MEMBERS of 45 different golf clubs from the Midlands, Wales and the South West supported Ross Golf Club’s annual men's Seniors Pairs Open for players 55 and over, reports KEITH RAY.

An impressive 77 pairings teed up, of which 130 players were visitors, to enjoy the unique experience of playing the club’s 'hidden gem' tree-lined Gorsley course, which fully lived up to expectations.

The standard of play was a credit to the occasion, and not for the first time former Ross GC captain Mark Whitmore and his golfing pal Paul Senior from Kings Norton Golf Club rose to the occasion to post a 44 stableford points-winning score.

Mark paid tribute to his partner's short game in mastering the testing par 3 holes while their scorecard showed scores at 14 other holes, including three birdies where Mark had been the master.

Steve Hill from Llanishen GC and Paul Norman of Whitchurch, Cardiff GC impressed with 43 points to finish runners-up, and George Brown, winner of the Ross Seniors Singles Open in July, playing with fellow St Mellons GC pal Tony Withnall, carded a 42 points total to avoid travelling home empty-handed.

Ross seniors to take advantage of home status saw Andy Baldwin playing with Stinchcombe Hill’s William Bramley and Colin Bennion, alongside Jonathan Hoyle, carding 42 points prize-winning scores.

The perfect playing conditions saw many acknowledgements and appreciations passed on to course manager Dylan Stokes and his green keeping team.

An abundance of volunteers and helpers, largely from the men's seniors section. ‘made it happen', together with the valued services of the respective teams of club caterer John Devine, the Tim Hall School of Golf Pro-Shop and general manager Hamish Mackay.

The opportunity to 'help others' was again a feature and there was generous support for the raffles, with June Savidge an inspiration.

And the dedicated charity of Ross GC captain Joe Sutton – Encephalitis International which helps brain inflammation sufferers – saw £853 added to his annual fundraising.