A healthy field contested the official start to the season, and the complete lack of non-returns and a CSS of 65 in the face of tricky, windy conditions bodes well for the summer ahead.

The course was in outstanding condition considering the amount of rain which had fallen during the week, and MacPhail - the winner of the new set of Ben Ross clubs raffled throughout the winter season - demonstrated his prize is already working well with a net score of 64.

That was just enough to beat Donald Standaloft by a better inward half, but Donald's gross score of 67 included no fewer than eight threes and indicates some really good form, even at this early stage of the season.

Another interesting card was that of David Bodys, whose run of four holes from the ninth featured a two, a two, a five and another two. Three twos in four holes isn't bad - shame about the rest though!

Elsewhere, the Firth of Clyde League will operate to a different format this season, with the eight participants divided into two leagues of four clubs, each league being played in a home-and-away format.

Unfortunately the Port team has been drawn in what can only be described as 'the league of death', against three of the four biggest clubs in the Firth, namely Rothesay, Gourock and Cowal.

The other league comprises Routenburn, Skelmorlie, Largs and Millport - not much travelling for these clubs then!

This weekend is a busy one at the Port, with the McCready Stableford on Saturday and the April medal on Sunday with the usual ballots.

At Bute Golf Club, meanwhile, Winter League winner John Kernaghan was on the receiving end twice on Saturday when, after picking up the top award in the April medal at Kingarth, he was presented with the McArthur Cup to mark his success in the recent winter stableford competition.

League sponsor Stephen Thomas of Stephen Thomas Financial Services handed over the award and other main prizes in a short ceremony at St Blane's Hotel in Kilchattan Bay.

Earlier in the day Kernaghan, whose trophy tally over the past 12 months has now reached six, shot a creditable 76 for net 64 to win the first class section of the latest monthly medal by five strokes from Jim McKirdy (10) 69.

The second class was won by Gordon Little (16) on 67, with Frazer Robinson (20) three shots behind in second place.

The first round of the Sir Harry Hope Cup, due to be played this Saturday, has been postponed until a later date because of conditions at the course.

An extra medal will be held in its place, with the usual ballot at 8.30am.

Finally, the junior season at Rothesay Golf Club got under way on Sunday, with Jack Mackirdy, playing off 24, winning the Subscription Medal by a mammoth 15-shot margin with an excellent net score of 58.

Ten hardy players took part, with Richard Dunn (5) finishing runner-up on a net 73 and Euan McGregor (36) in third place on 78.