FOREST Hills golfers enjoyed a packed week of competition, with high scores, an away day, league fixtures and the club’s inaugural President’s Drive In, writes Geoff Norris.

Thursday’s Seniors Yellow Tee Betterball Stableford produced exceptional scoring despite the Mile End course remaining fiery. Glyn Earle and Phil Leonard lived up to their pre-tournament billing by winning with 48 points. Clive Winward and John Auton took second on countback from Mike Butcher and Geoff Norris after both pairs returned 46, while Andrew Johnson and Colin Baird were fourth on 45.

More than 40 members travelled to Salford Golf Club on Friday for Steve Jones’s Captain’s Away Day. Josh Mathews won Division One with 40 points, ahead of Mark Barnard on 36 and Simon Killen. Alan Franklin topped Division Two with 39, one clear of vice-captain Gary Davies, with Gary French third on 37.

Nearest-the-pin prizes went to Franklin, Terry Davies, Tony Laws and Keelan Reddan, while Reddan also recorded two twos. Mathews and Neil James managed one each.

Captain Steve Jones thanked John Watkins for collating Friday’s scores and the Salford staff for their service.

Saturday’s Stableford saw Hayden Burford win Division One with 39 points on countback from Ryan Burris and Ross Jenkins. James Mainwaring claimed Division Two with 43, ahead of Trevor Baker on 42 and Henry Roberts on 41.

The Saturday two’s kitty had four claimants, including Burris and Ian Huxstep, who both eagled the 16th.

Forest Hills’ NGFL sides both faced Minchinhampton. At Mile End, the A Team were beaten 4-2 despite wins for James Bath and Nathan Tawney, and Ryan and Mike Burris. The B Team suffered a 4.5-1.5 defeat on Minchinhampton’s Cherington course, with Ollie Cooper and Finlay Sparkes recording Forest Hills’ only victory and Nigel Thompson and Rowland Joyce earning a half.

Sunday brought the Forest Hills Rose Bowl Team Stableford and the Drive In of the club’s inaugural president, Geoff Norris.

After Norris struck his ceremonial shot from the first tee, Lee Ayres, Chris Jones, Josh Sargent and Lance Evans won the team competition with 111 points. Hayden Burford, Kev Burford, Stuart Smith and Rob Smith were runners-up on 108, with Dan Prout, Malcolm Cape, Williams Bailey and Keiran Fullwood third on 106.

A bottle of whisky was offered to whoever best predicted the distance of the President’s drive. Kev Burford and Chris Jones both guessed 201 yards, forcing a rock-paper-scissors decider which Jones won. The Drive In raised £61 for the Captain’s Charity.

Monday’s Seniors programme was split between an Individual Stableford at Mile End and an away match at Brickhampton Court.

Brian Evans won Division One with 38 points, ahead of Alan Bridges and Jim Bland, while Mike Wallis took Division Two, also with 38, from John Auton and Andrew Johnson. Mike Nicholas led the day’s scoring by winning Division Three with 42 points, ahead of Mark Hyde and Trevor Baker, who both scored 41.

Seniors captain Kev Doyle led Monday’s team, which included section debutants Ashley James and Stuart Mudway, who were both making their first Seniors appearances.

The Seniors were beaten 4-2 at Brickhampton Court. After four opening defeats, Kev Burford and Tim Hollingsworth restored some pride with a 3&1 victory before Graham Wallace and Paul Morphey won 5&4. Mark Graham also claimed the nearest-the-pin prize on the 17th.