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.

Yet another brilliantly sunny day for the Warblers at Alenda Golf, the course was brilliantly presented, probably the best condition we have encountered this winter and a great deal at the price we paid.

A chilly start at La Sella, only a few hardy members were on the course in front of us, long trousers were the order of the day but a few of the tougher players wore shorts in anticipation of the expected warmer weather and they were proven exactly right.

A great turn out for the Paul Kelleway Plate, played this year at Alicante as last week the game at Oliva Nova was disrupted by the weather. The golf course was in superb condition considering the recent rain, it was well manicured and tidy, a pleasure to play on. We were joined by three prospective new members, Bill Diamond, Linda and Dennis Coe who were most welcome.

With very bad weather over the past few days and no buggies allowed on the course a depleted field was inevitable. Despite all the rain the course was acceptable.

We were extremely lucky with the weather this week, it rained heavily on Tuesday and has continued in that vain since Thursday, but Wednesday was lovely, the sun always shines on the Warblers, well nearly always.

An early start at La Sella, with a chill in the air on the first tee, but still some of the optimists were wearing shorts and they were proved to be right as it turned into a perfect day for golf which makes it all the more difficult to work out why the scores were so bad.

Despite heavy overnight rain El Plantio was in a playable condition, there were some very wet patches off the fairways but in the main it was good. The competition this week was the Autumn Trophy generously sponsored by Steve Cliffe, with some excellent bottles of wine as prizes.

The club house at Alicante has taken on a new form, the bar area and restaurant have been completely updated and they have brought the outside inside with all the greenery, quite spectacular and the free coffee and toast is always welcome.

What a great day was had by membership 33 players turned up to dark skies and potential thunder storms, but blue skies came out and stayed and shone just like Malcolm Monti despite recent reduction in handicap scored an amazing 42 points with 2 holes not scoring.