Away Match v Letchworth - 24th September 2019

This was our last match and I have to say one I look forward to as I only live a couple of miles from the club, I know a few of the members well, so the banter is usually revved up a notch.

Brian Bullen was my partner and organiser and Brian is the same as me in that he knows a lot of the members so it was good fun.

We had a perfect day for golf, Brian and I played perfect ham and egg golf. The Captain of Letchworth was a friend of both of us but I am not so sure now as Brian was sinking 20 foot putts to win or half and I did my little bit as well.

I would like to say that was how it went for the rest of the team but alas it was not to be we lost the match 5 to 3 but again we won our home game 4.1/2  to 3.1/2 when this was mentioned it was pointed out that the margin of victory was greater for them; who said these matches are not competitive.

Well lads that is it for the year as far as the matches go. I hope all of you who played in the matches had as much fun as I had, bad jokes an all..

Captain Jim Jock.

Away Match v South Beds - 19th September 2019

The match for South Beds is our latest starting time 12 o clock noon we seem to have mixed feelings about this, personally I am happy with this time. We get up at a sensible time on some occasions I was up at 5 am to get to some courses this was a nice don't need to hurry start to the day.

We had bacon rolls with our coffee waiting for us when we arrived we had a 2 tee start that got us back in at a sensible time and sat down to a lovely carvery, very civilised.

My partner and organiser was Nick Seeley who played most of the game on his own while I went off to check on the flora and the condition of the trees when asked what I scored I said lost 3 balls found 6 so I am claiming a victory.

We played a nice couple of friendly guys Captain Terry and organiser Ron who I met on the tees and some greens but all in all a very enjoyable day.

They have had their clubhouse revamped and a nice job they have made of it.

Unfortunately the late start  must have put the rest of the team out of sorts as the result was 5.1/2 to 2.1/2 to them.

Only one match to go.

Keep swinging Captain Jim Jock.

Away Match v Leighton Buzzard - 17th September 2019

Weather was good not to warm not to cold but most important dry.

My organiser and partner for the day was Gerry Degaute. We had a really good round of golf but met a better pair on the day. The course is a very interesting mix of holes and worth playing if you get the chance.

The best part is the balcony over looking the 18th green were the tail enders have to run the gauntlet of abuse on the greens and on one occasion in the bunker. The food was good the company good and the banter good.

Unfortunately we lost the match 5.1/2 to 2.1/2  but claimed a moral victory by reminding them we won 6.1/2 to 1.1/2 at home. Not very sporting of me I know but there you go nobody likes a loser.

Keep swinging we are nearly there only 2 matches left.

Captain Jim Jock.

Away Matcch v Gog Magog - 14th September 2019

This was my second visit in 2 days to the Gog Magog club and my 4th game of the week.

My 1st visit was an inter club match and we played the Wandersbury Course. I have to say the fairways looked really well considering the weather we have had. I was told that they get more rain fall than us. Something to do with the Chiltern Hills and other geographical conditions all to complicated for me all I know is that if you want rain try Scotland.

My partner and organiser for the match was Ken Doggrell. Ken hired a buggy and believe me I was glad to take up his offer to share so thank you Ken.

Ken and I had a lovely round with the usual peaks and troughs that seem to be part of seniors golf rounds. We got off to a bad start as the opposition chipped in on the first hole to take the hole and we both lost our balls in the quarry on the second hole so 2 down and never really recovered from there.

The weather threatened but stayed dry. 

We had the usual excellent quality of food with a huge bowl of trifle that was passed round the table.

The banter was up to expectations and we had the usual bad jokes at the end.

I am glad to say we came away with a 4/12 to 3/12 win. Well done lads..

Captain Jim Jock

SENIORS AWAY DAY 2018 - 12th September Kettering Golf Club

This was the fourth running of the Seniors Away Day and 40 of us attended Kettering Golf Club for a full English Breakfast and 18 holes of golf. The weather was very good and the course in good condition considering the dry summer we have had.

 

Kettering Golf Club is not the easiest place to find, and a number of us got lost. However, everybody made their tee time.

