Well, my year as Captain is over and there is a sense of relief, pride and a large element of sadness, almost an empty feeling.
I was quite surprised that I would feel like this.
I did my closing speech and felt I covered the salient points, but to recap:
Well, where did that year go...............................a cliché I know, but it only seems like yesterday (12 months ago) that I stood before you, jacketless, Vice Captain less, preparing for my year as your Captain
And what an INTERESTING Year it has been.
We’ve just seen some of the winners presented with their trophies, but that’s not the half of it......
The teams had a mixed year, with the A team struggling towards the end of the season and ending up 5th. The B team, I guess it’s safe to say, struggled all season and did really well to stay in the 1st division. The only Silverware this year coming from the Scratch Cup and of course, not forgetting the Veterans Cup runner up spot.
Oh and we did manage to regain the Weston challenge which Trevor Managed to lose last year!!!
Playing for the team is a big commitment, so I thank everyone who has played this year, win, lose or draw.
I set myself a number of challenges in the year, one of which to have played golf with 100 different people, well I got to 83, which was not bad. Thanks to all 83 of you for putting up with me!
I was also presented with a number of other challenges throughout the year, which with the help of my committee and Iain Gray and Jon Farmer we managed as effectively and efficiently as we could.
I’d like to thank my Committee and the whole Devere team who I can honestly say have the members interests at heart despite the corporate demands placed upon them. As I said 12 months ago, we need to understand the situation we are in as a club and the relationship we have as Members with Devere,
There have been many high points for me during the year, the Joint Captains day, a long but rewarding day, with decent weather for a change.
A great Captains Awayday at Trentham Golf club, pity about the football afterwards Two personal highlights:
I actually won a couple of rounds of the Singles Knockout and I had the honour of playing in the Euro Pro pro am with the Winner and Runner up of our Club Championship and a professional who actually played at the Masters in Augusta.....he missed the cut, but at least he can say he played there!
Oh and thanks to the heavy frost I believe I hold the record for the longest Captains Drive In!!!
We also raised a significant amount of money for the Help for Heroes Charity, I will leave Elaine to announce the total, but thanks to all who supported the charity. And don’t forget you can now go in the water on 14 without any financial penalty!
Low’s.....well not too many, but one thing I do regret is not having been able to do more for the Junior Section.
Finally, a few thanks..........
Firstly I’d like to thank Elaine for her support throughout the year, keeping me under control...........I think she has done a great job in keeping the Ladies section going.
Secondly, I’d like to thank Will Clayton who has been Honorary Secretary for the past few years and has done an excellent job keeping us all within the rules!!! He has decided to step down, but my personal thanks go to Will.........
I’d like to thank everyone who has worked on the committee, but there are two people I’d like to single out.
Jeff Dean took on the onerous task of Treasurer this year and there were a number of issues that needed to be resolved when he took it on and the job he has done and the tenacity with which he has tackled the task has been immense!
Someone else who has also served on the committee for a number of years with probably the most difficult task on the committee is Paul Siviter..........having been competition secretary myself, it is at times a thankless task, but without the effort that Paul has put in there would be no competitions!!!! Having said that he is stepping down, so for those of you interested in taking it on, it’s the easiest job going!!!
One last thank you.................it goes to someone who over the past 5 years has been un-wilting in supporting the club championship, captains and presidents days and long may it continue.........Tony Welburn
So that just leaves me with one final duty, to thank you for your support and formally hand over to your new Captain, Mr Martin Wainman..............all the best Martin and I hope you have a successful and enjoyable year.
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Friday, 3 December 2010
Nearly Over
About 16 hours left as Captain!
That year has gone quick and tomorrow afternoon I hand over to Martin Wainman..............gonna be a fun year with Martin in charge!
Juast finishing off the handover speech and then that's me done. Highs, Lows and thanks! (I'll publish it tomorrow)
Promise to catch up on missing entries as well.
That year has gone quick and tomorrow afternoon I hand over to Martin Wainman..............gonna be a fun year with Martin in charge!
Juast finishing off the handover speech and then that's me done. Highs, Lows and thanks! (I'll publish it tomorrow)
Promise to catch up on missing entries as well.
Sunday, 28 November 2010
So "Un-England Like"
Day 4 of the Ashes and resuming at 25 for none, chasing a deficit of 220 runs, I watch the first 5 or 6 overs and Strauss and Cook seem to be doing ok, so I decide to leave them to it and I'll just check through the night.
This was my modus operandi for the last series down under and it was usually not good news, with me timing my viewing with an England collapse or the last few overs of each losing match, so I was expecting my first check to see Englan 5 down still not having levelled the scores, so at over 100 for no wicket just before Lunch it was a pleasant surprise.
So I left them to it.
Alarm set for 6am, I was planning to see the last hour before going to play golf.
I turned on the TV, expecting to see England Fielding and the Aussies ready to knock off the last few runs for an opening win and a demoralised England.
My bleary eyes managed to establish that England were still in and were at 280 for 1!!!!
Strauss was out having scored 110 and Cook on 120 with Trott on 43.
The Aussies were not looking so cocky now! In fact they were relieved to get off the pitch early due to bad light!
At 308 for 1 a healthy position with a day to go.
This was my modus operandi for the last series down under and it was usually not good news, with me timing my viewing with an England collapse or the last few overs of each losing match, so I was expecting my first check to see Englan 5 down still not having levelled the scores, so at over 100 for no wicket just before Lunch it was a pleasant surprise.
So I left them to it.
Alarm set for 6am, I was planning to see the last hour before going to play golf.
I turned on the TV, expecting to see England Fielding and the Aussies ready to knock off the last few runs for an opening win and a demoralised England.
My bleary eyes managed to establish that England were still in and were at 280 for 1!!!!
Strauss was out having scored 110 and Cook on 120 with Trott on 43.
The Aussies were not looking so cocky now! In fact they were relieved to get off the pitch early due to bad light!
At 308 for 1 a healthy position with a day to go.
Thursday, 25 November 2010
The Ashes Down Under...........
So the hype is over and the Ashes are about to start. No more talk, no more build up the toss has been won and England are about to bat.
With the Live coverage these days, it's a must to stay up and watch the first session of the first test, so having planned to work from home, it's time to hunker down and get ready for the midnight hour.
The first session, even the first ball, can set the scene and to go back 4 years to 2006, England were holders of the ashes and under the Captaincy of Freddie Flintoff it was looking good.
Having lost the Toss this time and Bowling, Harmison's first ball summed the series up. It was SO wide, Freddie took it at 2nd slip. It went downhill from there and England lost 5-0.
Poor Harmison, now working as a summariser in the studio has had to watch that ball about 10 times in the last half an hour!
Strauss facing the first ball...................good leave, second ball ditto.
Third ball and a short long hop outside his offside and 4 runs, great start. Only it does'nt go for 4, it's plucked out of the air by the Gully fieldsman and the Englan Captain is out 3rd Ball for a duck................here we go again!!!
Looks ominous and despite a recovery of sorts at 86 for 2, the Aussies are on a high at the end of the first session.
Bed for a few hours and then back up for the final session and it's 194 for 4, good recovery, Bell going well, until Siddle the "workmanlike" Aussie Bowler dismisses the beligerent Cook for 67. Out comes Prior and he goes first ball, stumps sent flying.
Now it's Broad to face the hat trick ball and despite the review, he is out LBW to give Siddle his hat trick.......I wonder if I'd stayed in bed this wouldn;t have happened!
The collapse is ievitable and despite Bell's effort of 76 with the tail offering little support it's all out for 260!!!
Here we go again!!!
With the Live coverage these days, it's a must to stay up and watch the first session of the first test, so having planned to work from home, it's time to hunker down and get ready for the midnight hour.
The first session, even the first ball, can set the scene and to go back 4 years to 2006, England were holders of the ashes and under the Captaincy of Freddie Flintoff it was looking good.
Having lost the Toss this time and Bowling, Harmison's first ball summed the series up. It was SO wide, Freddie took it at 2nd slip. It went downhill from there and England lost 5-0.
Poor Harmison, now working as a summariser in the studio has had to watch that ball about 10 times in the last half an hour!
Strauss facing the first ball...................good leave, second ball ditto.
Third ball and a short long hop outside his offside and 4 runs, great start. Only it does'nt go for 4, it's plucked out of the air by the Gully fieldsman and the Englan Captain is out 3rd Ball for a duck................here we go again!!!
Looks ominous and despite a recovery of sorts at 86 for 2, the Aussies are on a high at the end of the first session.
Bed for a few hours and then back up for the final session and it's 194 for 4, good recovery, Bell going well, until Siddle the "workmanlike" Aussie Bowler dismisses the beligerent Cook for 67. Out comes Prior and he goes first ball, stumps sent flying.
Now it's Broad to face the hat trick ball and despite the review, he is out LBW to give Siddle his hat trick.......I wonder if I'd stayed in bed this wouldn;t have happened!
The collapse is ievitable and despite Bell's effort of 76 with the tail offering little support it's all out for 260!!!
Here we go again!!!
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Nothing like being prepared.................
Winter League round 2 and the regular 4 ball of me, Mr Barrett and team Hallam. (Mark and Ben)
We are teeing off later than ususal as Mark was at a Wedding the night before, so he was expecting to be the worst for wear, but he was there well on time and had obviously had his sensible head on!
Mr Barrett, however, had forgotten that he was going to a 40th Birthday Party, with a free bar............do I need to say more?
Rob had suggested that he had managed to play well in the texas Scramble a few weeks before after not going to bed after a night out, so it worked last time so he'd be ok.
He was late. Infact when we called him he was still in bed! We were due on the tee in 10 minutes time!!!
He came screeching around the corner and into the car park as we were teeing off, so by the time he got to the tee, he was late enough to warrant a 2 shot penalty on the first. We didn't tell him this as he needed to focus on hitting the ball!!!
He teed it up and it looked like the effort of bending down and getting back up had taken it out of him!!!
A couple of practice swings, painfully completed and he addressed the ball.
Nice looking back swing, but unfortunatley he hit the deck about a foot behing the ball, taking a massive divot and the ball remained proudly on it's tee!!! An airshot.
Rob took aim again and managed to hit the ball, but only low and left into the rough!
A couple of hits at the ball to get out of the rough and he decides to save himself for the next hole.
It's a better ball format, so the best score of the 2 counting and Rob actually saves himself until the 7th hole when he manages a remarkable point with an 8.
Coffee at the halfway house seems to pep him up a bit, but he declines the shot of JD to go with it.
We manage to garner 26 points and that includes a birdie for me on 13, which scores 4 points, but to be honest Rob has done well to make it round.
Especially as when we are recalling his opening tee shot in the clubhouse afterwards, he can't remember it! In fact, he can't remember the first 6 holes!!!
Perhaps the preparation methods need to change.
We had a good laugh though!!!
We are teeing off later than ususal as Mark was at a Wedding the night before, so he was expecting to be the worst for wear, but he was there well on time and had obviously had his sensible head on!
Mr Barrett, however, had forgotten that he was going to a 40th Birthday Party, with a free bar............do I need to say more?
Rob had suggested that he had managed to play well in the texas Scramble a few weeks before after not going to bed after a night out, so it worked last time so he'd be ok.
He was late. Infact when we called him he was still in bed! We were due on the tee in 10 minutes time!!!
He came screeching around the corner and into the car park as we were teeing off, so by the time he got to the tee, he was late enough to warrant a 2 shot penalty on the first. We didn't tell him this as he needed to focus on hitting the ball!!!
He teed it up and it looked like the effort of bending down and getting back up had taken it out of him!!!
A couple of practice swings, painfully completed and he addressed the ball.
Nice looking back swing, but unfortunatley he hit the deck about a foot behing the ball, taking a massive divot and the ball remained proudly on it's tee!!! An airshot.
Rob took aim again and managed to hit the ball, but only low and left into the rough!
A couple of hits at the ball to get out of the rough and he decides to save himself for the next hole.
It's a better ball format, so the best score of the 2 counting and Rob actually saves himself until the 7th hole when he manages a remarkable point with an 8.
Coffee at the halfway house seems to pep him up a bit, but he declines the shot of JD to go with it.
We manage to garner 26 points and that includes a birdie for me on 13, which scores 4 points, but to be honest Rob has done well to make it round.
Especially as when we are recalling his opening tee shot in the clubhouse afterwards, he can't remember it! In fact, he can't remember the first 6 holes!!!
Perhaps the preparation methods need to change.
We had a good laugh though!!!
Saturday, 30 October 2010
The Shortest Drive Ever...............with a draw!!!
Rob,
Sorry, but this has to go down in the annals of Wychwood History..............wish we had a photo!!!
Played probably the last Friday "9 at 4" today, with "Team Hallam" and Rob Barrett.
Arrived at Wychwood and the wind was a howling!
Threw the balls up and I was paired with young Ben Hallam (good shout), against his dad Mark and Rob "two shots" Barrett! Better ball Stableford, full handicap!
The wind was strong, but was behind on the first , but I was surpeised to see Ben hitting 4 iron off the tee!
Ended up with a poiht each on the first, second again with a point each and the third with 2 points each.
Nothing sectacular!
Get to the 4th and we are now straight into the wind and it's now I realise that the reason Ben hit a 4 iron off the first is that he is only carrying a bag with the longest club a 4 iron!!!
He hits a low draw into the left fairway and I hot a good Drive "straight down the middle!"
Rob steps, not with the "Big Dig", but a utility/rescue club to "keep it under the wind", which he duly does!
Unfortunately, it is so low that it travels about 6 inches, aided by the draw that his topped shot produces!
His playing partner commenting that at least he has two shots and is "there for -1"
Oh how we laughed! (Why didn't we take a picture???)
His second makes it past the Ladies tee (just), but he leaves Mark to make sure that we are still level after 4 holes!
We are still level after 5, but Ben, with a brilliant 4 iron into a cross wind on 6 leaving it 5 foot from the pin, I make my way to the tee with no pressure on. I hit a sweet rescue club to the right of the pin and see a slight "wind assisted" draw fl;y to the pin, hot the flag stick and ricochet 90deg left into past the bridge and into the ditch!
We are now 1 point up!
We all hack up 7, although Rob makes amends for the 4th and hits a great Drive into the wind and after 3 has laid up to about 120 yards.
A two point half leaves us 1 point ahead.
Ben hits his 4 iron on 8 and just makes the rough near the "melling road", and we all make the carry.
After the second shots, Ben and I are short, whilst Mark and Rob have gone long!
I knock one to about 15ft from the rough, but Ben hits a delightful pitc over the bunkers to about 6 inches, so we go down the 9th with a 2 shot cushion.
Despite a great drive from Mark, we manage to score 2 points which leaves us with a 3 point winning margin! A final "pre clock change" win for the Captain and Junior Captain to savour over the Winter months.
Bit what a momentous Drive on the 4th!
Sorry, but this has to go down in the annals of Wychwood History..............wish we had a photo!!!
Played probably the last Friday "9 at 4" today, with "Team Hallam" and Rob Barrett.
Arrived at Wychwood and the wind was a howling!
Threw the balls up and I was paired with young Ben Hallam (good shout), against his dad Mark and Rob "two shots" Barrett! Better ball Stableford, full handicap!
The wind was strong, but was behind on the first , but I was surpeised to see Ben hitting 4 iron off the tee!
Ended up with a poiht each on the first, second again with a point each and the third with 2 points each.
Nothing sectacular!
Get to the 4th and we are now straight into the wind and it's now I realise that the reason Ben hit a 4 iron off the first is that he is only carrying a bag with the longest club a 4 iron!!!
He hits a low draw into the left fairway and I hot a good Drive "straight down the middle!"
Rob steps, not with the "Big Dig", but a utility/rescue club to "keep it under the wind", which he duly does!
Unfortunately, it is so low that it travels about 6 inches, aided by the draw that his topped shot produces!
His playing partner commenting that at least he has two shots and is "there for -1"
Oh how we laughed! (Why didn't we take a picture???)
His second makes it past the Ladies tee (just), but he leaves Mark to make sure that we are still level after 4 holes!
We are still level after 5, but Ben, with a brilliant 4 iron into a cross wind on 6 leaving it 5 foot from the pin, I make my way to the tee with no pressure on. I hit a sweet rescue club to the right of the pin and see a slight "wind assisted" draw fl;y to the pin, hot the flag stick and ricochet 90deg left into past the bridge and into the ditch!
We are now 1 point up!
We all hack up 7, although Rob makes amends for the 4th and hits a great Drive into the wind and after 3 has laid up to about 120 yards.
A two point half leaves us 1 point ahead.
Ben hits his 4 iron on 8 and just makes the rough near the "melling road", and we all make the carry.
After the second shots, Ben and I are short, whilst Mark and Rob have gone long!
I knock one to about 15ft from the rough, but Ben hits a delightful pitc over the bunkers to about 6 inches, so we go down the 9th with a 2 shot cushion.
Despite a great drive from Mark, we manage to score 2 points which leaves us with a 3 point winning margin! A final "pre clock change" win for the Captain and Junior Captain to savour over the Winter months.
Bit what a momentous Drive on the 4th!
Sunday, 24 October 2010
"I'm sure it comes in from the left!"
First Winter League pairs game today. Partnered by Rob Barrett this year and we missed round 1 due to Rob sunning himself in Dubai. The rain was torrential here and only 8 or 9 teams finished their rounds!
So it was an 8:28 tee time with "Team Hallam" as our 4 ball partners! Three Quarters handicap was a bit of a shock to Rob, who, off 28, was used to 10 "2 shot" holes, but today he would get 3!!!
Crisp frosty morning with brilliant blue sky. Ice forming on spikes as we walked!
Ben Hallam tee'd off first and we had the first "club whacking" anger tantrum of the day as he hooked it left. Mark, hit a great drive down the middle. Rob hit a good drive as well and mine leaked to the right, but was in play.
We all hit decent 2nds, but I ended up losing my ball in the ditch right of the bunkers and lost my ball. Early loss of ball this week!
Rob managed to get a 6 and 2 points, Ben and Mark got their 2 points as well.
Rob lost two off the tee on 2 and i was online but just short, but the first chip of the day was a good one and a par for 2 points was good enough.
we got another 2 points on 3, losing the tee to the Hallams 3 pointer!
Rob had 2 shots on the 4th and hit a good drive, but hit a couple of fat shots after that. More club abuse from Ben as he hit, what he thought, was a bad shot. we thought it was ok, but a monster from Mark put them in good shape.
A good second for me, but my wedge only just crept on and I ended up with a 5 for 2 points against another 3 pointer for team Hallam.
Three decent tee shots on 5 and then I just caught the bunker. Rob was hitting it fat again and struggled up the fairway. I got out of the bunker and then blocked a shot right, but a good chip and run left me with a 5 footer for par which just slipped by and we ended up with a point.
