This was the first year for this event to be held in August rather than March/April and to be combined with the Herts Stag at Moor Park and for the Hertfordshire Golf Union to award the Hertfordshire Bowl for the best score over the 72 holes.

Much credit must go to our Ronnie Samuels and Andrew Pierce of Moor Park for all their hard work in orchestrating the event.

The result was a resounding success, and the event can only go from strength to strength as its reputation spreads among the elite of the amateur golf circuit.

The King George V Challenge Cup, played on Saturday, August 5th, was won by Andrew Bravant, of South Herts, with a score of 137. The Wehner Driver went to Ewen Wilson as the best placed PPGC member.

Notable cards came from Tim Speyer, of West Herts, with two 69s and East Berkshire's Greg Blainey who had a magnificent 66 in the second round.

On the following day, at Moor Park, battle for the Herts Stag over 36 holes and the Hertfordshire Bowl for the best 72-hole score was as competitive as ever.

The Bowl was finally claimed by Greg Blainey, formerly of Welwyn Garden GC and PPGC, with a score of 282. After four most exciting holes of sudden death, played in the rapidly fading light, he beat 17-year-old Daniel Brooks, from Mill Hill, by sinking a 25ft birdie putt to add the Herts Stag to his weekend haul.

Next year, the Stag will be played on the Saturday and the KGV/ Herts Bowl will be decided at PPGC on the Sunday.

By the time you read this, many of you may have wondered why an oilrig has been erected behind the 9th green, writes the Club Captain. Well, it's nothing to do with the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel. Rather it is because the Environment Agency (EA) has at last issued us with a licence for a trial borehole to establish the presence of sufficient water of the right quality for use in watering our golf* course.

This is the second stage of what has been a very protracted negotiation with the EA and means that we are 90% of the way to being granted a licence to extract water, Lei's hope that enough good quality water lurks below.

The chief benefit will be cost, since extracted water is charged at about 10% of the price of mains water. Other pluses are that the water does not have to be treated before use and we should be less affected by watering restrictions.

We have applied to extract sufficient water to enable the watering of tees and greens as at present and, in addition, enough to move to fairway watering in the very near future. The intention is to water the fairways to prevent the rapid browning that we have experienced earlier this year and even more so in 2003.

The manual sprinklers installed last winter on the 18th approach and the landing area on the 7th have demonstrated what a benefit automatic sprinkling would have on the course.

A further update on this project will follow next month.

There will be a presentation of the five year plan for the Club on Wednesday 14th September at 7 p.m. in the Clubhouse.

The scratch team got back on track in the league with a fine 10-2 home win against Brookmans Park. This has ensured our position in division one next year as Berkhamsted and Harpenden Common have both played all their league games and are below us in the division.

We are currently in second place but face a tough game away against Moor Park on September 3rd - a good one to win. However, we will be without Jason Mitchell who has jetted off to Florida on a golf scholarship. Good luck, Jason.

The King George V Challenge Cup, played for the first time this year in conjunction with the Herts Stag at Moor Park for the newly created Herts Bowl, saw four of our scratch team members competing at home on the Saturday on a course presented in wonderful condition with many tough pin positions. Ewen Wilson turned in the best home performance with rounds of 70, 72. Our other players were Michael Moore (73, 70), Nick Pateman (73, 71) and Geoff W Kirby (73, 73).

Nick Pateman and Ewen Wilson have made it through to the final of the club championship, giving Ewen a chance to avenge his defeat in the county semi-final.

Rain may have stopped play in the Old Trafford Test but it did little to dampen anyone's enjoyment of this year's concert and picnic in the park. Outdoor marquees were abandoned by many for the indoor comfort of the dining room.

However Captain Peter Robinson and guests exhibited the true bulldog spirit by completing their picnic in a rain-protected edifice beside the putting green!

A receptive audience was entertained by a varied musical programme. The Badka string quartet, a talented group of young musicians from the Royal Academy, demonstrated their versatility with contributions ranging from a Mozart Divertimento to a Beatles and James Bond medley.

From another dimension of the musical spectrum, Melissa O'Donnell entranced with some classical English folk songs, beautifully accompanied by her mother Cynthia and later sang swinging jazz backed by the brilliant Dave Brown. They were joined in the finale by the evening's host Kevin O'Donnell and audience for a rousing rendition of Fly Me To The Moon. Wonderful music, and a summer's night to remember.

