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.