John O’Gaunt Seniors away to Leighton Buzzard September 27 2021

 Organiser Jim Kerr reports on the day’s action

Everybody got there on time except the match organiser thanks to the highways dept. who took it upon themselves to test my navigation skills by introducing three diversions on the route.

I would like to thank the man who knew the way by naming the pubs en route, as the streets had no names showing.

The weather was DREICH, Scottish for pouring down with rain, but help was at hand. Out came the magic phones with 4G and weather reports started pouring in. The general consensus was that it would clear up quickly and we should not abandon the day but tee off a bit later.

A new tee time of 9.15 was agreed and off we went in fine weather. The sun put his hat on and all was well. God bless 4G phones.

Captain Bill and I had a good match and won 2-1. Bill kept telling me he wanted us to keep ham and egging it. I thought he was being greedy as they laid on bacon butties before we went out.

Unfortunately some of the J.O.G. team members were not at all hungry and forgot to ham and egg it.

I was asked to mention Barry's opinion of the 17th hole but my computer refuses to print naughty words.

The welcome and chat was, as ever on these days, excellent with a fine meal to round off the day.

Unfortunately the score was 5-3 to Leighton Buzzard.

John O’Gaunt Seniors at home to Beds and County September 24 2021

Organiser Dave Gauge reports on a resounding victory

On a cool and fresh Friday morning the selected team assembled in the clubhouse to meet our opponents and prepare for the battle ahead. The introductions over, we went to do battle. Our first victory came when our opposing captain arrived on the first tee puffing and panting as he had been unable to locate the person who had given him a lift, so for a while was clueless. Given the traditional honour of first drive he then proceeded to put two balls out of bounds, threatening the Biggleswade to Potton Road. This gave the advantage to the home pair of Captain Bill and Dave Gauge who won the hole to go 1 up. Holes 2-4 went in the same direction so JOG were 4 up after 4 holes. This continued to be the pattern and the match was concluded fairly early with a 6&5 victory.

So to the bar and await the remaining results. Next the regular pair of Donovan and Crosby came in with a 4&3 victory, so 2-0. The pairs kept reporting wins. Whitbread & Hammond 2&1, Smart & Knell 2 up, Wade & Pinnington 4&2. Could it be a clean sweep? Next Riches & Westergreen-Thorne 2&1, McNair & Kerr 1 up. 7-0 with one to come. Enter the final pair of Underwood & Price with smiles all over their faces. Is the clean sweep? No, the final match finished all square so JOG ran out as victors by 7 ½ to ½. A tremendous victory in our final home match of the season.

It was equally nice that all players ate a very good meal together, and in our traditional attire of jacket and tie.

Having given the female staff a rude joke warning, Captain Bill concluded affairs with a joke including nuns, holy water and gargling, and everyone went home happy. (Apart from the visitors)

John O’Gaunt Seniors away to Harpenden Common September 23 2021

 Organiser Gerry Degaute reports on a closely-fought match

Due to our hosts being able to get together only 12 players the match was restricted to 6 games. I was very grateful to our 4 who stood down and I was very pleased that they were still able to enjoy a friendly 4 ball and enjoy the facilities at Harpenden Common. 

The course was in good condition and the greens, to quote our Captain, were “Augustaesque”.

 There were a good number of birdies from both sides and it was great viewing, to watch them go in on the par 3 18th from the comfort of the clubhouse patio, whilst sipping a well deserved tipple on a very warm early Autumn day.

The first game in, saw us go one down losing 4&3. Game 2 saw our Captain and Organiser fight out a really tight duel; we were 2 down after 13 and then drew level, only for the Organiser to three putt the 16th. Parity was restored on the 17th, so we stood all square on the 18th tee. We both found the same greenside bunker and then, failing to “sand save”, we lost one down. 

Games 3 and 4 both went our way, winning 1 up with a birdie on the 18th and a comfortable 3&2, with yet another birdie on the last hole. Unfortunately the penultimate game saw us go down 4&3, so with one game left out on the course we were 3-2 down. 

The tension was mounting in the clubhouse with our Captain looking over my shoulder as the last game prepared to hit their tee shots; the game was all square. One player from each side hit the green and our man was nearest. They managed a routine par, so our birdie would win the game and tie the match. The grimace on our Captain’s face told me our man’s valiant effort just slipped past the hole and the final game was halved. The match result was a very competitive and socially enjoyable 3.5-2.5 to our hosts.                                                                             Lunch was a very wholesome carvery and thankfully neither Captain told a joke, albeit they both provided very articulate summaries of what had been a very nice day.  

John O’Gaunt Seniors away to South Beds September 15 2021

 

Andy Shilton made his debut as a match organiser, standing in for Tony Goodson in the contest against South Beds. This is his report

 There were no late changes of team and everyone turned up, on time, and properly dressed.   Your organiser was happy.

The weather was fine (after the biblical deluge of Tuesday), and there were a dozen Red Kite circling overhead throughout the day.   A fantastic day for golf round a lovely Downs course with views over Luton and Marsh Farm!

We were looking up against it on paper with JOG receiving 64 shots to the South Beds 111.  But the bacon rolls before the start gave us a hearty feeling inside.  And in the top match they certainly did something for captain on the day Algy Grimes.  He was on fire, hitting the middle of fairways and holing putts from all over the place.  By the turn we were 5 up with Algy coming in on every hole.  And though he took his foot of the pedal on the back nine we comfortably won 4&3.

