It should have been the most beautiful Easter Sunday with the sun shining to welcome us on the
first tee for the Easter Trophy Greensome board competition.
Unfortunately it was more like winter than spring !!!

66 players were involved. However 3 of them did not qualify to play in the trophy, being short of
the 4 qualifying cards required. They could compete for the nearest the pin though.
Many of us were desperate to get our name on the board and went out full of hope ... most of us
came back disappointed ... a bit cold but having been wonderfully treated at the half way break
by an incredible display of sweet and savoury goodies home made by members, and drinks
galore, all served by Sue Duncan, Aileen Davies, Earle and Sharon Lockhart and Jane Conyers,
Social Secretary and team leader.
Did it improve our game 🤔may be not but it was most appreciated.

​And then came the time for prize giving.
Our Captains were ready, having been given the results by our Competition Secretary who had
worked very hard to make the competition a success.
Thanks were given to Jill O'Connell and Jane Conyers for their great help.
Fiona Napier, our Gents Captain’s wife, had organised a raffle of Easter goodies and thanks to
the players generosity €500 was raised for the Captains Charity Madrugada.
So prizes ?
Nearest the Pin Ladies (hole 10) Judy Lench
Nearest the Pin Gents (hole 15) Ian MacMahon
4th 39 points Hugh Duncan and Lizee McGraw
3rd 39 points on c/b Olwyn Simpson and Paul Daly
2nd 42 points Mike and Elaine Whitley
1st 44 points Juliet Smith and John Maniak
So for all of us disappointed players, there will always be next year .... Bye for now
MP

​Glorious clear blues skies greeted us at Vila Sol for the start of the competition. Despite everybody's best efforts, only Vila Sol managed to field a full team of 15 players. A combination of Algarve League matches, Easter week holidays and illness meant that the other teams struggled to have even 10 players; CGCC managed 9 players in the end! In spite of the auspicious start, rain clouds gathered at 2pm so the latter half of the groups ended up getting a bit soggy. But that did not dampen our spirits, we all enjoyed the course and playing with new partners from other clubs.

The format was Stableford, with the best 5 scores from each team to count. Although our team was a little scant on numbers, we certainly punched above our weight!

Results were:
Teams
4th place : Alto  147 points
3rd place : SDM 148 points
2nd place : CGCC 152 points
1st place : Vila Sol 169 points

Individual
Nearest the pin (low handicappers) Marilynne Fienberg
2nd place (c/b) : Anne Terry 36 points

Thank you to Vila Sol for organising and hosting us. And my thanks to Lorry D, Olwyn S, Anne T, Marilynne F, Karen M, Barbro T, Bernadette B and Sue M for volunteering and putting on a great performance.

Alison
Ladies Captain

​It was the turn of Pinta to host the bi-annual battle between Pinta and Gramacho on Sunday and we were all blessed with sunshine and only a couple of light showers.   Quite something, considering the amount of very wet golf we have endured over the past couple of months!  As usual, there was abundant interest in the competition and it was over-subscribed, but thankfully those on the reserve list were able to jump in at the last minute covering illness etc.  

Many thanks to Ian Russell & Ian McMahon who organised us all once again, sending out the draws, pre-preparing our cards, greeting us on the 1st tee and managing the results and prizes.  Our thanks to Jill O’Connell for collecting in the money, and to Jane Conyers for organising pizza for each team on their arrival back at the clubhouse.  Everything ran like clockwork, thank you everyone.

There were quite a few halved matches, but the end result was another win for Gramacho, 10 points versus 8 for Pinta - Congratulations to the Whites, commiserations to the Blues.  

Can Pinta put a halt to the Gramacho run of wins?  Make sure you sign up for the next foray at Gramacho scheduled for Sunday 2nd November.  

Well played everyone!

Sue Mortimer
Ladies Vice Captain

We have had a busy time lately with three matches coming in a couple of weeks.

Early April we travelled down to Pinheiros Altos and played their course which was in very good condition and one which most of our players were unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, we lost soundly 4 matches to 1 and were well beaten on the day, however, it was a great day out and the hosts were very hospitable and it was a great day out.

Then, last week, we faced Silves International, at Silves, which is almost a home game but not quite!. Again, we lost overall but only a 3-2 this time and most matches were very close to the wire.

All these away matches have been quite testing but, in terms of League points we have done OK and look forward to some home matches on Pinta with the hope of picking up points.  

Finally, a Home game yesterday on Pinta which was the return fixture against Silves International, and I am delighted to report our first win of the Season - a resounding 4 -1 victory at last !! Our points total looks much healthier !

We play Quinta do Lago on Friday away which, I believe,  is always the most popular trip of the year for all teams to a great club, fantastic Golf course and renowned hospitability

​After Friday we have a break until mid-May and then another three home games fairly close together.
Happy Easter to all our Club members
Enjoy the better weather - hopefully !!
 
David Lightburn