite the recent heavy rain.
The winning Scores were as follows:
Gold Division
1st – Kim Dixon – 42 points, 2nd – Alan Templeman – 36 points
Silver Division
1st – Colin McDonald – 29 points, 2nd – Bill Fantom – 27 points
Bronze Division
1st – Paul Fairbairn – 30 points, 2nd – Rod Allen – 29 points
Nearest the Pins – Griffin, Dixon, Fanning and Freeman
Football Card – Alan Templeman
After the game we returned to Broadway Uptown Quesada, which is located at Pueblo Brava, Quesada for a welcome meal prepared by the bar and the prize presentation and we give our thanks for their continued support.
Our next fixture is the interim game at Altorreal on 10th October 2019 followed by the society day at Vistabella on 24th October 2019.
Report by Mike Probert of Costa Blanca Green Fee Services on 966 704 752 or 661 345 931 or see us at our web-site at www.costa-blanca-greenfees.com.
This September our Lee Barber memorial shield was played at an old favourite of ours Alenda Golf, the course was as usual in excellent condition and a very good test of golf, Alenda has great staff great everything however due to their 2020 price structure this course has set its price possibly too high for many societies.
Nineteen players teed off for the game in very good weather conditions, our nearest the pins were, on the 3rd John Rush, the 5th along with the 12th hole was taken by Peter List, Ray Pollock won the 16th all nearest the pins received a sleeve of golf balls
Our best front nine was won by John Rush who received a sleeve of golf balls and our best back nine being taken by Gilly Gilbert who also received golf balls our third place with thirty-three points was won by Martin Collins winning a bottle of Rioja
Our runner up with thirty-four points was Brian Ead taking home Red and white wines, but with an excellent thirty-six points our Shield winner for 2019 was Ian Allison taking home a bottle of Bacardi and a mini replica of the shield.
I have to say well done to all players, and congratulations to Ian Allison who over the past three years has managed to win all of our three trophies, not forgetting our soccer card winner who selected Chelsea, Kjell Svenson.
With three games to go in Busters 2019 season, there is a close-run now for our player of the year competition and this is when the competition starts hotting up.
Our next meeting will be at Alto Real another old favourite of ours, a course which over the past five years has improved significantly.
QUOTED AS the ‘Billionaire’s favourite Caribbean course,’ the ultra exclusive Bakers Bay, favourite of Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler, is not looking quite so pristine at the moment, after hurricane Dorian visited the Bahamas.
The luxury resort was only damaged, not destroyed, but there is no-one to carry out repairs, and the shanty towns that housed the local workers were completely flattened. “We still have a few workers, they are sleeping on the floor in the hotel, their homes are gone,” said Harvey Moss, the ‘Guest Experience Manager.’
Justin Rose, who lives on neighbouring island Albany, and Sean Connery, who lives on New Providence, barricaded themselves into their homes and reported slight damage. Sir Sean was said to be shaken not stirred.
WALTER HAGEN liked to live like a millionaire even though golf professionals didn’t earn much. In fact they weren’t even allowed in the clubhouse. At the 1920 Open, Hagen used his hired chauffer-driven Daimler as his dressing room in the car park at Royal Cinque Ports golf club.
A big man in every sense, he gave the entire £100 winners cheque for the 1929 Open to his 16 yr. old caddie. Hagen won so often and in such style that he single-handedly ushered in the entry of the playing pro to the socially exclusive world of golf. As Arnold Palmer once said at a dinner honouring Hagen: “If not for you Walter, this dinner tonight would be downstairs in the pro shop, not in the ballroom.”
SAD TO HEAR Brian Barnes passed away. A colourful character, who puffed on his pipe and swigged the odd can of beer as he played, he is chiefly remembered for having beaten Jack Nicklaus twice in one day during the 1975 Ryder Cup, winning 4&2 in the morning and 2&1 in the afternoon session. Barnes also won twice on the Champions’ Tour.
When he won the Senior British Open at Portrush in 1995 he holed a 60-foot putt for eagle at the old 17th and his Father-in-Law Max Faulkner, another colourful character who won the Open there in 1951, was there to see it. His friend Sky Sports presenter Ewen Murray says: The prizes on the Champions’ Tour in the mid ’90s were $300,000 and once Brian had made his money he decided: “That’ll do me, I’ll go fly fishing.”
