Winter Tournaments - Season 2006-2007

Gleeds Festive bottles - click.. Eclectic:- Round 5 - click.. Round 4 - click.. Round 3 - click.. Round 2 - click.. Round 1 - click.. Medals:- February - click.. January - click.. December - click.. November - click..

Stableford:- Round 12 - click.. Round 10 - click.. Round 9 - click.. Round 8 - click.. Round 7 - click.. Round 6 - click.. Round 5 - click.. Round 3 - click.. Round 2 - click.. Texas Scramble:- Report 3 - click.. Report 2 - click.. Report 1 - click..

Gleeds Energy Xmas & Hogmany Bottles - 2006
Dav beats Dad and Alex holds off Ian Ritchie

Dav Mackay	Alex Mackay

With the weather laying waste to last week's golfing schedule, it gives me a chance to catch up on a couple of new fixtures on the Reay Golf Club calendar that were held over the Christmas period.

The Golf Club saw out the old year with competitions on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay. Both included the added incentive of a bottle of malt for the winners - as if the sheer kudos of triumphing over ones peers wasn't prize enough!

In the first of these events, just as Sandy Claws was checking the oil and water in his 4.2 litre turbo-charged sleigh prior to setting about his complex gift delivering mission somewhere in the Pacific Islands, Reay's golfing gents checked their hippers and embarked on their own quest for glory. Could our intrepid golfer chance imbibing the remains of his pewter hip flask, confident in the knowledge of winning a fresh bottle of malt with which to refill his trusty flagon?

In the first of the Christmas Bottle events kindly sponsored by Gleeds Energy, it was a battle to the last, with MacKay going toe-to-toe with MacKay. Both Don Snr and Dav playing some solid golf in the conditions. In the end it was Dav who came out triumphant with 35 points, including a birdie at the ever dangerous 17th. Don chased him all the way and a birdie saw him coming up just one shot shy of the winning total on 34 points.

In the second instalment of Whisky Galore, it was a case of East beating West, as Castletown's Alex Mackay took the golden spoils of victory. Out in a magnificent 22 points and back in 15 for a total stableford tally of 37 points, Alex managed to hold off late charges from West of the Split Stane as Ian Ritchie and John O'Brien scored 36 and 35 points respectively.

Not quite consistent enough on the day to win the bottle of Whisky, Danny O'Hagen took matters into his own hands. A hole-in-one at the tricky 9th ensured that the rest of the field hung around to celebrate Danny's achievement in the time-honoured fashion, with Danny himself having to buy the toasting-whisky drammies!

Eclectic 5 result - 2007
Colin wins Eclectic

This last week also saw the conclusion of the Winter Eclectic, with Colin Stewart managing to stay one step ahead of the field in posting a winning total of 61.50. Close behind in second place was Lee Parnell with 62.88, with Bruce MacKay in third on 64.00.

Eclectic 4 - 2007
Lee wins in a two horse race!!!

Lee Parnell

Last week saw winds strong enough to blow the numbers off the flags kept all but the most robust golfers away from the fourth round of Reay Golf Club's Winter Eclectic. Those players that did venture out into the elements were rewarded as all improved their overall eclectic tally.

On the day it was Lee Parnell who managed to best adapt to the conditions. After a shaky start that saw him post a crooked stick seven at the 2nd, Lee knuckled down to post a respectable 38 shots to the turn, including a wind-assisted birdie two chip in at the seventh. Parnell added a birdie at the 14th on his way to posting another 38 for the back nine, to give a competition winning 76 (73). The only other player man enough to complete the full course was Steve Efemey, who carded an 84 (75) for the stipulated 18 holes.

Eclectic 3 - 2006
Gavin's form gets better with lots of nights in!!!

Jack Frost finally took a leisurely stroll round the Reay Links this weekend past. Early competitors in the third round of the winter eclectic were greeted by a still, cold morning, somewhat crisp underfoot. But as the sun warmed the chilled earth for the later starters, the wind picked up to even out the conditions for everyone.

Gavin Gunn

First out of the blocks was Gavin Gunn who managed to set the early pace with two steady halves of 37 and 38, giving him an excellent return of 75 (65). Gavin's first foray into the eclectic has given him a solid platform to work from, including a birdie at the tricky 10th.