6th and with visits to the water by rob and I, we managed a point. Rob struggled again on 7 with two failing to make the carry, but I managed to get a 6 for 2 points.
The 8th, off the yellow tees, was easy(!), but another miss from 5 foot and it was a 5 and only 1 point.
Good drive from Rob up 9, but two visits to the lake and we sent him off to get the coffees in at the half way house.
I duffed my second and left a 3rd short, but a bump and run from 40 yards left me with a tap in and 2 points. 14points for the fron nine was not bad, but could have been a few more with a few putts dropping!
Team Hallam securing a solid 20 points, with Mark strikig the ball well.
Good drive from all of us down 10, but I'm blocked out by the tree, but a great low punch under the tree and I'm pin high just through the green.
Rob is in a similar position for 3, but his chip races across the green and 3 more to get down makes 6. I manage to lag a putt from off the green to about a foot and make a good par for 2 points. Ben sinks a putt for Birdie and 3 points to keep the Hallam's momentum. (It's only about the 2nd or 3rd time he's counted!)
The 11th sees Ben missing the green right, Mark and I leaving ours short and Rob the only one making the green albeit left of the hole with a long putt.
Ben chips to about 3 feet, Mark nearly holes for a 2 and I slide mine past about 5 foot. Rob left his putt short, but has a put for a 3. He's lining it up and I have a look and suggest right lip.
He questions this, I have a look and reaffirm a right edge putt, he stands over the putt then walks away and is sure it's left to right! Mark has a look and agrees it's right edge.
Rob is not convinced, so we suggest he hit's it as he sees it.
He does, and hits it just outside left and is perplexed when it keeps going left! Oh how we laughed!
I miss another so we end up with a point!
We all hit good drives down 12, mine just catching the rough down the left, but managed to move the ball forward to within range. Rob hits another a little fat, but hits a good layup. Mark and Ben are across the ditch for 3, but some distance away. I decide to lay-up. Right on the limit out of the rough!
Leave the wedge short, but a great chip and a tap in for 6 and 2 points.
Par for team Hallam and another 3 points!
Rob is starting to hit the "Big Dog" nicely and he hits a sweet drive down 13, but it goes straight into the ditch!
I hit a decent drive, but the Hallam's are way over the ditch.
I hit my second but end up left of the green, whilst rob plays out of the ditch and then ends up left.
We both mess about and end up with a point!
Two great drives from the Hallams again and Rob strikes another great drive, but goes straight into the ditch!
I lay up with a 3 iron and then hit another onto the fringe. Great birdie from Ben and I chip to 6 inches and a par.
Two great drives from the Hallams and Rob again strikes the ball well, but ends up in the fairway Bunker. I hit a safe one and then a second just short. Good chip, but miss the par putt. Surprisingly the Hallams only get 2 points.
A 5 on 16 and 2 points and we are then off the 17th off the Ladies tee. Ben hits a shank and nearly ends up in one of the gardens, Mark and Rob are short and right.
I hit a decent shot, onto the green, but the line of the putt leaves me having to putt over the fringe. Rob chips on and secures a 4 nett 3. My second laggs to a couple of feet, but I leave the par putt on the lip.
Good drives off the 18th for everyone, but Rob's just leaks right and into the lake. His 3rd ends up behind the tree and with our encouragement he tries to hit through the gap. It's 80% air, we tell him. He manages to hit the largest trunk smack in the middle!
After three shots I was just short, but took 3 to get down for a 6 and two points.
30 points for us and 41 for the Hallams, but a fun day, and at least we have a score on the board!
Bring on round 2!
So it was an 8:28 tee time with "Team Hallam" as our 4 ball partners! Three Quarters handicap was a bit of a shock to Rob, who, off 28, was used to 10 "2 shot" holes, but today he would get 3!!!
Crisp frosty morning with brilliant blue sky. Ice forming on spikes as we walked!
Ben Hallam tee'd off first and we had the first "club whacking" anger tantrum of the day as he hooked it left. Mark, hit a great drive down the middle. Rob hit a good drive as well and mine leaked to the right, but was in play.
We all hit decent 2nds, but I ended up losing my ball in the ditch right of the bunkers and lost my ball. Early loss of ball this week!
Rob managed to get a 6 and 2 points, Ben and Mark got their 2 points as well.
Rob lost two off the tee on 2 and i was online but just short, but the first chip of the day was a good one and a par for 2 points was good enough.
we got another 2 points on 3, losing the tee to the Hallams 3 pointer!
Rob had 2 shots on the 4th and hit a good drive, but hit a couple of fat shots after that. More club abuse from Ben as he hit, what he thought, was a bad shot. we thought it was ok, but a monster from Mark put them in good shape.
A good second for me, but my wedge only just crept on and I ended up with a 5 for 2 points against another 3 pointer for team Hallam.
Three decent tee shots on 5 and then I just caught the bunker. Rob was hitting it fat again and struggled up the fairway. I got out of the bunker and then blocked a shot right, but a good chip and run left me with a 5 footer for par which just slipped by and we ended up with a point.
6th and with visits to the water by rob and I, we managed a point. Rob struggled again on 7 with two failing to make the carry, but I managed to get a 6 for 2 points.
The 8th, off the yellow tees, was easy(!), but another miss from 5 foot and it was a 5 and only 1 point.
Good drive from Rob up 9, but two visits to the lake and we sent him off to get the coffees in at the half way house.
I duffed my second and left a 3rd short, but a bump and run from 40 yards left me with a tap in and 2 points. 14points for the fron nine was not bad, but could have been a few more with a few putts dropping!
Team Hallam securing a solid 20 points, with Mark strikig the ball well.
Good drive from all of us down 10, but I'm blocked out by the tree, but a great low punch under the tree and I'm pin high just through the green.
Rob is in a similar position for 3, but his chip races across the green and 3 more to get down makes 6. I manage to lag a putt from off the green to about a foot and make a good par for 2 points. Ben sinks a putt for Birdie and 3 points to keep the Hallam's momentum. (It's only about the 2nd or 3rd time he's counted!)
The 11th sees Ben missing the green right, Mark and I leaving ours short and Rob the only one making the green albeit left of the hole with a long putt.
Ben chips to about 3 feet, Mark nearly holes for a 2 and I slide mine past about 5 foot. Rob left his putt short, but has a put for a 3. He's lining it up and I have a look and suggest right lip.
He questions this, I have a look and reaffirm a right edge putt, he stands over the putt then walks away and is sure it's left to right! Mark has a look and agrees it's right edge.
Rob is not convinced, so we suggest he hit's it as he sees it.
He does, and hits it just outside left and is perplexed when it keeps going left! Oh how we laughed!
I miss another so we end up with a point!
We all hit good drives down 12, mine just catching the rough down the left, but managed to move the ball forward to within range. Rob hits another a little fat, but hits a good layup. Mark and Ben are across the ditch for 3, but some distance away. I decide to lay-up. Right on the limit out of the rough!
Leave the wedge short, but a great chip and a tap in for 6 and 2 points.
Par for team Hallam and another 3 points!
Rob is starting to hit the "Big Dog" nicely and he hits a sweet drive down 13, but it goes straight into the ditch!
I hit a decent drive, but the Hallam's are way over the ditch.
I hit my second but end up left of the green, whilst rob plays out of the ditch and then ends up left.
We both mess about and end up with a point!
Two great drives from the Hallams again and Rob strikes another great drive, but goes straight into the ditch!
I lay up with a 3 iron and then hit another onto the fringe. Great birdie from Ben and I chip to 6 inches and a par.
Two great drives from the Hallams and Rob again strikes the ball well, but ends up in the fairway Bunker. I hit a safe one and then a second just short. Good chip, but miss the par putt. Surprisingly the Hallams only get 2 points.
A 5 on 16 and 2 points and we are then off the 17th off the Ladies tee. Ben hits a shank and nearly ends up in one of the gardens, Mark and Rob are short and right.
I hit a decent shot, onto the green, but the line of the putt leaves me having to putt over the fringe. Rob chips on and secures a 4 nett 3. My second laggs to a couple of feet, but I leave the par putt on the lip.
Good drives off the 18th for everyone, but Rob's just leaks right and into the lake. His 3rd ends up behind the tree and with our encouragement he tries to hit through the gap. It's 80% air, we tell him. He manages to hit the largest trunk smack in the middle!
After three shots I was just short, but took 3 to get down for a 6 and two points.
30 points for us and 41 for the Hallams, but a fun day, and at least we have a score on the board!
Bring on round 2!
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Bye Bye Wembley!
Woke up to a cold, foggy, wet morning, one last look at the Stadium as I packed my bags. One last wait for the lift from the 11th floor and a fond farewell to the receptionists. I headed for the bus and was quickly making my way down the high street, past Wembley Central and after alighting from the 192, I was soon in the office for the last time.
I had a lot to finish off, so today was not going to be a breeze! It was going to end, come what may at 4:30pm as I would need to eave for my train.
The morning flew by and I had handover meetings with everyone and a quick goodbye meeting with all my colleagues over a cup of tea! They liked their Tea!
I said my final goodbyes and then set off to Wembley Central for the last time. I waited for what seemed ages, but was probably 10 minutes.
The usual stop at M&S at Euston Station for a couple of Harvey Walbangers for the train and I was on my way home!
I had a lot to finish off, so today was not going to be a breeze! It was going to end, come what may at 4:30pm as I would need to eave for my train.
The morning flew by and I had handover meetings with everyone and a quick goodbye meeting with all my colleagues over a cup of tea! They liked their Tea!
I said my final goodbyes and then set off to Wembley Central for the last time. I waited for what seemed ages, but was probably 10 minutes.
The usual stop at M&S at Euston Station for a couple of Harvey Walbangers for the train and I was on my way home!
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Lords!
Couple of weeks left in London, so decided to tale a half day and go to the penultimate England V Pakistan One Day International at Lords.
I've been to Lords before, but had never seen a day-night match. So I ordered my ticket and looked forward to the event. England were 2 up in the series. But a betting scandal had broken out before the first match that could affect the forthcoming match. (And I was worried that the rain may be a problem!)
After the second match, a Sunday tabloid had revealed that they had evidence that an "agent" close to the team, could persuade the Pakistan bowlers to bowl no balls to order! They produced video evidence of the conversation, where the "agent" said that in certain balls in certain overs would be "no balls" and when the match was played, sure enough they did! This would result in a betting coup on what are called spot bets, i.e. betting on how many ruyns will be scored in a set number of overs, or when No Balls and Wides will be bowled. With the odds on predicting a no ball so high there was a lot of money to be made, especially if you knew exactly when this would happen.
So before the one day series had started there was a lot of heated debate as to what was going to happen.
England had won the test series easily and with a demoralised team missing key players England won the first two one day matches easily.
The 3rd match had been at the Oval on the Friday and England had let a possible victory slip, or though to be fair, the Pakistan bowlers did play well.
On the Sunday, the papers were full of allegations from the Pakistan management team that England had accepted bribes to lose the 3rd match to keep the series alive to generate more money. this had then set off a war of words between the England team and management and the Pakistan cricket board.
I set off from Crewe on the 06:02 train to Euston as usual , not knowing if the ticket I had in my rucksack would be of any use.
I got to the office at 08:30 and checked on the BBC website. Still not sure! Talks going on.
As my colleagues informed me as they arrived in the office, all the Radio reports were suggesting that the game would not go on. Typical.
Then, at about 10:00, and hour before the gates to Lords were due to open, it was announced that the game was on!
The game was due to start at 1pm, but I planned to work until 12:00, walk to the hotel and check in, change and head to the ground. I could not check in until 12:30, but if I missed the first hour it would be ok.
There was quite a queue waiting to check in, but as I was a regular at the hotel, I was invited to another desk to check in.
I got up to my room, changed and left, stopping at the Tesco Express for a sandwich and some snacks as well as a couple of "stellas". You were allowed to take two cans in to the ground. They did count them as well.
I got on the tube at Wembley Park station and headed for St John's Wood. The game had started and I was listening to the progress on the Radio. When I left the station I joined the throng that was heading for the ground and after about a 5 minute walk, I was at the entrance. I was entering via the Nursery end into the ground and then to the Edrich Stand, Lower Tier, Row 11 Seat 17.
I walked through the Nursery area, where the Nets are, but it was which was full of people drinking and eating and watching the game on the big screen. I got my programme and was also given my 6 and 4 card, for waving wildly whenever a boundary was scored. I headed for my seat and as I got to the steps fo the stand a mighty roar went up and I turned to see that Pakistan had lost their first wicket at 62 in the 14th over. I got to the top of the steps and at the end of the over, I was allowed in to the stand.
I was in the lower tier, under the modernistic "media centre" at about the 3rd man position of the boundary. The stand was fairly full, but there were some gaps to my right and about 5 or 6 rows of school kids , 13 to 16 year olds, who would become more and more of a pain as the day wore on. But I settled down, headphones on ready for the action I tuned into the Sky Commentary on my radio.
The first thing I realised was how small the ground looked, the second was how far back the England wicketkeeper was standing to the fast bowling! The speed of the ball was also something that you don't get a feel for on the TV.
Apart form the annoying school kids, the game went along pretty quietly, with a fairly slow run rate and wickets falling on a fairly regular basis,with Swann doing most of the damage. The main excitement being a six from Afridi that sailed into the pavillion which a spectator tried to catch, only to miss and get it right between the eyes!
The empty seats to mi right had suddenly filled up with some young Pakistan fans who had obviously been waiting for the final exciting overs. The atmosphere and the noise soon lifted.
Afridi went shortly after and at 210 for 7 after 45 overs it was looking like a fairly low target for England to chase.
Then Abdul Razzaq came in and scored 42 runs off the last 2 overs to get the score up to a more than respectable 265.
Everyone started to leave the stand for refreshments and as I had finished my alloted cans, I headed of for something to eat and drink! I decided against the Veuve Cliquot champagne tent and sampled a cheaper fair from the Marstons bar.
After a quick trip around the ground, a visit to the souvenir shop, it was back to my seat to prepare for the England innings.
The seats were full again and the Pakistan fans were in fine voice, encouraging their fast bowlers to rip into the Enlish top order, but Strauss and Davies, the England Wicket keeper were scoring for fun, with numerous boundaries, not looking troubled at all. The Paksitan fans nearby were soon quietened down and many went off for a stroll!!!
At 113 in the 20th over, Davies played an airy shot and was bowled on 49, Trott came in, bit scratched around for a few overs and then was out, followed a couple of overs later by Strauss who had scored 68, but from 113 in the 20th over England were now 127 for 3 after 26!
After giving the Pakistan fans some friendly banter, things were looking bad as the dark set in and the lights were on.
The ground looked fantastic under the lights and the ball was much easier to follow. Three stands of 20 nudged England closer and the atmosphere was building with the return of the Pakistan fans. Time to receive some friendly abuse!
Sure enough wickets started to tumble and England were finally bowled out for 227, with 4 overs to spare.
I heard the last two wickets fall as I was just about to enter St John's Wood tube station. I wanted to miss the rush for the tube!
It was a great experience, pity about the result.
Englan comfortably won the final game at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, but I watched it on the TV in the hotel!
I've been to Lords before, but had never seen a day-night match. So I ordered my ticket and looked forward to the event. England were 2 up in the series. But a betting scandal had broken out before the first match that could affect the forthcoming match. (And I was worried that the rain may be a problem!)
After the second match, a Sunday tabloid had revealed that they had evidence that an "agent" close to the team, could persuade the Pakistan bowlers to bowl no balls to order! They produced video evidence of the conversation, where the "agent" said that in certain balls in certain overs would be "no balls" and when the match was played, sure enough they did! This would result in a betting coup on what are called spot bets, i.e. betting on how many ruyns will be scored in a set number of overs, or when No Balls and Wides will be bowled. With the odds on predicting a no ball so high there was a lot of money to be made, especially if you knew exactly when this would happen.
So before the one day series had started there was a lot of heated debate as to what was going to happen.
England had won the test series easily and with a demoralised team missing key players England won the first two one day matches easily.
The 3rd match had been at the Oval on the Friday and England had let a possible victory slip, or though to be fair, the Pakistan bowlers did play well.
On the Sunday, the papers were full of allegations from the Pakistan management team that England had accepted bribes to lose the 3rd match to keep the series alive to generate more money. this had then set off a war of words between the England team and management and the Pakistan cricket board.
I set off from Crewe on the 06:02 train to Euston as usual , not knowing if the ticket I had in my rucksack would be of any use.
I got to the office at 08:30 and checked on the BBC website. Still not sure! Talks going on.
As my colleagues informed me as they arrived in the office, all the Radio reports were suggesting that the game would not go on. Typical.
Then, at about 10:00, and hour before the gates to Lords were due to open, it was announced that the game was on!
The game was due to start at 1pm, but I planned to work until 12:00, walk to the hotel and check in, change and head to the ground. I could not check in until 12:30, but if I missed the first hour it would be ok.
There was quite a queue waiting to check in, but as I was a regular at the hotel, I was invited to another desk to check in.
I got up to my room, changed and left, stopping at the Tesco Express for a sandwich and some snacks as well as a couple of "stellas". You were allowed to take two cans in to the ground. They did count them as well.
I got on the tube at Wembley Park station and headed for St John's Wood. The game had started and I was listening to the progress on the Radio. When I left the station I joined the throng that was heading for the ground and after about a 5 minute walk, I was at the entrance. I was entering via the Nursery end into the ground and then to the Edrich Stand, Lower Tier, Row 11 Seat 17.
I walked through the Nursery area, where the Nets are, but it was which was full of people drinking and eating and watching the game on the big screen. I got my programme and was also given my 6 and 4 card, for waving wildly whenever a boundary was scored. I headed for my seat and as I got to the steps fo the stand a mighty roar went up and I turned to see that Pakistan had lost their first wicket at 62 in the 14th over. I got to the top of the steps and at the end of the over, I was allowed in to the stand.
I was in the lower tier, under the modernistic "media centre" at about the 3rd man position of the boundary. The stand was fairly full, but there were some gaps to my right and about 5 or 6 rows of school kids , 13 to 16 year olds, who would become more and more of a pain as the day wore on. But I settled down, headphones on ready for the action I tuned into the Sky Commentary on my radio.
The first thing I realised was how small the ground looked, the second was how far back the England wicketkeeper was standing to the fast bowling! The speed of the ball was also something that you don't get a feel for on the TV.
Apart form the annoying school kids, the game went along pretty quietly, with a fairly slow run rate and wickets falling on a fairly regular basis,with Swann doing most of the damage. The main excitement being a six from Afridi that sailed into the pavillion which a spectator tried to catch, only to miss and get it right between the eyes!