 

We had nearest the pin on the 5 par 3’s and 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and last for prizes. I believe everybody had a good time and we were made very welcome by Kettering.

 

The winner was Jim McIlwaine with 36 points and wins the Jim Peacock Away Day Shield. Second was Dave Wood with 35 and 3^rd Keith Fuller with 34.

 

Last was Geoff Beck with ? and nearest the pin winners were Peter Imray, Gerry Gentle, Bernard Gurney, Derek Young and Jim Peacock.

 

Next year we will be at Market Harborough Golf Club on Thursday 12^th September and the cost will be £35.

 

I look forward to seeing you all next year.

Richard Coventry 

Home Match v Beds & County - 11th September 2018

It was a blustery day at the JOG when the opposition arrived with a strong team of low-mid handicap and a sprinkling of high handicappers all with a glint in the eye looking for revenge!

Just like the OK Corral.

The game as it panned out was of give and take, which showed as the pairs came in. Win 2, Lose 2, Win 2, Lose 1. It all came down to the last pair who apparently were 3 down at one point but came in with a creditable DRAW.

Afterwards we all enjoyed a beer in the bar, an exceptional dinner and sweet and a lot of banter.

Captain Jim left the score to Captain David to announce a JOG WIN 4.1/2 to 3.1/2.

 

WELL PLAYED LADS

Report from John Ellary - Organiser

Senior Section Captain's Day - 28th August 2018

Captains Day had its moments.

David Gauge our Vice captain and organiser for the day had his work cut out as he had to deal with absentees prior to the day. I was on holiday for the fortnight, Michael was on holiday and came back the morning of the day and Simon is off ill. To top it all the day before was a bank holiday Monday and nobody could be reached so Tuesday morning was hectic to say the least. My thanks goes out to our ladies Captain Sue who mustered 5 of her ladies to hand out the cards and sell the raffle tickets, starters on the tee's and the putting competition  Well done Ladies..

I had the honour of playing with the club Captain Stuart Gardner and Bill Burrows. We had a really nice day great company but not so good golf. The weather stayed dry and the course was as good as it could be with the recent weather leaving its mark. 

I had a lovely surprise when I came in to the dining room, Ladies Captain Sue had a lovely cake waiting for me and a wee bottle of whisky in a tartan box along with a card showing a train a Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes and an MG sports car.

What I didn't know that the train was the Flying Scotsman which was the whole point of the card.my profound apologies Sue for being a thick Jock but much appreciated the gesture.

We had several skill prizes 4 nearest the pins and the putting competition.

The nearest the pin winners were Pat Gilgallon on the 4th, John Sandland on the 10th, 

Fred Cox on the 16th This one was very close. Jim McIlwaine on the 11th with the nearest the pin in 2. Last but not least the evergreen Mr Allan Fowler took the putting competition with 19 points. For the main competition the top three were;-

.

In 3rd place was Graham Lewis (above) with 40 points and cut 1.8

 

Second place was Grahame Berry (above) also with 40 points and cut 2.0

 

The winner on the day was Brian Bullen (above)  with an astounding 43 points .cut 2.4.

Brian gave a very complex reason for his mystical return to form, it had something to do with being hit by a tuk-tuk, I think that is a foreign tricycle taxi and a physio with magic hands. All I can say is that I am looking for the same magic at the match with Letchworth when he is my partner. Well done Brian and all the other winners.

All in all I had a great day and hope you all did to.

Your Captain

Jim Jock.

Away Match v Harpenden Common - 16th August 2018

When I left Biggleswade at 06.45am the weather was cloudy but looked good for a round of golf. This was the case until I hit the outskirts of Harpenden when the odd spot of rain fell onto the windscreen. By the time I reached the golf course it was a slight drizzle, but nothing to worry about, so the team assembled for coffee and the introductions.

When we left the clubhouse to prepare for our three tee start the rain had got a little heavier and was by now proper rain which required full waterproof clothing.

I was playing with Gerry Degaute and started on the first, which we halved in gross four. That was a good as it got.

Thereafter the rain got heavier, our score got worse and apart from the company it was turning into a pretty miserable day.