This early score proved a difficult mark to match. And the only player to get anywhere near this score was consistent winter performer Colin Stewart. Again steadiness was the order of the day. Halves of 41 and 40 for an 81 (69) seeing Colin step onto the podium for the umpteenth time this winter.

Well clear of the rest of the peleton was Ian Ritchie. Birdies at the 8th and par five 14th helped Ian on his was to a 79 (70) and did his chances in the quest for the Jean Mackay Trophy no harm at all.

Other players bagging frozen birdies included B Budding, A Gunn, M MacDonald, Dav MacKay, DC MacKay and C Ross, with Mojo Mowat managing to trap himself a fine brace at two of the par fives.

In the overall eclectic standings despite not being able to find a touch of birdie magic on the day Colin Stewart and Lee Parnell managed to improve their scores by 4 strokes and usurp Bruce Mackay at the top. At the halfway stage, Colin leads on 66.50, with Lee hot on his heels at 66.88. Bruce hangs onto 3rd place with 68.00 with six other players within two shots.

Eclectic 2 - 2006
Bruce keeps last years form going

Bruce Mackay

A rare dry, if flag bending, day greeted the field as Reay's Winter Eclectic finally got under way last weekend after several postponements. However, most of the competitors will be hoping for calmer rounds to come in order to improve their scores.

The idea of the eclectic is that a player's best score at each individual hole, throughout the six rounds of the competition, counts towards an overall 'best' eclectic score. This format of the game tends to promote a more attacking mindset as the lower handicappers strive to make birdies and eagles and the higher handicappers look to cop a plethora of pars. Was it not the great Chinese philosopher, Confucius, who, after a particularly twitchy day with the putter, uttered the immortal 'man who shoot birdies, lifts eclectic trophy!' line?

With these words of wisdom ringing in their ears, Reay's golfing fraternity managed to amass a creditable 12 birdies between them. And with that all too familiar westerly ripping through the bones, believe me, it wasn't that easy.

Top of the birdie tree was Steve Efemey, with no fewer than four birdies on his card. A regulation birdie four at the 6th got things rolling for Steve. Then, after watching playing partner Lee Parnell chip in from the front edge of the ninth for a cheeky two, Steve rolled in a 30 footer to double his budgie tally. Further birdies came at the 13th and 16th to give Steve a great start to the eclectic campaign. Parnell followed up his chip in at 9 with a tap in bird on the very next hole. Unfortunately, this brief interlude of quality was the budgie filling, in a particularly foul tasting dross golf sandwich. Also picking up a birdie at 10 was John Disbury - a few more of these and 21 handicapper John will surely be in the running come the final round. With a strong breeze behind it was a surprise that the 14th only gave up a solitary birdie - that honour went to Ian 'I've got no trophies to pick up tonight' Ritchie!!

Dav Mackay was another to sit at the under-par table and gorge himself on a feathered feast, with a birdie in each half of the card.

Bruce Mackay and his winter swing left it very late to register his birdies, playing each of the last two holes one under the card.

On the day, this proved to be the defining moment in deciding the fate of the sweep money. Mackay and Efemey were neck and neck going down the stretch, but while Bruce was poking the course in the eye, Steve was lucky not to get his drive at 17 lodged in his right nostril. Fortunately for Steve, (not so fortunate for anyone in Reay attempting a long distance reverse charges call to the suburbs of Ulan Bator - apologies), this drive also managed crash into the telephone wires above the tee. Steve was unable to capitalise on his free re-load and limped home with a crooked stick 7 to post a net 69, handing the day's spoils to perennial comp winner Mackay. MacKay's quality finish saw him post a fantastic net 65, which surely has the handicap secretary's unsheathing his claymore in anticipation.

• Result:-
  1. B Mackay - 73(65);
  2. S Efemey - 78(69)
  3. C Stewart - 81(69)

Eclectic 1 - 2006
Lee wins with a hard fought 73

Lee Parnell

Sunday saw a return to more typical Caithness golfing conditions, as a strong south westerly tore across the course. A much reduced field of Reay's hardier golfers turned up to compete in the multi-postponed 1st round of the winter eclectic, trying to improve their scores from last weeks 2nd round!