The evening, helped by a well supported champagne raffle, raised well over £1,000 for the Captain's charity, the Peace Hospice in Watford.

The list for those gentlemen wishing to be selected to play on Saturday 24th September in this annual foursomes match for the Matheson Cup is now on the social golf noticeboard adjacent to the changing room. Matches will tee off at the 1st from 2.15pm, immediately following a lunch at 12.30pm for 12.45pm (in golfing attire) when opponents can enjoy refreshments together.

The evening will be free.

The occupants of Woodhall Cottage have complained to the golf club about the
number of balls from the practice ground hitting the property and landing In the
garden Would members (some clearly in need of the practice! - Ed.) please hit
up the practice ground from the 17th tee end in direction the 18th tee to prevent this happening in future.

All tees and aprons will be hollow-cored shortly followed by top dressing. Cores
will be left to dry then matted back into the surface.

Fairway bunker reconstruction has now been agreed and will start early October,
along with drainage work in the 18th rough in front of the tees to just short of
the fairway.

Interviews for the trainee greenkeepers are now taking place and l hope to have
a full complement of staff shortly.

The General Committee has received many complaints from members about the declining standard of dress both on and off the course at Porters Park by both visitors and members. As a consequence, a very clear code of dress, as already defined in the regulations, will be published.

Some examples of unacceptable dress are listed below:
    Shirts worn outside trousers
    Tracksuit trousers
    Collarless shirts produced by some golf manufacturers
    Trainers
    Combat/paramilitary-style shorts or three-quarter length shorts
    T-shirts
    Deck shoes worn without socks

Members are also reminded that the use of MOBILE PHONES is PROHIBITED on the COURSE and in the CLUBHOUSE.

It is imperative that members follow these standards to the letter if we stand any chance of enforcing them on visitors.

As Eclectic 2005 moves into its final weeks, Julian Lappert with net 47 is holding off strong challenges from Ian Taylor (48) and Simon Roland (49). But with six rounds to go at the time of writing, much can change.

Remember, there are end-of-season prizes for all the top scores and for players landing eagles so there is still plenty to play for.

Thursday, September 1st will be the last day upon which a full 18 holes will be played. September 9th and 15th will be over 15 holes.

The final round of Eclectic 2005 will be played on Friday, September 16th in conjunction the Barron Cup. The golf will be followed at 8pm by the eclectic dinner and award ceremony. Please note that the Barron Cup is open to all five-day and restricted seven-day members. Full details will shortly be posted on the notice board. Thus is a great club evening so please note in your diaries, or on your electronic organisers/Bluetooths/ iPods etc.

Apologies for the disruption to the Eclectic in July, especially to those who turned up and could not play. Suggestions have been made to try to ensure this does not happen again.

The pairings of Ken Hannah and Gail Ralph (41 pts) and Peter Robinson and Linda Lambert (37pts) whose team total of 78pts in a better-ball stableford won the Captains' Challenge at Brickendon Grange Go!f Club last month

Peter Robinson (again) and Jean Bromley, of Enfield GC, on winning the PPGC Mixed Greensomes Open with 42pts

Daniel G Marsh who won the Markham Cup with 81-18=63 from Jai Raja with 73-7=66

Garry Brandt who won the Dearbergh Cup with 73-5=68 from David Paton with 74-5=69

Rory Young who won the August midweek stableford with 38pts (last 9) from John Cole

Jane Bellis who won the July extra stableford (silver) with 42pts from Shirley Gudgeon on 37 Madeleine Olausson won the bronze division with 43pts from Gill Williams on 38. Gill's round also won her the Hopkinson Salver.

Helen Emms who won the Tatham Cup with the best (silver) medal round of 73-3=70 from Hilary Skinner on 75-4=71. The bronze medal went to Judy Jenkin on 106-32=74, with Carole Bamford runner-up on 100-24=76.

Kate Nelson who won the August stableford (silver) with 42pts from Constance Marriot with 39. Vivienne Fletcher won the bronze division with 43pts from Jenny Gelson with 40.

Judy Jenkin who won the Rushion Cup with the best net medal round (bronze) with 97-32=65. Runner-up was Dagny Moffat, winner of the silver division medal with 85- 16=69. Medal runners-up were Jean Swithenbank (silver) with 89-20=69 and Mary McGovern (bronze) with 98-27=71.