Unfortunately Dunstable once again were found wanting in this away match against Leighton Buzzard on Saturday and they lost the match by 4 games to 2.

Leighton have spent a considerable amount of money on their course over the current year and this was apparent with new tees and a corresponding lengthening of the course (although 2 extended holes were yet to be in play).It does considerably improve the course but made the challenge even more difficult than usual

The match was keenly contested with Vice Captain elect –Roy Drage and Mick Filby losing in spite of being 1 up with 2 to play. A Birdie 3 at the very tight last hole by the opposition put paid to their tremendous effort and as it happens this made a significant difference to the overall result. The Captain and Vice Captain were faced with doughty competitors in Dave Hawkes and Tony Russel who hardly dropped a shot all day. They eventually lost by 3 and 2.

Mark Devereaux playing in his first match for the club and partnering Mel Carter won their match together with Dave Gilligan and John Duffy who played superb golf to win 7 and 6- so congratulations to them.

Whilst the team lost on the day they were extremely well hosted by the Leighton Buzzard team- however it is to be hoped that Dunstable gets its revenge in the forthcoming mixed match on the   9^th October.

This will be Captain Graham Tate’s final match of the season.-so Dunstable need to finish with aplomb.

Captain Graham Tate presents The Trophy to Rob Sutton

After the long saga of the original event being rained off and then the 2 rounds being completed on separate weekends- the Championship came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday. After 9 holes in the second round- three of the main protagonists Mark Carter, Robert Sutton and Paul Kenna were exactly level and the whole competition was in doubt until the final hole (36^th).

Paul unfortunately bogeyed the seventeenth to fall one behind and straight pars on the last settled the final result with Rob winning but by just one shot.

Conditions for this second round were far from easy and the score by Rob of 70 in the first round followed by a 72 giving a total of 142 was really exceptional scoring.

After leading in the first round by a shot Paul was disappointed to lose eventually by a single shot but Rob knows he has got some competition for next year.

Well done to all the competitors who gave up two weekends to compete in this- the major club competition and our congratulations go yet again to Rob Sutton.

Scores:-

Best Gross 36 holes (Club Champion)-Robert Sutton…142

2^nd Best Gross 36 Holes-Paul Kenna…………………………..143

3^rd Best Gross 36 Holes-Mark Carter………….…..………….145

Best Nett 36 Holes-Simon Woodhouse……………………….137

2^nd Best Nett 36 Holes-Graeme Danby………………………141

Best Gross Round 1 –David Taylor……………………….……….71

Best Gross Round 2 –Ross Jones………………………………….75

Best Nett Round 1-Alan Jones………………………………..…….67

Best Nett Round 2-Colin Jackson……………………….…………68

Following on behind the Club Championship, the Four Captains Trophy played for by past captains of the club, was won by Terry Pead with 41 points one of four captains who presented the trophy to the club namely Stuart Taylor presented the trophy to Terry.
After the match Lisa supplied a very good dinner.

Dunstable Downs were unfortunately the recipients of a beating at the hands of Knebworth who brought over a very strong team with some low handicappers for this club match.

In the lead match with the Captain and Vice Captain playing against John Woodbridge (Captain of Knebworth) and a 5 handicap Graham Williams-they were beaten 5 and 4 but this was really due to some exceptional golf from Graham W. who had an eagle plus three birdies.

So the going was tough and in the second match comprising Mike Gaunt and Mike Abercrombie- in spite of being three up after three holes- they lost 2 and 1 against the Knebworth vice Captain Phil Bibby and Brian Clamp.

The third match was halved but with Keith Whittingham and Ken Greenlaw also going down the overall match was lost.

In the later matches – Graham Sheldon and Alf Covington won convincingly as did Colin Jackson with his young partner 85 year old Bob Jackson-so due credit to them however the overall match was lost by 3 and 1/2 to 2 and ½.

Bob Jackson once again kept us most entertained with many amusing jokes after dinner

In spite of a deluge in the middle of the round –visitors and members alike had a great day at Dunstable for the Senior Men’s Invitation.

Over 20 clubs were represented and all without exception complimented Dunstable on the quality of the course and the catering.

