By P Utter
CONGRATULATIONS to Dean Naicker this week on winning the coveted ‘golfer of the year 2015’ trophy at Umkomaas Golf Club (UGC).
The players who qualified had all won a medal round during the year.
He and quite a few of the club’s more adventurous players played in the rain last Saturday, all of them actually making it back to the club house unscathed after being gently rained on in the latter part of the morning’s competition. Well done to all who played, showing what you were really made of. The course certainly benefitted from the rain. More results further on.
Congratulatory wishes to newly elected woman captain, Linda Toward and her committee, with Lesa Vergottini as her vice captain. Thanks go to Bryony Rogers, the past woman captain, for her guidance and unwavering support of the women’s section. May the new committee go from strength to strength in 2016.
Wednesday was the normal individual stableford. This week it was John Thompson, only just scooping the 1st prize (must have been that holed putt on the 15th that did it!) with 38 points. Taking second spot, on a count out, was Dave Kemp from Dudley Pringle and Peter Williamson, all on 37 points.
Back to Saturday’s Toyota sponsored monthly medal competition where chairman, Devlyn Fraser, stood in for club captain, Jimmy Spear, to welcome Nigel Jones to the competition and wife Val to the club.
Despite the rainy conditions, this didn’t deter the intrepid players one bit and although Dean Naicker won the ‘golfer of the year’, he also won the A division on an excellent 66, with Nelson Moonsamy four shots off the pace on 70. The B division was very closely contested between Jacques Hulley and Wally Kent (both strong contenders for golfer of the year), both finishing with an astounding 66 each. Jacques took the count out, the mug and 1st place from Wally, who was runner-up. The C division, usually the most popular division on medal days, was won by Bing Opie with 78. All the other players in this division decided not to play because of the drizzle. Well done Bing on winning the coveted mug this month. Congratulations to all the players who braved the weather and to the deserved winners. The jackpot was shared between Jacques Hulley and Johan Hugo, both with 10 points and the hidden birdie is still hiding on the 18th fairway somewhere. Kuben Naidoo took home the prize in the ‘non-skills department’ – the attendance draw. Once again, congratulations to Dean Naicker on winning the ‘golfer of the year 2015’.
Next Saturday, 12 December is the fourball better ball competition with social golf on Sunday, 13 December.
A gentle reminder that it’s the women’s sponsored fourball alliance competition on Saturday, 19 December. There will be many prizes on offer plus nearest the pins and straightest drive prizes. Call the club on 039-973-1042 to book your tee time. The time slots are filling up fast so don’t delay calling.
Congratulations to Sonny Govender, manager of Umkomaas Golf Club, whose daughter Kelly had a little girl on Sunday, 6 December. Mother and daughter are doing very well, the new dad is glad it’s all over – not too sure about the new Grandpa though. Congratulations to the whole family.
A couple of UGC’s members are not too well at the moment – Viv, everyone hopes you get well soon and Annette is well on the mend after her operation a few weeks ago. To any other members not feeling well, get well soon.
As always, the website is there for your perusal at www.umkomaasgolf.co.za
