13/02/05

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Bank Holiday Monday 30th August

I am turning up with Daz at 9.45am for a 'friendly' game.   Are you?   Le Hunt did!

The three of us played a strokeplay competition in a howling wind for inflated stakes.   None of us played the 18 holes well, but in a see saw match I finished one shot adrift of the other two.  

Thanks to a monster putt on the 18th green by Le Hunt the match was halved and all bets were off.   All that is, except the £1 for a birdie which me and the Frenchman had managed.

There was a big debate out on the course as to the identity of a couple of birds which we disturbed.   I reckon they were partridges, LH thinks they were moorhens and Daz is of the opinion they might be grouse.   A claim he later withdrew in the clubhouse after seeing a bottle of the same variety. 

A female pheasant is a possibility (Daz did mention this plucky bird) and a corncrake is definitely a look-alike.

On returning home I have checked my bird book and am still undecided as to what they were.   If there is an ornithological golfer reading these notes who might shed some light on this mystery, please do so.

Saturday 28th August

The forecast is good but there is no competition today.   It will be nice to have a friendly contest amongst the 'TOGS',  playing just for the kitty.

There were 11 of us in the pot and you would expect someone to have a decent score.   This was not the case and Daz Ridley won with a below par 34 points ahead of Willy Smith with 33.   I managed a very ordinary 30 points, which was the average score for the day and had the honour and pleasure of playing in the company of messrs. Rowntree (my partner), Fletcher and Walker.  We lost.

A new innovation for the coming winter season is a booby prize.   It will be awarded  each week to the player with the lowest points total.   A scraggy looking used Commando ball is the appropriate bauble for the week's under achiever.  

This week the 'winner' was Steve Todd.   Welcome to the 'TOGS' Steve.

The pairings are as follows:-

Of the above pairings the bookies have installed Fletcher / Sarginson as 6/4 favourites, ahead of Walker / Rowntree at 2/1, Marsh / Hunt at 3/1.   4/1 bar.   Any offers?

Thursday 26th August

Result of yesterday's medal - 1st place = Graham Marsh   77gross / 66 nett
                                                         CSS (Competition Scratch Score) = 72
                                                         New handicap = 10.2 = 10
                                                        

I am allowed to blow my own trumpet occasionally and today is the day (Doo do Doo).  My score was the second best gross in the competition, Ian Watt (5) scored 76 and with his nett 71 came second.   I won by 5 shots.  

I was never sure if I really was an 11 handicapper, I suppose I must be.   My aim now has got to be consolidation and not go over 11.   Obviously I will be trying to get down to single figures.   That will be the next time I blow my own bugle, it may never happen so don't hold your breath.

Wednesday 25th August - Midweek Medal

The weather has finally eased and the course is re-open.   Following a phone call from an exiled Frenchman on liberation day, who am I to refuse?   Nous sommes assemble a midi.

I partnered Monsieur Hunt and Vic played with  6 handicapper Bob Kerr, the Irish guy.   Conditions were just as bad as Saturday with the course under water in places and with no run on the ball it was another severe test of golf.

I played very well again and my gross score was a best ever 77, which converts to a 66 nett.   I am not certain if it is good enough to win, but I will not be far off.   I will report back tomorrow.   I had 3 birdies in my round, including two's at the third and 11th.   I also chipped in for a three at the 16th.   The golfing God's were definitely with me today (I also had three 6's on my card).

I am more interested to find out what my handicap will come down to, than if I have won the medal.   At start of play I was 11.4.   I can't wait for tomorrow.   I reckon 10.6 but would quite like it to be 10.

I would like to thank Le Hunt, because it is so important for your playing partner, no matter how he is playing (as it happens he was a bit rusty) to quietly get on with his own game and not have a tantrum.   It is hard enough controlling your own emotions without wondering if you are in the company of a lunatic.   I hope I can repay the favour mon ami.

Saturday 21st August - The Donkin Cup

Before I tell you about today, CONGRATULATIONS to Bill Fletcher who won a play off with Daz Ridley to win the Hines Salver.   Both lads lads play in our regular Saturday winter league, The 'TOGS', and continue our dominance in club competitions.   Who said playing for £1 was of no help to their game?

I played in the company of John Raffle in today's major competition.   He had hammered me on Wednesday, but it was my turn to dominate.  The course was just about playable following a week of torrential rain.   It was playing very long and was all carry with no run or bounce at all.   A good test.

 I shot a gross 81 for a 69 nett, it should have been better but it wasn't.   Still I am delighted with my score and I will be pulled back to 11.6 minimum, depending on the CSS (competition scratch score).   If it goes to 71 I could be an 11 handicap golfer again - I hope I am Ian, I hope I am.   I will update tomorrow after I check out the scores.

Update - My 69 was the second best score.   There were 3 scores of 68 and they will have to play off to determine the winner of the Donkin Cup.   The CSS was 71, bringing my official handicap down to 11.4, making me (for a little while anyway) an 11 handicap golfer again.

