Six Summer Midweek Stableford Competitions are taking place in 2006, some already played, the rest on Wednesday 5th July and Thursdays 24th and 31st August. These competitions were started in 2005 in response to a plea by midweek golfers for an extension throughout the year of the Winter Wednesday Men competition.  The principle of Wednesday Men is simple and well tested.  You turn up at any time between 8.00 and 9.30 a.m., identify someone not already paired up, sign in at the Pro shop and set off.  It combines the congeniality and ease of a roll-up with the serious purpose of competing with others and, in common with other Club competitions, keeping your handicap up-to-date.

When this plea was originally mooted in 2000, the Committee acknowledged the advantages and popularity of the proposal but pointed out that it had to be reconciled with the much greater occupancy of the course on Wednesdays during the summer.  It was decided that it would not be feasible.  To provide for those with withdrawal symptoms, a Wednesday 3/4-ball roll-up was started at 8.15 a.m. from the 10th tee.  Despite some initial misgivings, this proved popular and still continues throughout the summer months.

The Committee decided in 2005 that it would be feasible to have a limited number of Midweek Stablefords on days (preferably Wednesdays) when there were no major events on the programme.  For the 6 events last year and this year the rules familiar for the Winter Wednesday Men have been modified.  There is no time limit – games can be played at any time during the day and have to be pre-arranged.  Games are played off white tees (yellow in winter) to comply with requirements for handicaps.  As there is no Wednesday Roll-up on these 6 occasions, those who would otherwise attend it emulate the winter pattern and convene at the Clubhouse at 8.00 a.m. to arrange games.

The change from yellow tees in winter to white tees in summer has caused some anxiety amongst the less robust drivers.  Play has sometimes been slowed down by the consequences of less than perfect drives, and by some players insisting on holing out when no points can be achieved; however, the event has been well attended.

/-- Liphook Archive Information --/
#Medium:Document#
#Location:Website#
#Date Of Event:30 Jul 2006#
#Date Item Created:#
#Author:Mike Blakstad#
#Copyright:#