Following the last few months of almost constant showers, interspersed with torrential heavy downpours, there is a general hope that it can’t pour with rain much more. However, just to quash any thoughts of improvement, the weather last weekend took the biscuit when Sidmouth Golf Glub course experienced yet another deluge which wiped out all competitive play throughout the weekend, writes John Rockey.

On Friday, the Men’s Open, which had attracted over 120 entrants had to be abandoned mid afternoon when greens became flooded and whilst some teams actually managed to finish, most were still out on the course when the hooter sounded and everyone trudged off the course thoroughly drenched. The Men’s Open has now been rescheduled for August 17.

The Baters Removals Medal, scheduled for Saturday never got off the ground when the Met Office’s red rain warning proved unerringly accurate and gave the long suffering course manager Peter Standen and his staff another headache in trying to get all the surface water into the drainage system. This competition is now rescheduled for July 21.

However, Peter and his staff got to work and managed to get the course playable for the Charles Stanley Monday Stableford and, whilst conditions overhead were generally unpleasant, the competition went ahead and attracted 65 entrants eager to play.

Whilst the abandonment of the Men’s Open meant that Kevin Legg didn’t figure in those prizes, he turned his attention to the Monday Stableford and came in first with an excellent 38 points in conditions which deteriorated as the day wore on.

Legg made his good score on the back nine when he came home in three under par in spite of the worsening weather. Whilst Legg keeps his five handicap, his good and consistent play suggests that this could be his season to get his handicap a bit lower and compete for club representative honours. Second, and just losing out on a countback, was Nigel Sharp, whose 38 points earned him a handicap reduction to 22. Sharp, who probably had the easier of the conditions, must regret letting things slip a little over the closing holes when victory was in his grasp. In third place was the very consistent Steve Crabb with 37 points.

In the seniors’ competition Sharp’s 38 points took the top spot with Brian Skittrall and Ray Scott also in the prizes.

Neil Holland still holds the lead in the birdie count following his three this week which brought his total up to 36, some five ahead of Duncan Taylor whose three birdies brought him up to 31 overall. These two are now pulling ahead of John Jones with 27.

Fingers are now crossed hoping for some improvement in the weather to enable this weekend’s Potburys Trophy to go ahead unaffected by rain, or is that too much to hope for ??