Some of the team acted sensibly and called it a day after nine holes settling for a half. The rest of us were getting wet and beaten. That is of course with one notable exception. Neil Pinnington was thriving in the conditions and wrapped his match up 13 I think.

Anyway after a hot shower and a hearty meat pie the day was looking much better, that was until I had to announce the result which was a 5 ½ to 2 ½ victory to Harpenden Common.

 
                          Dave Gauge

Vice Captain

Home Match v Dunstable Downs - 14th August 2018

Still smarting from the whitewash we received at Dunstable it was with a certain amount of trepidation that we gathered in the clubhouse in preparation to greet our visitors.

They arrived on time, we offered coffee, with biscuits, had a quick chat, went through the introductory formalities and then got ready for the off. Starting on the Carthegena first tee both Brian and I, as well as their organiser, were happy to receive a shot. Our visitors were both a little wayward off the tee, we were both straight, advantage JOG. We carried on in this vain and 1 up. Early on we managed to build a 3 hole lead and fortunately never let it get below 2 and ran out 3&2 winners.

Pleased with ourselves we returned to shower and change and await our team results as the pairs returned. 1-0 became 2 then 3 then Dunstable got a couple and doubt began to creep in. We shouldn’t have worried as pairs came in smiling and we ran out winners by 6-2. Not quite matching our defeat but satisfying none the less.

Dave Gauge

Vice-Captain.

Dunstable Downs Senior Men's Inter Club Trophy

We had a team of three go to Dunstable and compete in The Dunstable Downs Downsman Inter club Trophy.

I am pleased to say they won with a score of 117 points. Letchworth came second with 114 points.

Our team were Brian Bullen, Peter Jarman and Nick Seeley.

Well done lads.

Regards Jim Jock

Seniors Member and Guest day - 31st July 2018

have to thank Bill walker for a great job on the organising of this comp well done.

We had a field of 40 pairs from near and far.

I really had a great time the golf could have been better bot everything else was spot on.

The winners were Allan Fowler and his Guest Dennis Brown  45 points

Second were Neil Pinnington and his Guest Doug Pinnington 42 points

Third place were Kevin Donnelly and his Guest Phil Long 40 points

We raised a staggering £284 for my charity M.I.N.D

There also was a host of Skill prizes with the usual bandits names there.

Nearest the pin for members Rob Anderson and John Whitbread

 Nearest the pin for Guests Phil Wilson and Dennis Brown.

Members longest drive Brian Garner.

Guest longest drive Barry Sullivan.

- some pictures below of various prize winners

Away Match v Bourn - 26th July 2018

Another bright warm sun-kissed Thursday morning with predictions of possible heavy rain later saw the JoG Seniors' team at Bourn GC hopeful of revenge for the home defeat earlier this year.

Captain Jim was his usual combative self (quote “we really need to beat these guys”) was his discrete brief to yours truly on the first tee.  In the event, the sun shone down all day onto rather parched fairways and greens that were true, fast and very green.

However, true to recent form we lost 6 games to 2. So the Sacred Scroll was retained by Bourn GC and to add insult to injury our revered Captain was awarded the Sombrero for the most golf. Attributed to his 7 iron approach to the 18^th which was lying perfectly, but nevertheless finished closer to the clubhouse bar than the hole. I think thirst got the better of him.  

 Bill Walker

Footnote:  Before the match JoG Team Members were asked to fill in their scorecards in detail for all 4 players in their group for the entire round in order that some post match analysis could be undertaken to see how all players performed  in relation to their handicaps. The results of the analysis showed the following:

1.     Only 6 cards were returned.  Observation:  Some team members have very short memories.

2.     Three of the 6 cards handed in stopped scoring after the hole that the match ended. Observation:  Some players don’t listen fully to the brief.

3.     Two cards recorded team scores rather than individual scores. Observation: as above.

4.     Of the 2 cards that were completed in accordance with the brief. One team won where our team member scored 5 under his handicap. Well done Steve Cooper! And one was lost where their Team Captain scored 8 under his handicap.