The empty seats to mi right had suddenly filled up with some young Pakistan fans who had obviously been waiting for the final exciting overs. The atmosphere and the noise soon lifted.
Afridi went shortly after and at 210 for 7 after 45 overs it was looking like a fairly low target for England to chase.
Then Abdul Razzaq came in and scored 42 runs off the last 2 overs to get the score up to a more than respectable 265.
Everyone started to leave the stand for refreshments and as I had finished my alloted cans, I headed of for something to eat and drink! I decided against the Veuve Cliquot champagne tent and sampled a cheaper fair from the Marstons bar.
After a quick trip around the ground, a visit to the souvenir shop, it was back to my seat to prepare for the England innings.
The seats were full again and the Pakistan fans were in fine voice, encouraging their fast bowlers to rip into the Enlish top order, but Strauss and Davies, the England Wicket keeper were scoring for fun, with numerous boundaries, not looking troubled at all. The Paksitan fans nearby were soon quietened down and many went off for a stroll!!!
At 113 in the 20th over, Davies played an airy shot and was bowled on 49, Trott came in, bit scratched around for a few overs and then was out, followed a couple of overs later by Strauss who had scored 68, but from 113 in the 20th over England were now 127 for 3 after 26!
After giving the Pakistan fans some friendly banter, things were looking bad as the dark set in and the lights were on.
The ground looked fantastic under the lights and the ball was much easier to follow. Three stands of 20 nudged England closer and the atmosphere was building with the return of the Pakistan fans. Time to receive some friendly abuse!
Sure enough wickets started to tumble and England were finally bowled out for 227, with 4 overs to spare.
I heard the last two wickets fall as I was just about to enter St John's Wood tube station. I wanted to miss the rush for the tube!
It was a great experience, pity about the result.
Englan comfortably won the final game at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, but I watched it on the TV in the hotel!
Friday, 17 September 2010
At Last...............
....no, not "at last another Blog entry", but I do apologise for getting behind and I will fill in the gaps as I go along!
No, today way was a momentous occasion for me at Wychwood Park.
At last.................
I arranged a Friday 9 at 5 with Rob Barrett and Vinay Adatia and had not played for a week, so was not expecting much, so not too surprising that I blobbed the first 3 holes! I only managed a point on 4 and two on 5, but I was trying out a new grip!
I had the honour on th 6th and with the wind behind, I decided to take a club less than normal.
I skied it and it was heading for the stream, but hit the bridge and bounced off the bridge and creap onto the green.
I had remarked on many occasion the fact that the 6th was the only hole on the course that I had not birdied.
Surprising to some extent, not because it was an easy hole, but that there were tougher holes on the course that I had birdied.
The 15th was completed fairly early as was the 13th, although that was a chip in! The 4th, as I recall was a long putt, from the front of the green and some holes I have only birdied o the one occasion!
However, I had never birdied the 6th and to be honest not really come close. Sure I had had a number of putts for birdies in the past, but never hitting close enough for a tap in!
I regailed the story yet again, but this time with a flourish! With a tee shot like that, my luck must be in. Bet I sink the putt.
The putt was about 25 feet with about 3-4 foot swing right to left and with the putt swing down a steep slope to finish.
Not much chance, but as I stood over the putt I got a good feeling about the line and the pace. But it was a tough putt.
I struck the putt perfectly and it was holdin it's line well and turning back down towards the hole!
It was going in! I was going to birdie the only hole I had not birdied!
But as it turned sharp left and down the slop, it faltered, keeping a great line, but creeping slowly to wards the hole. It's going in...................
But at the last minute it started to slow up and came to rest on the lip..........
A fantastic putt, probably one of the best I have EVER hit, believe me I have hit some great putts, but this one looked as if it had stopped on the lip.
But it hesitated for a nano second and dropped in.
BIRDIE.
As Rob said, I did call it!!!
No, today way was a momentous occasion for me at Wychwood Park.
At last.................
I arranged a Friday 9 at 5 with Rob Barrett and Vinay Adatia and had not played for a week, so was not expecting much, so not too surprising that I blobbed the first 3 holes! I only managed a point on 4 and two on 5, but I was trying out a new grip!
I had the honour on th 6th and with the wind behind, I decided to take a club less than normal.
I skied it and it was heading for the stream, but hit the bridge and bounced off the bridge and creap onto the green.
I had remarked on many occasion the fact that the 6th was the only hole on the course that I had not birdied.
Surprising to some extent, not because it was an easy hole, but that there were tougher holes on the course that I had birdied.
The 15th was completed fairly early as was the 13th, although that was a chip in! The 4th, as I recall was a long putt, from the front of the green and some holes I have only birdied o the one occasion!
However, I had never birdied the 6th and to be honest not really come close. Sure I had had a number of putts for birdies in the past, but never hitting close enough for a tap in!
I regailed the story yet again, but this time with a flourish! With a tee shot like that, my luck must be in. Bet I sink the putt.
The putt was about 25 feet with about 3-4 foot swing right to left and with the putt swing down a steep slope to finish.
Not much chance, but as I stood over the putt I got a good feeling about the line and the pace. But it was a tough putt.
I struck the putt perfectly and it was holdin it's line well and turning back down towards the hole!
It was going in! I was going to birdie the only hole I had not birdied!
But as it turned sharp left and down the slop, it faltered, keeping a great line, but creeping slowly to wards the hole. It's going in...................
But at the last minute it started to slow up and came to rest on the lip..........
A fantastic putt, probably one of the best I have EVER hit, believe me I have hit some great putts, but this one looked as if it had stopped on the lip.
But it hesitated for a nano second and dropped in.
BIRDIE.
As Rob said, I did call it!!!
Saturday, 14 August 2010
The Frank Kiddie Scratch...........
You wait years to play with a Professional around your course and then 2 come along within a week!
Today is the Frank Kiddie Scratch competition and I am playing with THE Frank Kiddie.
Frank was the Pro at Wychwood until a few years ago when he moved on to Hawkestone Park to ply his trade. He has also been playing on the Seniors Tour, but as he tells us on the first tee, he has not played a round here since he left.
He then proceeds to hit the ball straight down the middle, with his usual flawless, effortless way.
The 3rd member of the group is the Vice Captain, Martin Wainman and he hits a great tee shot and I’m in my usual spot on the up slope, just reaching the fairway.
I hit a decent second and a really good 3rd that just runs through the green, but a chip and a putt left inches short and I start with a 6. It’s a medal today, so need top play it steady today. No attacking pins and putts!
A good tee shot on 2 and a good par. Feeling good, putting nicely.
A short drive on 3 and my second is just short and a bad chip leaves me with a long putt for par. I hit a reasonable lag putt, but tweak my par putt, missing from about a foot! Where did that come from? Nice Birdie from Frank.
A decent drive down 4 just short of the bunker, whilst Frank and Martin have clipped drives a decent length ahead of me. I hit a reasonable 2nd and a good chip from about 50 yards leaving me with an 8 foot putt for par. Just miss again, but not putting well!!!
We are waiting on the 5th tee and as usual, when with Frank, we start talking music and Martin has already heard about my murky past as a member of a Punk band! Martin also mentions, just as I get on the tee, how good it is to see that the trees are in play! My tee shot is pulled left and into the trees! "Sorry, said Martin!!!"
Now I had to find my ball and this was not going to be easy! we started to look and I was just about to trudge back to the tee and found it just on the edge of the plantation and managed to hit a good recovery shot to where the bell is, or where it would have been if it had not been removed!
Just short of the green with my 3rd, but a good chip and a putt for a bogie. Only I miss it for a double!!! This is starting to seriously piss me off!!! If I can't putt, this is going to be a LONG round!
Hit a good tee shot on 6, but it plugs on landing just short of the green. Ok chip and left with a little slider down to the pin. Good put, but just miss, so it's a bogie. But even with the double on 5, I'm only one off my handicap.
We have a bit of a wait on the 7th tee, so we have another chat about music and Martin decides to start singing!!!!
Frank hit's a solid drive as does Martin. I hit a decent one as well, which flirts with the plantation, but rolls nicely back into the fairway. I hit the second , but cut it a bit and end up in the hazard. Worse is to come as I drop and duff the next into the ditch!
The photographer fromGolf Buddy is back again. His appearance last Sunday in the pro am saw me have a bit of a nightmare....looks like he's not bringing me any luck again today either!
Another drop, followed by a wedge that leaves me with a putt for a 7, but an ugly 3 putt leaves with a 9..........This hole is getting me down!!!
We're off the back tee on 8 and a bit of a breeze against and I hit a bit of a "scabby" one which just makes it across! And I mean just.Wish I could hit it as effortlessly as Frank!!!!
Good second and a chip to within 5 foot, but just lip out for par!
More singing from Martin, he's not playing well, but Frank has given him a little tip, to place the ball a bit further back in his stance and it seems to be working.
I hit a weak drive and my second is ok, but I'm left with a longish shot for 3rd which ends up short of the green and with an agressive put from just off the green, I leave a two putt for 6.
49 for the front nine, Martin has hit 50!!! Off 10 handicap.
Martin persuades us to call into the bar for a beer, so after twisting Frank’s arm he joined us. A quick Guinness for me and Martin and a Lager for Frank and we were joined by Neil Cox, David Taylor and Nick Lea.
We swapped a few tales and then as we headed for the 10th tee, they stayed for a second pint.
I regaled for the umpteenth time, about the time I won the Concorde Cup, after scoring just 13 points on the front with a 4 pointer on the 9th. I then proceeded to score 26 on the back and win on count-back with 39 points. Beating Stuart Ryall. Even I was starting to get bored of this story, as well as the one about being Member no. 2!!!
I hit an ok drive, but Martin and Frank both hit superb shots! I was blocked by the tree and my attempt at a draw round the tree which results in a duffed shot that creeps past the tree.
We are all now roughly equidistant from the pin at the back. Martin goes first and hits it fat, just short of the bunker. Frank hits next and hits it fat, just short of the bunker! Chance for me to get it on and pull a shot back!
I hit it fat and end up short of the bunker!
Martin suggests a quick wager for whoever get’s closest to the pin.
Martin first and not a bad shot, but should be able to beat that, but Frank hits it past the pin and I hit a shot that looks good, but rolls to the back of the green. Martin’s up £2!
I manage only a 6, so not a good start.
Onto the 11th and I hit a reasonable shot which runs down to the bottom level, leaving me a tough one back up the slop. A 4 is inevitable with the way I’m putting!
A short drive off 12 is recovered by a good 2nd and I manage to get across the ditch, just. Getting down in 3 is a minor miracle!
Good drive on 13, followed by an indifferent 2nd, I hit a wedge from the rough just short and take another 3 to get down. Frank has recovered from his bogey on 10 and is now level again following his birdie on 12. He gets another solid par on 13 as did Martin.
Onto 14, memories of yesterdays Scramble! I take 3 wood to lay up and knob it into the hazard left. Take a drop and manage to get it over the ditch. Decent 9 iron and I've got an unlikely chance of a bogey! Just lip out for a 6!!!
Hit a safe one off 15, and with a decent fairway wood, I get a wedge on and two putts for a 5. Martin is starting to play well now, but his singing is getting worse!
16 and I hit a good shot to the left of the bunker and have a good line into the green, Just tug it left but a good chip leaves chance for a par, but lip out and tap in for a 5.
17th and the wind is challenging, so try to hit a draw, but pull it left and in the drink.
Take a drop and hit a decent shot to the heart of the green and two putts for a 5.
Hack it up 18th and will be glad to finish.....
Just to add a bit of spice and give us a chance to get our quid back, Marting bets he can get up and down from about 30 yards. He hits a poor chip and leaves a 15 footer.......which he sinks! This is getting expensive!
Trudge up the hill after taking 7 and surprised when I find out that I've broken 100! Well 99 to be exact.
We head to the clubhouse, there's a net 65 in and Jamie Clorley is leading the scratch comp with 75, until Coxy comes in with a gross 73! A Guinness fuelled back 9!
The other groups gradually roll up and it's chance to catch up with all of the banter. We are waiting for Lee Cole to turn up for a beer and the stories start about golf tours , but obviously can't share them on here as what goes on on tour stays on tour!
Lee eventually turns up and the craic continues for a while and then we decide we are going to Hawkstone next week to see him off on his way to Australia................
6,4,6,6,5,6,5,5,7
Today is the Frank Kiddie Scratch competition and I am playing with THE Frank Kiddie.
Frank was the Pro at Wychwood until a few years ago when he moved on to Hawkestone Park to ply his trade. He has also been playing on the Seniors Tour, but as he tells us on the first tee, he has not played a round here since he left.
He then proceeds to hit the ball straight down the middle, with his usual flawless, effortless way.
The 3rd member of the group is the Vice Captain, Martin Wainman and he hits a great tee shot and I’m in my usual spot on the up slope, just reaching the fairway.
I hit a decent second and a really good 3rd that just runs through the green, but a chip and a putt left inches short and I start with a 6. It’s a medal today, so need top play it steady today. No attacking pins and putts!
A good tee shot on 2 and a good par. Feeling good, putting nicely.
A short drive on 3 and my second is just short and a bad chip leaves me with a long putt for par. I hit a reasonable lag putt, but tweak my par putt, missing from about a foot! Where did that come from? Nice Birdie from Frank.
A decent drive down 4 just short of the bunker, whilst Frank and Martin have clipped drives a decent length ahead of me. I hit a reasonable 2nd and a good chip from about 50 yards leaving me with an 8 foot putt for par. Just miss again, but not putting well!!!
We are waiting on the 5th tee and as usual, when with Frank, we start talking music and Martin has already heard about my murky past as a member of a Punk band! Martin also mentions, just as I get on the tee, how good it is to see that the trees are in play! My tee shot is pulled left and into the trees! "Sorry, said Martin!!!"
Now I had to find my ball and this was not going to be easy! we started to look and I was just about to trudge back to the tee and found it just on the edge of the plantation and managed to hit a good recovery shot to where the bell is, or where it would have been if it had not been removed!
Just short of the green with my 3rd, but a good chip and a putt for a bogie. Only I miss it for a double!!! This is starting to seriously piss me off!!! If I can't putt, this is going to be a LONG round!
Hit a good tee shot on 6, but it plugs on landing just short of the green. Ok chip and left with a little slider down to the pin. Good put, but just miss, so it's a bogie. But even with the double on 5, I'm only one off my handicap.
We have a bit of a wait on the 7th tee, so we have another chat about music and Martin decides to start singing!!!!
Frank hit's a solid drive as does Martin. I hit a decent one as well, which flirts with the plantation, but rolls nicely back into the fairway. I hit the second , but cut it a bit and end up in the hazard. Worse is to come as I drop and duff the next into the ditch!
The photographer fromGolf Buddy is back again. His appearance last Sunday in the pro am saw me have a bit of a nightmare....looks like he's not bringing me any luck again today either!
Another drop, followed by a wedge that leaves me with a putt for a 7, but an ugly 3 putt leaves with a 9..........This hole is getting me down!!!
We're off the back tee on 8 and a bit of a breeze against and I hit a bit of a "scabby" one which just makes it across! And I mean just.Wish I could hit it as effortlessly as Frank!!!!
Good second and a chip to within 5 foot, but just lip out for par!
More singing from Martin, he's not playing well, but Frank has given him a little tip, to place the ball a bit further back in his stance and it seems to be working.
I hit a weak drive and my second is ok, but I'm left with a longish shot for 3rd which ends up short of the green and with an agressive put from just off the green, I leave a two putt for 6.
49 for the front nine, Martin has hit 50!!! Off 10 handicap.
Martin persuades us to call into the bar for a beer, so after twisting Frank’s arm he joined us. A quick Guinness for me and Martin and a Lager for Frank and we were joined by Neil Cox, David Taylor and Nick Lea.
We swapped a few tales and then as we headed for the 10th tee, they stayed for a second pint.
I regaled for the umpteenth time, about the time I won the Concorde Cup, after scoring just 13 points on the front with a 4 pointer on the 9th. I then proceeded to score 26 on the back and win on count-back with 39 points. Beating Stuart Ryall. Even I was starting to get bored of this story, as well as the one about being Member no. 2!!!
I hit an ok drive, but Martin and Frank both hit superb shots! I was blocked by the tree and my attempt at a draw round the tree which results in a duffed shot that creeps past the tree.
We are all now roughly equidistant from the pin at the back. Martin goes first and hits it fat, just short of the bunker. Frank hits next and hits it fat, just short of the bunker! Chance for me to get it on and pull a shot back!
I hit it fat and end up short of the bunker!
Martin suggests a quick wager for whoever get’s closest to the pin.
Martin first and not a bad shot, but should be able to beat that, but Frank hits it past the pin and I hit a shot that looks good, but rolls to the back of the green. Martin’s up £2!
I manage only a 6, so not a good start.
Onto the 11th and I hit a reasonable shot which runs down to the bottom level, leaving me a tough one back up the slop. A 4 is inevitable with the way I’m putting!
A short drive off 12 is recovered by a good 2nd and I manage to get across the ditch, just. Getting down in 3 is a minor miracle!
Good drive on 13, followed by an indifferent 2nd, I hit a wedge from the rough just short and take another 3 to get down. Frank has recovered from his bogey on 10 and is now level again following his birdie on 12. He gets another solid par on 13 as did Martin.
Onto 14, memories of yesterdays Scramble! I take 3 wood to lay up and knob it into the hazard left. Take a drop and manage to get it over the ditch. Decent 9 iron and I've got an unlikely chance of a bogey! Just lip out for a 6!!!
Hit a safe one off 15, and with a decent fairway wood, I get a wedge on and two putts for a 5. Martin is starting to play well now, but his singing is getting worse!
16 and I hit a good shot to the left of the bunker and have a good line into the green, Just tug it left but a good chip leaves chance for a par, but lip out and tap in for a 5.
17th and the wind is challenging, so try to hit a draw, but pull it left and in the drink.
Take a drop and hit a decent shot to the heart of the green and two putts for a 5.
Hack it up 18th and will be glad to finish.....
Just to add a bit of spice and give us a chance to get our quid back, Marting bets he can get up and down from about 30 yards. He hits a poor chip and leaves a 15 footer.......which he sinks! This is getting expensive!
Trudge up the hill after taking 7 and surprised when I find out that I've broken 100! Well 99 to be exact.
We head to the clubhouse, there's a net 65 in and Jamie Clorley is leading the scratch comp with 75, until Coxy comes in with a gross 73! A Guinness fuelled back 9!
The other groups gradually roll up and it's chance to catch up with all of the banter. We are waiting for Lee Cole to turn up for a beer and the stories start about golf tours , but obviously can't share them on here as what goes on on tour stays on tour!
Lee eventually turns up and the craic continues for a while and then we decide we are going to Hawkstone next week to see him off on his way to Australia................
