A massive 253 entries this week but no winners - the numbers were 1, 6, 8 and 10 and the jackpot is now up to £4,173.00 ahead of next Sunday's draw - be in it to win it!

Well done to all the qualifiers for the final of the Winter Opens, this was played on Friday April 12th - the results are:

1st Andy Elvin (Ryton), 34 pts

2nd Ian Richardson (Ryton), 33 pts

3rd Ian Wishart (Ryton), 32 pts

Prize vouchers will be available from the office.

Thanks also to all the members and visitors who played in these competitions over the winter, we hope you enjoyed the golf and that we see you here again during the coming season.

Picture of the first fairway. Great work by the team and the green staff.

The following work will be carried out next week. This work has been delayed because of the amount of rain this year.

What is Hollow Tinning

It's the physical  removal of cores of tur from a playing surface. The holes are generally 13-16 mm in diameter and of varying depths on the reason for the tine, The cores are ejected, swept up and removed. They make excellent compost. When completed a smaller mass of soil will occupy the same area of green/tee/fairway.

Why is it done

Course traffic causes the ground to become compacted. This means the drainage is less efficient and the grass's roots are prevented from absorbing oxygen. Hollow tining allows the compacted turf to expand and air an moisture to be more absorbed.

It's generally accepted that drier surfaces will be less susceptible to diseases like fusarium. As hollow tining is a good way of improving drainage it's also a way of preventing the spread of disease.

Saturday April 6th, men's singles stableford

70 cards / 72 players

1st Andy Elvin, 38 pts

2nd Brian Horrill, 36 pts

3rd Peter McRoberts, 36 pts

2s (7 & 18): Andy Elvin (x2), Duncan Ord

Sunday April 7th, men's 4BBB stableford

20 cards / 36 players

1st Steve Lambert / Peter Liddle, 42 pts

2nd Ian Richardson / Derek Bainbridge, 36 pts

3rd Julian Blacker / Sam Peareth, 36 pts

2s (14 & 18): none - rollover to Sunday April 14th

ALL RESULTS SUBJECT TO RATIFICATION

MONIES ARE ON THE SHEETS IN THE GENTS LOCKER ROOM