Scores for Saturday 27 June 2020

Keith Rowden and Paul Stammers left the group this week to focus on mid-week golf, gardening, watching ball sports and strictly. Best wishes to both of them. Keith has asked to be taken off the group mail but Mr Stammers wants to keep an eye on the form of those of you looking to play more mid-week golf!

 

A warm, wet and windy morning for our escapades this Saturday. The rain come coming, stopping then coming again, a total contrast to conditions this week although I think I’d take that over the scorching temperatures of Wednesday/Thursday this week.

 

A range of scores today but a reasonable average score of 30.47 given the conditions with 17 players spread over 5 tee times.

 

We had some drama to start the day with our usual failure to secure the 08:30 spot and today the 09:00 spot also. This means that our independence day revels will be spread out from 07:30 to 09:50.

 

I have to share an amazing escape story of my own today before I get into the scores.

 

On the 12^th, after squeezing a solitary point out of 9-11, I pushed my tee shot wide right onto the approach of the 13^th hole. I took my medicine and chipped out onto the fairway behind the hedge. I then tried to recover with my 5 wood which I duly caught on the toe and pushed the shot into the tree line between 12 and 13 to join Duncan who was retrieving his wide right tee shot. The prognosis wasn’t good! The ball had been scooped up by a tree and dropped brutally into the rough which those of you who found it today will know is rough indeed. I had no shot at all. I needed to keep the ball low to avoid the first tree and high to get over the second OR bend it round the corner to approach the green. The ball was sitting up a little so I thought a cheeky 7 iron might achieve the desired outcome of getting me someway near the green. I caught the ball perfectly, faded round the tree and rolled to within about 5 feet of the pin. “What was that!” exclaimed Duncan, “I’m about to hear 5 for 3 when you put this out!” – I didn’t disappoint.

 

Another incident happened on the first tee for Roger today. Roger hit the ball off the tee into the trees on the left. The group went hunting for the ball and found part of the ball that Roger had teed off with (whether the part that had og or the part that had R was not revealed.) The group agreed that Roger should take his shot from where they found the ball part with a new ball without penalty. Checking the rules, what should have happened is that the shot be cancelled, Roger should have gone back to the tee and retaken the shot without penalty. No harm done but just in case we have any more instances of ball disintegration!

 

Birdies this week from Duncan (14) – A magnificent 25 foot put across from the back of the green, James (11), Jock (5), Pete Laurence (13) and Steve Reynolds (2, 8 and 16.) – Well done guys.

 

The top prize this week goes to yours truly with 38 points. 20 points on 1-8 then it was all looking ropey with only 21 points after 11 but 6 points on amen corner inspired me to finish strong with 18 points on the back 9. Well done me.

 

Second prize goes to Roger Gibbs with a very strong 36 points. Roger had a great back 9 (19) and a good front 9 (17) but was kicking himself for the blob on 6 which could have sealed it. Well done Roger.

 

Front 9 goes to Martin Lythgoe with 21 points. Martin started really strong, par on the first 4 holes and an unblemished front 9. The rain started and Martin fell apart. 3 blobs on the back 9 cost Martin a shot at the top spot. Well done Martin.

 

Back 9 goes to Paul “The Champ” Gardner. Paul posted a typically solid 18 on the back 9 to take the prize. Well done Paul.

Have a great week guys.