6,4,6,6,5,6,5,5,7
Friday, 13 August 2010
Texas Scramble.................
First competition of the Festival Weekend and it’s a Texas Scramble. For anyone who has not played this format, or golf at all, it’s a 4 man team format where everyone tees off and you pick the best shot of the 4 and everyone plays their second shot from there and this is repeated until the ball is holed on each hole.
Each player has to have at least 4 of their drives used during the round and then 1/10th of the combined handicap is subtracted from the total.
The key to the game is to putt well, but also to make sure that you manage the tee shots well and also select the right ball to choose each time.
So I was teamed with Rob Barrett and team Hallam, Mark and son Ben.
We had played last year and struggled to get Rob’s drives in, so we were keen to get them in early this year.
Ben hit a god drive down the first, but Rob got a decent one away and we picked his to take. We played the hole out, with a chance of a birdie, but all failed to sink the putt from 15ft.
I recalled the first Festival Week Texas Scramble I played in and won with d some friends, when we all missed a birdie putt from about 5 foot, then went on to Birdie every hole on the front 9, apart from the 7th, which we eagled!
A birdie on 2 and 3 and we were on schedule. A tee shot marked off for everyone, but me!
The 4th and we took Ben’s tee shot, although I’d hit a reasonable drive and we made a good par, on the 5th we were struggling for par, but Ben sank a great putt. Rob hit a scrappy shot on 6, but it's in position to let us get up and down in 3 and Rob, get's a par, all on his own. He's dead chuffed and will probably continue to talk about it for some time to come!
On 7 a great drive from Ben and then a good second, leaves us with a relatively easy Birdie, so at 3 under we are starting to make a move.
Pars on 8 and 9 and we end the front 9 on 33. Trouble is, we haven’t used any of my tee shots yet!
I hit a decent drive down 10, but Ben has hit a monster, so we take his drive, make a decent par, but we had 3 birdie putts just lip out.
On 11, I hit a reasonable tee shot onto the green, but Mark sticks it to about 8 feet and we take a birdie chance from his tee shot.
No problem, we’ve got 12 and 13 which we can use my drives.
Unfortunately I hit my drive down the left and into the light rough so we take Rob’s drive so that he has hit his 4 for the round. We manage to get birdie, thanks to yet another putt from Ben, who has struck loads of putts fearlessly! I can’t remember the last time I’ve actually had to putt!
4 drives needed and 6 holes left. Got to use my Drive down 13. Which proves tough as I duff it into the crap on the left!
We make par on 13, but our chances of any more pars are slim!
I hit a 3wood up 14 and we take my first drive of the round and manage to make par.
On 15, Ben hits a screamer and I manage to hit a half decent shot, but it is way back, but we have to take it. After the second shots we have to hit a chip from right of the green, and are left with about a 15 footer for par, but we all miss, with Rob’s attempt lipping out and Mark’s “horseshoeing “out.
So a bogey.
On 16 I hit a reasonable drive and we end up just short right after we had all hit our second. After our chips we are about 6 feet, but amazingly we all shave the hole and miss par again.
Game over! To win this event, you need to shoot sub 60 and we are now only 3 under.
On 17, Ben hits his drive just short, and I get across the water, but left with a long chip. We select mine so that we can all have a go up 18. Bit 4 bad chips and we have a longish putt for par which we all miss. So 3 bogies in row and we wearily trudge to the 18th.
We make an easy par up 18 and end up with a nett 64.
A nett 57 wins it, so we would have had to not only not Bogey the 3 holes on the back 9, but convert them into birdies!
Ben played really well as did Rob. “With 4 votes...............I was the weakest link.......Goodbye” (Yes I voted for myself!!!)
Each player has to have at least 4 of their drives used during the round and then 1/10th of the combined handicap is subtracted from the total.
The key to the game is to putt well, but also to make sure that you manage the tee shots well and also select the right ball to choose each time.
So I was teamed with Rob Barrett and team Hallam, Mark and son Ben.
We had played last year and struggled to get Rob’s drives in, so we were keen to get them in early this year.
Ben hit a god drive down the first, but Rob got a decent one away and we picked his to take. We played the hole out, with a chance of a birdie, but all failed to sink the putt from 15ft.
I recalled the first Festival Week Texas Scramble I played in and won with d some friends, when we all missed a birdie putt from about 5 foot, then went on to Birdie every hole on the front 9, apart from the 7th, which we eagled!
A birdie on 2 and 3 and we were on schedule. A tee shot marked off for everyone, but me!
The 4th and we took Ben’s tee shot, although I’d hit a reasonable drive and we made a good par, on the 5th we were struggling for par, but Ben sank a great putt. Rob hit a scrappy shot on 6, but it's in position to let us get up and down in 3 and Rob, get's a par, all on his own. He's dead chuffed and will probably continue to talk about it for some time to come!
On 7 a great drive from Ben and then a good second, leaves us with a relatively easy Birdie, so at 3 under we are starting to make a move.
Pars on 8 and 9 and we end the front 9 on 33. Trouble is, we haven’t used any of my tee shots yet!
I hit a decent drive down 10, but Ben has hit a monster, so we take his drive, make a decent par, but we had 3 birdie putts just lip out.
On 11, I hit a reasonable tee shot onto the green, but Mark sticks it to about 8 feet and we take a birdie chance from his tee shot.
No problem, we’ve got 12 and 13 which we can use my drives.
Unfortunately I hit my drive down the left and into the light rough so we take Rob’s drive so that he has hit his 4 for the round. We manage to get birdie, thanks to yet another putt from Ben, who has struck loads of putts fearlessly! I can’t remember the last time I’ve actually had to putt!
4 drives needed and 6 holes left. Got to use my Drive down 13. Which proves tough as I duff it into the crap on the left!
We make par on 13, but our chances of any more pars are slim!
I hit a 3wood up 14 and we take my first drive of the round and manage to make par.
On 15, Ben hits a screamer and I manage to hit a half decent shot, but it is way back, but we have to take it. After the second shots we have to hit a chip from right of the green, and are left with about a 15 footer for par, but we all miss, with Rob’s attempt lipping out and Mark’s “horseshoeing “out.
So a bogey.
On 16 I hit a reasonable drive and we end up just short right after we had all hit our second. After our chips we are about 6 feet, but amazingly we all shave the hole and miss par again.
Game over! To win this event, you need to shoot sub 60 and we are now only 3 under.
On 17, Ben hits his drive just short, and I get across the water, but left with a long chip. We select mine so that we can all have a go up 18. Bit 4 bad chips and we have a longish putt for par which we all miss. So 3 bogies in row and we wearily trudge to the 18th.
We make an easy par up 18 and end up with a nett 64.
A nett 57 wins it, so we would have had to not only not Bogey the 3 holes on the back 9, but convert them into birdies!
Ben played really well as did Rob. “With 4 votes...............I was the weakest link.......Goodbye” (Yes I voted for myself!!!)
Monday, 9 August 2010
"Kim, Bet you've never been as close to a Willy as big as this before!!!"
We were ready for the start of the back 9, and saw Brian heit a decent drive from the back tee.
I hit , for me, a good drive off the white, but was blocked by the tree that is positioned in the middle of the fairway.
Mike and Jason have knocked it way past the tree!
I manage to hit over tree, but short with a par from Brian we are looking good. Especially as Jason has hit his second to within 3 foot, Sunk the Birdie putt, but with his plus 1 handicap, it's only 2 points!
The 11th was a "beat the pro" hole. Basically, if you managed to get your tee shot nearer to the pin than the pro, you were entered into a draw.
Brian hit his tee shot just short of the green, almost on the fringe! So all we had to do was hit the green.
I pulled my tee shot left, but ended up on the green, albeit on the wrong level and quite a distance from the pin, but I had beaten the pro! Jason also hit the green, but was just outside my shot, so Birdies were not looking good. We all managed Par, and considering the slope and line I had to take, It felt more like a birdie!
On 12 I just sat back and enjoyed the ride, hitting an ok Drive and second, but my 6 was never going to be good enough to count!
The 13th and again it was time to marvel at the long hitting. I was starting to swing quick and had lost the tempo i started with, but pars from the other 3 kept us on track.
The 14th and a steady drive from Brian, followed by monster drives from James and Mike, but two par scires was all we could muster.
On 15, I was again a passenger as Mile and Jason, "boomed" drives that I could only dream of hitting! How simple is this game when you have talent!!!
Two more pars and we were looking like posting a reasonable score, but maybe not a winning one.
Last years winners scored 86 points. Were we anywhere near that? I had lost count.
On 16, Brian hits a great looking shot that clears the bunker, drawing nicely, just bouncing on the top of the bank.
I lay up short of the bunker whilst Mike and Jason hit rescue clubs that end up in perfect positions. Brian has actually found himself caught on the downslope past the bunker and in the rough. He manages to hit a decent shot, but ends in the greenside bunker and his bunker shot leaves him with a longish put for par, which he misses. His first, and only, bogie of the day.
We make 5 points thanks to a birdie from Jason!
On 17, a great shot from Jason, leaves us with another potential 5 pointer, but his putt just skims by, he and we can't believe it didn't go in. That's been the problem today! Putts just not dropping!
Up the 18th and Brian is way back on the Blue tees, hits a safe drive. I manage to get a decent shot away, but marvel at the distance that Mike and Jason hit the ball.
I manage to move the ball past the tree with my second and a good 3rd leaves me just short of the green. I chip and putt for a 5 nett 4 and 3 points, with Jason making birdie for a 6 point hole.
We shake hands, I thank all 3 partners for a great experience.
On reflection, I'd played well, especially the start, but I probably got caught up with the big hitting of Mike and Jason and had a bit of a bad patch, but I can honestly say I have not enjoyed a round of golf as much as this for a long time, maybe even ever!
We finish on 83 points which I am quite surprised to see, but I've not really been thinking about the score.
We get up to the score board and there are three 84's in which are leading and we suddenly think, quite naturally, about the ones that got away, but we never thought about the ones we got away with!
We have a quick chat and a pint and then I have to go home to return for the evening do! One last check of the score board and there is now an 85 in, so feel a bit better now!
Come back for the do, scrubbed up, Captains Jacket on and after a couple of drinks, it's up to the meal.
I'm sitting next to Brian and we have a great chat about Augusta. His experiences, obviously not mine.
He told us of Practice rounds with Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, Jim Furyk and Rocco Mediate and getting some advice from Monty!
And the course? Everything you hear, times 10!!!
The meal was ok and then to the presentations.
Trevor Brennand's team were 4th on Countback, so that was a fiver I'd lost, but the winners, on 87 points were our Seniors, John Jackson, Mark Brown and Roger Newell. I think John may have samples a few, as his speech was a bit of a ramble, but they had obviously had a good day.
The presentations were done by Phil "the Power" Taylor, but he didn's stay for long.
Jason had won the Longest Drive competition, not surprisingly with a 375 yard drive! He donated his prize, a new golf bag, to the Auction that was to come.
Didn't win the raffle from the beat the pro hole. I never win raffles!!!
Willy Thorne did the auction, ably assisted by the lovely Kim. I bid on the golf bag, bit it ended up going for silly money!
As did the other prizes, a weekend yachting on the Solent for 8, a signed photograh of Phil Taylor, Steve Davies signed Pool Cue, plus a couple of other items, including a signed Bolton shirt. Who on earth wants a signed Bolton shirt? Not many here tonight!
Mr ABC solutions appeared to win most of his own auction items!!!
Willy then did a 15 minute spot, which was entertaining, included a round of applause for the recently departed Alex "Hurricane" Higgins, with a few Higgins stories and others about his fellow commentators, but the main thread was a "is'nt Golf wonderful, Ladies and Gentlemen?"
A little Blue at times, but nothing too smutty, although two of the members of our table were determined not to crack into a smile. Almost a look of distain.
A great day!
I hit , for me, a good drive off the white, but was blocked by the tree that is positioned in the middle of the fairway.
Mike and Jason have knocked it way past the tree!
I manage to hit over tree, but short with a par from Brian we are looking good. Especially as Jason has hit his second to within 3 foot, Sunk the Birdie putt, but with his plus 1 handicap, it's only 2 points!
The 11th was a "beat the pro" hole. Basically, if you managed to get your tee shot nearer to the pin than the pro, you were entered into a draw.
Brian hit his tee shot just short of the green, almost on the fringe! So all we had to do was hit the green.
I pulled my tee shot left, but ended up on the green, albeit on the wrong level and quite a distance from the pin, but I had beaten the pro! Jason also hit the green, but was just outside my shot, so Birdies were not looking good. We all managed Par, and considering the slope and line I had to take, It felt more like a birdie!
On 12 I just sat back and enjoyed the ride, hitting an ok Drive and second, but my 6 was never going to be good enough to count!
The 13th and again it was time to marvel at the long hitting. I was starting to swing quick and had lost the tempo i started with, but pars from the other 3 kept us on track.
The 14th and a steady drive from Brian, followed by monster drives from James and Mike, but two par scires was all we could muster.
On 15, I was again a passenger as Mile and Jason, "boomed" drives that I could only dream of hitting! How simple is this game when you have talent!!!
Two more pars and we were looking like posting a reasonable score, but maybe not a winning one.
Last years winners scored 86 points. Were we anywhere near that? I had lost count.
On 16, Brian hits a great looking shot that clears the bunker, drawing nicely, just bouncing on the top of the bank.
I lay up short of the bunker whilst Mike and Jason hit rescue clubs that end up in perfect positions. Brian has actually found himself caught on the downslope past the bunker and in the rough. He manages to hit a decent shot, but ends in the greenside bunker and his bunker shot leaves him with a longish put for par, which he misses. His first, and only, bogie of the day.
We make 5 points thanks to a birdie from Jason!
On 17, a great shot from Jason, leaves us with another potential 5 pointer, but his putt just skims by, he and we can't believe it didn't go in. That's been the problem today! Putts just not dropping!
Up the 18th and Brian is way back on the Blue tees, hits a safe drive. I manage to get a decent shot away, but marvel at the distance that Mike and Jason hit the ball.
I manage to move the ball past the tree with my second and a good 3rd leaves me just short of the green. I chip and putt for a 5 nett 4 and 3 points, with Jason making birdie for a 6 point hole.
We shake hands, I thank all 3 partners for a great experience.
On reflection, I'd played well, especially the start, but I probably got caught up with the big hitting of Mike and Jason and had a bit of a bad patch, but I can honestly say I have not enjoyed a round of golf as much as this for a long time, maybe even ever!
We finish on 83 points which I am quite surprised to see, but I've not really been thinking about the score.
We get up to the score board and there are three 84's in which are leading and we suddenly think, quite naturally, about the ones that got away, but we never thought about the ones we got away with!
We have a quick chat and a pint and then I have to go home to return for the evening do! One last check of the score board and there is now an 85 in, so feel a bit better now!
Come back for the do, scrubbed up, Captains Jacket on and after a couple of drinks, it's up to the meal.
I'm sitting next to Brian and we have a great chat about Augusta. His experiences, obviously not mine.
He told us of Practice rounds with Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, Jim Furyk and Rocco Mediate and getting some advice from Monty!
And the course? Everything you hear, times 10!!!
The meal was ok and then to the presentations.
Trevor Brennand's team were 4th on Countback, so that was a fiver I'd lost, but the winners, on 87 points were our Seniors, John Jackson, Mark Brown and Roger Newell. I think John may have samples a few, as his speech was a bit of a ramble, but they had obviously had a good day.
The presentations were done by Phil "the Power" Taylor, but he didn's stay for long.
Jason had won the Longest Drive competition, not surprisingly with a 375 yard drive! He donated his prize, a new golf bag, to the Auction that was to come.
Didn't win the raffle from the beat the pro hole. I never win raffles!!!
Willy Thorne did the auction, ably assisted by the lovely Kim. I bid on the golf bag, bit it ended up going for silly money!
As did the other prizes, a weekend yachting on the Solent for 8, a signed photograh of Phil Taylor, Steve Davies signed Pool Cue, plus a couple of other items, including a signed Bolton shirt. Who on earth wants a signed Bolton shirt? Not many here tonight!
Mr ABC solutions appeared to win most of his own auction items!!!
Willy then did a 15 minute spot, which was entertaining, included a round of applause for the recently departed Alex "Hurricane" Higgins, with a few Higgins stories and others about his fellow commentators, but the main thread was a "is'nt Golf wonderful, Ladies and Gentlemen?"
A little Blue at times, but nothing too smutty, although two of the members of our table were determined not to crack into a smile. Almost a look of distain.
A great day!
Sunday, 8 August 2010
"Yer man played at Augusta you know!!!!"
So it was the day of the Pro Am......................had practised the night before and was feeling ok, especially with my putting.
Up bright and early for the 11:20 tee off time and got to the club in plenty of time to get a bit more practice and get a bite to eat.
I was playing with Jason Timis, this years club Champion who plays off +1 and Mike Harrington, the runner up and course record holder, who's off +2. Not a bad team! Perk of being Captain I guess!
We were due to play with Loydd Saltman, who had been the BEst Amateur at the 2005 Open at St Andrews and by all accounts was handy!
Met up with Mike Harrington and sat down with Coffee and Bacon Rolls, met up with a few others, all excited about the day, laid a few bets down and then headed for the practice area. As I was getting my clubs out of the car, bumped into Jason had a quick chat and then knuckled down to a bit of practice.
No mats today! Off the grassed area and a pyramid of balls neatly arranged.
Hit a few wedges to warm up. Felt nice, then a 6 iron and again, nice tempo. Striking the ball well. Will I be able to take it out onto the course. 5 or 6 shots with 3 wood off the deck and then a dozend drives and that's enough. It's going well, so let's not leave the good shots on the range.
Down to the putting green and Jon Farmer brings us the news that Loydd can't make it, so we are going to play with another pro call Brian Mcilhenny, an Irishman. We shake hands, exchange pleasantries and then head to the scoreboard for the obligatory team photograph, along with a couple of skimpy short wearing young girls, obviously there to add a bit of glamour to proceedings. It was a bit too cold for one of them!
Back to the putting green and I'm putting well. Pace is good and I hole a few longish putts as well!
Will I keep up this form on the course! Tempo.....that's the watchword for today.
We get called to the first tee and the starter gives us the cards and rules for the day.
The pro is playing an individual medal on hos own off the Blue tees, but we can also use his score in our team Stableford which is best 2 scores on each hole. We are playing off the White tees!
On the tee, Brian Mcilhenny.................small smattering of applause from the "gallery".
Brian meticulously takes a couple of practices swing and then nonchalantly flicks the ball down the centre of the fairway.
We head forward some 50 yards to the white tee and the starter announces over the tannoy............."On the tee, Wychwood Park Captain for 2010, Mr Paul Price"
Not a single clap!!!!
Still, it's not me they've come to see!
