The Valentines Massacre: A close affair.

The Valentines Massacre saw a hardy group of 13 take on the challenging Winge course. Conditions were wet to say the least with the added challenge of having to carry our bags over undulating terrain. The pairings were set with the Captain and President leading the way while we welcomed back Katrin for her first game of the season after recovering from shoulder surgery.

The President and Captain leads the way, aiming to set the pace.

As the flights teed off, the weather closed in once again - therefore any score around handicap was going to be competitive. The format of having to choose your worst initial shot meant that keeping the ball in play off the tee was crucial. It was going to be about consistency and clever team play as to who would win this scramble event. The opening 9 holes saw 4 of the 6 pairings in contention with Bogdan and Rick leading with one under par net, while Guillaume and Glen and Josh and Ramon were two shots behind. The Captain and President were a further shot back. Who would hold their nerve to claim the prizes of 2 towels - which at this point were very much needed!

The greens were in great condition, although finding a dry lie was proving challenging on the fairways.

With the rain thankfully holding off, the teams played some inspired golf. Ramon and Josh couldn't quite maintain their solid start and dropped out of contention finishing 4th. Joe with Katrin playing her first competitive game for some time, played a spirited round with Joe maintaining his stiff upper lip, playing in short sleeves to the bitter end. Wolfgang and Wolfgang were not happy with how their pairing had played and there was a straight talking debrief in the clubhouse. The Captain, had high expectations of a long overdue prize as he posted both the longest drive and closest to the pin, while he and the President sat in the club house with a very respectable net level par round of 69. Sadly that optimism was short lived as Josh nailed a superb tee shot to claim the longest drive and Guillaume hit a brilliant shot over the water on the 18th to land within a meter and claim the closest to the pin prize. However would a net under par score take the overall prize? The answer was yes, as both Rick and Bogdan and Glen and Guillaume posted a superb net 68. A quick review of the rules revealed that in the event of a tie, the best gross score would take it - and by one stroke - Glen and Guillaume claimed the win, with the Captain crying in his soup at another bitter failure!

Guillaume and Glen take the Valentine's win.

Guillaume receives a well deserved Crystal Ball for his Closest to the Pin on the18th. This capped a great day as he claimed 4 championship points.

Josh deservedly receives his Longest Drive Prize.

Updated season points are listed below with Joe maintaining his commanding lead over the departed Matt with Darryl and Ramon close behind:

Our next event is the Winter Challenge at Royal Keerbergen Golf Club on 8 March.