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Congratulations to Charlie Wilson on making it through to the Semi-Finals of the Kent Amateur Championship - only losing by one hole to the eventual winner . . . . .

After a misty start the sun came out and, with a gentle breeze, conditions were perfect for good Winners of 2009 Open Mixed Foursomes

scoring by the visitors to Littlestone. The seventy-six players, representing nineteen clubs and coming from far and wide competed in the 30 hole competition. The morning round comprised 18 holes of foursomes stableford and this was followed by a Ploughman's lunch. The afternoon round of 12 holes, again of foursomes stableford, was followed by an evening carvery and prizegiving. The first and second prizes were for the best aggregates and there were also prizes for the best morning and afternoon rounds.

Overall winners for the day, with 61 pts, coming from Gatton Manor were Dave and Shelly Mulville. Also with 61 pts, but losing out on countback, were Gerry Thomas and Lesley Walter from Princes.

The best morning round went to Howard Moore and Margaret Lilley from Royal Blackheath and Chelmsford with 41 pts and the best afternoon round went to Brian and Katherine May from Woodcote Park with 26 pts. John Barrow and Terry Connolly from Warmer & Kingsdown won the aggregate par 3s prize with 16 pts.

The day was organised by Lady Vice-Captain Kay McKie and Club Captain Barry Humphries was on hand to present the prizes to the winners.

The Kent Finals of the Pearson Trophy were played at Littlestone yesterday (Monday). In the morning Semi-Finals Chestfield lost to Sundridge Park and the current holders, Westerham, were beaten by Nizels.

The sun came out in the afternoon and the breeze increased to provide a real test of golf to both Sundridge Park and Nizels. In a nail-biting time for both teams, at three games all, the outcome depended on the result of the final match and eventually Nizels managed a win.

The Pearson Trophy was presented for an inter-club matchplay handicap competition in 1895 by the father of Miss Isette Pearson. Miss Pearson had a long association with Littlestone and was a founder member of the LGU. It is thought that the original trophy is held by the LGU in its museum at St Andrews. Nizels will now go on to represent Kent in the four County Finals which is this year being hosted by Kent and played at Wrotham Heath.

In the presentation speeches both Chris Corke (the Pearson Organiser for Kent) and the Captain of the Nizels Team thanked the staff and members of Littlestone for the excellent work they had done in hosting the Finals. Thanks went to the General Manager Chris Elgenia, Head Greenkeeper Malcolm Grand, Chef Michael Walsh, and the members of Littlestone who had ballspotted etc. There were very complimentary comments from all competitors about the state of the course in general and the greens in particular.

Taking advantage of glorious weather many members of Littlestone supported Malliet Pattrick when she opened her garden for the first time under the National Gardens Scheme. The south facing one acre walled garden at the foot of the North Downs is part formal and part woodland and over the last 10 years Malliet has transformed it with imaginative planting. Over 170 people came to view her magnificent garden and the proceeds of the day were split between the NGS and the adjacent 11th century Postling church.

Rosemary Smallman won the Mossop Bowl today with a net 71 in very difficult playing conditions. A westerly, gusting wind and slower greens owing to the preceding days' rain meant that the scoring was unusually high. The standard scratch went up to 76 and made the competition 'Reduction Only'.

The Mossop Bowl has had a chequered history. The Bowl was presented originally in 1903 by Mrs Miller Mossop for a match play knock-out competition held over 9 holes and this format continued until the Second World War. After 1958 the competition became an 18 hole medal round. The original trophy was stolen in 1981 and was replaced with a modern pewter plate donated by Miss Helena Ritchie, Lady President at the time, but this has since been replaced with a trophy cup.

Planning Application for the erection of four terrace houses at Littlestone Golf Club.

I am delighted to be able to announce to the membership that tonight, at a meeting of the Shepway District Council Planning Committee, the elected Members of that committee voted unanimously in favour of our planning application for the erection of four terrace houses.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks on behalf of the entire membership to both Ian Woolley and Allan Mowatt for the enormous contribution they made in ensuring the application was successful.

I will keep you informed of further developments as they occur.

Barry Humphries

The annual Midweek Members' Guest Day was played in excellent spirit despite the rather dismal weather. The event, which is 28 holes of foursomes stableford, is open to all members and where there are either one or two ladies in a pairing then extra shots are awarded. The main prizes are for the aggregate scores on the 28 holes with additional prizes for the best morning and afternoon rounds.

This year the winners of the day were Stuart and Margaret Fullager. However, since entering the competition Margaret has become a member of Littlestone and

therefore the couple were ineligible for a prize. Their score of 59 1/2 was excellent nonetheless!

First prize, with 59 points, went to Stephen Hill and Ian Miller but sadly they had not stayed for the prizegiving and dinner

(hence no photo!). In

second place were Trevor Rodwell and Hugh Gilmour with 57 points and in third place John Denham and Alan Rutherford with 56 points. The morning prize went to English Seniors Open Champion Chris Reynolds with his guest Ken Cameron (38 pts) and the afternoon prize went to Corinne Wilkins and Gordon Harris (22 1/2 pts).

And John Young wants a mention for his caddying skills in bringing in the winner!!

Congratulations to Andrew Stracey on taking the title of Irish Seniors Amateur Open Champion at his first attempt. Click here for the full story.

Andrew commented "It was a real thrill to win in only my second ever Seniors event. The course was quite tricky, as it was very wet, so there was no run on the ball. The green keepers had done a fantastic job on the greens and they were really fast, plus it was quite windy. So all in all, they were difficult conditions.

Second at the English was good, despite blowing a lead going into the final round. But congratulations to Chris Reynolds, who had a great last round.

Next it’s the Welsh and the British, and it would be good to do well in those too."

Celia Richardson and her guest Lorraine Short from Poultwood GC, Sevenoaks, won the Ladies Invitation Day this year. The weather was kind all day and the course was in excellent condition - Gerry Bray, in her speech, paid tribute to the work of the groundstaff, under the leadership of Malcolm

Grand, mentioning in particular the superb condition of the greens. The format was betterball in the morning and 10 holes of foursomes in the afternoon - the winners having the highest aggregate score. Celia and Lorraine came in with 68 stableford points, on countback from Marie Rooks and her daughter Joanna Dennis. Joanna and Lorraine only started playing golf in the Autumn and this was their first outside competition!

Sue Norman and Hazel Bristow came third with 66 points beating Gerry Bray and Corinne Chapman on countback. In fifth place with 65 points were Liz Ballin and Margaret Finnimore beating Pat Nielsen and Daphne Hiscock, again on countback.

The morning round was won by Betty Jeffery and Lorraine Knight with 47 points and the afternoon round by Chris Swaine and Linda Pearce with 23 points. Philippa Steadman won the Nearest the Pin for Guests (on the 14th) and Julie Ballard won the Nearest the Pin for members (on the 6th).