THIS YEAR IT’S ALL BEEN about ‘Flash Face.’ In order to improve their drivers and fairway woods Callaway employed a $5 million Super Computer which used AI and machine learning. Head of R & D Alan Hocknell said: “To learn more about the performance of the clubface than humans could, we programmed our computer and then let it interrogate its own answers, with the sole purpose of creating a clubface that got better and better in terms of ball speed performance.
It cycled through 15,000 face iterations, learning from each one, before arriving at Flash Face.” Callaway could have physically built 15,000 versions of the driver to arrive at the final design. The computer took around four weeks, as opposed to about 34 years on a laptop. The result; an average of 3-6mph ball speed gain. Callaway obviously think it’s worth it. Their $499 Epic Flash Sub Zero Driver was voted MyGolfspy 2019 Most Wanted driver of the year.
As I’ve said before, the time is coming when we just sit in the clubhouse and watch our clubs play each other. Who’s round is it?
“THE ZOZO CHALLENGE”: Japan Skins” will see four top golfers from the four continents: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama in an exhibition event which kicks off Japan’s inaugural PGA Tour Championship at the Narashino Country Club, near Tokyo, on October 21st.
Each hole is assigned an increasing value and players need to win a hole outright to take a ‘skin.’ A spokesman called it “ The first in a thrilling series of annual Challenge events that’ are going to thrill audiences around the globe.” Try to keep awake.
Until next time: Happy Golfing.
Contact Mick for your regripping and repairs. 638 859 475.
Today 20th September Montgo Golf Society played a Rose Bowl competition. Our sponsor was our good friend Mr Paul Tolley (Teaching Professional at Oliva Nova).
The course at Oliva Nova is undergoing quite a lot of maintenance therefore the fairways were not in as good a condition as they could be. The weather today was very sultry we did however manage to avoid any rain.
The winner was Dennis Hammond with a nett 72 beaten into 2nd place on countback was Peter Gardiner, 3rd place went to Richard Fox with nett 73 and 4th place was Mick Farmer with a nett 74.
A special mention goes to Ilona Mathieu one of our guests who scored an excellent nett 71. Our other guest was Nicholas Gleeson.
Nearest the pins went to Peter Gardiner on the 3rd and Sue Burman on the 16th.
Our competition next week is the MGS Decanter (Medal) sponsored by Marion & Neil Carter.
Europe produced one of the greatest fightbacks in golf history to snatch a dramatic 14 ½ – 13 ½ victory over America in the 16th Solheim Cup at the PGA Centenary course at Gleneagles.
For the last 45 minutes of a truly enthralling contest it looks as if the visitors would emerge as victors but that was before Anna Nordqvist, Bronte Law and Suzann Pettersen conspired to turn the result completely on its head.
The Americans needed just half a point from the last three games to retain the trophy but first Nordqvist beat Morgan Pressel and then Law came from behind to snatch an improbable win over Ally McDonald before Pettersen completed one of golf’s greatest acts of escapology with a winning birdie putt against Marina Alex on the last.
It is no wonder the celebrations were tumultuous and no surprise either that the Americans looked shell-shocked because they scarcely deserved to lose.
In fact, the match was so close that no less than six of the 12 singles went to the 18th and Europe edged it purely because they won three and halved one of those.
The timeline best tells the story of the final day.
Carlota Ciganda put the first point on the board for the home side when she beat Danielle Kang on the last in a match in which there was never more than one hole it in but Nelly Korda then evened things up at 9-9 when she came back from three down after nine holes to beat Caroline Hedwall by two holes.
14/09/2019. Ladies European Tour 2019. The Solheim Cup, PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland. 13-15 September 2019. Credit: Phil Inglis
Europe then edged ahead again when Georgia Hall beat Lexi Thompson 2 & 1. The American was in front in that game early on but seemed to be struggling with a back problem and in the end could not contain Hall who went ahead for the for first time on the 11th before claiming another point for the home side on the 17th.
Europe now held a slender 10-9 lead in the match and they went two points ahead when French rookie, Celine Boutier, also came from behind to beat American counterpart Annie Park 2 & 1. That meant the 24-year-old captain’s pick completed her first Solheim Cup with four wins in her four matches and completely vindicated the faith Catriona Matthew had placed in her. It also saw her tie Hall as the top points-earner in the home side.