On the day, the best net score went to Lee Parnell with a hard-fought 76 (73); the same score that only 24 hours earlier had seen Lee finish in the also-rans, emphasising the change in conditions and surely giving more ammunition to the global warming lobbyists.

Don MacKay Snr. finished two off the pace in second place and would certainly have taken the spoils but for a gut-wrenching pair of crooked stick 7's (a Zimmer-frame, if you will?) at the 16th and 17th. These two holes really are proving to be the bane of Reay's golfers lately. As one climbs aboard the 16th and 17th tees one can almost hear Reay Burn's very own harpies beckoning unsuspecting golfers out of bounds or into the burn itself. Anyone mesmerised by the magnetic beauty and charm of their incantations, is liable to come out on the other side of these holes with a shipwrecked card. One player to avoid such calamity was DC (Mojo) Mowat, who sailed through this stretch with two par fours on his way to a respectable net 76 and third place.

In the overall eclectic race to lift the Jean Mackay Trophy, the early pace is being set by Bruce MacKay (69), Colin Stewart (70.5) and Steve Efemey (70.63), but with four rounds to go, it's all to play for.

• Result:-
  1. L Parnell - 73;
  2. DA MacKay - 75;
  3. DC Mowat - 76

Medal (February) - 2007
Murdo's steady halves equal full pint of success

Murdo MacDonald

A temporary abeyance in the wintry weather helped swell the ranks for Saturday's February Medal Competition at Reay Golf Club. No fewer than ten players came within four shots of eventual medal victor Murdo MacDonald.

Playing some very steady golf off his 13 handicap, Murdo put together two solid halves of 42 and 39 for a score of 81 (68), before heading back to the clubhouse to feast on the sumptuous bounty of success itself. Duelling in the watery sun for the scraps cast from the winners table were fellow 8 handicappers Bruce MacKay and Grant Maxwell. With Bruce and Grant out in 39 and 38 respectively, a birdie at 12 for the latter appeared to give Maxwell the edge. But it was MacKay who managed to plot a less hazardous course home to the clubhouse and reverse the outward nine scores. MacKay's inward half of 38 to Maxwell's 39 gave both players a net score of 69, but handed second place to Bruce on countback.

Other notables were Vice Captain Ian Ross and Dave Gray who each carded a brace of birdies and Lee Parnell who bagged a birdie and an RSPB textbook eagle. However, these three along with the rest of the field failed to match the consistency of the top three, who thoroughly deserved their sweep money.

Medal (January) - 2007
George comes back with a win

George Prince

A healthy field turned out for Reay Golf Club's first competition of 2007 - the January Medal. The gloriously clement weather, the need to burn off a few mince pies-worth of calories and the golf addict's constant craving for an injection of the great game swelled the competition entry.

On an excellent day for scoring no fewer than 15 golfers managed to post at least one birdie on their card. One hole that came in for a real New Year flogging was the sixth. Off the forward tees, even the swathe of missing fairway in front of the green offered the par five little in the way of protection from the budgie hungry golfing fraternity.

But whilst the field binged on birdies the golfing artiste still known as George Prince helped himself to a more balanced diet of pars and net pars. Despite not having played regularly over the winter period, George returned to the fray with steady halves of 39 and 40 for a 79 (66) medal winning total.

Despite the favourable conditions only two other golfers managed to play to their handicaps; Lee Parnell and Davey Mowat both shooting net 69s, with Lee pipping Davey at the post by half a shot on count-back. The last of the sweep money was also decided on count-back with Grant Maxwell narrowly missing out to Don MacKay Snr. Both shot net 70s, but Don's excellent level par (35) on the back nine saw him capture fourth place.

Medal (December) - 2006
Colin continues good form in Winter

Colin Stewart

For the first time since the winter season started back in October, there really were no excuses for posting a good score other than ones own ability (or lack of it!).

Stripped of her principal defence, the wind, Reay's links lay exposed, eyes tight shut awaiting the onslaught of the 24-strong entry for Saturday's December Medal. And so it proved to be the case, as the majority of the field managed to play in the general vicinity of their handicaps.