 David Crosby and Colin Newbury won the second match 2 up, although Ian Riches and Brian Bullen lost 3&1.  Brian apparently so focused on the golf (or looking for balls), that he hadn’t noticed any of the Red Kites overhead.  Ralph Black and Keith Fuller finished all square with Ralph holing a 9 iron from 130 yards for an eagle.  This after playing ‘absolutely crap’ on all the previous holes (according to their opponents).  The pair did well to get the half as one South Beds player had 3 birdies on the day.

 Nigel Underwood and Terry Sweeney went down by one hole.  But Paul (Mr 3 Wood) Hammond and Richard Westergreen-Thorne were triumphant winning 5&4.  Their opponents were aghast as Mr 3 Wood was putting for Eagles on par 5s something they couldn’t remember seeing before.

Our buggy duo of Ray Smart and Jim Peacock lost 3 & 1, so scores were level with everything resting on Peter Imray and David McNair.  As we waited the South Beds captain was confident as one of their players had 18 shots on Peter and the other was apparently a bit of a bandit getting 3 shots.  His confidence was misplaced with Messrs Imray & McNair triumphing 3&1 giving victory to the JOG Seniors by 4.5 – 3.5. 

 We were served a fabulous two meat carvery with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and parsnips, and much convivial talk was had.  Brian Bullen had the consolation of winning the Nearest to the Pin and selected a nice bottle of white wine for his better half.  

Algy had the thrill of announcing the result and telling a poor joke.

Match Captain Algy delivered some great golf… and a joke

 

Thanks to all who played.   

Seniors’ Section Away to Gog Magog Elders September 13 2021

Organiser David Crosby reports on a valiant battle

Wow! What an amazing view! But before we get to my first communal shower for 18 months there is the matter of the match versus Gog Magog Elders.

 Late changes in both teams meant that the Elders had a cumulative 106 shots versus our 69. In the beginning, Algy (replacing Bill who had gone to Malta to check his assets) and I alternated from 1 up to level a few times before getting to 2 down on the 15th. A win on the 16th was followed by another on the 17th and two balls close on the 18th gave us an honourable half. 

At the other end, the final pair of Chris Roy and Keith Fuller repeated our achievement.

 The second and 7th games were wins for JOGS but the middle 4 games went to the Elders to give an overall loss 3-5. 

However ... game 2 requires special mention. The formidable Ralph Black (getting 5 shots) paired with Tariq Bhatti (14 shots) who was obviously wearing a new pair of putting boots. Approximately 29 stableford points on the front 9 and an overall combined 8 under gross gave them a (big) marginal 8 and 6 win: the subject of much discussion in the bar before lunch and worthy of a mention in despatches by the Elders Captain at (an absolutely delicious) lunch. Well done Tariq and Tariq's Little Helper!

 Dave Price and Sam Standen were our other winners (1 up). The Elders managed one 5 and 4, two 3 and 2 and 1 1 up win - no names, no pack drill (what on earth does that mean?).

 The picture is of our first group on the 18th tee with stunning views directly westwards over Trumpington, the observatory dishes at Lords Bridge on the A603 and towards my house in Gamlingay - which you can't quite see because of the houses (and hills) in between! Nevertheless, it's still much better than the view in the VERY cosy showers! Perhaps I should have worn a mask ...

Oh - I nearly forgot - Paul Hammond won Nearest the Pin - with (guess what) - a 3 wood. I think he only carries the one club ....

Thanks to all who participated, especially to the 5 who stepped in as replacements. Better than the 7 I needed for the home game!

Seniors’ Section Away Day, Elton Furze, September 9, 2021

 On the first tee: Terry Sweeney, Jim Peacock, Bob Anderson and Richard Knell

Seniors’ Section Captain Bill Walker reports on the Section’s ever popular Away Day

Well, there we were. After so much planning and anticipation we arrived at Elton Furze Golf Club for the Seniors’ Section away day. After 2 days of hot sunny weather, the anticipated overnight rain had given way to soft grey skies as we drove to the venue. Should we be wearing shorts or longs was the question?  As it turned out, the sun broke through, the mist disappeared, the course was baked and shorts were definitely the order of the day.  However, before the day’s golfing trials and tribulations could begin, the full fry breakfast was served which was absolutely the best with lashings of tea and coffee. 

 

At 1030, on the dot, Jim Peacock, Terry Sweeney, Richard Knell and Bob Anderson led off a 40 strong field.  The past Captains and some committee members may have thought they had an advantage as they has played the course earlier in the season on the section past captain’s day but as the nature of the course had changed so much they were mistaken. So who would come out on top at the end of this day?

 

So to the results:

 

Winner : Steve Collins – get down off that chair Steve.

Runner Up: Algy Grimes – He didn’t take that photo but took the rest.

Third:     Len Greaves.

 

NTP – 2nd- Chris Roy

NTP – 5th Colin Newbury

NTP – 12th David Crosby

NTP – 15th Ralph Black

 

Wooden Spoon: Jim Kerr. Enjoy the lesson Jim.

 

Thanks go to Richard Coventry for his organisation of a great day enjoyed by all.

Vice Captain Algy Grimes captures the highlights of the day on camera

Winner Steve Collins rises to the challenge of receiving the trophy from Captain Bill

Captain Bill presents winners with their prizes

The wooden spoon goes to Jim Kerr

• The competitors relax after an enjoyable day at Elton Furze
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And finally: Brian Bullen gets the drinks in!