A fantastic day was enjoyed by all those who took part in The Rhiannon Trophy event last Friday 29th August.
It was run in aid of Angelo, our Head Green Keepers special needs son. Last year the contributions help to pay fees, medical treatments and a special wheel chair.
The Trophy is named after the Granddaughter of Terri and Brian Randall, Rhiannon, who also is a special needs child. as she lives in the UK all her schooling and care is paid for but Alberto receives little or no help towards Angelo's.
Pestana kindly gave Pinta golf course for the day plus it's full backing.
The new stoke indices are now in place at Silves, although it is not yet known when the marker boards will be altered.
All competitions, Extra Day Cards and knockout matches will use these new indices. The Datagolf system which is used for submitting our score cards has also been updated to reflect the changes, so please use the new score cards already available at Silves reception.
The Captain and Secretary were both present at the Italia Restuarant in Ferragudo recently for the presentation of a cheque for €250, continuing their generous sponsorship. The cost will help with the purchase of club shirts which are available via the Captain or management committee members. The Italia logo will continue to appear on the sleeve.
Owners Rafa and Enza Salmone were also kind enough to present the club with discount vouchers which are currently with Dave Tweed and will be presented as prizes in club competitions.
Saturday saw a fantastic day at Silves when SdM entertained a group of Junior Golfers from the Pestana Academy. Playing in a Matchplay format the young golfers had a great time learning some of the arts of Matchplay. The juniors were partnered with a SdM member and the competition was fierce. After the game the prizes were presented and SdM treated the young golfers to Lunch. Many thanks to Charles Bradshaw for his work in organising the match and Captain Gary Edwards for working hard to provide such a great day. Pestana kindly provided courtesy of the course to the juniors.
Pestana SA are committed to developing golf for local school children.
They offer instruction to school parties, giving the pupils an opportunity to try golf as a sport while on release from school.
Juniors are young people who have not reached 18 in the current year.
On Saturday mornings Carlos Ribeiro, the incumbent teaching professional at the Pestana Academy, teaches the juniors as a group and supervises their development.
I remember vividly the first time I saw Silves Golf Course. It was a few weeks before it opened and I along with about 20 other SdM members were given a guided tour by Jose Matias. We travelled in a convoy of buggies and it all seemed very pleasant, until we stopped on the 5th tee and I got my first view looking down the fairway from that elevated position. It actually took my breath away, a sunny November day and a prefect vista. From that moment to today I have never tired of that view.
After the "away day" at Alto last week due to the European Seniors Competitions, the matchplay men came back home to Silves on this damp and relatively cold Thursday morning. Quite a few of the regulars were not playing today, as they were on marshalling duty for the Seniors Final at Pinta - getting very wet and very cold!
So, just 12 of us today, and only two of the three 4balls were our normal matchplay game, as Pete Vaughan and his guests played their own game.