Rain delays and flooded greens threatened to derail the league's final day, but with the co-operation of the players, and the assistance of volunteers willing to 'squeegee' the greens, the final went ahead as planned, with Standaloft and Lintermans eventually securing a convincing 4 and 3 victory over John Black and Bobby Pedder.

The conditions, happily, did not affect the standard of golf, with Standaloft in particular playing some sparkling stuff. Despite losing the first two holes, he and Lintermans soon found their form and were one ahead after six, only for a four, net three, from Pedder to level the game once more at the seventh.

But a Standaloft run of three, two, three, three and three gave the comeback specialists a comfortable margin of five up with six to play, and sure enough there was no way back for Black and Pedder, with the contest ending on the 15th green.

The third and fourth place play-off was the only other game to beat the weather, despite everyone's best efforts to give it a go, with I.L. MacLeod, playing on his own due to an injury to his playing partner John Preston, holding out against Robert Jardine and David Beattie until the 17th green.

After a bye in the first round of the annual Mail on Sunday Trophy, the Port team was handed a second round tie at home to Ranfurly Castle, and a convincing win by four and a half to a half has secured another home tie, this time against Kirkintilloch GC, in the third round.

Donald Standaloft, I.L. MacLeod, Ted McDonald and John Black were the Port's winners against their Renfrewshire opponents, with Graham Dunn managing a half.

The Clydesdale Bank Subscription Medal takes place on Sunday, and members are reminded that membership should be paid prior to play.
Finally, the Salmon Leap has now reverted to summer time, with a ballot at 5.30pm on Fridays.

At the other end of the island, the start of Bute Golf Club's new season at Kingarth has been badly affected by extreme weather over the past two weeks, with just a handful of members braving the conditions.

Competitors were stoned by hail and lashed by rain in Saturday's medal, with only five completing the course; Duncan Speirs (7) took first place with a 69, with John Kernaghan (12) runner-up on 71.

Easter medal result: John Kernaghan (12) 69, Bobby Speirs (12) 71.

Rothesay Golf Club's veteran players made a stunning start to their Bute Seniors' Golf League campaign when they defeated title-holders Port Bannatyne 4-0 in the opening match at Canada Hill.

The visitors were forced to field a depleted team, with I.L. Macleod having to take on Ben Ward and John Watson on his own in the top game; the Rothesay duo won by 5 and 4.

Other results (Rothesay names first): Charlie Sidebottom and Alex McIntosh beat Hector Whitelaw and Sandy Hill 2 and 1; Joe McMillan and Brian Hughes beat Andy Williamson and John Hebditch 4 and 3; Gordon Merrett and Brian McKillop beat Willie Hunter and Willie Lavender 7 and 5.

The Rothesay players entertain Bute on Tuesday in the second match of their league programme.