Europe was chasing 14 ½ points to win but they remained 3 ½ points short of that target when Jodi Ewart Shadoff lost 5 & 4 to US rookie Brittany Altomare. The US revival continued first when Angel Yin led almost all the way to even the match up at 11-11 with a 2 & 1 win over Azahara Munoz and then when Jessica Korda completed a memorable family double with a 3 & 2 comeback victory over Caroline Masson.
That win by the elder Korda sister meant that for the first time in the entire match America held the lead and Europe’s predicament worsened when Charley Hull lost the last hole to halve her match against Megan Khang and again when Anne Van Dam missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the last that would have given her a halve with Lizette Salas.
That one hole win by Salas took the American total to 13 ½ points and meant they just needed half a point to retain the trophy. Strange as it seemed at the time, it was not to be.
At that stage, Anna Nordqvist was four up through 13 holes on Pressel and the Swede went on to win 4 & 3 but Pettersen and Law were tied with Alex and McDonald when both had to win to stop America winning the match.
14/09/2019. Ladies European Tour 2019. The Solheim Cup, PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland. 13-15 September 2019. Credit: Phil Inglis
For three days of intense competition there had been little to choose between the two teams so it was fitting the match was to go right to the wire.
English rookie, Bronte Law, was the first to grasp the moment when she won both the 16th and 17th to beat McDonald 2 & 1 and then seconds later, up ahead at the last, controversial captain’s pick Pettersen, a veteran with eight previous Solheim Cup appearances behind her, holed a ten-foot birdie putt to beat Alex and secure what was one of the most dramatic victories in the history of the game.
Bedlam ensued.
The delirious European team rushed onto the green to hug the Norwegian, while the Americans were left to ponder what might have been.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Europe’s captain, Catriona Matthew. “All 12 of these players, they played their hearts out. We knew it was going to be close today, but to come down to the last putt and for Suzann to hole it, it’s incredible. She got a lot of stick when I picked her, but it shows it was the right one.
“I could barely watch, actually,” she added. “It’s far worse watching. “When you’re playing, you’re kind of in the zone and in the moment, and you’ve got control over things. But watching you just have to have faith in the players. There’s nothing else you can do.”
Juli Inkster, the US captain for a third time in succession, said: “It’s disappointing but, you know what, I told them afterwards the sun’s going to come up tomorrow. We played great; the Europeans played great. You tip your hat and you move on to (the next Solheim Cup at) Toledo.”
Suzann Bows Out at the Top
Suzann Pettersen has announced she is to retire for competitive golf after a sparkling professional career spanning two decades.
Moments after holing the birdie putt that secured Europe’s victory in the 16th Solheim Cup, the 38-year-old Norwegian, confirmed she would be hanging up her clubs with immediate effect.
“That’s it, I’m done,” she said. “I’m closing it down tomorrow.
“I think it’s the perfect closure, there’s no better way to end my professional career. I never thought I was going to be here four months ago until I met Beany (Catriona Matthew). So, to end it this way, that’s very special.”
Pettersen bows out of professional golf having won two majors, 15 LPGA tour titles and seven on the Ladies European Tour. This year marked her ninth appearance in the Solheim Cup, stretching back to 2002, during which she won 18 matches, tied third on the all-time European list alongside Matthew, behind only Laura Davies and Annika Sorenstam.
Her most successful year came in 2013 when she won five tournaments around the world and posted an additional eleven top-ten finishes. She ended the year as World No. 2, just behind Inbee Park.
15/09/2019. Ladies European Tour 2019. The Solheim Cup, PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland. 13-15 September 2019. European Team Captain, Catriona Matthew of Scotland lifts the Solheim Cup. Credit: Mark Runnacles/LET
Suzann arrived at Gleneagles as one of Matthew’s captain’s picks having played just twice this season following the birth of her son, Herman, last September but that didn’t stop her combining with Anne Van Dam to beat Danielle Kang 4 & 2 before delivering the winning point against Marina Alex in the singles.
“It didn’t surprise me when Suzann holed that putt,” said US captain, Juli Inkster. “It was great. I mean, I knew she knew the Cup was on the line. And to go ahead and roll that putt in, that’s impressive. That’s why she’s Suzann.”
