Wednesday 20th February
Something very unusual happened on the 16th green
today. Three of us shook hands as our game of chairman had
produced an outright winner.
I am not at liberty to reveal the winner because
Duncan and I are sworn to secrecy, but Le Frenchman is in France, Archie
is homeward bound from Bermuda, the Cultured Caledonian is earning a
crust as is Dave (of the yard) Rowntree and Rosco is still injured.
Make up your mind who won. He also added to his winnings by
virtue of a birdie at the last.
if you have ever seen film of a giraffe whose front
legs have given way and the only way they can get back to a standing
position is with help from a crane then you will know how my carry bag
looks now that the spring has sprung. Daz told me it was
only a matter of a couple of screws...............oh dear I think I may
have betrayed a confidence.
Monday 17th February
Playing late into the afternoon and the setting sun I
lost 2&1 to my son Kev. I deducted the price of a cream cake
from his pocket money.
Saturday 16th February
TOGS Week 20
That's correct lads, week 20 and only a handful of
opportunities remain to overhaul the recovering Rosco who is still on
top with a very impressive 220 points which looks better by the week.
Good to see the return of the Steve Todd who
not only managed to get round OK but also came in with the day's best
score (on countback) of 31 and is subsequently chopped to 19hcp.
He pipped the reclusive Bob Whitehead who was cut down to 4 because his
31 points was only his fifth recorded score of the season.
No-one else managed to improve on their total on what
proved to be a deceptively difficult day for scoring.
My playing companions today were Larry (plectrum)
Page, Dave (how far is a metre?) Rowntree and Cap'n Bob.
It was a pleasure chaps, thank you.
Monday 11th February
Joe Moule and I lost our way and the scones against
Bob Best and Doug Spivey on another beautiful sunny day.
We were trailing by three with four to play and my
three pars at 15, 16 and 17 were good enough to get us back level with
our opponents visibly rattled. We couldn't keep it going
down the last.
Have you noticed that the harder you try and hit the
driver the more wonky the shot becomes? Yep, me too.
We lost the hole and the match to a five, which is a sin really.
Saturday 9th February|
TOGS Week 19
(Well spotted WF)
On a beautiful sunny spring like day it seemed that
someone would shoot a score that would challenge our leader Alan Ross
but it didn't turn out like that. The average score was an
unbelievable season low 27 points and only Paul Keenan posted a score on
the board and that by virtue of him having only played three so far.
Alan Higginbottom and Eddy Stothert, first and second
respectively could not better their lowest posted scores of 32 so no
handicap reduction applies today.
It was good to see champion elect Rosco walking the
course with the aid of his very posh adjustable metallic walking stick
and as we were negotiating 'Amen Corner' he began to resemble Sky's very
own on course reporter Ken Brown. He was probably describing
how our putts would break to the listeners as we approached the greens
but alas no one was listening or indeed watching.
The most exciting moment from today's round was a
couple of flocks of geese flying in formation overhead forming a
perfect chevron and the lead goose at the apex honking at Dougy Walker
below.
Wednesday 6th February
On yet another very windy but sunny day in Costa del
Tynemouth there were 7 of us who set out but alas only 5 stayed the
course. Ed Stothert, having paid his money to Daz and I, had
to leave after nine holes to earn a crust. Sadly the
returning Frenchman was unwell and had to retire to the sanctuary of his
modified VW van which became a temporary ambulance while he had a kip in
the car park.
The remaining players were Duncan McCree, Alan
Higginbottom, Dave Rowntree and the above mentioned Daz and me.
I achieved a feat which I have never managed before
in that I birdied three of the four par threes. Imagine
playing golf and having 3 x 2's in a medal round? No, nor
can I.
Needless to say my score of 40 points was good enough
to pay for a pot of tea and a magnificent rock bun before having to rush
off elsewhere. I hope my mate Le Frenchy is feeling
better. Comment allez vous mon ami?
