Declan wins 2020 Club Championship

Quick update on the Club Champs this year.

Website updates have been sparse (as has the golf to be fair) but apart from hosting our Swindle handicaps worksheet, I don’t think the site’s being used or visited much these days so I’m starting to wind the site down but let me at least share a few words on the weekend’s endeavours…

Day 1 Club Champs. We’re off…

A bright, warm and windy for both days of the Covid19-delayed-Club Champs at Surrey National.  First off, cracking job by the greenkeepers to have the course in top shape for the weekend (as well as on Monday for the Seniors’ Champs).  The greens especially were held up by most as being in great shape. Certainly the cut&iron each morning may not have been appreciated by all as they mused over the odd 3 and 4 putt at the clubhouse afterwards (!) but they were rolling well and true.  Great job.

And in there thanks also to Kieran and the club for supporting competitions through the craziness that is 2020.   Bit of a risk given possible weather conditions in September, but we were lucky on both days and so it was game faces on, tissues ready (… for the inevitable tears) and roll on Day1 qualifying and then onto the Day2 shoot-out that is the Club Champs.

Early start for myself Jay and Jack on Saturday and we were again off the 1st.  I’m one of the weird players who didn’t mind the 10th tee start. We all enjoyed the company and the golf (mostly), Jack keeping it together really very well after finding early trouble on the 3rd, and Jay turning around after an 8 on the 15th.  Jay then sticking a big 7iron to 6feet on the 16th, birdie’ing the 17th and tapping in for par on the 18th. It just got away from Jack in the end but Jay and I finished level with 76 at the end of the day.

Wind was up on the day, perhaps strengthening a bit from lunchtime onwards.    The whole range of scores coming in for Club Champs (hence the tissues) … but whatever was recorded from all, well done everyone on getting through some really quick greens, both ‘fair’ and ‘unfair’ firm greenside bounces and some cheeky winds just to keep thing interesting.

Day 2

Sunday was similar to Saturday in the weather and the greenkeepers were out early to move the pins for Day2 and keep us all mumbling about positions and bounces.

Jay had the um… “pleasure” of my company on day2 as well as we headed out at the back with Declan Condon. Declan had couple mates along to caddy and we all headed out at half8.

A heap of non-qualifying folks were out on the 10th to play and then time it to see the 24 qualifiers in – quick thanks to them and the others who rocked up to join for drinks at the end. Fantastic to see all faces outside as we came down the 18th (eventually!).

Well done for Richie smashing into single figures on Day1 (about time Mr Blake!), and Scottie getting down to 2.3 on Day2.
Oh and apologies for my minor fake celebration after a putt dropped on the 18th, it was only for a ropey par. Nothing more. Mr Simon Bailey would be shaking his head at my reaction.

Aside from that, well played Declan… Jay and I agreed he played the best out of us on the day. A deserved winner.

A minor sniff of confusion as we walked off the 18th (we had a vague review of scores on the 18th tee), and not knowing what had already been recorded, Dec’s 75 meant a two-day score of 153 was enough to pip myself and Sam by one. Cracking golf… some quality swings bought it home… the strike of the 4 or 5iron into the wind on the 16th right over the pin at the back to 7feet was very impressive.

Well done our own Northern Petal, a certain Mr S Yule and young Sam for halving the Day2 winning score each returning a very very impressive 74.   

It was then left to Mass to say a few humble words thanking the club and players for making it a top weekend, before Declan echoed his thanks to all, especially to the Nebblins, and making it a special weekend for our 2020 Club Champ.   Well played all, roll on next year.

Final standings