It rained and rained and just when we thought it could rain no more it rained harder. The course stood up well to a day of almost incessant rain. Putting was difficult, gripping the club hardly more easy. Thirteen turned out and when we re-wrote all the scorecards, we found a decent winner in Donald Brown Snr, whose net 65 just pipped three players on 66, including playing partner Ewan MacCrone, who double-bogeyed 17 to lose out on even a podium place, with Eoghann MacLean and Ian Wilshire taking second and third on countback.

Full Results

A field of 17 took to the course to contest this popular stableford competition, plus 6 juniors who contested the Junior JT simultaneously. Catherine Ann MacCrone as the only lady in the field naturally lifted the Ladies title, but her return of 23 points suggests she could only benefit from competition on supposedly mixed days like this…so come on ladies!!

Eoghann MacLean won comfortably with 40 points, his closest competitor, Ian McNaughton, three points back, and Peter MacCrone a further two away on 35.

The junior trophy was won by Andrew MacDonald.

Full Results

About the only thing ex-captain Gordon Chalmers got right on this day was organising the transport. The club set out to emulate last years victory on home turf, but the home side were well on top, winning eventually by 4 ½ - 1 ½.

Best performances from the Tobermory side were from Donald Brown and Eoghann MacLean, who carried the previous week's form into this weekend, winning 2&1. John Weir and Alistair Scarlett managed a halved match. Other matches were reasonably close but there is no doubting the better side won on the day.

Other Tobermory pairings were G Chalmers and M Campbell (lost 3&1), Dodo MacLean and Ian McNaughton (lost 4&3), Graham Davidson and Ian Wilshire (lost 2 down), and John Wilshire and Chris Russell (lost 3&2) But there was a great atmosphere as always and the matches were played in the true spirit of the game. We look forward to welcoming Taynuilt to Tobermory in 2009.

The club championship swung into action with a turnout of 19 on a warm if breezy day. Perhaps the format of best three rounds of four contributed, but an unprecedented seven players dropped out for one reason or another leaving only 12 finishers.

Early showers in the scratch section were Tim Gardiner (72), Donald Brown (73), Graham Davidson (74). Naturally these three perennial favourites will hope these are not their counting scores come July, but they have set a benchmark which is at least respectable at this time,

Full Results

A beautiful May day in Tobermory for the running of this annual golf event, where Gents Ladies and Juniors compete simultaneously for the trophies on offer. Thirteen gents, two ladies and five juniors to be precise.

The gents section was headed yet again by in-form Donald Brown Snr, whose 37 point total left him three full points ahead of his nearest competitors, Donald Allan “Dods” MacLean, a welcome visitor to these parts as always, and club captain Graham Davidson.

Lions Events Secretary Jenny Smith herself was the winner of the ladies cup, seeing off Catherine Ann MacCrone by a couple of points. Jenny is seen here receiving her trophy from John Weir, Junior Convener. Jenny went on to present the Junior Lions Trophy to Lewis Wilshire, one of her playing partners on the day. She praised not just Lewis' efforts, in compiling a handicap-busting 46 points, but those of John Weir and his protégés who have benefited from Lions Club support in the past, and she spoke of her pride in her organisation's involvement in the development of the most vibrant junior section the club has had in some time, pledging ongoing support.

All of the junior competitors scored 35 or better, and there is no doubt the club and the local golf scene will benefit from these youngsters in years to come.

Because of the best-three-from-four setup, it's difficult to paint a clear picture here of what can happen over the last two rounds. There is no doubt however that Graham Davidson and Mickey Brown will be in at the business end of the scratch competition. Both have a 145 total which leaves them 6 shots ahead of Tim Gardner on 151 after a disappointing Sunday where in decent scoring conditions he returned an uncharacteristic 79. A 3-round total of more than 217 will probably not be in contention, so Graham and Mickey have 2 attempts to better this. Angus Cowe would need 2 rounds of 70, and Graham Brown at least 1 sub-70 to set a realistic target. All to play for then!

Because again of the competition setup, the handicap section requires a bit of crystal-ball-gazing. Likely contenders are Ian McNaughton (131), John Weir (135) Peter MacCrone seems a long-shot on 141, but watch out for Graham Brown whose net 62 off his newly-reinstated handicap gives him a shout if he can reproduce another two similar scores; this is the best net score so far, but he has no safety net over the next couple of rounds. Similarly Ally MacLeod, Ian Wilshire and Mike Campbell could come into the picture with two decent rounds but they have to hit top form. Tim Gardner could also come into the reckoning but surely he has ambitions on the scratch and would regard the handicap tournament as a windfall rather than the summit of his season.

On a horrendous muggy midgy Wednesday evening with constant low sky and damp conditions, it would be appropriate to salute those seven souls who braved the conditions rather than comment on a comparatively low turnout. Yet again Catherine Ann MacCrone benefited from no opposition to win a trophy, but longer term this is not good for her game and does nothing to promote confidence in the future of mixed competitions at the club.

Husband Ewan carried off the gents trophy, seeing off challenges from Graham Brown and Mike Campbell, who fell short of his decent 37 point total.

May just about complete, only an update on the Navy Cup to follow before we reach the height of the season again.