Awali Golf Club take a beating

Manama : Awali Golf Club (AGC) went last weekend to Abu Dhabi and were beaten 9-0 in the sixth annual inter-club matchplay competition against Al Ghazal Golf Club for the Hindmarsh Trophy.

Historically, the 2010/11 season saw the first occasion of a match-play competition between the two clubs and AGC club member Keith Hindmarsh donated a trophy known as the Falcon Head Trophy. However, during the 2011/12 season, Keith died suddenly following a short illness and the next occasion of the match was held in January 2013, hosted in Abu Dhabi by Al Ghazal Golf Club, the trophy was renamed the Hindmarsh Trophy in memory of Keith.

A total of 18 players from AGC look to regain the trophy lost last season at home, with a careful eye on the weather forecast. With winds of 50km blowing down the Gulf on the Friday - competition in Awali was cancelled, a rare occasion as this normally only happens when the weather is wet.

On the Friday, practice was cancelled due to the howling winds, but some AGC players braved the conditions to get used to the grassy course.

Conditions improved on the Saturday with light winds and clear blue skies and the hosts outplayed its opponent despite a noteworthy attempt to salvage the day by Nicky and Dave Bailey, as they managed to hold their own to the very end, losing on the last hole. The other matches were not quite so close as Al Ghazal retained the trophy for the third year running.

The trophy was presented to the local club captain Herman Groenewald, together with lady club captain Sandra Grenet at a prize giving ceremony.