Top of the marauding hoard of Reay golfers this week was Colin Stewart with a 4 under par net 65. Colin's form over the past few weeks has seen him finish in the top three on numerous occasions, without actually lifting the silverware. This week, however, aided by a birdie at the 13th and some really steady golf over both halves of the course, Colin was able to go one better and top the leaderboard. In fact only a bit of trouble at the fifteenth prevented him from posting a really low score.

Despite pillaging an impressive 3 birdies at the 6th, 13th and 14th, club stalwart Fred Groves had to settle for second place with an up and down net 67. Fred's card certainly highlighted his battling qualities, as on the three occasions he stumbled to soul-destroying 6's, he retaliated with heart-warming 3's at the very next hole.

Also bagging three birdies on his way to third place was regular trophy collector John O'Brien. John's net 69 was just enough to sneak past Jock Eunson on count-back by half a stroke; Jock surely rueing a smelly double bogey at the 16th.

• Result:-
  1. C Stewart - 65;
  2. FE Groves - 67;
  3. J O'Brien - 69;
  4. J Eunson - 69

Medal (November) - 2006
Bruce is head and shoulders above crowd

Bruce Mackay

With the Reay Links still licking her wounds after October's atrocious weather, 25 members braved further gale force winds in a bid to bag the November Medal. With the wind out of the west holes such as the 2nd and 4th were inaccessible in regulation to all but the biggest of big hitters. The opposite was true downwind as nearly a third of the field managed a birdie at the par five 6th, despite the additional terrors of the gaping hole in the fairway!

On a day where standing up-right was hard enough, there could be only one winner. Serial trophy accumulator, Bruce MacKay, yet again stood head and shoulders above the rest of the field. Bruce's 77 (net 69) with halves of 37 and 40, meant he was the only man to break 80 and play to his handicap.

In the runner's up spot, with a steady and creditable net 71 was Colin Stewart. Colin's ability to finish in the runners up spot appears to be on a par with that of perennial pro-tour bridesmaid, Padraig Harrington.

Fighting it out for the final podium place were two of Reay's elder statesmen; Danny O'Hagen and Ian Ritchie. Over the years these seasoned campaigners have played in everything mother-nature could throw at a golfer and come out the other side smiling. And it was this experience that guided both men to net 75s, with Ian shading the remainder of the sweep money with a better inward half.

A huge 'thanks' must go to all those green staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly on the course in the last couple of weeks in order to make it playable following the storm damage.

Stableford 12 - 2007
Murdo wins final Stableford but Ian is overall champ

Ian Ritchie

Saturday's fantastic weather brought Reay's golfers out in their droves for the final round of the Winter League Stableford. Although, with Ian Ritchie completely out of sight in the overall standings, most players were taking the opportunity to fine tune their swing in readiness for the up-coming summer season, as opposed to having any serious thoughts of despotting the leader. All those tweaks and fixes picked up from golf magazines, Christmas present dvds and Sky sports' pundits were being given a try out before being unleashed for real next weekend. And judging by the overall standard of scoring, the majority of these winter swing adjustments have enriched the abilities of their owners.

Top of the tree, king of the hill and A no.1 in the world this week was Murdo MacDonald. Making a late bid for an invite to the Masters and a shot at the green jacket, Murdo was out in a steady 17 points and back in a swashbuckling 23 points, including back to back birdies at 14 and 15, to post a daunting 40 point total.

Having sewn up the League title quicker than one of the Old Firm usually close out the SPL, Ian Ritchie refused to rest on his laurels and chased Murdo all the way. Also out in 17 points, Ian couldn't quite hang onto Murdo's tail as he came back with a 'good but no cigar' 22 points to take second place with 39 points.

The race for the third place was even tighter. Both Bruce MacKay and DC Mojo Mowat recorded halves of 19 and 18 respectively, but it was the former, aided and abetted by a last gasp birdie at 18, who swelled his already gorged winter purse by pocketing the last of the winter's sweep money.

