PHIL Dowell’s captain’s weekend provided members with a range of competitive and social golf.

It began on Friday when 18 octogenarians, four ladies and 14 gentlemen, contested the first-ever Golden Oldies Bowl. Three players tied on 32 points, with Trevor Foster winning the bowl on countback from Ray Lowe.

The third, Madeline Skelly also took the ladies’ prize.

This event was followed later in the day by the Crossover Competition, where the ladies played from the white tees and the men from the reds with adjusted handicaps.

The team of Liz Walker, the lady captain, and Roy Gill, prevailed with a total of 74pts. Their scores of 38 and 36pts respectively were also the best individual scores.

On Saturday, 35 members played with 50cms of string per handicap stroke, being allowed to move the ball as desired using the string.

Early starters Martin Oliver and Martin Jones led for most of the day with 68s, until Dave Woodroffe returned a 66.

A similar fate befell Di Loving, whose 76 was eclipsed by Sue Walsh’s one under par 72.

Pete Ward scored a hole-in-one on the sixth, using his string.

The main event on Sunday was the Chorley Cup, a men’s pairs competition.

Almost 40 pairs took part, playing six holes betterball, six greensomes and six foursomes.

The winners were Dave Boggis and Tony Burwood with 41pts, heading off the 39 of Ted Stordy and Duncan Jones. Third and fourth went to Gerrard/Huxford with 38pts on countback from Crabb/ Edwards.

The three-hole putting competition provided great entertainment for spectators but utter frustration for competitors who were putting with a rugby-shaped golf ball.

A most enjoyable weekend concluded with prize-giving and a barbecue.

The 50 participants in the veterans’ self-entry Stableford competition enjoyed their round in ideal conditions.

Some excellent scores were recorded by many returning to form.

The overall winner was Brian Osborne, coming in with 41 points.

Second was Doug Howells (40pts) and third Terry Kearley (39pts).

All three received a handicap reduction of one. The ladies’ July Medal was played over two days by a total of 32 members in very warm conditions.

The Division One winner was Marilyn Wilson (nett 74), while Sue Winkle (nett 74) claimed Division Two and Margaret Thompson (nett 76) took Division Three.

Six ladies played the Stableford competition and the winner was Carole Hedley with 26 points Winner of the putts was Eleanor Butler with just 27 over 18 holes.

The ladies shared Carole Brown’s delight following a hole-in-one on the 18th – the third ace by a lady member this year.