Women's Captain's Blog, 23rd January 2025

Bush Hill Park

Women's Captain's Blog, 23rd January 2025

We had 11 pairs playing in our Foursomes on Wednesday. The expected rain did not materialise and although there was some mud, it wasn’t as boggy as last week. The greens seemed a bit slower and to see so many loose divots on many fairways was disappointing but hopefully didn’t upset play too much as we could pick and place.

Our winners were:

1st Tracey Ripsher and Liz Tolton 35 points

2nd Chris Mann and Ros Margey 34 points

3rd Wendy Goodman and Ozlem Orgen 33 points

Many congratulations! The Foursomes is a fun format and requires strategy, even if the strategy doesn’t go quite as planned!

For example, I wasn’t quite expecting to get the wrong sort of hole in one on the 6th! I wonder if anyone else experienced the same problem.

There seemed to be a lot more clearing work going on amongst the trees and shrubs between the 15th and 16th holes. Ground staff could be spotted sawing, raking, digging, fire setting and generally having a good time!

While talking of ground staff, I would just like to quote our course Manager, Leigh’s recent report to the Board. He says that: ‘Overall the greens are in excellent shape but one area of concern is the scarring caused by unrepaired pitch marks… When pitch marks aren’t repaired promptly, they leave open wounds on the surface, which can act as entry points for disease.’ I don’t think we are necessarily the culprits but if you see a pitch mark on the green, please repair it. If you are unsure how to, there are many videos on YouTube to show you.

I know I’ve mentioned repairing pitch marks before but it’s a vulnerable time of year for the greens and worth a reminder. Thank you.

The next three competitions coming up are as follows:

Wednesday, 29 January Stableford

Wednesday, 5 February Patsomes (Sign up for a draw. Rules to follow)

Wednesday, 12 February Stableford

There are alternate Sunday competitions on 26 January and 9 February for those not able to play on the following Wednesday; and Wednesday 9 hole comps for those not wishing to play 18-hole Stablefords.

There is also a Mixed Social Golf competition on Friday, March 31st over 13 holes in the afternoon. Please sign up for this and encourage the men you know to do the same. This is an opportunity to stay after and socialise over a drink and/or a meal.

Just a reminder that an email went out recently with our proposed Women’s Handicap Divisions for the Summer competitions and if you have any comments to email them to our Secretary, Hazel Goodyear, by the end of January for discussion at the February Committee meeting.

A date in advance for your diaries: Friday, July 11th. We will be celebrating 130 years of our Golf Club by having two competitions so you can play either in the morning with lunch or in the afternoon with supper. Teams of four. More details will follow in due course.

As I’ve referred to divots (and an odd hole in one) today, here’s my joke quote of the week from the late Don Adams, an American actor and comedian: ‘I had a wonderful experience on the golf course today. I had a hole in nothing. Missed the ball and sank the divot!’

Hope the coming bad weather doesn’t mess up our golf too much.

Happy Golfing!

Alison Towndrow
Women’s Captain