A very warm welcome back for news of the first Swindle of 2026. After the intervention of the big feeze, Wednesday January 14th was the first opportunity for many to dust off the clubs and set forth for a new year of golf.
After the equivalent fixture last year I distinctly remember Mike Crofts saying he'd never again be daft enough to win first time out and live with a permanent 2-shot cut for the other 51 weeks of the year. Not sure what happened to that resolution! 36 points, a £21 prize and Mike will be playing off a maximum of 18 for the rest of the year. Good man!
Usual suspects Ali and Eugene pitched in for second place with 34 points, alongside Gary Fowler. £4 and temporary 1-shot cuts to all 3 of them. At the other end of the roster 3 players (no names!) each got 2 shots back. That means the first swindle of 2026 yielded a whopping 11 shots changing hands (up and down). Is that a record?
The front 9 fiver was trousered by David Cheek with 17, whilst on the back 9 Jimbo scored a very nice 19 points. Aided, it has to be said, by a chip-in on the 14th yielding a frankly outrageous 2-for-5. Jimbo we salute you!
Sad News
You will all have heard by now of the passing of our dear friend Alex Hall. Much has been said and more tributes will follow, so suffice to say for now that we will all miss one of life's true gentlemen and a fine golfer to boot. Details of the funeral will follow and I'm sure there will be a fulsome turn-out to give Alex a send-off to remember.