Sidmouth’s match against Taunton & Pickeridge, postponed in May due to the very wet conditions, was finally held in the glorious weather of recent days, with both in their identical team colours of dark blue and white, which made things slightly difficult for all the spectators, writes Terry Carter.

Golfers do need something to blame for poor results, such as bad luck, the rub of the green whatever that means, unfair handicaps etc, but on this occasion the grass was apparently longer than usual. Doug Goodall, off 14, was giving shots to the visiting pair Roger Nation and Ron Ferris, and fortunately also giving 11 shots to his partner Brian Skittrall. Skittrall played his part hitting a two on the par three fourth, but despite the visiting pair finding Sidmouth’s greens tough to read, this first game was halved for a shared point. Next, Brian Cole and John Hicks off 18 were both receiving five shots, and it was no surprise when they closed their game down on the 15th for a 5 and 3 win.

John Townsend and Charles Brown were closely matched with opponents Chris Meakin and Phil Cook, but a birdie on the par three 12th for Cook set the scene for a 3 and 2 win for the visitors.

With the match all square Ray Gunston and Colston Herbert stepped up to the plate and enjoyed a comfortable 3 and 2 win.

Alan Billinghurst and Glynn Hewitt secured the win for Sidmouth with a comprehensive 6 and 5 victory. Glynn also won the wine for his nearest the pin on the fourth. In the final game, Vernon Ruffle was receiving four shots from his partner Bob Winstone in an otherwise closely matched four ball. It was finally won by the home pair on the last, earning a narrow one point win for the home side.

Sidmouth 3� Taunton & Pickeridge 2�

?Doug Goodall also captained the team in Sidmouth’s next match, against Windwhistle, and in a shrewd move chose David Roberts off 20 as his partner as they faced Norman Markby and Brian Marsh. Handicaps were well matched, and the edge should have been with the home pair, so a 5 and 4 defeat was a surprise.

The next two games restored Sidmouth’s morale, with a 4 and 2 win for Dieter Ritz and Barry Jones, followed by another point from Colin Paddon and Chris Grubb.

The next game had Nigel Sharp and Charles Oram receiving 5 and 7 shots respectively, but despite a “nearest the pin” for Sharp on the 12th the game was halved for a shared point.

Bob Reynolds and Terry Blackler wisely prepared themselves mentally to collect the fees after dinner, and had plenty of time to do so as they lost 7 and 5 on the 13th.

With the match level with just one game to finish, Doug Goodall retreated to lie down in a dark room and waited for the result. Mike Sherry and Brian le Masurier were both receiving shots from the visitors, but in a close game lost 2 and 1 to give Windwhistle a surprise away win.

Sidmouth 2� Windwhistle 3