Just get the drive away. remeber, nice easy tempo.
Not the best of tee shots, but it's in the fairway!
Jason up next......................BOOM...................the ball disappears!
Mike Harrington is next, not as much raw power, but a smooth swing and the ball is launched way over the hill!
This is what I've been looking forward to all week.................what a dream team.
I get to my ball, 3 wood, nice smooth swing, straight down the fairway.
Brian plays his second and then we walk forward, probably another 100 yards to where Jason and Mike are. Hope they are'nt putting Brian off.............well I don't mind too much. We want to win!
Mike hits a good shot and is just short and right for 2. Jason launches his second, tracking towards the pin and to within 5 feet! This is what we came to see.
We have a small gallery following us. Shane Townsend and a couple of mates, see me hit my 3rd from about 180 yards onto the green and with a chance of a Birdie! To be honest, I surprised myself with that one, but tried not to show it.
Brian is on the green with his 3rd and takes two putts for his par. Mike chips close to secure his Birdie. I hit a good putt, which leaves me with a tap in for a par, net birdie and 3 points! Six points on this hole with Jason to putt from 5 foot for an eagle and 4 points. It hust shaves the hole! But six points is a good start!
As we are waiting on the second tee, we have a quick chat with Brian. Mike says he is sure he has seen Brian before and asks him where he's played. Brian tells us, without any hint of bragging, that he was Amateur Champion in 2005, played in the Open and then the Masters in 2006. We'd have to quiz him about that later!
We left him to get on with his own game, after all he was playing for the prize oney today!
He hit a good tee shot from the Blue tee and hot the green on the right.
After pulling the last 5 or 6 tee shots to the left on the second, I hit a sweet shot over the pin and left a 15 footer down the green.
Jason also hit the green, but Mike was just short. Mike hit a chip which was inches short. A great chip, but you could tell he was expecting to hole it! That's the difference!
Brian hit a good lag putt down the hill as did Jason. I had a slightly easier putt, but hit a good line that just ran out of pace and so it was another tap in for par.
Onto the 3rd and another smooth tee shot from Brian. I hit an ok drive but was way back, but then again, I ususally am! Mike and Jason were way up the fairway.
I hit another good shot, just coming up short from about 170 yards. Chip and a put and it's another par and 3 points. Mike and Jason hit wedges for second shots and just missed birdie putts.
Onto the 4th and this was the longest drive hole.
Not an issue for me and the marker looked a long way away. Brian misses the fairway right, but he's be ok.
I pull mine left and into the light rough.
Jason launches another, low and powerful but it's way past the marker. Mike also hits a great drive, but no one is going to get past Jason's drive. Just give him the prize now!
Our Gallery leave us, can't believe why, I'm level par and Jason has just hity that monster!
A decent second shot and I'm left with a chip and a putt for another par, but leave the chip short and end up with a bogie. Still, it's ok, although the two pars from the boys leave us with 4 points. for the hole. Need to use my shots.
Brian's getting a bit chatty now and we have plenty of opportunity to talk as the round is a bit slow. Waiting on most tees and over second shots is going to be the norm today!
Bit of a blocked drive on 5, but on the fairway. Jason hits a well used rescue club, an old Adams club which is obviously a favourite club.
I block my second and it looks like going out of bounds. Never mind the others are on for 2 with good birdie chances. I must have hit the out of bounds marker, because I'm just in play!
Chip out and manage to grab a 5, but the boys have grabbed points anyway.
Off to the 6th and Brian is off the back tee. He hits one slightly short and left, but show his class with a tricky up and down. My ball is to the right, but a reasonable chip leaves me with a tricky putt and it slips by for a 4. Mike and Jason also make pars, with Jason, just missing his birdie put. It looks good all the way but just slides by again!
Off to the 7th and Brian hits a great drive off the back tee, I get a reasonable drive away that flirts with the plantation on the left and rolls into the fairway. Two booming drives from Mike and Jason and we're looking good to pick up points.
I pull my second left, but I have a shot albeit from the rough by the tree.
Good connection, but the ball trickles into the pot bunker short! With three attempts to get out I end up with an 8 no points! But a team Birdie from Brian and a par from Mike and we get 5 points!
Onto the 8th and with no wind and a forward tee, I'm feeling confodent, but hit a bit of a high block and make the carry by about 20 yards! Needless to say Mike and Jason have ripped drives over the bunkers. I pull my second left and into the rough left, but end up with a relatively simple chip over the bunkers and on the green, but 2 stab for a bogey 5. Two pars from Mike and Jason so we have got our level par 4 team points.
9th tee and another bit of a delay, so a chance to quiz Brian abit more about who he's played with and his times at Augusta.
Furyk, Mediate................Arnold Palmer and Gary Player in a practice round! You're not going to meet many who've done that!
The fairway clears and Brian hist another straight one into the fairway. I make a good swing, but just pull it into the fairway bunker and end up against the face. A bit greedy with the second and it bounces back off the lip into the bunker. Take a resuce club and muller it up the fairway.
Mike and Jason have "laid" up and hit reasonable 2nd shots. I hit wege on and just miss out on a 2 pointer, but we walk of with 4 points.
Brian has manged to shoot 2 under par 34. Made it look easy. Never in any trouble, with a very solid short game. He doesn't seem to hit it that far and you wonder how he got on at Augusta! Well he shot 80 and 75 actually, missing the cut, but he did Birdie 16!!! He also beat Paul Mcginley, Craig Stadler, Fuzzy Zoeller, David Duval, Gary Player, Fred Funk, Mark Calcavecchia and Sandy Lyle!
And now he was playing with me (and beating me!) at Wychwood Park! What an honour!
We headed off the 9th green and walked past the scoreboard. No scores in yet so not sure what the target is, but not sure what we've scored anayway. Last year was won with 86 points and I can't imagine we are anywhere near that.
We get to the half way house and meet up with another team who have played the back 9 first. They are keeping tight lipped about there score! Must be doing well!
There are burgers on, but I can't eat, still too excited about playing in this company.
Mike tucks into a hot meat and potato pie. Didn't know they did them..............mental note..............winter league, hot pies at halfway house.
Fairway clears and Brian sets up on the tee to start the back nine!
Up bright and early for the 11:20 tee off time and got to the club in plenty of time to get a bit more practice and get a bite to eat.
I was playing with Jason Timis, this years club Champion who plays off +1 and Mike Harrington, the runner up and course record holder, who's off +2. Not a bad team! Perk of being Captain I guess!
We were due to play with Loydd Saltman, who had been the BEst Amateur at the 2005 Open at St Andrews and by all accounts was handy!
Met up with Mike Harrington and sat down with Coffee and Bacon Rolls, met up with a few others, all excited about the day, laid a few bets down and then headed for the practice area. As I was getting my clubs out of the car, bumped into Jason had a quick chat and then knuckled down to a bit of practice.
No mats today! Off the grassed area and a pyramid of balls neatly arranged.
Hit a few wedges to warm up. Felt nice, then a 6 iron and again, nice tempo. Striking the ball well. Will I be able to take it out onto the course. 5 or 6 shots with 3 wood off the deck and then a dozend drives and that's enough. It's going well, so let's not leave the good shots on the range.
Down to the putting green and Jon Farmer brings us the news that Loydd can't make it, so we are going to play with another pro call Brian Mcilhenny, an Irishman. We shake hands, exchange pleasantries and then head to the scoreboard for the obligatory team photograph, along with a couple of skimpy short wearing young girls, obviously there to add a bit of glamour to proceedings. It was a bit too cold for one of them!
Back to the putting green and I'm putting well. Pace is good and I hole a few longish putts as well!
Will I keep up this form on the course! Tempo.....that's the watchword for today.
We get called to the first tee and the starter gives us the cards and rules for the day.
The pro is playing an individual medal on hos own off the Blue tees, but we can also use his score in our team Stableford which is best 2 scores on each hole. We are playing off the White tees!
On the tee, Brian Mcilhenny.................small smattering of applause from the "gallery".
Brian meticulously takes a couple of practices swing and then nonchalantly flicks the ball down the centre of the fairway.
We head forward some 50 yards to the white tee and the starter announces over the tannoy............."On the tee, Wychwood Park Captain for 2010, Mr Paul Price"
Not a single clap!!!!
Still, it's not me they've come to see!
Just get the drive away. remeber, nice easy tempo.
Not the best of tee shots, but it's in the fairway!
Jason up next......................BOOM...................the ball disappears!
Mike Harrington is next, not as much raw power, but a smooth swing and the ball is launched way over the hill!
This is what I've been looking forward to all week.................what a dream team.
I get to my ball, 3 wood, nice smooth swing, straight down the fairway.
Brian plays his second and then we walk forward, probably another 100 yards to where Jason and Mike are. Hope they are'nt putting Brian off.............well I don't mind too much. We want to win!
Mike hits a good shot and is just short and right for 2. Jason launches his second, tracking towards the pin and to within 5 feet! This is what we came to see.
We have a small gallery following us. Shane Townsend and a couple of mates, see me hit my 3rd from about 180 yards onto the green and with a chance of a Birdie! To be honest, I surprised myself with that one, but tried not to show it.
Brian is on the green with his 3rd and takes two putts for his par. Mike chips close to secure his Birdie. I hit a good putt, which leaves me with a tap in for a par, net birdie and 3 points! Six points on this hole with Jason to putt from 5 foot for an eagle and 4 points. It hust shaves the hole! But six points is a good start!
As we are waiting on the second tee, we have a quick chat with Brian. Mike says he is sure he has seen Brian before and asks him where he's played. Brian tells us, without any hint of bragging, that he was Amateur Champion in 2005, played in the Open and then the Masters in 2006. We'd have to quiz him about that later!
We left him to get on with his own game, after all he was playing for the prize oney today!
He hit a good tee shot from the Blue tee and hot the green on the right.
After pulling the last 5 or 6 tee shots to the left on the second, I hit a sweet shot over the pin and left a 15 footer down the green.
Jason also hit the green, but Mike was just short. Mike hit a chip which was inches short. A great chip, but you could tell he was expecting to hole it! That's the difference!
Brian hit a good lag putt down the hill as did Jason. I had a slightly easier putt, but hit a good line that just ran out of pace and so it was another tap in for par.
Onto the 3rd and another smooth tee shot from Brian. I hit an ok drive but was way back, but then again, I ususally am! Mike and Jason were way up the fairway.
I hit another good shot, just coming up short from about 170 yards. Chip and a put and it's another par and 3 points. Mike and Jason hit wedges for second shots and just missed birdie putts.
Onto the 4th and this was the longest drive hole.
Not an issue for me and the marker looked a long way away. Brian misses the fairway right, but he's be ok.
I pull mine left and into the light rough.
Jason launches another, low and powerful but it's way past the marker. Mike also hits a great drive, but no one is going to get past Jason's drive. Just give him the prize now!
Our Gallery leave us, can't believe why, I'm level par and Jason has just hity that monster!
A decent second shot and I'm left with a chip and a putt for another par, but leave the chip short and end up with a bogie. Still, it's ok, although the two pars from the boys leave us with 4 points. for the hole. Need to use my shots.
Brian's getting a bit chatty now and we have plenty of opportunity to talk as the round is a bit slow. Waiting on most tees and over second shots is going to be the norm today!
Bit of a blocked drive on 5, but on the fairway. Jason hits a well used rescue club, an old Adams club which is obviously a favourite club.
I block my second and it looks like going out of bounds. Never mind the others are on for 2 with good birdie chances. I must have hit the out of bounds marker, because I'm just in play!
Chip out and manage to grab a 5, but the boys have grabbed points anyway.
Off to the 6th and Brian is off the back tee. He hits one slightly short and left, but show his class with a tricky up and down. My ball is to the right, but a reasonable chip leaves me with a tricky putt and it slips by for a 4. Mike and Jason also make pars, with Jason, just missing his birdie put. It looks good all the way but just slides by again!
Off to the 7th and Brian hits a great drive off the back tee, I get a reasonable drive away that flirts with the plantation on the left and rolls into the fairway. Two booming drives from Mike and Jason and we're looking good to pick up points.
I pull my second left, but I have a shot albeit from the rough by the tree.
Good connection, but the ball trickles into the pot bunker short! With three attempts to get out I end up with an 8 no points! But a team Birdie from Brian and a par from Mike and we get 5 points!
Onto the 8th and with no wind and a forward tee, I'm feeling confodent, but hit a bit of a high block and make the carry by about 20 yards! Needless to say Mike and Jason have ripped drives over the bunkers. I pull my second left and into the rough left, but end up with a relatively simple chip over the bunkers and on the green, but 2 stab for a bogey 5. Two pars from Mike and Jason so we have got our level par 4 team points.
9th tee and another bit of a delay, so a chance to quiz Brian abit more about who he's played with and his times at Augusta.
Furyk, Mediate................Arnold Palmer and Gary Player in a practice round! You're not going to meet many who've done that!
The fairway clears and Brian hist another straight one into the fairway. I make a good swing, but just pull it into the fairway bunker and end up against the face. A bit greedy with the second and it bounces back off the lip into the bunker. Take a resuce club and muller it up the fairway.
Mike and Jason have "laid" up and hit reasonable 2nd shots. I hit wege on and just miss out on a 2 pointer, but we walk of with 4 points.
Brian has manged to shoot 2 under par 34. Made it look easy. Never in any trouble, with a very solid short game. He doesn't seem to hit it that far and you wonder how he got on at Augusta! Well he shot 80 and 75 actually, missing the cut, but he did Birdie 16!!! He also beat Paul Mcginley, Craig Stadler, Fuzzy Zoeller, David Duval, Gary Player, Fred Funk, Mark Calcavecchia and Sandy Lyle!
And now he was playing with me (and beating me!) at Wychwood Park! What an honour!
We headed off the 9th green and walked past the scoreboard. No scores in yet so not sure what the target is, but not sure what we've scored anayway. Last year was won with 86 points and I can't imagine we are anywhere near that.
We get to the half way house and meet up with another team who have played the back 9 first. They are keeping tight lipped about there score! Must be doing well!
There are burgers on, but I can't eat, still too excited about playing in this company.
Mike tucks into a hot meat and potato pie. Didn't know they did them..............mental note..............winter league, hot pies at halfway house.
Fairway clears and Brian sets up on the tee to start the back nine!
Tomorrow Belongs To Me.................
The title of a "Sensational Alex Harvey Band" song may not be familiar to you, but that's the way I am looking at tomorrows Pro Am.
Whatever happens, I want to enjoy tomorrow and whatever it brings.
After all, I will be playing with the top two golfers at the club, as well as playing with someone who is trying to make it as a Professional in the tough world that is the sport of Golf.
It is one of the only sports going that due to the handicapping system should enable parity in performance and the chance for a mediocre golfer to "beat" the golfer of better ability.
There are in the world of club golf, those who use, or maybe abuse, the handicapping system to allow them to win competitions, with some fairly hefty prizes, when they are not actually being honest about their playing ability.
I hope that the "bandits", as they are known realise that they are cheating and spoiling it for every honest golfer, who are the majority!
Having been handicap secretary for a number of years I know that most golfers want to get their handicaps down and the Cat 1's are particularly keen to manage their handicaps.
It's just a few that "manage" their handicaps in a negative way that need to be tackled!
You, and more importantly, WE, know who you are.
Me, I'm really looking forward to playing with 3 golfers who don't have a negative handicap............A pro, a a plus 1 and a plus 2!!!
Bring it on!!!
Whatever happens, I want to enjoy tomorrow and whatever it brings.
After all, I will be playing with the top two golfers at the club, as well as playing with someone who is trying to make it as a Professional in the tough world that is the sport of Golf.
It is one of the only sports going that due to the handicapping system should enable parity in performance and the chance for a mediocre golfer to "beat" the golfer of better ability.
There are in the world of club golf, those who use, or maybe abuse, the handicapping system to allow them to win competitions, with some fairly hefty prizes, when they are not actually being honest about their playing ability.
I hope that the "bandits", as they are known realise that they are cheating and spoiling it for every honest golfer, who are the majority!
Having been handicap secretary for a number of years I know that most golfers want to get their handicaps down and the Cat 1's are particularly keen to manage their handicaps.
It's just a few that "manage" their handicaps in a negative way that need to be tackled!
You, and more importantly, WE, know who you are.
Me, I'm really looking forward to playing with 3 golfers who don't have a negative handicap............A pro, a a plus 1 and a plus 2!!!
Bring it on!!!
Sunday, 1 August 2010
International Pairs
Good one to win this one! International Pairs, a 4 ball better ball stableford.
I'm paired with Craig Collins, or "Burger" as he's now know apparently (Not Captain Slow!!!!)
Off at 7:48 paird with Steve Cooker and Gary Hand. Newish members of 27 and 22.
Get on the first tee and see Gary (27) launch one, but with a "bit of a slice" that nearly hits the road!
I manage to hit one straight and onto the fairway and Craig hit's a great drive.
I manage to squeeze a fairway wood down the left and a lay-up short of bunker.
Craig lay's up and puts a 3rd on, whilst I'm just inside him for 4. Craigs par nicks the 2 points off my 6.
For the umpteenth time in a row, I pull my iron left on second and scramble for 4 but Craig gets a solid 3 for 2 points.
Hitting the ball better, I strike a good drive up 3 and a 2nd pushed a bit, but pin high and just miss the birdie, but our first 3 pointer. Another good drive from me down 4 and a second leaves me with a pitch from about 60 yards. Craig's hit a great drive and is on for 2. A solid 2 putt from Carig and another 3 points in the bag.
COntinue with another good drive on 5, seem to be getting through the ball better today and a good second and I'm just short. Craig hit's his approach a bit fat and ends up short. I hit a good chip across the ridge to the pin at the back and Craig also hits a good chip. No shots on this hole, but we both have a chance of par and 2 points, but both miss!
Still we can pick it up!
Par for Craig on 6 and another 3 points.
The 7th and I hit an awful drive and I'm out of the hole, but Craig hits a good drive and second and is on for 3. Mind you his 3rd never got more than knee height, jumped the Pot bunker in front and ran up to the back of the green pin high.
"Bet this get's a mention in the Blog", said Craig..............You bet!
He just misses the birdie, but another 3 points!
We've both hit left on 8 and I manage to cut one to the front edge and Craig ends up just short of the green side bunkers. No shots on this hole, so need an up down from one of us. I chip to within 8 feet, but Craig thins one over the back. Get's up and down for a point, but I just lip out with my par putt.
I've been striking the ball quite well, but not solid, so I decide to grip further down the shaft with my driver and hit a good drive up 9, top the second, but chip just onto the fringe to pin close to the front. Leave the par putt on the lip, but 2 points for a halfway score of 21. Could have 24 in reality with a few putts dropping.
Will need to do the same again.
Steve and Gary have started to play better, but they've not scored well!
