Away Match v Letchworth - 23rd September 2019

An early start to Letchworth for coffee prior to introductions, did somebody forget the biscuits, before readying ourselves for the forthcoming battle. Playing alongside our organiser Peter Jarman we halved the first with a par, but fell behind to a birdie on the short par three, where our opposing captain thought he might have to pay for a hole in one, and was then moaning he had picked the wrong hole for nearest the pin.

A close match ensued until our hosts put on a spurt to wrap up the match 4&3. However the company was good which is what matters on these occasions, or that’s what I say when losing.

The pattern of our match seemed to be repeated by the majority of the team as we went down by 5 to 3.

However as usual we rounded off the day with a  nice meal, good company, and a couple of questionable jokes. A very enjoyable way to conclude our fixtures for 2019.

 

Dave Gauge

Seniors Captain

 

Senior's Bailiff Sheild - Tuesday 25th September 2019

After such a long dry spell, the dawn broke on the day after the deluge to be greeted with a light drizzle which would be interspersed with sunny spells and the odd heavy downpour. But spirits were not dampened by the weather (Ouch!) with a field of 76 competing on the John O’Gaunt course for the Bailiff Shield.

 

Nevertheless, after much course work with tyned and sanded greens, wet fairways and changeable breezes, it was a day for avoiding dropping shots rather than tearing up the course.

 

In the event there were 3 competitors tied for 2^nd to 4^th place all on 35 points. Peter Jarman took the unlucky 4^th place and was out of the prizes; Steve Cooper came 3^rd and Ian Simpson came 2^nd.

 

However, the honours went to “Mr Reliable” Vernon Toms with a very creditable 36 pts. 

 

The Raffle made £173 and 10 pence. Nobody owned up to the 10 pence.

 

Bill Walker

Vice Captain

 

Winner - Vernon Toms

Second - Ian Simpson

Third - Steve Cooper

 

Away Match v South Beds - Wednesday 18th September 2019

Report to  follow......

Away Match v Leighton Buzzard - 16th September 2019

As always Leighton Buzzard made us very welcome for our anti penultimate match of this challenging season.

 

This match proved to be equally challenging as was witnessed in the first game where even gross birdies were not a guarantee of winning a hole. The Leighton Buzzard captain put in a splendid display including three gross birdies culminating in a net six under par and Leighton Buzzard going one up in the overall match.

 

This proved to be a prelude of what was to come with Leighton Buzzard winning 6.5 to 1.5. Our only win came on the last hole with a winning putt by Brian Bullen, this after our pair of Brian and Algy Grimes being 4up at one time and 3up at the turn.

 

However the day was very pleasant with a good selection of cakes at the halfway house and a wholesome post match meal including equally good jokes by both captains.

 

Gerry Degaute

Organiser 

Away Match v Gog Magog Elders - Friday 13th September 2019

The day was clear, bright and sunny, a truly wonderful late summer's day as the eight Gog Elders were joined by eight JOG Seniors for coffee and introductions on that 13^th September morning.   Having been alerted to roadwork closures in advance, JOG Seniors set off in plenty of time to meet the 08:00 rendezvous, ready for battle to commence promptly at 08:30 on the Wandlebury Course. 

 

First off were the two team captains and organisers, driving up the hill and out of sight, well not quite but still good enough for JOG Seniors to be the first to surmount the summit and draw first blood on hole number 1.   A good omen?

The course winds and twists around the countryside with stunning vistas and views but also making it impossible to keep in touch with other team members so on this occasion there were no opportunities for covert hand-signals and whispered, “How are you doing?” so it was not until the close that we knew the result of our day's endeavours.

As the afternoon drew to a close and following a meal all agreed was excellent and very well presented, the two Captains stood to make their speeches and announce the results, which sadly this time, with a 6/2 win for GOG Elders, levelled the series for this year, so it is congratulations to GOG Elders and see in you 2020.

 

Michael Newstead

Organiser

Senior's Away Day - Market Harborough - 12th September 2019

Captain David Gauge welcomed in the last group

The 5^th annual JOG Seniors Away Day was held on Thursday 12^th September 2019 at a hilly Market Harborough Golf Club. Yet again the weather was very good, although a bit windy!

 

40 seniors eat a hearty full English breakfast before trying to overcome a tricky, yet rewarding course.

