THIS week saw the start of a busy period in the Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club golfing calendar when they hosted their first Open Week of the year.

A four ball Scramble that was played on Friday with 32 teams participating started things off. Taking place in conditions that provided hail, rain, wind and sun, course management and scoring was inevitably going to be difficult.

Home advantage was also going to be critical and so it proved with the team of Jimmy Baker, Nick Baker, Elliott Binding and Ben Gregory returning with a winning nett 56. In second place with nett 57 were Daniel Andison, Ryan Brewer, Andy Epps and Ben Tarr (Enmore Park GC) while a second Minehead team of Deano Carlin, Vanessa Cleere, Brendan Cleere and Mike O’Keefe took third position on countback with nett 58.

The individual Open Stableford was played on Saturday and despite the perfect weather conditions, scoring proved challenging for many. The winner with nett 42 was Josh Dyer (Minehead GC) a junior member who played superbly and mastered the greens perfectly, so many congratulations to him for an excellent performance. Second with nett 39 was Kevin Harris (Minehead GC) while Ian Paul Sayce (Bromsgrove Golf Centre) finished in third position with nett 36. Curtis Edwards (-3) (Taunton & Pickeridge GC) took the honours for the best gross score with 39 points.

The final Open of the week was a 4BBB Stableford competition played in cold and windy conditions. The strong pairing of Archie Walsh (-2) (Minehead GC) and Greg Yates (-4.2) (Spey Valley GC) took first place on countback with 40 points ahead of Kriss Cawson and Emma Hopkinson-Spark (Burnham & Berrow GC) and Robin Drake (Tiverton GC) and Vic Marks (Okehampton GC) who also returned a score of 40 points.

There are more Open events planned for March and April and it was a pleasure to welcome back many returning visitors from around the country. Feedback was very positive illustrated by the high number of entrants for every competition.

Grateful thanks go to the General Manager, Glenn Ross and the volunteers, who contributed to the event. Thanks also to Sara and Lorraine and all catering/bar staff and to Rob Barrett and his ground staff for their magnificent contributions.

The final of the Seniors’ Porlock Trophy was also played this week. This winter match play competition saw Richard Baker and Martin Hole do battle. The match was all square after nine holes, but Richard with the benefit of his handicap and playing steadily went four up by the thirteenth and eventually ran out the winner 3&2. Many congratulations to Richard on the win and to both players for reaching the final.

Minehead Seniors played the first home friendly match of the year against Taunton & Pickeridge GC; taking advantage of the blustery conditions, Minehead managed a 4-2 win.

The midweek Seniors’ Stableford competition drew another full entry. The course took its toll throwing back numerous potential birdies and pars particularly on the back nine, where players were constantly battered by a very lively north west wind. Sandy Lyons managed to grapple with the conditions in fine form winning with 34 points. Martin Hole took second place with 33 points while Andy Giles came third with 32 points ahead on countback from Richard Austwick.