So all in all the analysis was inconclusive largely due to players not sticking to the brief. However, I think it does show that in many matches someone will have an outstanding round and shoot well below their handicap. This is always the round that gets reported while the others tend to go unmentioned. Therefore, we should not draw too many conclusions about unrealistic handicaps based on exceptions rather than the majority.

Annual Stableford Trophy - 24th July 2018

We had a field of 80

My charity pot grew by a healthy £200 so thank you all for that.

The results are.

Winner with 39 points Bill Conway handicap cut 0.8

Second with 39 points Allan Curtis handicap cut 0.6.

Third with 38 points Jim Mcillwain handicap cut 0.4.

Fourth place was Grahame Berry who lost on count back with 38 points but lost on count back but does not escape the dreaded handicap cut of 0.4.

Well done Bill we will have you down to 18 soon.

Home Match v Gog Magog - 17th July 2018

I am glad to say that the team ignored their leader and we won 51/2- 21/2.

Unfortunately Ken Doggrell and I played a high handicapper and a low handicapper guess who did the damage you got it the high handicapper. Thanks to the lads we won. 

Reg Batson Trophy - 10th July 2018

This is the competition where the top 30 from other competitions along with the Captain, Organiser and current holder are invited to play. I believe David had some trouble getting a full field together for this comp so there may be some changes for next year watch this space.

Winner was Keith Fuller with a net score of 65 points.

Second was Steve Cooper with 67 points.

Third was Peter Evans with 68 points.

Well done you lot.

Home Match v East Herts - 26th June 2018

This match was played with a reduced field of 12 

Result was a 3-3 draw. I can't work this one out as we beat them 31/2-21/2 at East Herts.

We have been in talks with them for next year regarding the number of players they can raise.

They have asked if we can move our match to another date as they struggle to get 16 for our game because it comes at the end of a really busy time for them. I am glad to say that St Neots have agreed to swap their dates and this helps solve the situation as I would hate to loose them of our fixtures. So here's hoping

Home Match v St Neots - 19th June 2018

Not so good and nearly a disaster. Result 1-7.

Our last pair secured a win to stop a white wash so well done Colin Fox and Keith Fuller.

Our only saving grace was that a lot of the games went to the last green.

Championship Trophy - 12th June 2018

We had a field of 75 

Winner was Harry Wakefield with a 66  cut 0.6.

Second was Mike Marshall with a 67 Beat Ray on count back handicap cut 0.6.

Third was Ray Smart with a 67 handicap cut 0.6.

The Bessant East Scratch Trophy Winner was Derek Page with a 78

There was 3 players with a score of 67 the 3rd was Peter Wade who was also cut 0.6.

Oh those missed putts you could have been a contender Peter

Home Match v Leighton Buzzard - 5th June 2018

Happy to report that Gerry and I won our match and the rest of the team followed suite.

Result was 61/2-11/2. Well done lads.

Away Match v Saffron Walden - 30th May 2018

Steve Collins and I had a great day at Saffron Walden 

The course was playing well and the weather stayed dry.

We got off to a steady start but with a couple of poor putts and bad chips we found ourselves 4 down at the turn.

We clawed it back and stood on the 18th tee dormy for the match and unfortunately could only half the final hole.

I thought the food was excellent and the company is always good.

We where not alone in the defeat brigade as the final score was a resounding defeat of 6-2 so the rough must have been bad and the cross winds and fast greens have I missed any excuses or were we just below par on the day.

I am putting this down as a win overall as we beat them 7-1 at home. Doesn't that look and sound better I don't feel so bad now.

Regards Jim Kerr Senior Captain.

Home Match v South Beds 29th May 2018

Nick and I had a very pleasant day with Gary and Geoff from South Beds.

The weather was kind to us so that was a good omen.

Nick did well to carry me for most of the game but my claim to fame was that I won the 15th with a 5 to settle our game and true to form parred 2 of the last 3 holes with no pressure.

Our guest's where very complimentary of the course and I have to say our ground staff have got it playing well.

It sounds like we had a couple of ringers out there with one of the opposition saying that Bill Walker walked across the pond on the 4th as he could do no wrong.

Brian Bullen and Geoff Beck managed to claw back defeat on the last 3 holes to half their game.

