THERE was an early delivery of Christmas gifts to the Haven Homes Winter League on Saturday.
Tom Gandy was especially generous on the 17th green with his unexplainable three-putt from a distance shorter than a certain member’s illegal golf club. His opponents Wilf Lowey and Juan Garrett watched in disbelief as they were granted three easy points. Gandy’s partner Gary Gilbert feels like he is wearing concrete boots as the duo are firmly rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points.
In the battle to get off the bottom, a rejuvenated Icky Garrett played the best golf of his season so far. Driven by the insane sibling rivalry with his brother, the determined Garrett assisted by his partner Mark Cooper tore apart the pairing of Henry Armstrong and Kevin Corlett. It was the biggest win of the day - 6+5.
Dad’s Army scored another win in their campaign for victory. With a combined age of 167, Peter Addison and Alan Tasker beat Albert Conlon and his partner by a terrific sum of 4+3. It has to be noted that Conlon was somewhat distracted during the thrashing as he reflected on the previous evening’s events.
Conlon had revealed to many in Castletown Square his wish to change his career from interior designer (painter) to that of a police officer. It may come as a shock to some, but his dream of having a ride in one of the constabulary’s patrol cars nearly came true as he hopped into one three times begging for a lift home from the blue light taxi!
There was a surprise loss for Peter Holt and Stuart Butler as they played Paul Thomas and his golfing autobot partner, Marc Morley. The game completed on the 15th green after some efficient play from the 18-handicapper Morley who was the only player that day to score a birdie on the difficult 12th hole. Reports suggest that the uncharacteristic poor short game of their opponents allowed them to be brushed away as discarded losers.
The surprise package of the season has to be the team of O’Loughlin and Stacey who scored another huge win against the youngsters, Kennaugh and Titch Gandy. The match ended on the 14th hole and Stacey must be breathing a sigh of relief as it looks like Gary Gilbert and partner will have the honour of organising next year’s league.
The Corrin’s season remains lifeless and flat with a half against the Legion of the Undead. In a zombie-like fashion, Gelling arrived in his usual morbid state with his partner Jack ‘The Mummy’ Marrinan - it was like a weird scene from a horror movie. The once big-hitting Frankenstein’s monster known as Dave Corrin was unable to replicate his form as a contender in the long driving stakes. The game was halved.
Guy Hatton was joined this week by the Port St Mary Octopus and they were comprehensively hammered by a red hot Toby Neale and his partner. Hatton was not his usual noisy self and the complete drubbing caused him to forget some of the basic rules from the R&A and get a little ‘tetchy’ about not being given the odd putt. Big Trev and Christopher Wray won again and remain top after an uneventful win against the sponsor and Tim Williams.