24 Warblers descended upon Bonaba this week Stableford match with some excellent scores to find a course in excellent condition with grass everywhere, except for some where their ball landed in the muddy areas

This week’s match at a very attractive course conditions at Alicante was certainty helpful in a buggy sharing team of Taylor and Baggerly both players going hit for hit basis from the first tee to the last putt.

Since the sad loss of one of the family friends of the Warblers, this week was the first of the John Barrell Scramble that will be sponsored for the next 5 years due to a legacy from John.

28 Golfers descended on a changed venue to Bonalba golf course to find it in remarkable condition than was expected for the 2019 presidents cup due to recent heavy rains.

As the Warblers approached the first tee it was not wall to wall sunshine actually quite cloudy but wall to wall grass everywhere, fantastic fairways and great greens level tee boxes how a few months since our last visit can change a course.

One of the Warblers favoured courses was in its usual prime condition. To say the greens were fast was understatement several people had trouble reading them and the ball finishing further from the pin than it started especially on those holes were the pin was on the top of a slope on the green.

A bright sunny day greeted two division’s at Bonalba some slow greens and bare patches but as per usual well looked after by the course

Last week’s match saw Will Evan’s miss a simple 2-foot putt to take the 2s kitty was he waiting for this week to be added as he scooped the kitty with last weeks added to this week with a much longer putt actually from the fringe grass, well done Will.

With First to Fourth and one division this week, 2 nearest the pins, Football card and Monti 2s only 4 faces appeared on the result sheet but those 4 had a couple of interesting stories to tell.

What a day was had not only we were celebrating Chris and Margaret Hoare’s 50th wedding anniversary but celebrating a great day’s golf with bottles galore and some tremendous score with over 80 percent scoring over 30 points with the best score of the day coming from a guest Michael Grant “now a member” of 42 points.
Having been at Bonalba last week as well this must have helped with the scores and the course improving but some very slick greens to contend with.

With a late change of course to Bonalba must have suited the players in this weeks Spring Trophy Match pairs better ball event with some great scores.

With an abundance of sand on the greens putting became a bit of a lottery, like putting on a “pastry pie top” one golfer stated. But with blue skies from north to south and east to west made up for the greens and this week’s event was a Texas scramble, so four chances of getting the ball in the

Blue skies abundant but a chilly day greeted the 20 Warblers who attacked the course especially the back 9 which had been out of use for some time due to maintenance!

Warbles descended upon a rather tired looking Bonalba but it is that time of year when courses never look their best but Great Bunkers full to the brim with good sand and the weather was wall to wall blue skies.

With buggies banned on the Levante course a group of warblers headed for their own game on the Poniente course the remaining 22 players attacking the Levante course with vigour.

This week’s event was sponsored by The Whisky Trail of Speyside which saw some excellent Ballentine’s whisky up for grabs.

Strong winds and tricky greens was the order of the day for the 18 golfers who took on the course and the elements. With a course not in its prime condition scores were not as per usual only 4 players getting 30 or more points Malcolm Monti 32 Steve Cliffe on 31 and Michael Taylor and John Daniels on 30 John loosing 3rd on count back.

A Medal round at Bonalba drew a larger than expected field for this early in the New Year, but it was another beautiful day weather wise a little chilly at the start but warmed up later. The greens were quite quick and with the contours on some of the greens you could just start the ball and if it did not go in you were facing a longer putt back.

The first game of the year was at La Sella and at eight o’clock in the morning it was very cold, the course was frosty and in some places quite wet, but being the hardy souls that the Warblers are they just wrapped up and got on with it, two of our number were sporting shorts, not sure if that is brave or stupid, but it paid off for them by the time we had finished.

The annual Turkey Trot took place at our usual venue, Oliva Nova, this week and the Warblers, complete with Christmas hats but limited to three clubs and a putter took on the course which was in superb condition. Following the golf we all retreated to the BB Grill, alias the “Chicken Shack” for a Christmas get together and some tasty chicken.