All smiles: Seniors Captain Bill Walker captures the moment golfers returned to John O’Gaunt following the Coronavirus lockdown
Here Algy Grimes, Seniors Section Vice Captain, reports on the first day back
Well here we are back on the course after about eight weeks away in Lockdown, what a lovely sunny day to start. On arrival at the car park I was surprised to see quite a few cars, but the main area in front of the clubhouse was quite empty.
After getting my clubs and trolley together and changing my shoes I walked towards the Pro-shop to register for the John O’Gaunt course, before I got there I was greeted by the course marshal, none other than our Senior Section Captain Bill Walker. He had obviously been riding around the course a lot because he was getting more fuel in his buggy to enable him to carry on his duties.
In the Pro-shop there was a nice welcome from Lee and Sue, who were both very happy to be back. Sue was busy arranging a lot of new stock for sale. If anyone needs a new shirt because they have changed size during the lockdown, then I am sure you will find something to suit.
Then it was off to the first tee, in front of the new conservatory, but no audience in it to put you off. It was slightly daunting, after this time, to see the ball on the tee peg and thinking I hope I can still hit it. I thought it was a good first shot, only to find it very close to one of the trees on the left of the fairway, a chip out to the fairway and then the third shot found the bunker to the left of the green, playing match play I lost that hole.
It was great to see the course in such lovely condition, a testament to all the work by Nigel and his team. It took me a couple of greens to get used to the pace, but unusually for me I was pleased my putting wasn’t too bad, each hole has a foam sleeve in it to make it easy to retrieve your ball.
The ten minute gap between tee times meant it was really like millionaires golf, no hold-ups in front and nobody in sight behind, it was a very enjoyable round, how nice it would have been to finish in the bar as we used to. Let’s hope those days return later in the year. Most importantly everyone was kept safe and social distancing was never an issue. Stay safe.
Algy Grimes
Vice Captain Senior Section
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