This 4 ball better ball competition was keenly contested but the conditions did have an effect on the scoring with most couples registering only 30 plus points. However the winning couple with 39 points was Paul Green of DDGC and his guest Vic Luck from Aldwickbury.

Seniors Captain Dave Thompson together with his partner Brian Davidson of Hampton Court Palace came runners up with 38points on count back from Eddie Bates and Mike Bowen from Mentmore.

Peter McGoughlin from Berkhamsted holed his second shot on the 4^th for 5 points but in spite of this he and his partner John Hill did not register in the prizes. Roger Foley from Letchworth also got an Eagle and he and his partner John Taylor from Dunstable had the best back nine with 19 points.

Other results

Front nine…Roger Bender and Peter Sanders from Whipsnade….21 points

It has been brought to our notice that at least two members have not received the Q and A on the back of “What is CASC” communication.

If you did not receive the Q & A sheet you can download it here

For the second year running we hosted a very successful East Region PRO AM with a total of 33 teams competing.

An exceptional performance by Darren, who had to deal with four teams dropping out in the three days preceding the event, however he manfully organised the tournament. and then, along with fellow professional, Jason Levermore carded a magnificent 67.

The course was in tip top condition as was evident by the score posted by the professionals and the amateurs.

Winning Pro:     Darren Charlton/Jason Levermore (Clacton Golf Club) 67

Runners –up    Robert Leonard (Mid Herts Golf Club)/Stuart Brown(Orton Meadows Golf Club)68

Team Winners : Brett Taylor (Chelmsford Golf Club), David Wyllie, Dave Fitzgerald, Russ Gilbert

Darren and Dave Price would like to continue with the Pro Am next year and in the future, making Dunstable Downs a permanent fixture on the Eastern Region PRO AM circuit.

The Club Championship will be re-played over the two Sundays of 18th and 25th September.
On the 18th, the 1st tee will be closed until 11.30 and the 11th tee will not open for any play until 13.30
On the 25th, the 1st tee will be closed until 10.30 and the 11th tee will not open for any play until 12.30
The starting sheet for round 1 is on the notice board and in the events (competition) section of the members area

The carvery cost will be refunded to the 1st Division players swipe cards

The most prestigious occasion of the year –the Dunstable Downs Club Championship- ended up as a complete wash-out last Sunday.

For the first time for many years the Championship was played in September in order ostensibly to benefit from the growing conditions during the Summer. Unfortunately the weather played its normal late season tricks with torrential rain falling from mid morning and then for several hours. The resultant flooding of the greens made the course unplayable and most unfortunately the event had to be called off.

This was particularly hard on Dan Jones who was level par after 14 holes and young Ryan Smith had only dropped three shots to par when the rains came.

So there were many frustrated players however the re-arranged fixture will give others a chance to hone their skills for the re-run.

The second division Championship for those with a handicap of 13 or more was also called off but the re-arranged date will be this Saturday(10^th) when it will be run in conjunction with the monthly medal.

The first division players will play their first 18 holes on Sunday the 18^th September starting at 8.30 a.m. and the second round will be played on the following Sunday (25^th) starting at the same time.

Hopefully the conditions will be better then- so good luck to all concerned

16 clubs vied for this prestigious trophy at Letchworth Golf Club on Saturday .The format is Mixed Foursomes Stableford over 36 holes and each club provides a team of 3 couples. The first 10 automatically qualify for next year’s tournament however the bottom 6 go into a ballot together with 4 other clubs that missed out this year to find out whether they are eligible to participate next year. It is the combined team score that counts.

The course was in excellent condition with the wind only having a relatively small effect on the scoring and many clubs including Letchworth who ended up as winners by one shot from Brookmans Park performed extremely well with average couple scores in excess of 33 points, however the home team does usually have an advantage on these occasions.

Unfortunately Dunstable did not do so well and being 13^th overall will have to apply for re-election. The team comprised Captain and lady Captain, Vice Captain and Claudine Tate and Mike and Alison Hayward.

Tried hard but could do better is the report so let us hope that we qualify by way of the ballot for next year.