Ross-on-Wye Golf Club’s Layton Cup for Senior Members represents six stableford rounds, played during the Summer months. There is always an exciting finish, as the final score is based upon a player’s best three rounds, and the trophy winner can emerge late and without warning.

The fifth round of this competition delivered some exceptional performances, and with members being aware beforehand of Peter Hall’s skills as a part-time entertainer and magician from the days when he performed at their Seniors Annual Dinner, his golfing pals were amazed and delighted when Peter conjured up some magic on their Club’s tree-lined fairways, with a remarkable 44 stableford points score.

This not only won the day, but three shots disappeared from his handicap ‘just like that,’ reducing Peter’s handicap to 19.

Runner-up Robin Butler, who scored a highly creditable 43 points, also encountered a two shot reduction to 16.

The 42 points, scored by third placed Bill Knapper, now means that his name stands at the top of the current Layton Cup leaderboard, with a 116 points total for his best three rounds. Bill now goes into the imminent final round, having to cope with a reduced 15 handicap. He will be chased by John Palmer (115 points) and Graeme Laws (114 points) although there are several players who could still deny the current favourites.

In the associated Eclectic Cup, based upon a gross medal format, with one round to go it appears that no-one will be able to stop Graeme Laws, whose current gross 65 medal score gives him a massive six-shot cushion. His high score is due largely to some extraordinary play in previous rounds, in which he has carded a total of seven birdies and an eagle.

Other noteworthy performances in the fifth round, in which 94 players took part, came from Bob Cooper and Barry Robbins, with 40 points each. Players scoring 39 pointers included: Charles Reeve-Tucker, Club President, Doug Duncanson, Gethin Jenkins, Graeme Laws and Mike Lawrence.

While Peter Hall will acknowledge the recent ‘continuous improvement’ lessons afforded to him within the Tim Hall School of Golf (THSG), in which Head Professional Tim Hall and his Assistants operate at the Ross Club, he is not alone.

Other THSG pupils to star recently include 13-year-old Abbie Bishop, who recently witnessed the round of a lifetime which won her the Gloucestershire County Girls Under 14s Championship at the Cotswold Hills Club, near Cheltenham.

By coincidence, it was on this course that pupil Joss Edwards, who is also a member there but is coached at Ross, won his Club’s Championship, with a one under gross par performance, which earned him the Trophy by five shots from his nearest rival. This means that Joss has moved from a five to a two handicapper in just a few months.

Joss has been following a training programme, similar to that embarked upon by 19 year old Niall Powell, a former Ross Juniors Captain.

Ross members recently said farewell to Niall, as he will now undertake a five-year Golf Scholarship in America, at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa. Here, Niall will pursue a career in the game in which the Ross Club has played a significant role.

Returning to the Club’s practice grounds recently from America was USA based Lady Professional Becky Morgan, to meet up again with the Ross Club’s Aimpoint putting specialist Oli Leett, in readiness for playing in the Women’s Open Championship at Woburn.

Since April Becky has been working to improve her putting. And her achievements in tournaments across the world of late indicate that she has valued the input provided by Oli. A fourth place in China, followed by an impressive third place in the Women’s Lady’s Scottish Open after she went into the final round as leader and solid top 30 finishes in USA tournaments clearly speak for themselves.