Saturday 2nd February
TOGS Week 18
What is the definition of an optimist?
You. Reading this to check out The
TOGS scores on a day when the temperature is -2°C and
the course is not only frozen but covered in snow. Apart
from that the weather was fine.
Only 8 more weeks to catch Rosco.
Call the engraver.
Wednesday 30th January
There were six of us out there sunning ourselves in
the chilly wind. The Cultured Caledonian, following on from
his TOGS success on Saturday, once again made full use of his handicap
and showed the rest of us the way home. Dave Rowntree
displaying dedication to the cause has booked the next few Wednesday's
as holiday and along with Duncan, Daz and Vic made up the sextet of
golfers.
In my threeball with Daz and Vic, standing on the
18th tee box it was Daz who was writing the winner's speech but
following his blob and my birdie it was all turned upside down and I was
able to afford a sandwich with my cuppa. Poor Vic went home
thankful that he had won a hand of pontoon last night. Some
would say 'stick to the cards Vic' but I couldn't possibly comment.
Monday 28th January
Playing 'chairman' with Larry Page and Alan
Higginbottom it was as difficult to find a winner as with my other
regular partners. Larry took the chair just before 'Amen
corner' having parred the 11th and had three consecutive shots to come
as we went round the bend. Alan and I managed to halve these
holes with LP and with me 1 up I was already rehearsing my winner's
speech.
Larry drew level on the 15th and went 1 up at the
17th to close out the match. My speech, ripped up, is
blowing in the wind.
The bonus of playing with Larry is that he is an
accomplished guitar player and he talked me through a few chords so that
I might learn Wonderful Tonight. I suspect that that will
be something else I can't play.
Saturday 26th January
TOGS Week 17
Only one player improved his total today, but not his
position, and that was our Cultured Caledonian, David Bavaird with a
magnificent 36 points compiled in gale force winds. The
Scottish one's handicap is reduced to 20 shots and he is but a solitary
point from joining the '200 Club'.
Alan Higginbottom was in second place with a very
creditable 31 points playing off 6. Larry and Ed were the
only other players to score in the 30's.
The scores would suggest that the gale force wind
definitely favoured the right handers today. The two lefties
were way off the pace, weren't we mon ami?
It was definitely a good week to miss and as I update
the league table it is becoming obvious that there is a
hypothetical flaw in our system that could see a player win the league
with only 6 scores form a possible 26. A minimum number of
games over the course of a season should be a prerequisite before anyone
can be crowned champion.
Wednesday 23rd January
Following the recent bad weather there were only 13
holes open at Tynemouth Golf Club. That left us with
no alternative but to go round twice which we did having stopped for a
sarnie and a pot of tea at half time.
Duncan took the glory during the morning Stableford
competition with 28 points with relative ease from Daz, Eddy, Le
Frenchman and moi.
The afternoon became a threeball of me, Dunc and LF
so we played 'chairman' which once again kept the punters on Harbottle's
Path straining for vantage points to see the action. I was
sitting comfortably in the chair going down the 18th and had a 30 foot
putt to win but my ball finished woefully short and we shook hands for a
half with no-one (again) scoring a point. I promised not to
mention my birdie at the par five 7th, so i won't
Saturday 19th January
One of my playing partners today was Dave Rowntree
who said that I had played beautifully. He may say that but
I couldn't possibly comment. 37 points was good enough to
win and my handicap is cut from 8 to 5 giving me a personal best total
of 215 points to put me level with Daz who improved his total by a
solitary shot which is fantastic considering he is playing off scratch.
He also beat Bob Whitehead by 4&3 in his singles match.
The Cultured Caledonian, David Bavaird, finished
second with an excellent 35 points having edged out Larry Page on
countback and Bill Fletcher who joins the '200 Club.'
Larry moves into second place and is only 2 shots behind Rosco who has
to sit and watch from a distance whilst he regains his mobility with 220
points posted on the board.