Quick Bacon Butty and another solid drive from me, but blocked by the tree. Hit a great 8 iron over the tree, but end up just short. Solid par from Craig, good start.
Forward tees and pin at front, so it's a fairly easy par and 2 points.....good start.
Striking the driver well now and a half decent second into the wind and I've got about 190 to the 12 pin! Bit of a downhill lie and I just scramble over the ditch, but short of the green. Fantastic chip and I nearly hole of for Birdie. I don't miss from 2 inches....ever.
Both Craig and I hit good drives, Craig carries the ditch I have laid up. Never gonna get over so it's easy.
Hit a good second, but just short and right.
Steady 5 nett 4 for 2 points.
14th and last hole without a shot, in good nick, if we can just get a par for 2 points.
I hit a lay-up, but a bit too far back. Craig has hit it long and right, but is in the rough!
I decide to lay-up and live myself enough distance for a full wedge. Craig goes for it, but endsw up in the water. Another 50p for the Captains Charity!
A decent wedge and 2 putts for a five and 1 point.
Safe drive on 15 and good second leaves me a fairly simple pitch, but leave it short as does Craig, but we manage another bogey for 2 points.
My drive on 16 looks good inthe air, but just catches the bunker. Craig also hits the bunker. Craig splashes out, but although I am tight to the edge of the bunker, but can get a fairway wood onto it. Catch it well, but just catch the hazard up near the green.
Craig gets on, but a long way from the hole and 3 putts. Just one point.
17 and we have lost the honour for the first time!
I end up in the bunker right, taking an iffy bounce at the end. Craig ends up in the water.
I have a difficult lie, but manage to get the ball out, but 3 putts and it's only a point!
The eighteenth and a good drive, just catching the rough down the left. Craig hits a monster, but I hit the tree with my second and have to take a drop. Out of the hole!
Craig's second is a bit shabby and catches the fairway bunker on the right. Get's out well and a par to finish.
We both played well, reasonable score of 38, but could have been better. But not as good as the 46 points that were leading when we left!
Poor Gary though, he lost 10 balls!!!!
I'm paired with Craig Collins, or "Burger" as he's now know apparently (Not Captain Slow!!!!)
Off at 7:48 paird with Steve Cooker and Gary Hand. Newish members of 27 and 22.
Get on the first tee and see Gary (27) launch one, but with a "bit of a slice" that nearly hits the road!
I manage to hit one straight and onto the fairway and Craig hit's a great drive.
I manage to squeeze a fairway wood down the left and a lay-up short of bunker.
Craig lay's up and puts a 3rd on, whilst I'm just inside him for 4. Craigs par nicks the 2 points off my 6.
For the umpteenth time in a row, I pull my iron left on second and scramble for 4 but Craig gets a solid 3 for 2 points.
Hitting the ball better, I strike a good drive up 3 and a 2nd pushed a bit, but pin high and just miss the birdie, but our first 3 pointer. Another good drive from me down 4 and a second leaves me with a pitch from about 60 yards. Craig's hit a great drive and is on for 2. A solid 2 putt from Carig and another 3 points in the bag.
COntinue with another good drive on 5, seem to be getting through the ball better today and a good second and I'm just short. Craig hit's his approach a bit fat and ends up short. I hit a good chip across the ridge to the pin at the back and Craig also hits a good chip. No shots on this hole, but we both have a chance of par and 2 points, but both miss!
Still we can pick it up!
Par for Craig on 6 and another 3 points.
The 7th and I hit an awful drive and I'm out of the hole, but Craig hits a good drive and second and is on for 3. Mind you his 3rd never got more than knee height, jumped the Pot bunker in front and ran up to the back of the green pin high.
"Bet this get's a mention in the Blog", said Craig..............You bet!
He just misses the birdie, but another 3 points!
We've both hit left on 8 and I manage to cut one to the front edge and Craig ends up just short of the green side bunkers. No shots on this hole, so need an up down from one of us. I chip to within 8 feet, but Craig thins one over the back. Get's up and down for a point, but I just lip out with my par putt.
I've been striking the ball quite well, but not solid, so I decide to grip further down the shaft with my driver and hit a good drive up 9, top the second, but chip just onto the fringe to pin close to the front. Leave the par putt on the lip, but 2 points for a halfway score of 21. Could have 24 in reality with a few putts dropping.
Will need to do the same again.
Steve and Gary have started to play better, but they've not scored well!
Quick Bacon Butty and another solid drive from me, but blocked by the tree. Hit a great 8 iron over the tree, but end up just short. Solid par from Craig, good start.
Forward tees and pin at front, so it's a fairly easy par and 2 points.....good start.
Striking the driver well now and a half decent second into the wind and I've got about 190 to the 12 pin! Bit of a downhill lie and I just scramble over the ditch, but short of the green. Fantastic chip and I nearly hole of for Birdie. I don't miss from 2 inches....ever.
Both Craig and I hit good drives, Craig carries the ditch I have laid up. Never gonna get over so it's easy.
Hit a good second, but just short and right.
Steady 5 nett 4 for 2 points.
14th and last hole without a shot, in good nick, if we can just get a par for 2 points.
I hit a lay-up, but a bit too far back. Craig has hit it long and right, but is in the rough!
I decide to lay-up and live myself enough distance for a full wedge. Craig goes for it, but endsw up in the water. Another 50p for the Captains Charity!
A decent wedge and 2 putts for a five and 1 point.
Safe drive on 15 and good second leaves me a fairly simple pitch, but leave it short as does Craig, but we manage another bogey for 2 points.
My drive on 16 looks good inthe air, but just catches the bunker. Craig also hits the bunker. Craig splashes out, but although I am tight to the edge of the bunker, but can get a fairway wood onto it. Catch it well, but just catch the hazard up near the green.
Craig gets on, but a long way from the hole and 3 putts. Just one point.
17 and we have lost the honour for the first time!
I end up in the bunker right, taking an iffy bounce at the end. Craig ends up in the water.
I have a difficult lie, but manage to get the ball out, but 3 putts and it's only a point!
The eighteenth and a good drive, just catching the rough down the left. Craig hits a monster, but I hit the tree with my second and have to take a drop. Out of the hole!
Craig's second is a bit shabby and catches the fairway bunker on the right. Get's out well and a par to finish.
We both played well, reasonable score of 38, but could have been better. But not as good as the 46 points that were leading when we left!
Poor Gary though, he lost 10 balls!!!!
Friday, 30 July 2010
Bloody Weather!
I've spent the week sweating profusley in an office in Wembley with no air conditioning. It's not been sunny, but it has been hot, with the odd rain shower to break the heat.
But all week I've been thinking about getting out on the golf course and especially my 3rd round knockout match against John Charlton.
Get down to the club at 4pm and feel quite relaxed, practice a fw putts on the practice green and it feels good, but after the debacle that was the club championship, not particulary confident.
Skies are starting to get a bit grey and as we head for the first tee, it starts to spit with rain.
I am getting 8 shots off John, not sure whether this is enough as he can destroy the course on his day! I need to forget about his game, he hits a long ball, and just concentrate on hitting fairways, notmaking mistakes and relying on my short game.
So, first drive into a slight breeze! Block it right and it ends up inthedeep stuff!
John's drive is solid and is well placed over the hill and on a fairly flat area.
I find my ball in deep rough and take a big slog with a wedge to make the fairway. Decent 3rd and then a lay up in front of the bunkers. John then plays his second and is just short and right for 2!
I play a good wedge, but leave it a long way from the pin.
John chips up to within about 5 foot.
I hot a great putt and sink it from 35 ft, but, it's for a 6 and no good to beat John's birdie.
The second and I pull it left for about the 5th time in a row and my 4 is not good enough as John gets an easy Par.
2 down.....not the start I needed. And it's now starting to rain quite heavily now.
3rd and I hit the fairway, but have along way to go. John is abot 75 yards ahead. I hit a good second and leave myself about a 30ft putt across the green.
John hit's his to within 10 ft! I hit a good putt which has a chance but ends up just past for a gimmee!!!
John races his birdie putt about 5 foot past, so I see it in and he misses! A bonus!
The 4th and my first "shot" hole. I hit a reasonable drive and see John Boom one over the bunkers.
Drag my second left, but in reasonable position. Connect too well with my 9 iron 3rd shot and it runs into the back bunker. A good bunker shot left me with an 8 footer and John's second was about 15ft away. He lagged it for an easy 4 and I just lipped out, so back to 2 down.
Still pretty positive as I was hitting the ball fairly well now and as long as I kept it in play, I could pull this back. I'd got 3 shot holes to come berfore the end of the front 9!
I try to hit a draw, but the hands are too fast and I drag the drive into the hazard.
So, easy for John again. Manage to get a good 5, but John has a simple par to go 3 up!
Shot hole on the 6th and John is a bit short and right and I just manage to reach the fringe. Par, nett Birdie to get straight back to 2 down with the 7th and a shot to come.
I hit it down the left and just catch the plantation. John's now hitting 3 wood off the deck and hits one that just ends up in the right hand rough.
I manage to work the 2nd out of the plantation and into the fairway just past John. He lays up a bit short and I am just past him, but down the left. John puts his 3rd to about 15ft and my fourth is pushed a bit right and ends on on the green 30ft from the pin. Just miss Par and watch as John just misses his putt for a win.
The tees are fairly forward tonight, so we are off the lower level on 8th, John hits a monster over the left hand bunkers, I sky one and don't make the carry. Play 3 off the tee and smash it into the Bunkers!!!
Get out but even with John messing it a bit for a bogey easily beats my 7!
John, with 3 wood hits a solid tee shot on 9 and I get away with one up the right. Line up for long approach, but block it into lake. 4th just catches the lip of the bunker and I end up 4 down for the front 9!
It's raining heavily now and I'm not expecting to get much further. Just hold on to 10 and 11 with no shots and then I've got 12 and 13 with shots to hopefully pull a couple back!
Bad drive off 10, blocked right, and it's a provisional off the tee. Luckily find the first, but can only hack it onto the fairway and just catch the greenside bunker, up and down for a 5, but lost to a par again! 5 down.
Perhaos I sohould shake hands now and then we can get back to the bar, but, remember playing a medal with John a few weeks ago and John would have been 5up against me after 10, but started to lose his irons after shanking on 11, and I would have lost on 18, so let's see what happens!
John misses the green left and I am on the green, but on the lower right with pin top left. I hit a good first putt, just past and get a par. John gets up and down, so it's a half.
It's tipping it down now and I can hardly grip the club at the moment. Still got a shot here.
John's 3 wood is into the fairway and my Drive ends up short down the right, but way back. As I hit my second, I feel my grip slip and it slices high and right into the gorse bushes, unplayable, drop and hit 4, into the rough, fifth just gets out, so it's six from 220yards. Have to go for it, but straight into ditch.
John is on in 3 and so it's time to shake hands...............
Still, on reflection, not a bad campaign this year, just not good enough to come close.....in fact, I don't even think I was 2nd today!
But all week I've been thinking about getting out on the golf course and especially my 3rd round knockout match against John Charlton.
Get down to the club at 4pm and feel quite relaxed, practice a fw putts on the practice green and it feels good, but after the debacle that was the club championship, not particulary confident.
Skies are starting to get a bit grey and as we head for the first tee, it starts to spit with rain.
I am getting 8 shots off John, not sure whether this is enough as he can destroy the course on his day! I need to forget about his game, he hits a long ball, and just concentrate on hitting fairways, notmaking mistakes and relying on my short game.
So, first drive into a slight breeze! Block it right and it ends up inthedeep stuff!
John's drive is solid and is well placed over the hill and on a fairly flat area.
I find my ball in deep rough and take a big slog with a wedge to make the fairway. Decent 3rd and then a lay up in front of the bunkers. John then plays his second and is just short and right for 2!
I play a good wedge, but leave it a long way from the pin.
John chips up to within about 5 foot.
I hot a great putt and sink it from 35 ft, but, it's for a 6 and no good to beat John's birdie.
The second and I pull it left for about the 5th time in a row and my 4 is not good enough as John gets an easy Par.
2 down.....not the start I needed. And it's now starting to rain quite heavily now.
3rd and I hit the fairway, but have along way to go. John is abot 75 yards ahead. I hit a good second and leave myself about a 30ft putt across the green.
John hit's his to within 10 ft! I hit a good putt which has a chance but ends up just past for a gimmee!!!
John races his birdie putt about 5 foot past, so I see it in and he misses! A bonus!
The 4th and my first "shot" hole. I hit a reasonable drive and see John Boom one over the bunkers.
Drag my second left, but in reasonable position. Connect too well with my 9 iron 3rd shot and it runs into the back bunker. A good bunker shot left me with an 8 footer and John's second was about 15ft away. He lagged it for an easy 4 and I just lipped out, so back to 2 down.
Still pretty positive as I was hitting the ball fairly well now and as long as I kept it in play, I could pull this back. I'd got 3 shot holes to come berfore the end of the front 9!
I try to hit a draw, but the hands are too fast and I drag the drive into the hazard.
So, easy for John again. Manage to get a good 5, but John has a simple par to go 3 up!
Shot hole on the 6th and John is a bit short and right and I just manage to reach the fringe. Par, nett Birdie to get straight back to 2 down with the 7th and a shot to come.
I hit it down the left and just catch the plantation. John's now hitting 3 wood off the deck and hits one that just ends up in the right hand rough.
I manage to work the 2nd out of the plantation and into the fairway just past John. He lays up a bit short and I am just past him, but down the left. John puts his 3rd to about 15ft and my fourth is pushed a bit right and ends on on the green 30ft from the pin. Just miss Par and watch as John just misses his putt for a win.
The tees are fairly forward tonight, so we are off the lower level on 8th, John hits a monster over the left hand bunkers, I sky one and don't make the carry. Play 3 off the tee and smash it into the Bunkers!!!
Get out but even with John messing it a bit for a bogey easily beats my 7!
John, with 3 wood hits a solid tee shot on 9 and I get away with one up the right. Line up for long approach, but block it into lake. 4th just catches the lip of the bunker and I end up 4 down for the front 9!
It's raining heavily now and I'm not expecting to get much further. Just hold on to 10 and 11 with no shots and then I've got 12 and 13 with shots to hopefully pull a couple back!
Bad drive off 10, blocked right, and it's a provisional off the tee. Luckily find the first, but can only hack it onto the fairway and just catch the greenside bunker, up and down for a 5, but lost to a par again! 5 down.
Perhaos I sohould shake hands now and then we can get back to the bar, but, remember playing a medal with John a few weeks ago and John would have been 5up against me after 10, but started to lose his irons after shanking on 11, and I would have lost on 18, so let's see what happens!
John misses the green left and I am on the green, but on the lower right with pin top left. I hit a good first putt, just past and get a par. John gets up and down, so it's a half.
It's tipping it down now and I can hardly grip the club at the moment. Still got a shot here.
John's 3 wood is into the fairway and my Drive ends up short down the right, but way back. As I hit my second, I feel my grip slip and it slices high and right into the gorse bushes, unplayable, drop and hit 4, into the rough, fifth just gets out, so it's six from 220yards. Have to go for it, but straight into ditch.
John is on in 3 and so it's time to shake hands...............
Still, on reflection, not a bad campaign this year, just not good enough to come close.....in fact, I don't even think I was 2nd today!
Sunday, 25 July 2010
Club Championship Round 2
Whilst I was disappointed with Round 1 and quite rightly, I had played ok considering the extra length, over 7000 yards and the breezy conditions, so was looking forward to round 2. Plenty of scope to improve with an 11 and a couple of 8's. Just stay focussed and play some simple bogey golf again! Just cut out the big scores!
Get the ball past the Ladies tee, is the first thought off the tee. (Again)
Into the wind on the first. Opposite to yesterday............helping on 7th, but against on 8!!!
Not a bad drive down the first, but weak second leaves me with a difficult shot from the rough blocked out by the tree on the left.
Hit a good rescue club just short of the bunkers and a manage to convert a poor wedge into a bogey 6.
1 better than yesterday already!
A scrambled 4 on the second and that's another one back.
Poor drive on 3 and despite a good recovery shot, I hit an awful chip which spins back into the bunker. No up and down so a diappointing 6.
Good drive on 4th and second, but a bad chip again and the chance of a par just missed with a lipped putt! Still a good 5.
Safe drive on 5 and this time I manage to carry the bunkers and end up just short of the green. Yet another crap chip, the wedges are definitley not working to day, but manage to grab a bogie. So I'm looking good to knock a few off yesterdays. can I really pull shots back with yesters 6 and 11 coming up.
Wind assited on the 6th and I make the carry with a 3wood. Chip on, just past the pin and really unlucky with my down hill sliding putt which ends up on the lip. But a 4 pulls back two shots from yesterday.
Now to the 7th.
Just manage to squeeze my tee shot across, just avoiding the hazard on the left. Poor lie, but manage to get my 2nd down the fairway. Lay up, just and my approach leaves me a 15 footer for par. Just drift past and walk off with a 6. Still 5 better than yesterday. That's 7 shots back in two holes.
Up to the 8th, but a stright drive and against the wind I manage to make the carry by aiming at the melling road!
Second shot with a good lay up and chance of a an up and down for a par, but yet again an awful chip, another chip and 2 putts for a six. But a bogie and I'm under 50 and 4 shots better off!
Skied drive and weak second and I'm in the plantation. Not staked and so a hack out. Still felt confident about hittng the green from 150 yards and getting the ball close to an fairly easy pin. Big slice and it's in the lateral by the green. A drop , fat chip into the bunker and barley getting it on to the fringe and 3 to get down and it's a 9!!!
Fifty-One
Still a nice Bacon Roll at the Half Way House
Another awful drive on 10, making a habit of this! (Perhaps I ought to ditch the Bacon Roll.
By the way, try saying "Beer Can" and telling me it doesn't sound like a Rastafarian saying Bacon. Go on try it!!! It will amaze your family and friends!!!
Into the rough down the right, two to get out, 4th into the bunker right, out ant two stabs , 7!
Tee shot on 11 pulled left and it's in the rough. Get it out and two putts for a 4.
Unlucky on 12 to find the ditch with too good a lay up (i.e. it went into the ditch instead of pulling up short.and it's another 7.
Nigel is struggling as well, not the player he has been and it's a pity as he's been a good player for the teams in the past.
Paul Siv is quietly going along, not brilliant, but he ends up with a decent score and wins a place prize on the day!
I hot a good drive off 13 and I'm thinking of making up for the bad start, but I block my second and have a tough lie in the rough short of the hazard on the right. Can only hack it from the fairway. My wedge to the green takes a bad bounce and ends up in the green side bunker.
I take 3 to get out and the 3rd only just makes it! Chip on and two sorry putts for a 10!
