"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!