This week saw the Annual Festival Week around the fairways and greens of Falmouth Golf Club. Numbers for the daily competitions were up on last year and some of the overall performances were above and beyond the call of duty.

Monday saw the opening competition, which was the Tre’care sponsored Trefula Cup - a two-ball better-ball competition. Various team-combinations were tried from youth and enthusiasm to knowledge and experience. In third place were the youthful Darren Becconsall and the enthusiastic Niall MacDougal with 45 points. Playing the knowledge-and- experience card, for second spot, were the combination of Rodney Bailey and Billy Ward, who also scored 45.

However, beating them on countback, also on 45 points, were Andy McKnight and Darren Horton who managed to fend off the other two pairs with an excellent back nine, to collect first prize. Stamina and determination must have been their watchwords for the day.

Tuesday’s competition was all about cunning and guile, as it was the legendary WC Rowe sponsored, seniors three-ball team event. In third place were the three amigos of Alan Miller, Louis Gifford and Colin Ross with 78 points. In second place were the experienced team of John Gresson, Gerry Storey and Lee Anderson with 80 points. Out in front, with an excellent 81 points, showing the variety of skills and knowhow that they must have picked up over the years were, Ken Arch, Gordon Kelly and Tony Drew. The trio are consistent high scorers in the seniors’ section and obviously lived up to their billing.

Wednesday was ladies day and the three-ball team Stableford was kindly sponsored by March Hare Ladies Fashions. It turned out to be a great day and in third place, with 78 points was the lady captain’s team of Letitia Rivett-Old, Janet Bishop and Judith Beeton. Second place went to Brenda Arch, Lis Thomas and Jane Attwood. Way out in front with a fantastic 82 points, were the bookies’ pre-tournament favourites, the combination of Yvonne Ratcliffe, Mary Bennetts and Jenny Dunstan.

On Friday the bandits rode into town to try their hands at the Texas Scramble, sponsored this year by St Austell Brewery. Conditions were good and as usual, there was a very strong field. In third place was the CAW team from Truro, comprising D Downing, J Verran, G Champion and S Drew, with a score of 56.8. In second place, also on 56.8, but with a better back nine was the Falmouth-based team of Neville Brown, Martin Almond, Angus MacArthur and Darren Becconsall. In front of them and in first place with a score of 55.6, were the usual suspects of Zac Annear, Paul Collins, Steve Robbins and Gareth Holt. They have won a number of times in previous years and are proof that these competitions can be won with low handicaps.

Sunday’s competition was cancelled due to the weather, so Saturday’s turned out to be the final competition of the week. It was the Clydesdale Bank four-ball team Stableford and the start sheet was full to the brim. Third place, with a score of 112 points, went to the ‘Marmalade and Lamb’ team, lead by the evergreen Roger Dunstan. The other members of his team were the youthful Marek Churcher, the in-form Ritchie Perrin and the steady David Holland. They finished two points behind the second place team of ‘Northern Monkeys’ comprising Dave Gibbons, Gordon Kelly, Brian Norris and Lee Anderson, who notched up a very creditable score of 114 points. The winners on the day were the ‘Cup Half Empty’ team of Andy Morris, Mark Butland, Darren Becconsall and Mike Sawden, who also had 114, but had a better back nine. Despite the last day having to be postponed due to heavy rain, Falmouth Golf Club’s Annual Festival Week proved to be a great success, with record entries. Director Steve Burrows, said: “Apart from the Sunday, we were very lucky with the weather and the atmosphere both in and out of the clubhouse was super. My thanks go to our club captain Ian Churcher, for his full support throughout the week, also to seniors’ captain Harry Keene, ladies’ captain Letitia Rivett-Old, president Janet Barnicoat and club professional Nick Rogers, for their help and assistance.

“Two other helpers who deserve special mention are Wynne Woolcock, who helped me brilliantly, putting in many hours preparing the cards and compiling the results and for the first year Ian Ashenden, who started the proceedings each day in a thoroughly professional manner , microphone and all. “For two of the days he videoed each player teeing off and kept the members in stitches by playing it in the clubhouse throughout the evening - several members have offered money to get hold of the tapes and destroy the evidence so that their swings will never be seen again. “My thanks also go to the kind sponsors for all their support and the staff, who have put in very long hours and have been brilliant.”

More photos in this week's Packet.