MINEHEAD & West Somerset Golf Club Ladies Section held their Lady Captain’s Day earlier this month which was hosted by this year’s captain Jenny Elliott.

The day started with coffee, breakfast and fun putting competitions - Ginnette Bowyer and Vanessa Cleere both scored a very decent 13 ‘round the clock’, while on the ‘long way round’ 6-hole perimeter course, Hazel Binding and Lesley Davis shared a best score of 10.

Resident professional and multiple European tour-winner John ‘Bix’ Bickerton gave the ladies an expert bunker shot demo before they went out and they were challenged by Annette O’Hare to test their knowledge of the rules on their return, while awaiting the prize giving and a superb buffet supper prepared by the excellent kitchen team at the ‘19th’.

An impressive number of 36 ladies played in an individual Stableford competition with scores also being collated for the playing teams of three, in a reverse waltzing Bowmaker format (3,2,1) scores counting on successive holes). Participating was a significant number of ladies who don’t normally play in the regular Thursday competition which made it special.

Winners of each handicap division in the individual event won pro shop vouchers and runners up each won a ‘cool scarf’ for more comfortable golfing in the recent heatwaves. Div 1 winner & runner-up were Hilary Eden (38 points) and Ruth Ball (37 points). Div 2 winner & runner up were Caz Cape (38 points) and Nic Bosely (35 points). Div 3 winner & runner up were Jackie Brocklehurst (42 points) and Christina Binding (also 42 points).

Team winners were Hazel Binding, Pat Lucas, Jackie Brocklehurst who scored 88 points. Runners-up were Ruth Ball, Sandra Atkins, Flora Horne (83 points), with 3rd placed team of Sarah Hill, Jayne Fulwell, Christina Binding also on (83 points) Winner of the Longest drive on the 9th hole was Sarah Hill.

Nearest the Pin prizes of a bottle of Rose wine was won by Sue Garwood on the 4th hole, 6 tins cider were won by Christina Binding on 10th, a litre of Pimm's was won by Caz Cape on 14th, but no-one reached the 18th green in the strong westerly wind, to take the bottle of gin!

Instead, it was used as a putting challenge prize the following night when social event entrants paid £1 a go to sink long putts - this raised a further £60 for the captain’s SW Ambulance charity.

This important charity provides defibrillator and other equipment to support community first responders and undertakes CPR & Defibrillator training in the community, as well as supporting the SW Ambulance Service crews from the NHS Foundation Trust.

With donations being taken for the putting competitions and a wonderful spread of refreshments at the halfway house, a grand total of £350 was raised for the charity.

Other activities in the Ladies Section during July have included a Somerset Ladies qualifier. This was won by the team of Hazel Binding (24) and Annette O’Hare (20) playing ‘four ball better ball’ format. Hazel played some exceptional golf, so the team qualify to play in the county competition at Worlebury Golf Club in September. It also saw a significant reduction in Hazel’s handicap.

The Leukaemic Trophy was competed for as a medal competition. Jackie Brocklehurst (36) was 1st with an impressive nett 66; 2nd was Ruth Maclennan (26) with nett 67.