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!!!!