Ladies Day at the Nursery Today Golf Day

Written by: Malcolm Naish

No, I’m not referring to Wimbledon or Ascot, but our very own 23rd Nursery

Today Golf Day, where first-time entrant Cat Dodd of the doddl company won the individual Stableford trophy with 48 points.

The 23rd annual Nursery Today Golf Day was in full ‘swing’ this year, with our first female player participating, who definitely put the chaps in their place by winning the coveted Individual Stableford Trophy.

Cat had told me that she hadn’t played golf for over 15 years – turns up and wins – Fantastic! Could have fooled me!

2nd was Red Kite’s Ben Shaw with 44 points and third was Red Kite’s Nick Tucker with 42 points.

Having all enjoyed a flaming June, it just had to be Sod’s Law that on our golf day – 4th July – the clouds were threatening and very grey and so it was when we all began the morning Texas Scramble that the rain started to fall. Fortunately, not too heavy, but certainly not sun-bathing weather!

Played over nine holes, our Texas Scramble is always a pleasant way of easing everyone into the golf day, particularly those who are not regular golfers.

Winning for the first time was Harrogate’s Nursery fair organiser Adrian Sneyd, who along with his team scored 26.525. The Premier team led by Rolf Hunt came second with 27.43 and third were CuddleCo’s team led by their Managing Director. Marc Kelly on 28.35.

This year I engaged the services of the Puckrup’s Hall pro., to score the cards.

Red Kite’s fourball came in with some amazing scores, carrying all before them, they won the team-fourball BabyStyle Cup with an amazing 134 points, 2nd was my fourball consisting of Glenn Harrison, Chris Pyatt and Richard Trott with 117 points and third the Harrogate Nursery show’s team led by Adrian Sneyd with 114 points.

The JMDA Yellow Ball Cup was won by Red Kite’s team with an amazing 43 points. Only two teams managed to keep the yellow ball in play for all 18 holes, so a fantastic achievement.

Sadly, my own four-ball was badly let down by myself, managing to smash the ball on the 2nd hole into some pretty horrible stinging nettles, that made us decide to give up on the idea of winning this trophy. Oh, the shame of it all!

We always have a special award for those playing off the higher handicaps – the 24-28 handicap trophy, which this year was won by Alan Thomas from the Harrogate Nursery show four-ball with 37 points.

Marc Kelly won the Longest Drive with a real monster drive on the 5th which is a most tricky hole and requires a really straight drive.

Nearest the Pin in 2 on the 8th hole was won by Nick Tucker and the Nearest the Pin on the 11th was won by the star of the day Cat Dodd, whose drive was just a few inches from the hole.

Having organised a barbeque to host the presentation of trophies on a day when Wimbledon was rained off, meant that we celebrated the day in the Hilton’s ballroom, where a great time was had by all.

Almost a clean sweep, Red Kite’s Nick Tucker’s fourball won the BabyStyle Trophy, with a whopping 138 points.

Yellow Ball JMDA Trophy winners. Red Kite led by Nick Tucker with an amazing number of points – 43.

The handicap committee will be meeting shortly to adjust a number of handicaps for the 2024 golf day, but all in all, a most enjoyable day’s golf, despite the weather.

For the 2023 golf day, I had decided to use a new trophy company, who would also be inscribing all of the prizes. I didn’t bother to ask for proofs for all of them, so imagine my embarrassment when checking the Texas Scramble prizes, that the teams were actually battling it out for the Texas Scrabble!

You never know, this might catch on!

It really is a most enjoyable day’s golf and one that more companies should support. Afterall, all work and no play, makes Jack or Jill for that matter, a very dull boy and girl!

Next year’s date will be announced shortly.

Malcolm Naish

Robert Anslow Managing Director