Indeed the only sporting action at the golf club during this period has been Winter League Secretary Chris Hoyle and his grandson improving their tobogganing skills on the snow covered slopes of Mount Skip which looked more like the Swiss Alps than a golf course.

Stuart ' Spencer maintained his 100 per cent record in the Winter League, no doubt aided once again by the luck of being drawn with Chris Phillips as his playing partner beating Keith 'The Lawman' Law and Dave Pickles 4&3.

Pictured is a recent photograph on the sixth tee of Gavin Brumby (left) the winner of this competition in 2009 with 'Spenner' who is now going to take some stopping, not least by Gavin who fell further behind due to being away with others this weekend in Spain taking in some warm weather golf.

In second place, some 10 points behind Spenner, is Noel Russell the son of the late Sheamus in whose memory the trophy has been named. Noel and his partner Fish won 4&3 against Chris Hoyle and Neil '007' Bond.

The biggest shock of the day was Andy 'Big Bash' Cryer and his partner Brian Coukham being beaten. Big Bash has now been beaten on the last two occasions by a high handicapper, this time it was Gary Davies who was partnered by Colin Greenwood, the former making his Winter League debut showing that it is not only the F.A.Cup that can bring about the odd shock or two.

The Birdie Hole is now more than £100, a nice nest egg for anyone who gets a birdie on the third hole, so any member who has not yet managed to drag themselves out of bed on a Sunday morning may well find it beneficial to do so.

Yellow peril

Saturday's Yellow Peril 15 hole competition was closely contested and won by the low handicap threesome of Iain Powell, Bob 'The Builder' Gee and Paul Richardson with 104 points who were no doubt getting in a bit of practice before flying out to Portugal for a weeks pre-season training in early February.

Martin Astin, Colin Greenwood and Chris 'John Bull' Wilby finished one point behind in second place. How Fish was regretting his two blank scores when having the yellow ball, much to the disgust of his playing partners Robo and Martin 'Smiley' Whiley, the latter making a welcome return as a member to the golf club, as they ended up finishing third on 100 points.