A skied drive on 14 and fronm the deep rough right I mange to get a 6, but I've gone now.
Much to the amusement of Paul and Nigel, my drive off theback at 15 fails to even reach the hazard, but a second that is up near the bunkers, a 3rd on and two putts salvages some pride, especially as Paul hit a great Drive, but still ended up with a 6!!!
I hot a skier on 16 as well and a wedge over the corner for my second is followed by a wedge on and 2 putts for a 5. Perhaps I've found a new way to manage my way around the course!
Water on 17 and I get away with a 5. No Par, Par finish today.
Hack my way up 18 and get a good up and down for 7.
Glad it's over. 109
At least I clawed a fiver back off Trevor, but down a tenner!!!
Jason Timis hits another 74 to win with 148, Mike Harrington shoots a great 70 for a 150 and second place.
Tony Welburn wins the Handicap Cup.
A good day had by all.......................
Get the ball past the Ladies tee, is the first thought off the tee. (Again)
Into the wind on the first. Opposite to yesterday............helping on 7th, but against on 8!!!
Not a bad drive down the first, but weak second leaves me with a difficult shot from the rough blocked out by the tree on the left.
Hit a good rescue club just short of the bunkers and a manage to convert a poor wedge into a bogey 6.
1 better than yesterday already!
A scrambled 4 on the second and that's another one back.
Poor drive on 3 and despite a good recovery shot, I hit an awful chip which spins back into the bunker. No up and down so a diappointing 6.
Good drive on 4th and second, but a bad chip again and the chance of a par just missed with a lipped putt! Still a good 5.
Safe drive on 5 and this time I manage to carry the bunkers and end up just short of the green. Yet another crap chip, the wedges are definitley not working to day, but manage to grab a bogie. So I'm looking good to knock a few off yesterdays. can I really pull shots back with yesters 6 and 11 coming up.
Wind assited on the 6th and I make the carry with a 3wood. Chip on, just past the pin and really unlucky with my down hill sliding putt which ends up on the lip. But a 4 pulls back two shots from yesterday.
Now to the 7th.
Just manage to squeeze my tee shot across, just avoiding the hazard on the left. Poor lie, but manage to get my 2nd down the fairway. Lay up, just and my approach leaves me a 15 footer for par. Just drift past and walk off with a 6. Still 5 better than yesterday. That's 7 shots back in two holes.
Up to the 8th, but a stright drive and against the wind I manage to make the carry by aiming at the melling road!
Second shot with a good lay up and chance of a an up and down for a par, but yet again an awful chip, another chip and 2 putts for a six. But a bogie and I'm under 50 and 4 shots better off!
Skied drive and weak second and I'm in the plantation. Not staked and so a hack out. Still felt confident about hittng the green from 150 yards and getting the ball close to an fairly easy pin. Big slice and it's in the lateral by the green. A drop , fat chip into the bunker and barley getting it on to the fringe and 3 to get down and it's a 9!!!
Fifty-One
Still a nice Bacon Roll at the Half Way House
Another awful drive on 10, making a habit of this! (Perhaps I ought to ditch the Bacon Roll.
By the way, try saying "Beer Can" and telling me it doesn't sound like a Rastafarian saying Bacon. Go on try it!!! It will amaze your family and friends!!!
Into the rough down the right, two to get out, 4th into the bunker right, out ant two stabs , 7!
Tee shot on 11 pulled left and it's in the rough. Get it out and two putts for a 4.
Unlucky on 12 to find the ditch with too good a lay up (i.e. it went into the ditch instead of pulling up short.and it's another 7.
Nigel is struggling as well, not the player he has been and it's a pity as he's been a good player for the teams in the past.
Paul Siv is quietly going along, not brilliant, but he ends up with a decent score and wins a place prize on the day!
I hot a good drive off 13 and I'm thinking of making up for the bad start, but I block my second and have a tough lie in the rough short of the hazard on the right. Can only hack it from the fairway. My wedge to the green takes a bad bounce and ends up in the green side bunker.
I take 3 to get out and the 3rd only just makes it! Chip on and two sorry putts for a 10!
A skied drive on 14 and fronm the deep rough right I mange to get a 6, but I've gone now.
Much to the amusement of Paul and Nigel, my drive off theback at 15 fails to even reach the hazard, but a second that is up near the bunkers, a 3rd on and two putts salvages some pride, especially as Paul hit a great Drive, but still ended up with a 6!!!
I hot a skier on 16 as well and a wedge over the corner for my second is followed by a wedge on and 2 putts for a 5. Perhaps I've found a new way to manage my way around the course!
Water on 17 and I get away with a 5. No Par, Par finish today.
Hack my way up 18 and get a good up and down for 7.
Glad it's over. 109
At least I clawed a fiver back off Trevor, but down a tenner!!!
Jason Timis hits another 74 to win with 148, Mike Harrington shoots a great 70 for a 150 and second place.
Tony Welburn wins the Handicap Cup.
A good day had by all.......................
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Club Championship Round 1
It’s now 6:06 on Monday the 26th July 2010 and I’m on my morning train to Euston to start me week of work in Wembley. I’ve just passed the 4th green and I’m reminded of the up and down I got out of the greenside bunker, one of the decent shots I played in the 36 holes of golf that was the 2010 Club Championship. One of the shots out of the 214 shots, including various penalties along the way that was my contribution to the competition.
The Club Championship is the Blue Ribbon event of the year when we get to crown the best Golfer in the Club, supported by a cast of many who make up the field and compete for the Handicap Cup.
36 holes, played over the full 7000 plus yards of the Blue Tees, with the Club Champion being the player with the best “scratch scores” over the two days.
Just to add an extra dimension, it was the Help for Heroes National Golf Challenge weekend, with our best 10 handicap scores forming our entry into the challenge.
So at 09:06, I teed up with my playing partners, Colin Garside and Ian Pruden , facing the challenge of the first drive off the Blues into a slight wind!
Ian Pruden blocked his right into Indian Country and then proceeded to hit his provisional straight and long. Funny how the provisional always goes where the first should have gone. Unfortunatley he found his first ball.
Colin hit a solid drive, nice swing.
My first drive, the first swing for over two weeks, is ok and I hit the fairway just. As long as I can get each drive past the Ladies tee I will be happy.
I had decided on my target for the weekend. To break 100, preferably on both days. I had no intention of even contemplating winning the Handicap Cup, it would be nice to make the top 32 scratch in round one to play in the Club Championship proper, but if I could break 100 off the Blue tees I would have a good weekend.
I had also decided on my tactics. To play bogey golf and keep a big score off my card. I only had to shoot a net 75 to play to my handicap. In fact a net 78 would keep me in my buffer zone.
So, with plan hatched, just need to execute.
I hit a decent 2nd, but with the green out of range, I laid up short of the bunkers and hit a wedge onto the front edge of the green. Good putt, but a tricky short putt lipped out, so a double on the first.
Never mind, I could pull that back on the 2nd. I hit a decent tee shot, slightly left and a chip which I hit to leave me an uphill putt, but a bit too long. Just missed par putt, but a bogey was alright.
Decent drive up 3, but a long way to go. The Blue tees do make a difference. Good second, leaving me a pitch of 30 yards and two putts for a bogey.
The 4th was long, into the wind and I actually hit a good drive, the second left me about 100 yards short and I was confident about my wedge shot, but I blocked it and into the right side bunker, but as you already know I hit a great bunker shot for an up and down for a Bogey. A good drive up 5 and I was feeling good about my game. I hit my 2nd, great strike, but it takes a bounce into the left hand bunker. Another up and down and my first par...............thin my bunker shot over the back of the green. Hit a good chip out of the rough and make a good par for Bogey. (Perhaps this was the best shop of the weekend.
It also gave me the honour on the 6th! Colin and Ian had started well, with Colin, playing off 15, having got good pars on 3 and 4, but a 6 on 5. I reckon they’d let me win the hole on purpose, so that I’d have the honour.
We got to the tee to see the previous group just finishing teeing off. It did not inspire confidence.
We waited a while, why the group ahead searched for their balls and take their drops and finish the hole off.
I hit Driver to ensure I made the carry, but hit it low and left and straight into the Hazard. Ian hit a great drive and was left with a 15ft putt, but he just missed the birdie putt.
I took a drop and a bad chip left me with a longish uphill putt. Which I raced at the hole, looking for a 4, but it went way past and left me a tricky down hill put of about 10ft, which I missed and walked off with a triple.
Now my work was cut out to pull 3 shots back.
we get to the 7th, off the back tees, into the wind and with the plantations now in play. Hit an awful shot which went left and into the deep rough, not sure it made the carry anyway, so called it lost and dropped at the fron of the tee in line with poiht of entry. Hit a 3wood off the deck, but it was a bit left and drifted across the fairway and into the hazard. Dropping to play 5, I hit a weak, but safe shot and left me a shot of over 220 yards to the green. I decided to go for it as I only had about 140 yards to make the carry over the ditch. Blocked again and into the ditch! Take a drop and playing 8, see the shot heading over the pot bunker straight at the pin, only to see the ball hit the bank on the green side of the bunker and spin back into the bunker. A great bunker shot gave me a chance of a 10, but just lipped out and walked off with am 11.
Game over, tactics blown, chance of making the cut, Nil, and I’ve got the drive off 8 to come next.
Hit a great drive up 8 and get an easy bogey, followed by a good drive, the best of the day, up 9 and a good 2nd left me with another bogey, to end with 51 for the front nine. The 6 and 11 on 6 and 7 had cost me dearly!
Still, If I could shoot to handicap on back 9, I might still be able to break 100.
Quick bacon roll at the Half-way house. Check Cards and Ian and Colin are doing ok. Nothing brilliant but ok! If they can break 90 they will definitley be in the top 32, although they don't believe me. Trust me, I've played in this before.
We all need a good start to the back nine. Blue tees off 10, stroke index 18, the easiest hole on the course! That's a laugh!
Ian hit's his ball right, going further right! Into the deep stuff!
Colin follow's him!
Mindful of not hitting the ball into the deep stuff right................pull left into the trees. Reload! OK drive, but 4th into bunker left. Been playing out of bunkers well, so still a chance of getting up and down, but virtually shank it and it ends up on the top level! Good 2 putt for a 7 in the end!
Into the wind on 11 and a shot into the front bunker, even having taken plenty of club and an ugly 5. A 7 on 12, followed by a decent 5 on 13 despite hitting an awful 2nd into the rough right.
I stand on 14 and think about getting my game back in order! What did Tonm Watson say on the radio anout the one tip he would give to someoe who wanted to hit the ball better? Ah yes! Two knuckles showing on the left hand when gripping the club. Drive sales left into the hazard. Play 3 off the tee, decent, but end up with a 7.
What am I doing, trying to change my grip in the middle of the Club Championship and I've got a bet for both rounds with Trevor Brennand. Am I mad???
Standing on the back tee on 15 and I'd forgotten how far back It is. A pulled drive and I joined Colin into the lateral hazard left of the fairway! Now it's a long was and the 3rd is decent, but another eventul trip to the green side bunker and an 8 on the card!
Poor tee shot on 16 leaves me carding a 6, mainly due to a poor chip and 3 putts!
17th tee is miles back. Looks more than the 216 yards on the plate!
Waiting to take tee shot, club selection easy for me. Driver into the breeze is the only way I can make the carry!
Bit of a consternation behind us, looud conversation and laughter coming from the road. It's only Rob Barrett and his furry daughter chatting to a neighbour walking their dog!
"Oi Barrett! Keep it quiet!" He laughs, but his neighbour seems to take offence!!!
Settle down having seen both Ian and Colin hit decent tee shots, but end up left.
I'm going straight at the pin and strike the ball well and just run through to the back of the green.
Long putt, but get the pace just right and tap in for par. First Par of the day!!! In fact all 3 off us get par. Bet there won't be many 3 balls doing that today!
Ok drive up the left on 18, again it's a long way back off the blues. Good 2nd and the 3rd manages to creep to the edge and a good long putt again and it's my second par of the round! Just like "First" Buses Mr Barrett. You wait for one all day long and then two come along in quick succession!
Thank Ian and Colin for putting up with. Actually surprised that I finished on 104.
If I can improve on a few key holes tomorrow, I could actually break 100!!!
The main event sees Jason Timis with 74 leading by a couple of shots. Jamie Clorley is up there with a 76, but Mike Harrington is back on 80!
Good chat with fellow competitors, sharing stories, good shots, bad shots, funny moments.
This is what a lot of non-golfers don't realise, good bad or indifferent, everyone likes to share their experiences after a game with a few beers in the bar!
There'll be more to come.
Didn't make the cut, by quite a margin, but going out in the 2nd round with Paul Siviter and Nigel Edwards at 8:26!
The Club Championship is the Blue Ribbon event of the year when we get to crown the best Golfer in the Club, supported by a cast of many who make up the field and compete for the Handicap Cup.
36 holes, played over the full 7000 plus yards of the Blue Tees, with the Club Champion being the player with the best “scratch scores” over the two days.
Just to add an extra dimension, it was the Help for Heroes National Golf Challenge weekend, with our best 10 handicap scores forming our entry into the challenge.
So at 09:06, I teed up with my playing partners, Colin Garside and Ian Pruden , facing the challenge of the first drive off the Blues into a slight wind!
Ian Pruden blocked his right into Indian Country and then proceeded to hit his provisional straight and long. Funny how the provisional always goes where the first should have gone. Unfortunatley he found his first ball.
Colin hit a solid drive, nice swing.
My first drive, the first swing for over two weeks, is ok and I hit the fairway just. As long as I can get each drive past the Ladies tee I will be happy.
I had decided on my target for the weekend. To break 100, preferably on both days. I had no intention of even contemplating winning the Handicap Cup, it would be nice to make the top 32 scratch in round one to play in the Club Championship proper, but if I could break 100 off the Blue tees I would have a good weekend.
I had also decided on my tactics. To play bogey golf and keep a big score off my card. I only had to shoot a net 75 to play to my handicap. In fact a net 78 would keep me in my buffer zone.
So, with plan hatched, just need to execute.
I hit a decent 2nd, but with the green out of range, I laid up short of the bunkers and hit a wedge onto the front edge of the green. Good putt, but a tricky short putt lipped out, so a double on the first.
Never mind, I could pull that back on the 2nd. I hit a decent tee shot, slightly left and a chip which I hit to leave me an uphill putt, but a bit too long. Just missed par putt, but a bogey was alright.
Decent drive up 3, but a long way to go. The Blue tees do make a difference. Good second, leaving me a pitch of 30 yards and two putts for a bogey.
The 4th was long, into the wind and I actually hit a good drive, the second left me about 100 yards short and I was confident about my wedge shot, but I blocked it and into the right side bunker, but as you already know I hit a great bunker shot for an up and down for a Bogey. A good drive up 5 and I was feeling good about my game. I hit my 2nd, great strike, but it takes a bounce into the left hand bunker. Another up and down and my first par...............thin my bunker shot over the back of the green. Hit a good chip out of the rough and make a good par for Bogey. (Perhaps this was the best shop of the weekend.
It also gave me the honour on the 6th! Colin and Ian had started well, with Colin, playing off 15, having got good pars on 3 and 4, but a 6 on 5. I reckon they’d let me win the hole on purpose, so that I’d have the honour.
We got to the tee to see the previous group just finishing teeing off. It did not inspire confidence.
We waited a while, why the group ahead searched for their balls and take their drops and finish the hole off.
I hit Driver to ensure I made the carry, but hit it low and left and straight into the Hazard. Ian hit a great drive and was left with a 15ft putt, but he just missed the birdie putt.
I took a drop and a bad chip left me with a longish uphill putt. Which I raced at the hole, looking for a 4, but it went way past and left me a tricky down hill put of about 10ft, which I missed and walked off with a triple.
Now my work was cut out to pull 3 shots back.
we get to the 7th, off the back tees, into the wind and with the plantations now in play. Hit an awful shot which went left and into the deep rough, not sure it made the carry anyway, so called it lost and dropped at the fron of the tee in line with poiht of entry. Hit a 3wood off the deck, but it was a bit left and drifted across the fairway and into the hazard. Dropping to play 5, I hit a weak, but safe shot and left me a shot of over 220 yards to the green. I decided to go for it as I only had about 140 yards to make the carry over the ditch. Blocked again and into the ditch! Take a drop and playing 8, see the shot heading over the pot bunker straight at the pin, only to see the ball hit the bank on the green side of the bunker and spin back into the bunker. A great bunker shot gave me a chance of a 10, but just lipped out and walked off with am 11.
Game over, tactics blown, chance of making the cut, Nil, and I’ve got the drive off 8 to come next.
Hit a great drive up 8 and get an easy bogey, followed by a good drive, the best of the day, up 9 and a good 2nd left me with another bogey, to end with 51 for the front nine. The 6 and 11 on 6 and 7 had cost me dearly!
Still, If I could shoot to handicap on back 9, I might still be able to break 100.
Quick bacon roll at the Half-way house. Check Cards and Ian and Colin are doing ok. Nothing brilliant but ok! If they can break 90 they will definitley be in the top 32, although they don't believe me. Trust me, I've played in this before.
We all need a good start to the back nine. Blue tees off 10, stroke index 18, the easiest hole on the course! That's a laugh!
Ian hit's his ball right, going further right! Into the deep stuff!
Colin follow's him!
Mindful of not hitting the ball into the deep stuff right................pull left into the trees. Reload! OK drive, but 4th into bunker left. Been playing out of bunkers well, so still a chance of getting up and down, but virtually shank it and it ends up on the top level! Good 2 putt for a 7 in the end!
Into the wind on 11 and a shot into the front bunker, even having taken plenty of club and an ugly 5. A 7 on 12, followed by a decent 5 on 13 despite hitting an awful 2nd into the rough right.
I stand on 14 and think about getting my game back in order! What did Tonm Watson say on the radio anout the one tip he would give to someoe who wanted to hit the ball better? Ah yes! Two knuckles showing on the left hand when gripping the club. Drive sales left into the hazard. Play 3 off the tee, decent, but end up with a 7.
What am I doing, trying to change my grip in the middle of the Club Championship and I've got a bet for both rounds with Trevor Brennand. Am I mad???
Standing on the back tee on 15 and I'd forgotten how far back It is. A pulled drive and I joined Colin into the lateral hazard left of the fairway! Now it's a long was and the 3rd is decent, but another eventul trip to the green side bunker and an 8 on the card!
Poor tee shot on 16 leaves me carding a 6, mainly due to a poor chip and 3 putts!
17th tee is miles back. Looks more than the 216 yards on the plate!
Waiting to take tee shot, club selection easy for me. Driver into the breeze is the only way I can make the carry!
Bit of a consternation behind us, looud conversation and laughter coming from the road. It's only Rob Barrett and his furry daughter chatting to a neighbour walking their dog!