So with these stories coming in Nick and I were relieved when we won the last game to get a draw for the match.

All in all a good day was had by all. Well done Nick and Richard for getting a full team out and thank you for those of you who filled in at the last minute as it looked a bit dodgy for a while and thank you Geoff for standing in on the day for the elusive Bob Anderson.

Nick and I have just received an email from the South Beds organiser thanking us for giving them a great day out.

Regards Jim Kerr Senior Captain

Away Match v East Herts - 22nd May 2018

We had a perfect day at East Herts the only down side was that they could only muster 12 players.

We took 16 and 4 of our players were given freedom of the course. I was told afterwards that they had their own competition and finished all square.

I am hoping East Herts can bring 16 to the home match.

My partner for the day was Robert Anderson. It was a pleasure to play with Robert  as we play in different circles at the club and only meet when competitions and matches pick us to play together so that was a bonus.

Our match started with a stutter when your opposition win with a 7 on the first hole you think what's next.

We won the second with a chip-in 2 and went on to win the next 4 holes.

I then left Robert to get on with the game as I went to inspect the deep rough and talk to my friends the trees who I met last year. The bottom line was that we started playing the 18th all square and Robert did what he had done all day, won the hole on the last putt to finish 1 up.

We had a lovely meal and in good company I hope they can guarantee 16 players in the future as the course is a pleasure to play.

The final result was 3.1/2-2.1/2 to J.O.G.

Ken Robinson Scramble - 15th May 2018

The day was a great success with 18 teams of 4 taking part.

I personally had a great day with Paul Stallard, Robert Bage (I call him David) and Clive Thompson, narrowly missing out on the prizes by coming 4th.

The weather was perfect and the course was a credit to the ground staff.

Looking down the 18th from the clubhouse

The winning score was an excellent 59. Winners were Jim McIlwaine, Michael A Tomblin Paul R Jeeves and Steve Cooper well done chaps. Steve Cooper retaining the trophy from last year.

Team in Second place was -

Anthony McLean, Bernard Gurney, Ian Simpson and Jonathan Lean

Team in Third place was -

Graham Berry, Gerry Gentle, Gerry Degaute and Tony Goodson

 

 One consolation was my team-mate Paul Stallard winning nearest the pin. 

My charity was given a nice boost of £175 so thank you for that.

All in all a great day was had by all and thank you for those who stayed to the end for prize giving.

Jim Kerr, Senior's Captain

 

Home match v Harpenden Common Seniors - 8th May 2018

It was a bright sunny morning when we welcomed Harpenden Common seniors to John O’Gaunt on what was my first bash at leading the side. After the normal coffee and introductions Algy and I led the team into battle. Playing on the Carthagena course, surprisingly we soon found ourselves in the lead, two, then three and even four up by the tenth. It was at this point that our high standards dropped slightly and Nick the visiting captain, off seven, suddenly came alive. They eat into our lead but still we held on and were one up at sixteen, and in a good position to get at least a half, when one of our opponents chipped the ball from 20 yards short of the green. The ball set off like a guided missile, struck the flag dead square and dropped into the hole. Algy managed to win 17 but they won 18 and so we finished all square.

We enjoyed roast pork followed by apple pie and custard and our visitors left having had a good day. The only downside? We lost by 4 1/2 to 3 1/2.

Dave Gauge - Senior's Vice Captain

Away Match v St Neots - 4th May 2018

I am pleased to report that we had a great day at St Neots

The St Neots' seniors did us proud, we had our normal warm welcome from their seniors.

The weather was great and the food was excellent and thanks to the two tee start we had our meal at 2 pm and were on the road by 3-30 pm missing the worst of the bank holiday traffic.

Gerry and I had a game of two halves. We won the 9th to go 1 up and then proceeded to win the next 3 holes making us 4 up. We managed to hold on to the lead to make the match dormie with 4 up and 4 to play and closed it out on the 16th. Writing this I make it look like I played some part in this game but truth be told it was Gerry who did the damage but a good game was the order of the day .