• Result:
  1. M MacDonald 40;
  2. I Ritchie 39;
  3. B MacKay 37.
• Overall Result:
  1. I Ritchie 217;
  2. DC Mowat 204;
  3. FE Groves 196

Stableford 10 - 2007
Jock is top dog on the day

Jock Eunson

With the cancellation of round 9 of the winter league stableford, due to alpine conditions, round 10 couldn't come quick enough for Reay's golfing fraternity. Keen to improve their overall standings and perhaps bag a little sweep money on the way, a healthy field set about the links on Saturday.

Picture the scene: Flat calm; twelve degrees centigrade; a watery sun climbing into a pale blue sky streaked with the mere suggestion of clouds... well that was what the weather was like in Cheshire at the weekend! I can only rely on a close contact at the met office, who told me that for Reay Golf Club the forecast was 'light drizzle.'

On the day only three of the field managed to play to their handicaps; Grant Coghill, Fred Groves and Jock Eunson making up this choice assemblage. And with a fantastic score of 41 points, it was Jock who took the day's spoils and the kudos of the lowest net score at Reay this winter.

Having constructed a sturdy front nine foundation of 18 points, Jock began to erect his opulent skyscraper of a score on the back nine. After a couple of three point pars on the mezzanine floor that is 10 and 11, Jock rode the elevator to the penthouse house suite of number 12 and acquired himself a birdie. But it was at the fourteenth, ironically named Mary's Cottage, that Eunson really got to work; a birdie four adding another four points to a score-card already bursting at the seems. A further two 3 pointers at 17 and 18 and Jock was back in 23 points for a tremendous competition winning total of 41.

Saturday's runner up was Fred Groves. Also out in 18 points including a birdie at the short par three 5th, Fred was unable to match Jocks back nine fireworks. An inward half of 20 points for a total of 38 points would surely have secured Groves the laurels on most any other round of the winter stableford. As it was, Fred had to play Trump Towers to Jock's Burg al Arab (the big seven star one with the tennis court on top in Dubai!).

Completing the roll of honour was Grant Coghill. Aroused from a winter hibernation period akin to that of the brown bear, Grant was straight back into the groove with a very respectable 36 points - enough to take third place.

In the overall standings Fred's 38 pointer sees him and DC Mowat close to within bump and run distance of long-time leader Ian Ritchie.

• Result:-
  1. Eunson - 41;
  2. Groves - 38;
  3. Coghill - 36.

Stableford 9 - 2007
Weather cancels this round

• cancelled.

Stableford 8 - 2007
Ian cruises to victory and holds top spot

Ian Ritchie

Despite the continued wet weather this week's entry had swollen as the incessant rains of late had swollen the peaty waters in Reay Burn. Adhering to the adage that there is 'no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing', the Reay members donned their woollies and took to the links, in an attempt to close the gap on leader Ian Ritchie in the Winter League Stableford Competition.

Rising to the challenge posed by the chasing pack, however, it was Ian, full of fox-like guile, who ran out a comfortable winner in round 8 on Saturday. It was all over by the turn as Ian stormed out in 20 points including a birdie at the par 4 third, foreshortened by the strong helping wind. Also playing less than the yardage would have you believe was the fourteenth. Ian took full advantage and posted a birdie here as well, to be back in the clubhouse with a fantastic 37 point haul. Coming close, but failing to win the nine inch Havana cigar of victory was Fred Groves. Fred's tally of 34 points was the model of consistency, which saw him score points at every hole. A further two shots back were playing partners Steve Efemey and Lee Parnell. Lee's 32 points were the very antithesis of consistency and it seemed that every moment of inspiration that lead to one of his four birdies was rapidly followed by a hole of golfing insanity that even the inflated scores did little to rationalize. Steve's 32 pointer fell somewhere in between the extremes of Messrs Parnell and Groves. A well crafted birdie at fourteen was offset by a snowman at Steve's nemesis - the sixth. In the end it came right down to the wire in the tussle for the final podium place, as Steve's score at the last three holes was enough to sneak it on countback.

The overall standings see Ian Ritchie take a commanding 11 point lead over DC Mowat with Fred Groves a further 5 shots adrift.

• Result:-
  1. I Ritchie - 37;
  2. F Groves - 34;
  3. S Efemey - 32.

