The Orchardleigh Ladies’ team held a special day of competitions recently to officially launch the new season.
The first main competition of the year was the Captains’ Drive held in March, followed by the Captain vs Vice Captain challenge.
The ladies’ team then played their first match of the season against the B team in the Bristol & District Alliance league at Long Ashton.
“What an amazing start to the new season of golf at Orchardleigh, with the course looking so good and it’s dry,” says a member of the group, Sarah Doble.
“Last year at this time, competitions were being cancelled or postponed because of the endless rain, but this year, the ladies’ section on 11th March had a fun competition involving a yellow ball, which was won by the team consisting of Rachel Priddle, Sue Sweet, Mary Ford and Sheila Goodbody with 42 points. In second place were Anne Regler, Susan Marshall and Diana Bullock with 39 points.
“The first main competition of the year was the Captains’ Drive, which took place on Wednesday 26th March on a lovely sunny spring day. Eleven seniors and ten ladies took part in the mixed bowmaker, with two scores to count over nine holes.
“We had ‘chips and chat’ afterwards in the clubhouse, where the prizes were awarded to Mike Passingham and Susan Marshall for Nearest the Pin. Guess the Drives was won by Sue Sweet.
“For the team prizes, first place went to Susan Marshall, Mike Passingham and Simon House; second place was Richard Fry, Keith Broughton and Pat Jones; and third place was Sue Sweet, Craig Bowden and Steve James. A raffle raised over £100 for the Royal British Legion (RBL) Poppy Appeal.
“The next club competition was the Captain vs Vice Captain Challenge, which took place on Tuesday 1st April in more spring sunshine. Fifteen ladies took part in the Stableford competition, with all the individually scored points being totted up for each team. The captain’s team were victorious, beating the vice-captain’s team by 258 points to 233.
“On 7th April, the ladies played their first match of the season in the Bristol & District Alliance league. It was an away match at Long Ashton, playing the B team, but sadly they lost 12–2.”
The Ladies’ Captain, Susan Marshall, is planning a VE80 tea party on Thursday 8th May at the clubhouse to help raise more funds for her captain’s charity, the RBL Poppy Appeal. She is hoping as many people as possible will join in the celebrations.
Pictured: The winning team in the Captain v Vice-Captain Challenge at Orchardleigh Sue Chalker, Ann James, Susan Marshall (captain), Pat Jones, Sue Sweet, Marion Underhill and Sonia Probert