She also received a glowing tribute from teammate Anna Nordqvist.
“I think I’m speaking for everyone on this team,” she said. “Suzann has been a big role model for all of those the last couple of years, more than that.
“I remember my first Solheim Cup in 2009, I got to play with a lot of my idols growing up. It was Laura Davies, Helen Alfredsson, it was Beany, it was Mimmi Hjorth and Suzann Pettersen. I got paired with Suzann in my second match and it was really cool. It was definitely one of the best highlights of my career.
“She’s going to be missed,” Nordqvist added. “She’s a rock star. She’s such a great character and a big role model for all of us.”
RESULTS
FRIDAY FOURSOMES RESULTS
8:10 Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex (USA) halved with Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law (Europe)
8:22 Georgia Hall and Céline Boutier (Europe) defeated Lexi Thompson and Brittany Altomare (USA) 2&1
8:34 Jessica Korda and Nelly Korda (USA) defeated Caroline Masson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff (Europe) 6&4
8:46 Charley Hull and Azahara Muñoz (Europe) defeated Megan Khang and Annie Park (USA) 2&1
EUROPE 2 ½ USA 1 ½
FRIDAY FOURBALL RESULTS
12:40 Suzann Pettersen and Anne Van Dam (Europe) defeated Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas (USA) 4&2
12:55 Ally McDonald and Angel Yin (USA) defeated Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall (Europe) 7&5
13:10 Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law (Europe) halved with Jessica Korda and Lexi Thompson (USA)
13:25 Charley Hull and Azahara Muñoz (Europe) halved with Nelly Korda and Brittany Altomare (USA)
EUROPE 2 USA 2
OVERALL EUROPE 4 ½ USA 3 ½
SATURDAY FOURSOMES RESULTS
8:10 Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex (USA) defeated Anna Nordqvist and Anne Van Dam (Europe) 2&1
8:22 Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier (Europe) defeated Lizette Salas and Ally McDonald (USA) 3&2
8:34 Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz (EUR) defeated Danielle Kang and Megan Khang (USA) 4&3
8:46 Jessica Korda and Nelly Korda (USA) defeated Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law (EUR) 6&5
EUROPE 2 USA 2
OVERALL EUROPE 6 ½ USA 5 ½
SATURDAY FOURBALL RESULTS
12:40 Brittany Altomare and Annie Park defeated Suzann Pettersen and Anne Van Dam 1 up
12:55 Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson halved with Lexi Thompson and Marina Alex
13:10 Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier defeated Ally McDonald and Angel Yin 2 up
13:25 Lizette Salas and Danielle Kang defeated Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Munoz 2 up
USA 2 ½ EUROPE 1 ½
OVERALL EUROPE 8 USA 8
SUNDAY SINGLES PAIRINGS (USA first)
11:40 Carlota Ciganda defeated Danielle Kang 1 up
11:52 Nelly Korda defeated Caroline Hedwall 2 up
12:04 Georgia Hall defeated Lexi Thompson 2&1
12:16 Celine Boutier defeated Annie Park 2&1
12:28 Angel Yin defeated Azahara Munoz 2&1
12:40 Megan Khang halved with Charley Hull
12:52 Lizette Salas defeated Anne Van Dam 1 up
13:04 Jessica Korda defeated Caroline Masson 2&1
13:16 Brittany Altomare defeated Jodi Ewart Shadoff 5&4
13:28 Suzann Pettersen defeated Marina Alex 1 up
13:40 Bronte Law defeated Ally McDonald 2&1
13:52 Anna Nordqvist defeated Morgan Pressel 4&3
EUROPE 6 ½ USA 6
FINAL RESULT: EUROPE 14 1/2 USA 13 ½
The course at Alenda is always in good condition and this particular Friday was no exception, 28 players turned up for this months trophy game and the course and weather brought out the best in them as there was many scores over 30 points.
The results were as follows, nearest the pins on the par 3’s were Bob McDermont, Roger Van Herck, Jim McCarthy and Captain George Marshall Deane. Nearest the pin in two was David Wright. Best front nine was Greg Skaife (20), and best back was Bob McDermont (17) Gold division winner was Alex Bolton (35) and the Silver and overall winner with 36 was Mark Evans, Best guest was Joeri.