"Oi Barrett! Keep it quiet!" He laughs, but his neighbour seems to take offence!!!
Settle down having seen both Ian and Colin hit decent tee shots, but end up left.
I'm going straight at the pin and strike the ball well and just run through to the back of the green.
Long putt, but get the pace just right and tap in for par. First Par of the day!!! In fact all 3 off us get par. Bet there won't be many 3 balls doing that today!
Ok drive up the left on 18, again it's a long way back off the blues. Good 2nd and the 3rd manages to creep to the edge and a good long putt again and it's my second par of the round! Just like "First" Buses Mr Barrett. You wait for one all day long and then two come along in quick succession!
Thank Ian and Colin for putting up with. Actually surprised that I finished on 104.
If I can improve on a few key holes tomorrow, I could actually break 100!!!
The main event sees Jason Timis with 74 leading by a couple of shots. Jamie Clorley is up there with a 76, but Mike Harrington is back on 80!
Good chat with fellow competitors, sharing stories, good shots, bad shots, funny moments.
This is what a lot of non-golfers don't realise, good bad or indifferent, everyone likes to share their experiences after a game with a few beers in the bar!
There'll be more to come.
Didn't make the cut, by quite a margin, but going out in the 2nd round with Paul Siviter and Nigel Edwards at 8:26!
Saturday, 17 July 2010
B team at the Chase Again
I usually manage to play at least one match a year for the B team. They have to be short of course. Very short.
For some reason, it's usually away to Uttoxeter that I getmy chance, but this season, and for the second time, I was playing away against the Chase. The previous time I had had to play on my own, cannon fodder as someone failed to turn up. So I went out last playing agains an 11 handicapper and a young lad called Lance of 4. In Division 1, there is only one shot available, so I was getting 1 shot off Lance, but so was his partner.
I had started ok, but at 3 down I pulled one back by birdying the 6th and that stung them into action and I got stuffed.
This time I was out last again, but this time at least I had a partner. Craig Collins.
I spotted Lance loitering around the clubhouse and sure enough I was playing against him again.
The first and Lance opens up with a long drive, but Craig has matched this with a drive that just hangs up in the rough. I do nothing, but we manage a half.
The second is a par 3 and I sky my tee shot and I'm basically out of the hole as the other 3 are on the green. A 3 from our opposition and a 3 putt from craig and we are 1 down.
We manage a half on 3 and then come to the first par 5, long down hill. Lance hits one way left and is on the next fairway. His partner hits it right and in the rough.
I hit a reasonable second and Craig is in a good position. My 3rd is short and then Lance hits his second from the other fairway onto the green and a two put birdie is too good for our measly par. If he'd hit that drive as wide at Wychwood, he would have been out of the hole.............as we told him so. We're now 2 down and it's looking ominous.
A poor hole from both of us and we are 3 down.
We then have the 6th, a longish up hill par 5. We are both in good nick on this one off the tee and Lance, as usual has hit it long, but has found the light rough. His partner is nowhere.
I hit my second and I'm left with about 120. Craig is just short of the green.
Lance finds the left edge of the green for 2.
I hit a good shot and I'm left with a putt of about 8 feet for birdie.
Craig thins his shot through the back of the green and then hit's a poor 4th .
Lance lags his up stone dead, so now I have a put from 8 foot with a left to right swing for par. Hit it perfect, so we walk off with a half in 4's. I've birdied this hole both times I've played the course.
Short par 4 comes next and all four of us are in good shape, but I mis-judge the length of the second and end up long. Up and down for a par is not good enough as Lance trundles one in for a par and we're now 3 down.
Long par 3 next and it's got a big step down at the back. I'm just short and a chip and a putt for a par, but only for another half.
Ninth is a long Par 5 and just for a change, Lance is short of the green and in the hazard, but he is only on the edge, so he can play a shhoy and knocks it to about 10 feet. He misses his birdie and Craig gets a great up and down for a par to half.
Off to the 10th, a great par 4 from a high tee into a valley.
Tweo good tee shots from out opponents, but from no whereCraig develops a hook and puts two drives seemingly out of bounds. I hit my best drive of the day. We find both of Craig's balls in the ditch lining the oob, so he drop and plays 3 near to the green.
I manage to get close to the green, but have an awkward chip. Lance is on in two and makes par easy. I'm left with a 5 foor putt for par and just manage to make it!
Next is a shortish par 4 with a big dogleg and using local knowledge, our two opponents hit shots that look as thiugh the are way off line. Craig hits a drive that uses the bank on the right to good effect, but we are undone by a birdie. Par 3 next and we lose to a par after we both miss the green, so we are Dormie 6 down.
Par 4 next and after a good drive I hit the right hand green side bunker. With both opponents on the green, I say to Craig that I need to hole this one. Got a feeling on it's going in. Thin it across the green. Hit the next chip perfectly and see it go in for a par. Only a half though and we lose 6 and 5.
We palyed ok, but our opponents, especially Lance were just too good.
Team result was good though....9-3 win.
For some reason, it's usually away to Uttoxeter that I getmy chance, but this season, and for the second time, I was playing away against the Chase. The previous time I had had to play on my own, cannon fodder as someone failed to turn up. So I went out last playing agains an 11 handicapper and a young lad called Lance of 4. In Division 1, there is only one shot available, so I was getting 1 shot off Lance, but so was his partner.
I had started ok, but at 3 down I pulled one back by birdying the 6th and that stung them into action and I got stuffed.
This time I was out last again, but this time at least I had a partner. Craig Collins.
I spotted Lance loitering around the clubhouse and sure enough I was playing against him again.
The first and Lance opens up with a long drive, but Craig has matched this with a drive that just hangs up in the rough. I do nothing, but we manage a half.
The second is a par 3 and I sky my tee shot and I'm basically out of the hole as the other 3 are on the green. A 3 from our opposition and a 3 putt from craig and we are 1 down.
We manage a half on 3 and then come to the first par 5, long down hill. Lance hits one way left and is on the next fairway. His partner hits it right and in the rough.
I hit a reasonable second and Craig is in a good position. My 3rd is short and then Lance hits his second from the other fairway onto the green and a two put birdie is too good for our measly par. If he'd hit that drive as wide at Wychwood, he would have been out of the hole.............as we told him so. We're now 2 down and it's looking ominous.
A poor hole from both of us and we are 3 down.
We then have the 6th, a longish up hill par 5. We are both in good nick on this one off the tee and Lance, as usual has hit it long, but has found the light rough. His partner is nowhere.
I hit my second and I'm left with about 120. Craig is just short of the green.
Lance finds the left edge of the green for 2.
I hit a good shot and I'm left with a putt of about 8 feet for birdie.
Craig thins his shot through the back of the green and then hit's a poor 4th .
Lance lags his up stone dead, so now I have a put from 8 foot with a left to right swing for par. Hit it perfect, so we walk off with a half in 4's. I've birdied this hole both times I've played the course.
Short par 4 comes next and all four of us are in good shape, but I mis-judge the length of the second and end up long. Up and down for a par is not good enough as Lance trundles one in for a par and we're now 3 down.
Long par 3 next and it's got a big step down at the back. I'm just short and a chip and a putt for a par, but only for another half.
Ninth is a long Par 5 and just for a change, Lance is short of the green and in the hazard, but he is only on the edge, so he can play a shhoy and knocks it to about 10 feet. He misses his birdie and Craig gets a great up and down for a par to half.
Off to the 10th, a great par 4 from a high tee into a valley.
Tweo good tee shots from out opponents, but from no whereCraig develops a hook and puts two drives seemingly out of bounds. I hit my best drive of the day. We find both of Craig's balls in the ditch lining the oob, so he drop and plays 3 near to the green.
I manage to get close to the green, but have an awkward chip. Lance is on in two and makes par easy. I'm left with a 5 foor putt for par and just manage to make it!
Next is a shortish par 4 with a big dogleg and using local knowledge, our two opponents hit shots that look as thiugh the are way off line. Craig hits a drive that uses the bank on the right to good effect, but we are undone by a birdie. Par 3 next and we lose to a par after we both miss the green, so we are Dormie 6 down.
Par 4 next and after a good drive I hit the right hand green side bunker. With both opponents on the green, I say to Craig that I need to hole this one. Got a feeling on it's going in. Thin it across the green. Hit the next chip perfectly and see it go in for a par. Only a half though and we lose 6 and 5.
We palyed ok, but our opponents, especially Lance were just too good.
Team result was good though....9-3 win.
Sunday, 11 July 2010
The Inaugural...........balls!!!
The Inaugrual celebrates the opening of Wychood Park in July 2002.
It is a pairs event and I was paired with Jerry Poole.
Jerry has been on form recently, so I was hoping for good things. We were palying with Geoff Russ and Steve Swindail, and to be honest, there was nothing to shout about with either pairs.
We just could not get a par and in fact we were getting more single points than 2's or 3's.
So 13 points for the front 9 was'nt going to do much!
Still we may at least be able to pull a decent score together on the back!
Decent drive down 10, but pulled the 2nd into the front bunker! Hit a briliant bunker shot the length of the green, to within 5 feet. First par coming up. No shot,but at least it will be two points.
As I;m walking around the green Steve Swindail marks my ball for me.
I get ready to take my putt and Steve throws me the ball. I place it on the marker and give him his marker back!
I take my time and roll the ball straight into the middle of the hole. Good up and down for a par.
Walk off the green and notice something odd about the ball. It's not mine!!!
Bit I played my ball into the bunker and out. Where did that ball come from?
Steve's pocket.......he had given me thewrong ball!
I should have checked, my fault, but what a choker!
That was it, whilst we managed to to get to 30 points, I will never forget to check my ball again!!!
Bit it was a great up and down!!!
It is a pairs event and I was paired with Jerry Poole.
Jerry has been on form recently, so I was hoping for good things. We were palying with Geoff Russ and Steve Swindail, and to be honest, there was nothing to shout about with either pairs.
We just could not get a par and in fact we were getting more single points than 2's or 3's.
So 13 points for the front 9 was'nt going to do much!
Still we may at least be able to pull a decent score together on the back!
Decent drive down 10, but pulled the 2nd into the front bunker! Hit a briliant bunker shot the length of the green, to within 5 feet. First par coming up. No shot,but at least it will be two points.
As I;m walking around the green Steve Swindail marks my ball for me.
I get ready to take my putt and Steve throws me the ball. I place it on the marker and give him his marker back!
I take my time and roll the ball straight into the middle of the hole. Good up and down for a par.
Walk off the green and notice something odd about the ball. It's not mine!!!
Bit I played my ball into the bunker and out. Where did that ball come from?
Steve's pocket.......he had given me thewrong ball!
I should have checked, my fault, but what a choker!
That was it, whilst we managed to to get to 30 points, I will never forget to check my ball again!!!
Bit it was a great up and down!!!
Monday, 5 July 2010
"Big Sunday!"
The “Big Day” Sunday
Sunday the 27th June 2010 was going to be a momentous day! The first Medal win of the year for me and England to beat Germany in the “round of 16” of the World Cup!
Teeing off at a reasonable time this week for a change, 9:34, playing with John Charlton and Kev Gordon. Sun shining, plenty of water in the bag, feeling good!
Get the honour and hit the fairway, good job as the other two hit the ball miles, probably would have put me off!
Push the second right and hit 3rd out of the rough into the fairway left, decent approach and then a reasonable chip and 2 putts for a bogie.
Bogie, golf will be ok today, nice and easy, not disasters, couple of pars and we’re in the money.
Pull tee shot on 2 left for about the 3rd week running, but leave it on the bank left. Great chip shot, leaving a 8 footer downhill left to right! Bang on line but just left on lip.
Push Drive right into rough, find it eventually (4 mins!!) Good rescue from rough and a chip leaves me with a ten footer for an unexpected par. Online and short again!
Hit a good drive down 4th, not as good as the other two, but it’s straight down the middle. Second leaves me with a simple enough chip, but a just creep on and then 3 putt for a 6! How many times do I do that? Taking 4 to get down from 50 yards!!!!
Ok drive on 5 and it’s a decent 2nd, chip and 2 putts for a bogie. Not had a par yet!
Hit a decent shot on 6, just off the green right, take 3 to get down, but a 4 on six in a medal is always good.
7th tee and sky my drive left, trying to keep it from going right, don’t think it made the carry! Hit a provisional and it’s in the fairway. Amazing how the provisional always hits the fairway! Well almost always!
Try to play a simple shot to lay up, but knock it weak and it catches the hazard, drop in the rough and duff the next into the ditch! This is now looking bad. In the ditch for 6!!! Luckily I can play from the ditch this, well I can have a go! The ball is in the water, but the only way I have a chance of not racking up double figures plus is to play it.
I get the ball out, just short of the green and manage a chip and two putts for.........a ten!
Bang goes the medal!!!
...and so to the 8th.................but hit a great tee shot, 2nd just short and a chip and leave par putt short! Half decent drive up 9 over bunker , but take 4 from 50 yards again for a double!
50 for the front nine!
Quick bite at the half way house and then onto the 10th.
Skied the drive and a bad second leaves me about 100 yards from pin, just like Friday! Only this time, I pull the half shot with the wedge into the bunker left!
Walk off with a disappointing 6.
John has been playing well and as I've got him in the next round, I do a quick calculation and see how I would be fairing if we'd been playing today! Not good.......5 down! Let's see if I can turn it around!
John tees off on 11 and hits a shank. He'd been saying earlier on that he had started to have problems during previous rounds, when all of a sudden..............well it's happened on 11!!! He's in the bushes to the right!
I hit a skanky shot and end up just short of the front bunker. Great chip and putt for a par!
Bogie on 12 and 13, with chances of pars at both then a nice solid par on 14, with an up and down from the front bunker!
The shanks have got to John and he's under hitting his irons, especially his wedges and from 5 down at the turn, I pulled it back to two down.
On to 15 and a solid drive for once with the 2nd just short a chip and 2 putts for a good bogie! Pity about the 10 on 7!!!!
Pull my drive on 16 left, but get lucky with a good lie and line onto the pin and hit a great shot to within 10 feet, just miss the birdie, but a great par. Puts me one down to John!
Two pars and I can still play within my buffer zone, get a decent tee shot on 17, but left with a long putt and definitley 3 putt country which it is. I would have lost 2&1
We get to the 18th tee and there are two visitors walking off the course, telling us we timed it perfectly, you'll be in the bar in time for kick off!
Forgot the second big part of the day is still to come!
Perhaps the excitement and anticipation got to me, but I pulled my drive to the left and into the rough. Half decent recovery into the fairway, but push my 3rd right into the long stuff again! 4th just short, a chip and 2 putts leave me with a double bogie and a nett 79! My best medal round of the season, so far.
So off to the England v Germany game.........Come on England!!!! woo hoo!!!!
.......more of that later, when I write a World Cup special!!!
Sunday the 27th June 2010 was going to be a momentous day! The first Medal win of the year for me and England to beat Germany in the “round of 16” of the World Cup!
Teeing off at a reasonable time this week for a change, 9:34, playing with John Charlton and Kev Gordon. Sun shining, plenty of water in the bag, feeling good!
Get the honour and hit the fairway, good job as the other two hit the ball miles, probably would have put me off!
Push the second right and hit 3rd out of the rough into the fairway left, decent approach and then a reasonable chip and 2 putts for a bogie.
Bogie, golf will be ok today, nice and easy, not disasters, couple of pars and we’re in the money.
Pull tee shot on 2 left for about the 3rd week running, but leave it on the bank left. Great chip shot, leaving a 8 footer downhill left to right! Bang on line but just left on lip.
Push Drive right into rough, find it eventually (4 mins!!) Good rescue from rough and a chip leaves me with a ten footer for an unexpected par. Online and short again!
Hit a good drive down 4th, not as good as the other two, but it’s straight down the middle. Second leaves me with a simple enough chip, but a just creep on and then 3 putt for a 6! How many times do I do that? Taking 4 to get down from 50 yards!!!!
Ok drive on 5 and it’s a decent 2nd, chip and 2 putts for a bogie. Not had a par yet!
Hit a decent shot on 6, just off the green right, take 3 to get down, but a 4 on six in a medal is always good.
7th tee and sky my drive left, trying to keep it from going right, don’t think it made the carry! Hit a provisional and it’s in the fairway. Amazing how the provisional always hits the fairway! Well almost always!
Try to play a simple shot to lay up, but knock it weak and it catches the hazard, drop in the rough and duff the next into the ditch! This is now looking bad. In the ditch for 6!!! Luckily I can play from the ditch this, well I can have a go! The ball is in the water, but the only way I have a chance of not racking up double figures plus is to play it.
I get the ball out, just short of the green and manage a chip and two putts for.........a ten!
Bang goes the medal!!!
...and so to the 8th.................but hit a great tee shot, 2nd just short and a chip and leave par putt short! Half decent drive up 9 over bunker , but take 4 from 50 yards again for a double!
50 for the front nine!
Quick bite at the half way house and then onto the 10th.
Skied the drive and a bad second leaves me about 100 yards from pin, just like Friday! Only this time, I pull the half shot with the wedge into the bunker left!
Walk off with a disappointing 6.
John has been playing well and as I've got him in the next round, I do a quick calculation and see how I would be fairing if we'd been playing today! Not good.......5 down! Let's see if I can turn it around!
John tees off on 11 and hits a shank. He'd been saying earlier on that he had started to have problems during previous rounds, when all of a sudden..............well it's happened on 11!!! He's in the bushes to the right!
I hit a skanky shot and end up just short of the front bunker. Great chip and putt for a par!
Bogie on 12 and 13, with chances of pars at both then a nice solid par on 14, with an up and down from the front bunker!
The shanks have got to John and he's under hitting his irons, especially his wedges and from 5 down at the turn, I pulled it back to two down.
On to 15 and a solid drive for once with the 2nd just short a chip and 2 putts for a good bogie! Pity about the 10 on 7!!!!
Pull my drive on 16 left, but get lucky with a good lie and line onto the pin and hit a great shot to within 10 feet, just miss the birdie, but a great par. Puts me one down to John!
Two pars and I can still play within my buffer zone, get a decent tee shot on 17, but left with a long putt and definitley 3 putt country which it is. I would have lost 2&1
We get to the 18th tee and there are two visitors walking off the course, telling us we timed it perfectly, you'll be in the bar in time for kick off!
Forgot the second big part of the day is still to come!
Perhaps the excitement and anticipation got to me, but I pulled my drive to the left and into the rough. Half decent recovery into the fairway, but push my 3rd right into the long stuff again! 4th just short, a chip and 2 putts leave me with a double bogie and a nett 79! My best medal round of the season, so far.
So off to the England v Germany game.........Come on England!!!! woo hoo!!!!
.......more of that later, when I write a World Cup special!!!
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