Stableford 7 - 2007
Steady Grantie has two good halves

Grant Maxwell

Saturday morning saw a selection of the less rain-averse Reay members take to the Links for the seventh round of the Winter League Stableford Competition. Most meteorological reports had cheerily promised a 'weather window' between fronts of extremely inclement weather during Saturday morning. What they'd failed to make clear was that this 'window' was of doll's house proportions and had been and gone in the time it took to repair a pitch-mark. For those unsure of their golfing parlance; a 'pitch-mark' is a mark left on the green by the impact of the golf ball, readily repairable in seconds with one of a number of proprietary pitch-mark repairers or a golf tee.

Of those brave enough to start their round only a handful played the full eighteen holes to post a score. The proximity of the seventh tee to the club-house proved too much of a temptation as the rest of the field bolted to the shelter offered by the locker room.

Coping best with the conditions was Grant Maxwell whose two steady halves of 15 points included a birdie at the 9th. This apparently average total of 30 points was anything of the sort and certainly good enough to take the spoils.

Close behind followed Lee Parnell and Cammie Ross, both posting 29 points. After drying out and re-constructing the paper-mashie that had once been their cards, Lee had managed to elbow his way into second place on a count-back of the last 6 holes.

The only other notable on this driech golfing day was a chip-in birdie 3 at the 10th for Steve Efemey on his way to a sodden 4th place.

This weekend's golf comes in the form of the 4th round of the Eclectic on Saturday 20th with the Alliance starting back on Sunday 21st at Tain after the winter break.

• Result:-
  1. Maxwell - 30;
  2. Parnell - 29;
  3. Ross - 29.

Stableford 6 - 2006
Alex MacKay took the spoils with 35 points

Bruce Mackay - Stableford 5 winner

In round 6 a more exclusive gathering saw Alex MacKay take the spoils with 35 points. Alex appeared to be strolling to an easy win after posting 19 points on the way out. However, it took a four point birdie at the par three15th to steady the ship, after a couple of no-pointers on the back nine had brought the field back into contention. In second place, enjoying a return to form, was Don MacKay Snr. with 34 points including three birdies. And in third place was competition leader, Ian Ritchie, also posting 34 points, but losing out to Don on count-back.

At the halfway stage in the overall competition, with three scores from six rounds counting, Ian Ritchie leads the way with 107 points. DC (Mojo) Mowat heads the chasing pack on 103 points with Murdo MacDonald a further 5 points adrift.

Stableford 5 - 2006
Bruce MacKay wins with an impressive haul of 38 points

Round 5 saw a return to the winners enclosure for Bruce MacKay with an impressive haul of 38 points. Club Captain Graeme Dunnett got off to a slow start posting just 6 points for the first five holes. Undeterred, Graeme fought back with four birdies and a back nine of two under the card, giving Bruce a wee fright, but ultimately falling shy by the odd shot with a total of 37 points. In third place was John Disbury whose 36 points included an excellent birdie at the 16th for the 21 handicapper.

Stableford 3 - 2006
Andy plays best in rare good day

Andy Mackay

No howling gales bending the flags? No horizontal rain? No rain at all, in fact, for round three of the winter league Stableford at Reay. So tangible were the shadows that accompanied each of the players in their quest for Stableford points, one could almost hear Sir Cliff Richard's lyrical musings carried on the gentle south easterly breeze.

First to take advantage of the perfect golfing conditions were Alistair Gunn and Steve Efemey, who both made short work of the short par 3 fifth bagging a birdie each. Hot on their heels was Murdo MacDonald - the only player to birdie the battered and bruised par 5 sixth. Whilst Alistair's challenge faded in the watery November sun, Steve and Murdo pressed on to hit the turn in 20 and 19 points respectively. Surprisingly, only one other player managed to play to his handicap on the front nine: John O'Brien with a steady 18 points. Also representing the west of the split stone golfing fraternity was Ian Ritchie who, having scored 17 points on the front nine, signalled his intentions early on the back nine with a birdie at 12. Another budgie at the 16th and Ian was back in the club house with a respectable 37 points; enough to pip Murdo MacDonald for third place, who was unable to capitalise on his bright start.

