Local Golf News

The end is finally in sight for those who have made it to the final of the various KO competitions at the Royal Malta Golf Club.

The long trek started in October when the first rounds were played. An unusually wet winter (already forgotten?) caused delays but re-scheduling of play put the competitions back on track and all the finalists are now known.

They are:

Peter Satariano vs Tony Vella (Scratch KO); Benjamin Mangion vs Peter Dimech (R&A Trophy); Lew Collins vs Peter Satariano (Le Meridienne); Nick Laferla vs Ken Waddington (Creasy Cup); Alex and Benjamin Mangion vs Lino and Peter Satariano (Glover Cup - both father and son partnerships);

Simon Micallef Stafrace and John Rizzo Naudi vs Natal Azzopardi and Maurice Gruppetta (RMGC Foursomes); J.J. Micallef and Valerie Simpson vs Mike Bennett and Manuela Roth (Mixed 4BBB); and Nick Urpani and Anna Van Den Bossche vs Richard and Jackie Ried (Rundle Rose Bowl).

Wedgwood Trophy

The third major men's competition, the Wedgwood Trophy, was played over two consecutive Saturdays earlier this month.

Always an extremely popular competition thanks to the quality of the prizes donated by the sponsor, Gio Batta Delia, the Wedgwood did not fail to attract a very large entry and its usual share of emotion.

(Day 1) Winner Ray Mountford 42 pts, runner-up Eugene Murray 40 pts.

(Day 2) Winner Per Bergedahl net 66; runner-up Hideo Hirao net 67.

(Overall) 1. Ray Mountford 27; 2. Per Bergedahl 30; 3. Eugene Murray 30.

Lowest gross on medal day: Nick Beck 75 net 69 playing off six handicap.

The championship

The 'big one' will be played this weekend over 54 holes off the back tees and without the benefit of a handicap.

Unlike competitions with a handicap allowance, which can be won by any one of the entrants, the championship prize is reserved for those with the talent to regularly break 75 on the Marsa course.

This effectively includes all those players who can sustain a single figure handicap throughout the season - numbering less than 20.

The secret is holding it together for three consecutive rounds - not easy considering the pressure and the current playing difficulty of the course; although it has to be said that the rough is not as punishing as it should be for a competition of this stature.

Recent experience will give Peter Satariano and Nick Beck an edge.

But Warren Alcock is back with a vengeance while Kim Borg will be looking to overcome his nemesis in this competition.

Tony Vella will be sure to count the number of clubs in his bag after having suffered a four-shot penalty for carrying one club too many on the last day of last year's edition.

Others with a chance include young J.J. Micallef and Chris Bergedahl, veteran Alfred Zammit, Nick Laferla, Paul Stoner and Mark Sims.

For others, the championship is an opportunity to enjoy competing for a place among the elite who qualify for the last round on Sunday - when the field is culled to a mere 15 players.

There is a supplementary competition, The Centenary Cup, also played over the same three days, for those who do not qualify due to handicap restrictions and those who miss the cut after the first and second rounds.

Micallef leads Order of Merit

J.J. Micallef, 14, leads the Order of Merit with 207 points going into the championship weekend. He is followed by Tony Vella (190) and Nick Beck (188).

With points up for grabs on each day of the championship, as well as for the overall winner, it is hard to predict who will be this year's Order of Merit winner but it's gratifying to see a home grown junior leading the field into the final stretch.

The Eclectic also features Nick Beck (leading with a score of 53) followed by, yet again, Micallef (55), and Peter Satariano (56).

The Eclectic score is arrived at by the sum of the best score made at each hole from the start of the season.

Extraordinary general meeting

The extraordinary general meeting held on May 25 was well attended and went off without a hitch.

The real issue was a long list of resolutions designed to amend the club's statute in such a way that it would allow for the running of the club by a sleek five-person Board of Management.

Changes include the introduction of the post of vice-chairman while the office of Honorary Treasurer has been abolished; to be replaced by a finance sub-committee under the chairmanship of one of the elected BoM members.

The BoM will henceforth be complemented by a more active Captain's Committee taking care of competitions, social functions and other membership matters. The EGM was held four weeks ahead of the club's annual general meeting so that the changes can take effect immediately after the new committee is elected.

With mundane statute matters out of the way, the RMGC committee took the opportunity of the gathering to unveil its plans for an improved clubhouse. With the course now of a highly acceptable standard, improvement of clubhouse facilities is the natural step forward.

The plans presented include an extension for the housing of members' lockers and dressing rooms, and extensive internal alterations. The historic part of the building is to be retained in its entire and original form.

The designing architect has opted for a modern approach to the exterior finishes in preference to a rustic theme. The present building is a hotchpotch of add-ons to an old farmhouse.

Detailed plans and costing will take time, as will MEPA development permission.

Then there is the question of finance. But one has to start somewhere and the main thing is that the will is there.

Golf association

During the EGM, the opportunity was also taken to launch the Malta Golf Association's new statute and to open the way for the election of a new council.

A presentation was made detailing how and why the association - then known as the Malta Golf Federation - came into being in 1996 and its achievements to date. Looking forward, the MGA is aspiring to nurture a Malta team for international competitions at amateur level.

As the name implies, the association's object is to promote golf in the Maltese islands; as opposed to having anything to do with the running of the golf club. It is hoped that the Maltese golfing community will respond favourably to this initiative.

Elections to the MGA council will take place concurrently with RMGC elections.