Saturday + Comp +snow = hooter
Draggin’ myself early Saturday to do the desk and sleet just started pecking down as I neared the club. That’ll be it I thought.
Just as the early morning loons of Simon, Chris and Dave headed out, so the first spots of snow came down. It didnt stop and for the next 90 mins it came down to varying degrees whitening the greens, then fairways. It was qualifying and bunkers in play… but it didnt last. Matt started cackling gleefully with the power over the competition but had to drag out the hooter as group after group came back in from the snow. Dave Little reported “losing” his ball on the 2nd after his first putt!
Snow came down for about an hour and the early starters came back in covered in the white stuff. Going out later, even Brian had a jumper and his red Swashbucklers beanie on like some massive giant oompa loompa
So comp off, no OoM for the weekend so what else was their to do, except wait an hour for the snow to stop then start to melt and then head out ourselves! Snow soon left us but an air temp of barely +2 dropped at least by 5 as the wind picked up. So -3 to -5 wind chill factor and it turned out to be a tough, and long day to get round. Balls were gobbled up in the lush rough (either nestled down or plugged… who knows), or dragged wide or OoB by the strong gusty wind. I remember middling a drive and 4iron short of the 8th, and a drive 3w short of the 9th.
Swindle scores were understandably low, Graham A and I bringing up the rear but a reinvigorated Mr Mark Winkle taking the overall and back9 with 27 points I believe and Backdoor nabbing the front with 17pts in the worst of the weather. Not bad considering.
Sunday
What a difference a day makes. Chilly but bright and clear with a hint of a breeze only picking up a little bit later in the day. Frost overnight meant the greens especially were solid, softening up somewhat as Phil and I we tee’d off in our match after 10am.
Stableford Comp went out on Sunday and though the greens themselves seemed ok to putt on (lumps of frost and bits aside), it was how and where to land the ball which was the challenge as it hit and skidded away. Not easy.
Simon Christian carried on his good form by taking the overall comp by a point from Rups. Dave and Richie coming in well 3rd and 4th respectively.
Winter Foursomes Match Report: Phil and I against Matt Walton and “Bubba”
Phil and I had to dig deep to pip big hitting Matt Walton and gritty Bubba Hance in winter foursomes first round.
Young Matt and Rob are currently 2 for 2 in the Originals Ryder Cup, a proven team, and from the first two holes Phil and I knew we were in for a long day. Rob hit the flag on the first to set up a birdie to go one up, before Matt boomed his tee shot high up to the flat area to the right of the 2nd green.
So, 2down after 2!
We then halved the 4th and 5th, just not applying enough pressure on their putting, before we took the first shot hole (6th). This set the key pattern of us winning each of the 4 holes we got a shot on. We halved the 7th in par, lost the 8th to our 3putt but nabbed the 9th to hit the turn one down I think.
Notably Phil found his driving touch on the back nine hitting middle middle moreoften than not. A good 3wood from Phil’s drive helped us grab the 11th to make it all square.
We then halved the remainder to the 16th but only after Rob slid a short one past on the 14th to let us off with a half. Wasnt till we walked off the green that Rob mentioned he hadn’t actually had a putt since the 7th or 8th. Matt absolutely boomed a drive on the 16th tee but it was right… huge, but right (cue shouts of fore! to the chipping green over the road!). Rob hit a solid cutty one to the right of the fairway and Phil and I were in good shape. Up stepped Matt on Rob’s drive and hit a pearler of a 3wood 245 odd yards into the wind to the middle of the green. Shot of the day. Phil put us just short left, and a pitch to 10feet left us in decent position with a shot. Rob then rolled a 25foot putt bang online but bounced it out of on the cup leaving us to take the hole 1up with two to play.
Matt knocked in a 18foot putt on the 17th to half and we dragged ourselves up to the 18th still one up. They both hit great drives, mine ending up just short of the furthest bunker. Phil stuck a solid rescue short of the green and Matt put them just on the right side halfway up the bank.
Decent chip from them and a putt to for a 5 on the card, and I managed to hole a final smelly 4footer for the half and we were shaking hands.
A cracking game all round, we all played well (i.e., noone had a mare!) and the match rolled out in great supportive spirit (as it should be).
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Well done lads,another one for the swashbucklers.
I believe the correct term is all weather golfers rather than loons. Well done Hew for being at the desk on time though. I’m sure it’s appreciated by Matt, it is by the early starters.
Loons purely an affectionate term Simon, (but very, very apt on Saturday given the weather you 3amigos (aka the loons) went out to play in!)
We need order of merit points to compete for team places next summer. Needs must!!