Holme Hall Golf Club – Members Page

Check your handicap at www.howdidido.co.uk gents

Check your handicap at www.howdidido.co.uk ladies

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'B' Team results and remaining fixtures added at the end of the page.

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A CENTENARY DOUBLE - WE WIN THE LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY SCRATCH FOURSOMES (THE ELSHAM TROPHY) AND THE MILLENNIUM TROPHY ALL IN A DAY!

Lincolnshire County Scratch Foursomes

Elsham Golf Club – Sunday 17^th August

Holme Hall beat the bookies! 

When Kaye Borrell collected the Elsham Trophy from previous winners Ashby Decoy on the day of the finals she admits to a passing thought “I wonder if this is what is meant to be?” 

Twenty nine teams from Lincolnshire consisting of one hundred and seventy four players had entered the knock out stages of this prestigious trophy the first round of which was played on 25th April ’08.  

On their way to the finals day Holme Hall had collected the scalps of Waltham Windmill, Lincoln (Torksey) and Gainsborough and joined the strong assembly of Sleaford, Spalding and Carholme in the play off semi finals and finals day played at Elsham GC on Sunday 17^th August. 

The previous night’s torrential rain, which only abated an hour or so before the first teams teed off, made the Elsham course lush and playing short. Elsham GC should certainly be congratulated for turning out such a course in view of the atrocious overnight conditions.

This being a foursomes scratch competition with the aggregate scores counting the bookies clear favourites were Sleaford who boasted more scratch players than any of the other finalists. It was just to be Holme Hall’s luck to be drawn against Sleaford in the morning’s semi finals.

The triumphant Holme Hall Team Left to right.

Paul Borrell, Martin Kent, Leigh Gawley, Nick Jones, Rick Milne, Rob Carpenter, Danny Bush.

Nevertheless with lots of guts, hard work and sheer determination the ‘A’ team proved their abilities shot after shot on the day.  One of the team’s caddies, non other than the club’s Vice Captain Stuart Cranidge said “its good to see how the game should be played”. There was some good support for the team with Club Captain Steve Spavin seeing off the team on the first tee before dashing back to Holme Hall to play in the Millennium Trophy. 

Following on from their back to back promotion to the 1^st division of the Lincolnshire league the day’s victory is not only a testament to the skill and talent of the team, but also a fitting tribute to the ‘A’ team Captain Paul Borrell who has devoted hours and hours to the tireless motivation and organisation of his team.

 In Holme Hall’s centenary year nobody has done more toward the recognition and golfing prowess of Holme Hall Golf Club than Paul and it is only hoped that he is appropriately recognised by both the club and his peers. 

But to the day; the strongly tipped Sleaford made Holme Hall work hard for their semi final victory. Rick Milne and Rob Carpenter were not daunted by the tipsters and played a very strong round unfortunately finishing just one down in the morning semi finals. 

Things didn’t look good either when Leigh Gawley and Nick Jones came in three down taking the aggregate to four down! But the tom toms had been talking and we all knew that Danny Bush and Martin Kent were about to come in seven up: Holme Hall were in the final to take on Spalding.

Again the bookies favoured Holme Hall’s opponents in the afternoon final but the many Holme Hall supporters present were not to be phased and their team certainly were not cowed.

In the afternoon we sit patiently in the grand stand surrounding the 18^th green in the distance we see Rick Milne and Rob Carpenter approaching, then a magnificent second shot to within three feet of the pin. Rick and Rob walk through the crowds, Rick finishes the job and Holme Hall’s first match is safely in the club house three up. 

Next come Leigh Gawley and Nick Jones unfortunately finishing 2 down but Holmes Hall still leading the match one up. 

From the eighteenth tee Martin Kent calmed his nerves and hit a cracking drive to split the fairway just yards from the green; we see the leader board updated Danny Bush and Martin Kent six up – the cheers are heard even in the distant Holme Hall. 

Holme Hall had won the Elsham Trophy 7 up. Many years had passed since Holme Hall last won the trophy, seen above in the happy hands of Stuart and Paul, in 1975 and the hundreds of spectators had witnessed some magnificent golf from all of the teams participating.

But the very smart team in green and black were not the only winners on the day; an equally strong team of caddies comprising of Club Vice Captain Stuart Cranidge, the irrepressible Danny Whitelaw, Tony Rees, Pete Gawley, Clive Milne, Paul Borrell and Andy Carpenter clubbed their charges well and silently guided every put into the cup.

Special thanks must go to Vice Captain Stuart Cranidge for presenting the winner’s speech and for not allowing any Holme Hall person buy a drink. Roger Bickley and John Fleming must also be thanked for organising the team’s pullovers. The prize for sartorial elegance certainly went to Holme Hall; they played like a team and they looked like a team and it certainly showed.

Which only leaves us to think more seriously about Kaye Borrell’s musing; perhaps it was indeed a premonition.

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Meanwhile back at the ranch - Holme Hall take the Millennium Trophy.

Holme Hall, Elsham and Ashby Decoy play an annual competition for the Millennium trophy with the venue alternating between the three clubs. This year it was the turn of Holme Hall to host the event which is played in Stableford AM-AM format.

Seven teams from each of the three clubs each team comprising of two ladies and two gentlemen compete for the Millennium trophy. The total of all of the scores of the seven teams are added together and then the lowest team's score is taken from the total.

In taking the trophy Holme Hall scored a total of 585 points from which their lowest score of 81 was deducted producing a total of 504. Elsham scored a total of 569 with their lowest score of 73 being deducted to produce a final score of 496.

Ashby Decoy, some 72 points behind Holme Hall scored 513 deducting their lowest score of 65 produced a final score of 448.

Bob Andrews, Elsham's Vice Captain, seen right on the right in the picture on the right presented the Millennium trophy to Steve Spavin Holme Hall's Captain, saying that he was sure that the trophy was, in fact, only 'on loan'.

Steve Spavin responded by saying how appropriate it was that the trophy should come to Holme Hall in their centenary year.

Download the full score sheet.

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'B' TEAM RESULTS AND REMAINING FIXTURES

Page updated 24th August '08