Steve Efemey continued to turn the screw on the field with a birdie 4 at hole 14: Mary's Cottage. Meanwhile, Andy Mackay was quietly going about his business. Out in a steady 16 points after a rough start, Andy began to turn up the heat on the back nine. Four 3 pointers in five holes immediately following the turn and MacKay was well and truly in the mixer going down the stretch. Obviously not suffering from his usual self acclaimed bad luck, it was Mackay who dipped for the line first, saving his best for last. A glorious birdie two at the last saw the laurels going MacKay's way with a final tally of 39 points. It was déjà vu all over again for Efemey (38 (points not age!)), who saw victory snatched from his grasp over the last two holes for the second time in as many weeks.

• Result:-
  1. Andy MacKay - 39;
  2. S Efemey - 38;
  3. I Ritchie - 37;
  4. M MacDonald - 37

Stableford 2 - 2006
JOB has thicker skin in the cold than the others

John O'Brien

Yet again the elements contrived to make golf as tough as it gets in Caithness, with a gale force westerly wind and wintry showers battering all those who dared to don their spikes, in search of Winter League Stableford glory. Surely, had Noel Coward been warming his sole with a cheeky glass of mulled wine in the comfort of the clubhouse lounge bar, casting his eye across the wind-swept links, he would have leant across the bar and remarked to the barman that 'it may well be that Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun, but only mad scorries and Scotsmen go out in the mid morning horizontal hail!' Well maybe!

As one might expect, birdies really were a scarcity, with the Reay Golf course allowing the field to muster just four birdies. Lee Parnell, Dav MacKay and John O'Brien (2) being the men to tame the course, if but for the briefest of interludes, before mother nature reaffirmed her grip on proceedings.

O'Brien's first birdie at the 5th - a gentle wedge to four feet, helped him to a quite remarkable 18 points for the front nine. Despite a second birdie at the par five 14th John could only muster 14 points on the back nine. His total of 32, however, was plenty good enough to see off the rest of the field.

Dav MacKay's birdie came at the par four 10th and coupled with a hard earned par at the extremely difficult 11th, helped him post a hard earned 29 points and second place.

Also on 29 points and pipped into third place on countback was Colin Stewart with another steady winter performance.

Hearty congratulations must go out to all those hardy, (some would say fool-hardy,) individuals who managed to complete the course on Saturday.

On hearing the sad news that Gibby Morris, a long serving golf club member and golf club council member, had passed away this weekend, Sunday's Eclectic was postponed as a mark of respect.

Texas Scramble (3) - 2007
Efemey holes 18th to lift Texas last 6 hole massacre prize

Steve Efemey

Sunday saw a return to Alaskan weather and Texas Scramble golf at Reay. With the numbers depleted by the elements, the elite field had the uncongenial company of a wind that chilled to the bone and frequently swept in wintry squalls.

At the previous Texas encounter at Reay it was the visiting golfers from Thurso who took all the spoils. This time the tables were turned as the native (and some not so native) members of Reay took all three top spots.

Setting off early and setting the early pace was the triumvirate of Alistair Gunn, Bruce MacKay and Cammy Ross. Taking just 30 shot to the turn, including a brace of deuces, the 3 ball had constructed a great platform from which to propel themselves to Texas glory. However, Gunn & Co.'s push for Texas Gold came to a slow and painful ending as the birdie well dried up and a bogie finish saw them shooting 36 for the back nine to post a total of 66 (61.2)

At the other end of the field the three M's of Dav Mackay, Mojo Mowat and Grant Maxwell got to the turn in 31 shots. A steady start of five straight pars was suddenly ignited by a little Maxwell Magic, as he posted a solo eagle at the sixth. Spurred on by this, the M team lassoed three more birdies to post a score of 63 (58.4)

The penultimate 3 ball in the filed was November's Texas winning ensemble of Steve Efemey, Lee Parnell and Richard McDonald. Just one under the card as they stepped onto the 13th tee, thanks to an apologetic birdie at the shortened par five sixth, Steve, Lee and Richie, burdened by the lowest combined handicap, needed a special finish to get into contention. Five threes in a row later (three birdies, an eagle and a par) they strode onto the 18th tee right back in the mix.