 

There were 5 par threes and nearest the pin was won by Gerry Degaute, Clive Morley, Tony Goodson, Rob Bolans and Ray Smart. (Pictured below)

 

The main competition was a full handicap stableford, playing for the Jim Peacock Seniors Away Day Shield. This was won by Jonathan Lean with 35 points, second was Gerry Gentle with 34 points (on count back), third was Ian Simpson with 34 points (on count back) and 4^th was Malcolm Lee with 34 points (on count back). (Pictured below)

 

Winner - Jonathan Lean

 

Second - Gerry Gentle

Third - Ian Simpson

 

Fourth - Malcolm Lee

A very enjoyable day was had by all and hopefully everybody will be able to attend next year’s event.

 

Organiser Richard Coventry and Captain David access the scorecards

Below - Neil Pinnington drives off

 

Above - a welcome drink after the day's exercise.

 

Richard Coventry

Organiser

Home Match v Bedford and County - Tuesday 10th September 2019

It was a perfect Autumn morning when we assembled at the Gaunt for our last home match of the season. As usual there were many familiar faces drifting into the clubhouse, and I recognised some of the opponents as well.

After the normal formalities we left to do battle on the Carthagena. John and I miraculously won the first, halved the second which must have upset our opponents as we then found ourselves four down at the turn. We did manage to reduce the deficit on the back nine but could not make enough of an inroad to prevent us going down on the sixteenth.

However, we had a good round, in brilliant golfing weather, with good company, so in a way we were all winners.

Having done the normal warning about the state of the course during the introductions, it was pleasing to hear the visiting captain express how relieved he was about the fairways and he thought the greens were in exceptional condition. Perhaps we worry a little to much.

Anyway the match was nip and tuck throughout with the result ending up with a victory for the visitors by 4 ½ to 3 ½ points.

Peter Hullance won NTP for the visitors whilst David Crosby was successful on the home hole.

An enjoyable day ended with a good lunch followed up by Jonathon Lean completing his Weatherspoons joke that was interrupted by Jim Peacock earlier in the season.

Dave Gauge

Seniors Captain

Away Match v Harpenden Common - 5th September 2019

After a rather traumatic journey for a few of the team, the organiser managed to miss the introductions and was greeted with a cheer on entering the clubhouse, but he was on time at the tee.

A chilly start weather wise with long sleeves for a lot but some hardy soles were in short sleeves and some even in shorts. With a THREE tee start all games got away quite quickly.

The first match off the 1st tee started very well for the away pair of Captain David Gauge and the organiser (Algy Grimes), they were soon two up but pulled back to one up and it see-sawed for the rest of the front nine but we were one up at the turn. We were pegged back to all square before regaining a two hole lead which became dormy starting 17. We won that too so won 3&1, Three out of the four of us were on the eighteenth green with our tee shots, but only one par was achieved
(not us).

As the teams came in the overall score again see-sawed to and fro with JOG winning 4 - 3 with one result to come in. Unfortunately it was a loss for JOG meaning the result was a draw 4 all. An excuse that could be used was that the greens were a bit quicker than those at JOG so took a while to get used to them

Steve Collins won the skills prize of the day, being nearest the pin in two on the seventh hole, it was very close too. I forgot to ask if he got the birdie.

The pairs scores were as follows;
David Gauge and Algy Grimes - Won 3&1
Peter Imray and Nick Schumann - Lost 2&1
Gerry Gentle and Keith Fuller - Lost 1down
Nick Seeley and Steve Collins - Won 1up
Neil Pinnington and Gerry Degaute - Won 2&1
David Lincoln and Graham Court - Won 3&2
Sam Standen and David Crosby - Lost 2down
Jim Kerr and John Ellary - Lost 1down

A super meal of cold meats and salad followed by rhubarb crumble and custard (cheese for some),
last year's captain Jim tried to suggest a fine for all of us that had started their meals before he arrived to sit down, you can guess the response!!

Algy Grimes
Organiser

Club Captain's Charity Day - 3rd September 2019

Our Seniors Captain David Gauge led a team of four seniors to success in the Club Captain's Charity Day on 3rd September 2019. They won by one shot with 129 against two teams on 130.

David Crosby, Jim Kerr, Club Captain Phil Haddow, Algy Grimes, David Gauge

Completion of a fantastic Captains Charity Day saw the winning team of David Crosby, Jim Kerr, Algy Grimes and David Gauge take home the title with a score of 129(-13).
The Auction that followed helped raise over £8000 for the Captains Charities.