Ideal golfing conditions as summer season gets under way at Thurso
The summer season at Thurso Golf Club got off to a great start with the traditional Captain versus Vice-Captain match.
The 60 golfers who took part on Saturday were treated to ideal golfing conditions, with the sun shining and barely a breath of wind.
The format for the event was Greensomes matchplay. In this format all players drive, and the team picks the better one and plays alternate shots with that ball until the hole is completed.
Everyone assembled at the first tee to witness the first tee shots from both the ladies’ and gents’ captains and vice-captains.
After a friendly handshake, captain William Durrand stepped up to hit a fine drive down the fairway, greeted by rapturous applause. Vice-captain Stephen Williamson quickly followed with an equally good drive.
Then it was the ladies’ turn, with Laura Durrand – no stranger to playing in front of an audience – smashing her drive down the fairway. Finally, ladies’ vice-captain Fiona Macleod, despite some understandable first-tee nerves, hit a lovely drive to complete the quartet.
The other 14 matches then began at various other tees.
The first match ended in a win for the captain’s team, with William and Laura pipping Stephen and Fiona. This was quickly followed by another win for the captain, with husband-and-wife Stephen and Alice Fidler taking the point against Alan Simmonite and Alison Campbell.
The vice-captain’s first point was delivered by Terry Mackay and Gavin Souter, who had a convincing win over Graeme Henderson and Steven MacDonald.
The captain’s team then built a steady advantage to lead by 5.5 to 1.5. An unassailable lead, seemingly – but the vice-captain’s team managed to win all eight remaining matches to record a thumping 9.5-5.5 victory.
On Sunday the club hosted a three-man Texas Scramble. Again, the players were met with favourable conditions and this was reflected in some excellent scoring.
The top two teams finished on the same score, nett 59, 10 under par, and had to be separated by countback.
In second place were father and son Iain and Ronnie Dunnett along with Neil Rigg. Their score consisted of halves of 32 and 33.
The winners were the experienced trio of Harvey Cowe, Walter Rutherford and Donald Bain. The trio also shot 59 but took first place by virtue of a superior back nine.
Texas Scramble results: H Cowe, W Rutherford, D Bain, 68 (9) 59; 2 I Dunnett, R Dunnett, N Rigg, 65 (6) 59; 3 M Ross, D Sinclair, A Simpson, 72 (11) 61.
This weekend’s fixtures are the April Medal on Saturday and the Rugby Club (four ball better ball) on Sunday.
There will not be a draw for the April Medal. Players may select their own partners and book their tee times as normal.
