TAVISTOCK Golf Club’s Festival of Golf Week, held as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations, got off to a great start but then the weather decided to play a part but not a helpful one! 

There were excellent golfing conditions for the Pro Am competition, a popular event with 32 teams of four taking part - one professional plus three amateurs. 

Top professional of the day was James Pickard, Honiton’s assistant pro, with a gross 65.  

The best team prize was won Carlyon Bay headed by pro Paul Turpin with a score of 89 Stableford points. 

Another popular event was a Fun Day with members playing off another club’s score card - difficult when a par five becomes a par three but easy when a par three become a par five! Wiltshire’s Burnham and Berrow, also celebrating their 125th, provided the score cards. 

First in division one with the excellent score of 42pts was John Thewlis, second John Lyddon 39pts and in third place was John Berry with 38pts on count back from Richard Crawford and Alan Pope.  The winning lady was Bridget Luckham with 35pts.

The ladies had a Texas Scramble Open - another well supported event with 35 teams.  The winners were Hilary Picton, Dawn Phillott (Tavistock) and  Belinda MacSherry (China Fleet) with a net 64.6. 

In second place with a net 68 were Alison Down (Saunton), Jo Hood (Staddon) and Jayne Wright (Tavistock).  The Torquay team of Susan Baxter, Toni Jones and Shirley Wilson were third with net 68.6, fifth place went to Tavistock’s team of Val Jarman, Jenny Kay and Marion Stenhouse with a 70.9.

It was then that the weather decided to make a golfer’s life difficult as well as that of the ground staff.  The men veterans held an Invitational Open - a four ball better ball with two Tavistock players playing with two visitors.  Even though the weather did not improve they battled on and the winners produced very good scores. 

The best visitors team with 37 pts were Derek Ratcliffe and Peter Lyons (Launceston), second from Royal North Devon were Mike Scrambler and David Birch with 36pts.  Simon Bridgewater and Ken Cole were the best Tavistock team with 39pts on count back from Dave Treble and Mike Trembath.

The two other events - the Mixed team Open and the Basil Steer Trophy  - had to be postponed to a later date due  to the weather.