PLAYING IN the first day of the August heat wave, Ron Goddard kept his cool to win the Royal British Club Golfing Society’s (RBCGS) Hotel Baía Plate, with a fine round of 73 (a net 67), on the Championship Course at the Golf do Estoril.
His low, medal play score earned him the d’Arcy Orders Cup as well, and confirmed his position as the RBCGS’s low man for the third year in a row.
The Resident’s Bob Hughes was at the Estoril course recently to witness the toll the heat was having on some of the players by the end of the first nine holes. So, by the 18th hole, that long awaited cold drink in the clubhouse was more than inviting.
Forty-three members and guests had chosen to switch from the customary Stableford points format and test their game as the Pros do each week.
Fathi Al Khadra took second place with a net score of 70, and Society Captain for 2005 Ed Robbins was third with 71. Margot and Max Zimmerli made fourth and fifth places.
Max Zimmerli also won the Newstead Trophy for players with a 19 or higher handicap, and Fathi Al Khadra added to his prizes by hitting closest to the pin on the 13th hole. Sally Buxton was closest to the pin in two on the tricky eighth hole. Brian Hughes had a terrible round, thereby winning the Cowbell, which brought with it a lesson with professional Gordon Young! Denys Stormont won the Captain’s prize for fine play on a selected group of holes.
Dinner and prize giving ceremony in the evening took place in the newly remodelled Hotel Baía in Cascais. Hotel manager, João Coruche, set up a buffet in the elegant bar and restaurant area.
The RBCGS’s next outing will be the Peter Dawson Bowl, played at Praia d’El Rey on September 14.