Back at O’Briens where we carried out the presentation and prize giving the football card winners were Tim Goldsmith and Keith Evans.
Our fixtures for the next few weeks are fully booked but if you wish to join us please email us at
The course at Alenda is always in good condition and this particular Friday was no exception, 28 players turned up for this months trophy game and the course and weather brought out the best in them as there was many scores over 30 points.
The results were as follows, nearest the pins on the par 3’s were Bob McDermont, Roger Van Herck, Jim McCarthy and Captain George Marshall Deane. Nearest the pin in two was David Wright. Best front nine was Greg Skaife (20), and best back was Bob McDermont (17) Gold division winner was Alex Bolton (35) and the Silver and overall winner with 36 was Mark Evans, Best guest was Joeri.
Back at O’Briens where we carried out the presentation and prize giving the football card winners were Tim Goldsmith and Keith Evans.
Our fixtures for the next few weeks are fully booked but if you wish to join us please email us at rubysgolf@yahoo.co.uk
Benign conditions that make Spain such a lovely place to live in away from the hot periods of July and August greeted the 8 members making up 4 pairs in El Plantio 2´s Texas Scramble.
However, a breeze sprang up on the last nine holes to make thingsa little spicy. Judging by the final scores with just 2.5 shots separating first and fourth positions, handicapping was spot on. Indeed first and second position was decided by a mere 0.3 handicap points.
Nearest the pins – Hole 4 Graham Blakeway, Hole 8, Ray Housley.
Second place, Handicap 6.9, David Swann, Paddy O’Brien – 48.1 points
First place, Handicap 7.2 , Ray Housley, Mike Davies – 47.8 points.
If anyone would like to join our Society, we play at El Plantio Golf Club every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. We use both courses – the Par 3 9 hole course and the main 18 hole course, so we cater for all abilities.
The membership rates are very competitive, so call for more details. Anyone who wishes to play in the Society as a guest or join as a new member, contact David Swann on 865 779 983 or 648 476 752.
Picture from L to R: Mike Davies, Ray Housley, David Swann, Paddy O’Brien, Graham Blakeway,..
Europe’s finest golfing destination will welcome next generation of players across two stages this November and December
Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection has announced an exciting new partnership with the Ladies European Tour (LET) to host its Qualifying School this November and December, as the next generation of potential Major champions or Solheim Cup players begin their journey.
The five-round final stage will be played on both the Pinhal and Victoria courses, the latter of which was designed by Arnold Palmer and has played host to the previous 12 editions of the European Tour’s Portugal Masters, ensuring a tough test for those that tee it up from 11-15 December.
Dom Pedro Laguna Golf Course
For those needing to earn their place in the final, the Pre-Qualifying Stage will be played across the Dom Pedro Laguna and Millennium courses from 27-30 November. Running side by side and sharing a clubhouse, they promise to provide an electric atmosphere for those battling it out over 72 holes.
In addition, all competitors will be able to take advantage of luxury on-site accommodation, staying in the four-star Dom Pedro Vilamoura hotel, which overlooks the beach and is just a short walk from the marina, offering numerous bars and restaurants.
Pietro Dal Fabbro, CEO of Dom Pedro Golf, said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming the LET Qualifying School to Dom Pedro. This is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase Europe’s finest golfing destination to a new audience and play our part in discovering the next great talents of women’s golf. Offering year-round sunshine and the finest course conditions, in addition to our wider destination offering, Dom Pedro has everything a female golfer could need.”
As part of the new partnership, LET members will be able to come to Vilamoura for warm weather training during December and January. Receiving a reduced rate in one of Dom Pedro’s three four-star hotels and afforded unlimited access to all five of the championship-quality golf courses available, including the acclaimed Dom Pedro Old Course, it will be the ideal place to prepare for the new season.
Mark Lichtenhein, LET Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to partner with Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection and I am sure that our members will enjoy the excellent conditions for a personalised stay, as well as the unique golf experience offered by the brand. Dom Pedro Vilamoura will be the perfect venue for our Qualifying School and it is rare that you find a facility with such a wide variety of superb courses and practise areas, which are all in magnificent condition.
While Qualifying School can be a stressful time, the competitors can rest assured that the on and off-course facilities will be of the highest quality.”
