The County Team Championships 2016 were held at Wellingborough Golf Club from 10th to 12th October.

We arrived on Sunday to set up the competition in beautiful sunshine. The clubhouse looked magnificent. Gill Spencer had left everything as we'd asked and everything was organised for the start of the 12th County team championships on Monday. This year we had 14 teams taking part with 5 counties entering 2 teams. The original entry had been 14 but Suffolk had been unable to field a team.

Monday, the start of the tournament, a greensome stableford and for the start the weather was good. The course was in great condition with greens tricky. This is always a practice round but with a hint of competitiveness. Hilary Horton from Nottinghamshire celebrated her first ever hole in one on the par 3 4th hole. A well struck 3 wood she told me. Some good scores were returned in what is quite a difficult format. Sally sketcher /Sue Spencer Staffs were the winners on count back from Gill Snelson/ Loraine Gilder Northants.

Tuesday brought some more nice weather for the start of the stroke play. It is always a nervy format with 3 scores from 4 to count, noone wanting to let their team down. Players found the scoring quite difficult and CSS went up 3 to 78. Team scores were very close with Staffordshire taking a narrow lead by 2 shots from Northamptonshire. The individual best score was gross 80 from Carol Gibbs and Sue Spencer.

Tuesday evening and Hilary provided everyone with wine to celebrate her hole in one and this was well received. We all gathered for our customary Bingo with stakes high and prizes to the value of £44-00 to be won. The meal was lovely and Wellingborough are to be complemented on providing such a good meal. Most of us hadn’t tasted such good golf club food. The entertainment that followed proved an absolute knockout. Berni McBreen sang and played her guitar with everyone joining in to all the songs we know and love. I have to say at the start it was more like St Trinians with paper planes and sugar cubes flying around the room. I did think for a minute that I was back at School. Berni's true skill brought everyone round and when the instruments were handed out that was it, the whole room was rocking. What a night.

Wednesday... oh and back to the golf. With a few sore heads off we went again for the final days play. The extra glasses of wine obviously made the difference as there were some fantastic scores returned, with the best of the day going to Sue Spencer, with a 1 under par 74 closely followed by Carol Gibbs with 75. The overall team standings were very close, Staffordshire taking the winners spot with 477 followed by Northamptonshire on 479.
Prize giving followed and several Staffordshire players needed suitcases to take home all their prizes. Full results can be downloaded here.

My thanks go to Wellingborough Golf Club for hosting the tournament and for making us feel so welcome. My personal thanks must go to Gill Spencer for all her help prior to and during the tournament. Also to all the helpers who made our stay one to remember.

 

Andrea Stockdale

 

First Gross - Staffordshire	Second Gross - Northamptonshire
First Nett - Nottinghamshire	Second Nett - Shropshire