Alan Higginbottom joins Duncan in fourth place just 1
point behind Le Frenchman who has 217 making the top of the league very
interesting.
Other players who improved their totals today were
Tony Sarginson (+4, Digby will be pleased), Willy Smith (+8) giving him
membership of the '200 Club' and Dave Archbold (+2).
Today's average score of 32 points is relatively high
for this point in the season considering the handicaps we are playing
off.
Update: My 41 points was
good enough for 3rd place and Daz was 4th with 40 points.
Rock on the TOGS.
Friday 18th January
Playing with my son Kevin we were rained off after
eight holes.
Did you know......
......that since the 1st of January this year a
player's full handicap allowance is to be used in matchplay games and
not as is current, 3/4 handicap of the difference. I am
reliably informed by my golfing guru from Bude that the EGU has
officially brought in this ruling.
What this means, for any lay readers, is:-
In a match up between Player A (8 hcp) v Player B (16
hcp) the number of strokes to be received by Player B is 8 and not as
was the case, 6 shots.
Not too sure what happens in other parts of the UK,
or is it GB?
Wednesday 16th January
Hats off to Duncan McCree who not only won the five
hander against Vic Hillier, Raff, Le Frenchman et mois but also
won our game of chairman by 1 hole.
Monday 14th January
Raff, Archie and I played as a threeball for the
first ten holes and could not find a winner despite Archie being only 1
over gross and then we were joined by Le Frenchman who had been delayed
checking on this season's truffles.
Raff and I took a 1 hole lead but were pegged back at
the 17th before Archie and I halved the last in pars to finish all
square. Good game, very enjoyable.
Saturday 12th January
TOGS Week 15
Our first ever champion showed us how to do it with a
4 point victory today. In scoring 38 points Doug
Walker is cut from 14 down to 11 handicap and makes any further
improvement very difficult.
In second place with 34 points was one of my playing
partners, Dave Rowntree who played beautifully, also comes down to
11 and is the latest member of the '200 Club'. The third
member of our group was the Cultured Caledonian who improved his total
by 6 points, however this was not good enough to beat Dave in their
matchplay game within the game.
The above three were the only ones to add to their
league haul. In the other singles matches to be played today
Duncan McCree defeated Steve Todd and Digby's best mate, AKA Tony
Sarginson, took the prized scalp of Willy Smith.
Wednesday 9th January
Playing in winds gusting up to 60mph I partnered Bob
Best against Doug Spivey and Joe Mole to win 4&2 and claim yet another
cream cake. According to the weather forecasts that I have
seen and heard from here on in up to the weekend it is going to get
worse, let's hope we get a TOGS game going.
Monday 7th January
I teamed up with Larry Page, my new guitar instructor
and Archie teamed up with my son Kevin whom he mentored in his formative
years on the cricket field, thus the Rock Stars v the Cricketers was in
motion for a pot of tea and a sticky bun.
I am delighted to report that the teacake (no sticky
buns left) always tastes much nicer when it comes as reward for
outplaying one's opponents.
Sunday 6th January
Six of us had a sweep; Daz, Le Frenchman,
Archie, Duncan, me and a visitor from Melbourne, Australia by the name
of Andy Tyson. Just thought I should give him a name check.
Andy is over here for about 9 months with his wife on
an extended touring holiday of Europe and we are honoured that they
chose to start their vacation in Costa del Tynemouth. It was
also very pleasing to relieve him and the others of their loose change
with my creditable 37 points.
I was telling Andy about our cricket tour to Oz a
little later in the year with GBTCC and a game we have scheduled at
Bowral (pronounced barrel) the home of the legendary Sir Donald Bradman.
Andy has played there in a cricket camp and informs me that it is all I
expect it to be. Wonderful. Let's hope the
defeat of this Aussie is a good omen for later in the year.
Saturday 5th January
TOGS Week 14
No play - course closed
The more games that are cancelled the shorter the
odds on our current leader.