In the end it came down to one shot. Needing a two at the 162 yard par 3 last to take victory, Steve Efemey reached into his bag and unsheathed his recently acquired 4 iron. Braced against the ever increasing wind, Steve let rip with a low stinging power draw off the bottom percentile of the club-face, right at the flag for a majestic ace. The hole-in-one capped a fantastic final 6 holes for the team of Efemey, Parnell and McDonald, that saw them snatch the win just as the first note was vibrating in the larynx of the gravitationally challenged opera queen.

• Result:-
  1. Efemey, Parnell, McDonald - 57.2;
  2. D MacKay, D Mowat, Maxwell - 58.4;
  3. Gunn, B MacKay, C Ross - 61.

Texas Scramble (2) - 2006
Thurso threesome scrambled to a win

Stevie Cowie & Peter O'Hare (left) two of the winning trio

Another late switch to Reay Golf Club, a midday title deciding six-pointer of an old firm clash and a chilly Caithness morning conspired to keep the numbers down at the second winter Texas Scramble of season. Whilst the spoils were evenly distributed at the inaugural Reay / Thurso co-sanctioned event last month, December's affair was a little more one sided, with all this week's top teams having made the trip along the B874 from Thurso Golf Club.

Yet again the cocktail that is Jack Johnstone, Alf Williamson and Jimmy Meiklejohn went sub-60. Shaken, but not stirred, by a couple of early bogies, the Thurso three-ball hit back with four birdies to post a very respectable gross 68 and net 59.2.

Also shooting a gross 68 were Eion & Stuart McIntosh and Trevor Henderson; their fractionally higher combined handicap of 9 allowing them to sneak into the silver medal slot with a net 59.0.

Texas gold on this occasion went to Steve Cowie, Colin MacKay and Peter O'Hare. After a steady start and front nine of two under par 32, the boys went on a birdie frenzy as MacKay's flat-stick caught fire! Starting at the 11th, this weekend's clear winners picked up a veritable menagerie of birdies at six of the last eight holes to post an unassailable gross 61 and net 55.4.

Reay members can improve their Winter League Stableford scores over the next two Saturdays, whilst the Gleeds' Xmas Eve Bottle and New Year's Eve Bottle competitions will be played on the relevant Sundays.

Reay Golf Club would like to wish all the county's golfers a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year.

• Result:-
  1. O'Hare, Cowie, MacKay - 55.4;
  2. McIntosh, McIntosh, Henderson - 59.0;
  3. Meiklejohn, Williamson, Johnstone - 59.2

Texas Scramble (1) - 2006
Slow start but good end for trio

Lee Parnell, one member of the trio

Another morning of long shadows and high hopes awaited the county's golfers as they tried their hands at the first of four winter Texas Scrambles co-sanctioned by Reay and Thurso Golf Clubs. Originally scheduled for Thurso, it was felt that Reay had stood up better to the recent run of inclement weather and so the fixture was switched to the latter course.

Despite this late switch, 13 teams turned up to fight for the spoils, with no fewer than 5 teams managing to break the ethereal net 60 barrier. Rather fittingly for a Texas Scramble one of our American golfing cousins, Brad Smith, managed to steer his team to a podium place. Brad, still coming to terms with the very different nature of the sport on this side of the Atlantic, Alex Anderson and Tony Wratten combined well to extract 4 birdies and post a gross 66 (59.4) and take third place.

The best score from the visiting Thurso members went to the habitually lethal combination of Jack 'wee chap wi' a five wood' Johnstone, Alf Williamson and Jimmy Meiklejohn. A steady round comprising of two birdies in each half saw this trio cruise round in 67 shots for a net score of 58.2.

Head and shoulders above the field on this occasion were Reay members Lee Parnell, Steve Efemey and Richard McDonald. After a slow start, where tricky up-and-down pars kept them in it over the first three holes, Parnell, Efemey and McDonald dove-tailed beautifully to shoot no fewer than 8 birdies and an eagle at the par 5 sixth. More astonishingly they managed to keep a bogie off their card, to breeze round in just 59 strokes for a competition winning net score of 55.2

• Result:-
  1. Parnell, Efemey, McDonald -55.2;
  2. Meiklejohn, Williamson, Johnstone - 58.2;
  3. Smith, Anderson, Wratten - 59.4

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