Unfortunately we lost the match 4.1/2 to 3.1/2 and I have it on good authority that our last game of the day came down to a missed 2 foot putt on the last green I promised I would not mention any names. Isn't that right Algy?

It has to be a good day when the match comes down to the last putt of the day deciding the result.

Our next match is against Harpenden Common. I will be handing over to David Gauge for this one so good luck to David and the team. Hope the weather holds out for you .

Regards Captain Jim.

Seniors' Annual Medal Trophy - 1st May 2018

The Annual Medal passed unremarkably yesterday - no it didn't. The sun shone! The JOG course was stunning, a real credit to Nigel and his team having battled the Spring thrown at us this year. To produce such a course under such circumstances was indeed remarkable.

 However the golf was a little less remarkable. The Standard Scratch Score for the JOG course off the white tees is 72. The competition SS yesterday was 75 and there were so few in the buffer zone that handicap changes were 'reductions only'. In other words, no-one got 0.1 back. Even our lowest handicap golfer on the day, Malcolm Falconer, playing off 7, could only manage a gross 84. As a result of incorrect set-up by that useless Hon Sec the competition shows Malcolm with the winning Gross score, for which he received NOTHING but my respect! The Gross Score trophy is presented with the Seniors Championship Trophy in June. Oh dear! But well done Malcolm anyway. If it was tough for you, imagine how the rest of us felt!

 

A few players, including Malcolm Falconer, came in with a net 77 but, in the main event, third was Derek Weller with a net 76, second was Clive Morley with a net 75 and this year's winner of the John Freedman Annual Medal Trophy was Kevin Donnelly with a gross 90 and net 73. Kevin was the only player with a handicap change, a reduction of 0.6 from 16.5 (17) to 15.9 (16). Congratulations Kevin.

 

We have instigated a Nearest the Pin in competitions this year and the winner yesterday was Bill Conway.

Third Place - Derek Weller

 

Captain Jim with the other prizes on the bar as most recipients had gone home!!!

 

The parallel competition yesterday was the Jubilee Cup, presented to the Division 4 (handicaps 21-28) golfer with the highest Stableford score. The Hon Sec redeemed his earlier error by spotting that the net score of one Division 4 player might indicate a good Stableford score but no points had been shown on the scorecard, despite the clear instructions on the scorecard and on the notice on the registration desk. Being good hearted, the Hon Sec asked the player's scorer to add the points and, lo and behold, the Jubilee Cup went to Malcolm Lee with 30 points. It's a good job no such omissions like that happen in the Aesopian's GS is it Malcolm (who, by the way, is the Aesopian's Hon Sec .....)? :-)

 

Jubilee Cup Winner - Malcolm Lee

 David Crosby - Hon Sec.

Seniors' Rex Bullock Trophy - 24th April 2018

We are considering a class action case against the BBC Weather Centre following their appalling failure to provide dry and warm conditions for our first Singles competition of the year on Tuesday 24th April. We should not be subjected to such conditions when we are focussing on winning. Such conditions should be limited to "The North" - they are used to it. Which is probably why a Geordie won! Pat Gilgallon scored 40 points (even after dropping 3) to lift the Rex Bullock Trophy but was punished severely for his audacity with a 1.2 shot reduction in handicap to 16.6. Serves him right! He must have been driving very well indeed - hahahaha! (Ask Pat if you don't get that.)

Winner - Pat Gilgallon

Ominously Malcolm Falconer (38) and Peter Imray (36)  were second and third playing off 8 and 10 respectively, Peter beating three others with the same score on countback. The handicapping system obviously doesn't work! What hope is there for up and coming golfers like me ... did I hear someone laugh?

Second - Malcolm Falconer

Terry McSweeney was nearest the pin on the 8th and received a bottle of wine for his efforts.

Anyway, in all other respects the day was dull - no incidents - not even with incorrect scorecards. Did I hear someone laugh again? That's bullying. Congratulations Pat, Malcolm and Peter. Just you wait until the Annual Medal on the 1st May."

Hon Secretary - David

 

 

Away Match v Aspley Guise Willmotts - 20th April 2018

Panic over, the winter wheel saga was ended by our old friend common sense and the Aspley Guise club ban on wheels was lifted for the JOG team to play the match. Lots of emails were exchanged prior to the match about the wheels situation together with meals and changing of opposition players.

