Colin Paddon undertook his first duty this year as Seniors’ Captain on Monday, when he hosted the opening competition, writes Terry Carter.

This was a fine day for golf, with the recent Siberian conditions a distant memory, although in my case even last week’s events can be a distant memory when I am asked who my partner and opponents were in the previous match. Monday’s format was Three Ball Stableford, with one score to count on the first six holes, two on the second six and all three on the final six holes.

Most of us find this a relaxed format over the first six holes, with the pressure building to fever pitch as the round progresses. Experienced Psychologists will know that such a build up of tension can play havoc with the golfer’s mind when things start to go wrong under pressure. This happened to Mike Sherry, Paul Blay and me, and a reasonable start evaporated as soon as every score counted.

Mathematicians will also know that since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot is actually the beginning of the next group of three!

However Alec Salway, John Carroll and Allen Coles took all this stress in their stride, and mustered 86 points to win, three points better than their nearest challengers.

Runners up were Peter Spooner, Terry Blackler and Ken Price, with Bob Welsman, Ray Gunston and Jerry Dewhurst third. There were thirteen twos on the day, for John Bainbridge, Bon Winstone, Glynn Hewitt, Ray Gunston, Jerry Dewhurst, Terry Carter, Peter Spooner, Ken Price, John Game, Brian LeMasurier, David Hoare, Dennis Gillson, and Mark Laird: Maybe as a result of us all spending hours having putting practice on the bedroom carpet over the winter. Prizes for nearest the pins on the 4th and 12th were also won by Mark Laird and David Ridlington respectively.

? As usual, the opening competition was followed in the evening by the first Seniors’ dinner of the season and Colin Paddon again hosted. For some reason, Colin felt compelled to wear a white hat bearing naval insignia for most of the proceedings, identified by his predecessor Ray Gunston as one worn by Wrens during Ray’s time in the navy. This clearly demands further investigation. Several prizes earned over the winter months were also presented and thanks given to retiring seniors committee members.

However, the highlight was the presentation to club captain David Hoare with a cheque from the seniors for his chosen local charity, Living With Cancer.

For some years now, club captain charities have benefited from an early boost in the season from the seniors’ section, and this time with a cheque for �500 with more to follow later in the season. David Hoare responded gratefully, thanking the seniors for their generosity and wishing them another successful season.