REPORT BY DAVE TWEED - MARCH 1st 2015

Up to date MM league table has been circulated by email, but it is worth pointing out that the author/organiser is no longer top of it! Frans Bus has taken over with 5 wins and 1 A/S  from his 7 matches, with Colin Hynd in second place just 1 point behind (4 wins and 2 A/S) from his 7 games...

Still 4 Thursdays remain this quarter, but remember only your best six results of Q1 count,  so the maximum is 12 points. Therefore any of the top 17 men, who have 4 or more points can win the €50/€30/€20 prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd respectively.

Special mention to my two Scottish buddies from Aberdeen, Euan Pyper and Stuart Deans, who have struggled on Thursday mornings this quarter with only one win between them in their 15 appearances. Clearly they are not used to playing winter golf in temperatures above freezing and winds below 50kph!!

As new members are joining Serra de Monchique all the time, here is just a reminder that Mens' Matchplay Mornings are NOT an official Club competition, so as long as each one is a matchplay related game with members' guests encouraged, every 4ball can do what they want within (within normal golf rules!) - e.g. play from whatever tee you decide on, use rounded up HCP or slope rates, pair up with guest/buggy partner/any HCP mix, etc.

My original brief to put life (and numbers!) into the now extinct "Thursday Roll Up" was fivefold, as it was struggling to attract players for more than 2 or 3 tee times by the end of 2012 - these days we have upwards of 40 players many weeks, so it has clearly worked!

1 - Our first aim is to play Matchplay with man against man, rather than a card against the course.

2 - Encourage new members and give them opportunity to mix with existing SdM men by having drawn games.

3 - Enable Silves/Alto only members to have reserved tee times for a social game ouside the official competitions.

4 - Have a bit of "male bonding" at the Clubhouse after the game and mix with fellow Mens' Matchplay guys.

5 - Let the Lady members do their own thing after the men - and do not interfere with their plans!

So, as there have been several new members joining SdM recently, please bear the above in mind and give us a try!