It was a demob happy John Bainbridge who hosted the final competition and dinner before handing over to next year’s seniors captain Douglas Goodall, writes Terry Carter.

It was a pleasure to be able to play even part of the course after the impact of recent weather kept most of us at home doing the housework, although I understand that several have spent recent weeks in front of a log fire wearing fingerless gloves and with a tartan rug over their laps, thinking of happy days on the Sidmouth fairways.

The format on Monday was better, ball stableford restricted to nine holes, namely holes one to five then turning back to the clubhouse from holes 15 to 18.

The allocation of handicaps across the chosen holes left some with a headache, but the scoring across the large field of pairs was good.

First prize was earned by Colston Herbert and Terry Carter, with a better than average start followed by a strong finish to earn 24 points.

We usually play better as we head back towards the sanctuary of the clubhouse, and this was more valuable than usual as a count back was required to separate four pairs all with 24 points.

Next on count back were Les Pratt, now playing well and fully recovered from a shoulder injury, and seniors youth wing member Ian Brown, followed by Mal Jones and Paul Blay in third place.

Mike Anderson and John Hawkins took fourth prize, and can consider themselves unlucky that they didn’t gain just one more point to put them first.

There were also bottles of wine for nearest the pin prizes on the fourth and 18th, and these tempting items were won by Brian Le Masurier and Bob Cook.

As usual there were also prizes of a more temperate nature for two’s scored, this time won by Chris Ashley and Brian Margison.

There then followed the dinner in the golf season when senior’s ladies are invited as guests- probably as a recognition of their tolerance, and after another excellent clubhouse dinner John Bainbridge thanked them for their support.

He also presented gifts to those who have helped make his year a success, and handed over to his successor Douglas Goodall for 2013.

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