Hinksey Heights Club Night “ScraBBle” Playing Scrabble and golf are a lot alike: you spend hours trying to spell out a decent PAR (5 points) or BIRDIE (13 points), only to end up with a triple-word BOGEY (11 points) and an argument over the rules. Six pairs signed up to try and work out how to overcome the novel ScraBBle format: three holes scramble, three holes 4BBB, and three holes alternate shots. As if the algorithm to work out the handicaps was complicated enough, testing the technical skills of the competition organisers, the winners of the event would also have to score the fewest points, so very un-scrabble like. Before the comp started there were a few “Dad” scrabble jokes, including the best of the bunch: my dog ate a whole bag of Scrabble tiles, so I took him to the vet. There is no word yet. Definitely no prizes for that one. It was pleasing to see some members playing a competition for the first time, including Angus and Jamie Barnard from our junior section who benefited from being paired with the experience of Mike and Karen Sauvage, and James Lovejoy and Owen Thomas. All the debutants played solidly and all the pairs kept a great pace to avoid the 1 shot penalty applied for not completing nine holes in 2 hours. Regular competition competitors please note: it is possible to play nine holes in two hours. In the end it was a tight finish, with two pairs tied on 28 shots and separated only on countback over the last three holes. The winners, Ally Daly and Neil Smith just pipped Mark Lovejoy and Nathan King who then good naturedly pointed the finger of blame at each other for their 5 on the 17th that cost them the win. Ally and Neil won a voucher for the Springs which I hope they and their guests will enjoy. The atmosphere in the 19th hole afterwards was excellent. The Committee would like to organise more fun events of this type so if you have ideas for a nine-hole evening or Saturday afternoon event please contact the committee. Photos show the winners and runners up, and Wayne Shaw (a club night regular) celebrating a superb pin high approach shot to the 16th green from the 15th fairway which apparently was always part of the team plan. Jarlath Brine, HH Committee Chair