On checking the scores I noticed that out of 115 entrants there were 37 'no returns'.   This seems unusually high.   Does this mean that they all lost a ball and simply decided they would not go back and hit another?   Or, as I suspect is the case, their score was so poor they did not want it recorded.  

Without naming names, I also noticed that a group of three playing not too far ahead of me yesterday all posted 'no returns'.    It is also worth commenting that one of them had his handicap pulled anyway.

Thursday 19th August

The weather relented long enough for John Raffle to annihilate me 7&6.   He did not drop a shot until the 13th hole and when we had to come off at the 15th because of the rain, he had only given up 3 shots to the card.   Exceptional golf from a 15 handicap player.

I played quite well but obviously could not compete with that onslaught.

Monday 16th / Wednesday 18th

Wash out.   Try again on Thursday.

Saturday 14th August - Professional's Competition.

I have made special arrangements for today and will be teeing off very early, in the company of Le Hunt and Dave Archbold.  

We arrived at 8.15am, placed a ball in the tube and teed off at 9.40am.   How awful is that?   Something must be done to stop players cutting across from the 18th green, and in my opinion, queue jumping.

You may guess that none of us were very good 25, 29 + 31 points.   Having to hang around for one and a half hours does not put you in the right frame of mind and consequently we all struggled on the front nine and improved on the back.   the damage was done early on though.

My handicap is now 11.8

Wednesday 11th August

Despite a bleak weather forecast it turned out to be a nice day for a game of golf.   There were eight of us (eventually) and we ended up playing a fourball better ball stableford competition between us.   I think you would agree that this is  normal practice up and down the land and all over the world when eight golfers split into two groups of four.   I would be extremely surprised if any golf club, which is very busy in the middle of Summer, would tolerate all eight players playing stroke play and marking a card.   Especially when slow play is driving the majority of golfers nuts.   If you know different, please leave the details in my 'Guest Book' and I will pass this information on to the assembled company, well part of it anyway.

Players present were me, Le Hunt, Brian Liddle, Vic Hillier, John Raffle, Mike Potts, Dave Archbold and Denis (don't know his surname).

As it happens Le Hunt and I scored 41 points and beat our playing partners Archie and Brian on countback, we returned victorious to the clubhouse.  

It then turned sour!      Never again!   No further comment!

For the benefit of Willy in the 'Guest Book', ask one of the others, as my lips are sealed.  

Monday 9th August

Unlike Augusta and many other courses Tynemouth Golf Club does not have access to a warning Klaxon.   So when the lightning struck as Brian Liddle and I were putting out at the 10th we simply walked off and headed for sanctuary and a bacon buttie in the clubhouse.  

We will try again on Wednesday at 12.30.

Saturday 7th August
The Hines Salver - Stableford

Weather conditions at costa del Tynemouth were foggy and clammy for this competition.   I had the pleasure of playing with Eddy Stothert and Dave Archbold.  We played very steady golf with Archie coming out on top with 39 points, Eddy and I both scored 36.  I shot a gross 82.

 There was a good turn out of 'TOGS' and young William Fletcher was the shining light with a magnificent 41 points.   Archie's 39 was good enough for second place.

The latest recruits to the 'TOGS', namely Alan Higginbottom, Larry Page and Steve Todd all played today and from the evidence available I reckon this coming winter 'TOGS' season is going to be extremely close.

Update - Sunday 8th Aug - I popped into the golf club to view the results and Bill Fletcher has to play off with another 'TOG', Daz Ridley for the Hines Salver.    Daz had played earlier in the day scoring the same 41 points, which was the winning total in the competition.   He is having a magnificent season and his handicap is now down to 5 (4.9).  

For all you softies who do not want to play golf in the winter for a few pennies, read on.

Dave Archbold came 3rd in the competition and has been cut to 13hcp (I am weeping buckets).   To illustrate how strong our 'TOGS' group of golfers are, Alan Ross with 37 points was in the top 6 and Eddy Stothert and I were in the top 10 with our 36 point haul.   There were a total of 106 entrants.  

The putt I missed on the last green (10 footer) would have been good enough to bring me back down to 11hcp.   Oh well (Fleetwood Mac I believe) there is always another day.

Wednesday 4th August - Midweek medal

I'm back after finishing 4th in the British Transplant Golf Championships in Norwich.

Playing with Vic Hillier, who will not read this as he is completely useless on his PC and does not know how to use the internet, in pleasant warm and humid conditions, I managed to score a nett 73 despite having an 8 on my card.  

I should remain at 11.6 = 12 hcp.   Before I leave for Australia I would like to come back down to a minimum of 11 and at least finish the season as I started.   I am going to make a big effort.   I felt good today but obviously the 8 was a bit of a blow to my equilibrium.  

Update - I went up to 11.7