What a day, the welcome and the weather were great, the temperature was in the high twenties and to the credit of the Aspley Guise team they gave us a great days golf and food.The course played well with the greens having just been ironed, it was a test of golf.

We looked like we were going to have our second defeat of the season but we rallied and saved the day with a hard fought half, 4/4 a good result for an away match.

  

Ray and I had a up and down day we were 3 down, we then had a late surge and stood on the 17th tee 1 down with 2 to play only to be beat by a miracle shot from the opposition's Jim who played a magnificent shot from the other fairway over the trees to land on the green 2 putts and game over.

 

It was a two tee start with the last three pairs going off the 17th, we were all in and sitting down for lunch at 2.15pm, the food was very good and only cost £16.00!

Looking forward to the rest of the season.

 

Captain Jim and Organiser Ray

 

Comment from Ray Smart - Organiser

"Captain Jim managed a good speech with a very funny joke to finish off an excellent day".

Home Match v Bourn - 17th April 2018

At last, the dawn broke on a sunny home match day against our old adversaries from Bourn Golf Club. Optimism was high; we had a strong team so maybe this was the occasion when we could win back the Christening Scroll. A trophy contested between our 2 clubs each year over a home and away leg since 2011.

A week of dry, relatively warm weather had transformed the JOG course which, from the clubhouse conservatory looked green and manicured. But looks can be deceptive. The fairways remained soft and the rough had become ball-hidingly and club snaggingly long and thick, and anything straying off the fairway or just 2 metres off the green risked being lost. So when a stiff breeze picked up half way through the round, staying on the fairway became very challenging.

In the end, only one JOG pairing, Steve Cooper and Neil Pinnington, tasted clear victory while 2 other matches were halved. So a final ignominious result of a loss 2-6 was the outcome. So, lots to do in the away match at Bourn on 26 July where a victory of 6½-1½ or better will see the scroll returned to its rightful place. GAME ON!

Bill Walker - Organiser

Home Match v Aspley Guise Willmotts - 10th April 2018

I am very pleased to be able to report that our home match against Aspley Guise was played on the Carthagena Course today in DRY weather. It was so nice to finish and put the gear away without everything being soaking wet.

The match went very well led by Captain Jim who managed to talk to just about everybody before he teed off!! We all played very good golf and finished the match with the best score of the season and a resounding win to JOG 7.1/2 to 1/2 and guess who got the half.... Captain Jim and myself.

Dinner was served at 4pm it was an excellent meal and enjoyed by all.

The team are looking forward to playing the away match next week hopefully in the sunshine.

Ray Smart - Organiser

Away Match v Bedford & County - 27th March 2018

After a bit of panic we had a full compliment of players, so thanks to those who stepped into the breach.

 

Rain, rain go away was the tune running through my mind as I drove to Clapham, perhaps it will be rained off but, no game on. Wrapped up to face the elements we teed off against Captain David and his partner John who, through some fluke, won the 1st hole, after that it who fought back.

Gerry Gentle & Tony Goodson won 2up

Keith was nip and tuck all the way round, and we found ourselves dormy two at the 17th, a chipped in birdie (by the John Ellary) left it down to the 18th. Unfortunately with Captain Jim’s 3rd shot going towards the pro shop and never to be seen again we lost by 2.

There were other winners;

Keith Fuller & Neil Pinnington won 2&1

Richard Westergreen-Thorne & Bernard Gurney won 3&1

Peter Imray & Peter Grimes Lost by 1down - On telling of the JOG loss, Ron Etheridge (B&C) told us that this was the hardest game he had had in a long time, them coming back from 3 down.

We all enjoyed a lovely meal and were entertained by the Captains with their Jokes & Poems. Oh yes, the rain stopped half way round and the Result: 5&3 win to JOG.

A comment from Captain Jim – “Well done everybody 100% so far 2 matches 2 wins. If you see John Ellary and he is looking for me I am down on the practice area chipping and putting”.

 

Report by JOHN ELLARY note spelling