Can we condone spitting on the golf course?
Television has a lot to answer for, sometimes good, sometimes not so good.
Sunday evening and the occasion of the Northern Trust Open from the renowned Riviera Club inLos Angelesrevealed a side of the game that is not to be emulated under any circumstances. The act of a player spitting on the golf course.
A couple of years ago Tiger Woods caused outrage by spitting on the putting green during the closing holes of one of his many championships, and the reporting the following day throughout America stated in no uncertain terms that this was behaviour not to be condoned in any way.
Keegan Bradley was closing his final round out in contention with Phil Mickelson and Bill Haas, the three eventually being involved in a three way tie which Haas won at the second extra hole, but it was the conduct of Bradley that raised the ire of commentators on both sides of the Atlantic both for his painfully slow pre – shot routine before playing his shots, and for his too frequent spitting on to the fairways and approaches.
Dennis Pugh, the much respected Sky pundit and players’ coach was loud in his condemnation of both aspects, mentioning how ill mannered the duration of his routine was with scant disregard for his fellow golfers, and the deplorable habit of spitting on a carefully manicured golf course. This was echoed by Nick Faldo, commentating for CBS inAmerica, and has evoked criticism in our national press already this week. It has been suggested that US Tour commissioner Tim Finchem take action against the perpetrators of the disgusting habit.
Away from the media hype covering the Rivieraclub, and nearer home, Clays golf club played a Seniors Yellow ball competition on 20th February which resulted in a win for Tony Harcombe, Eifion Jenkins, Mike Hollings and Den Murphy with 173 Stableford points. Second group in the frame were Maelor Davies, Barry Dare, Irwin Elkin and Joe White with 171 followed by Stewart Poole, Noel Jones, Richard Key and Harold Hughes on 167.
A couple of days previously forty six players took to the course for a better ball Stableford in teams of four with the best two scores on each hole to count. Winners were Peter Lynch, John Kelty, Ray Jones and Phil Hughes with 91 points. Second came Ray Martin, Tom Mara and Brian Jones who played as a three ball and amassed 92 points. In third place were Graham Stokes, Tony Owens, Barry Dare and Peter Frazer with 90.
Peter Lynch enjoyed the bragging rights for a hole in one on the par three second hole and Brian Jones for holing out with a full three wood from 160 yards on the par four 7th hole for an eagle two.
The ladies played their Wednesday Winter league in which the honours fell to Diane Dare with 37 points from second placed Shirley Roberts on 36 and Jane Bell with 31.
The Saturday gentlemens’ winter league was this week won by Paul Jeffs with 43 points followed by second placed Ernest Williams on 39 and Mark Bebb with the same numbers.
The Vale of Llangollen suffered as the thaw took a grip on the course and produced a very soggy links which it was deemed unplayable for last Sunday’s draw for partners competition, but, not to be out done, Phil Coleman informed me of the Seniors Individual Stableford played over eighteen holes mid week that witnessed a win for Bernard Owen with 46 points from second placed John McKay on 38 and then David A. Wright with the better of two 37 point cards, the fourth placed offering belonging to Brian Gresty with Gordon Jones coming in fifth with 36.
Wrexham Ladies played a three ball Am Am last Tuesday which featured a win for Mair Williams, Ann Davies and Pat Whitehead with 60 points. In second place with the same score but a less good closing holes sequence came Sue Banister, Janet Brunyee, the lady captain, and Della Evans.
Our sympathies this week are extended to Denbighshire Golfing Union secretary David Ethelston, also President of the Vale of Llangollen, who suffered the loss of his wife Bobbie just one week ago, and to Wrexham member David Ellis whose wife Pat passed away just ten days ago. Pat was a staunch member of the club and will be sadly missed by all who knew her.