Sidmouth seniors were beaten three-and-a-half to two-and-a-half in their meeting with Lyme Regis, writes Hugh Dorliac.

The contest was played out in warm, dry conditions, although after the recent rain the greens had become somewhat slower than the home team had been used to recently, which probably helped the away team to cope with the slope of the greens better!

Captain-for-the-day Chris Grubb partnered with Barry Jones and the pair were first out and up against it straight away when Steve Hames from Lyme Regis hit a tremendous drive on to the first green and then sent a 12ft putt into the hole for an eagle two to win the first hole!

The home pair managed to halve the next five holes, but Lyme went further ahead when Bob Shepherd chipped in for a birdie on eight.

The home pair battled on and halved the next four holes before Barry managed to get one hole back to be just one down after 14.

The remaining four holes were all halved with Sidmouth eventually losing by one. Colin Paddon and Brian Rice played well together and managed to sneak home with a win by one after a very close match.

Phil Spencer and Mike Davis lost two-and-one. Ray Gunston, partnering Roger Bawden, had a tough time and they were well beaten by a very good pair from Lyme Regis by four-and-three.

Bruce Harcourt and Hugh Dorliac again had a very close match, but managed to win on the last.

The final Sidmouth pairing of Dave Atkinson and David Bromage, after 18 very close holes, and with the lead changing hands several times, managed to get a half despite being two down after 12 holes.

? Last Friday saw plenty of members playing in the penultimate Sidmouth Jewellers Stableford of the season, and enjoying the unseasonal good weather.

The winner on countback was Matt Bavington with 37 points, shaving one stroke off his handicap.

Also improving his handicap was in-form Howard Cushing, who came second, also with 37. The ever consistent Kevin Legg came third on 36.

This week’s Upper Crust Monday Stableford was the last of the season and it saw a new line-up of winners.

Fresh from his third place racing success in Japan, Tipton St John’s Harry Ticknell played solid golf to win with an impressive 40 points, earning him a one stroke reduction off his handicap, before heading out to Shanghai for his last race of his season.

In second place was Marc Jenkins on 37 with Richard Trim on 35 in third.

? Eight man teams representing Sidmouth Golf Club’s Palairet, East Devon League, B Team, Emerton Court and Captain’s teams did battle on Saturday for the Claret Jug Trophy,.

This eagerly awaited annual competition to find, arguably, the best club team of 2018 was played in glorious weather on a superb looking track leaving no excuses for the players to blame the course!

Played in betterball pairs, with scores ranging from low 30s to high 40s, the result was not decided until the last pairs came in.

Ultimately it was the Palairet team with a combined score of 159 who had the bragging rights with Emerton Court on 155 coming second and the captain’s hand picked team on 154 coming third.

The competition was followed by an excellent meal accompanied by an undisclosed amount of drink! A good time was had by all.