There was no shortage of drama in this match, at least as far as the weather was concerned. Take a look at these amazing photos taken by Seniors Captain Algy Grimes while his four ball was sheltering from a hailstorm near the 12th green on John O'Gaunt. And this on the eve of June!
Organiser Malcolm Lee reports on the match
I arrived
just after 07:30 to be met by the full contingent of The Millbrook team in
their Royal blue polo shirts, and of course our captain Algy got there before
me.
Although the
weather forecast was possible rain, the day started fine. Hardly any breeze and
with the sun appearing not long after the match started. However, by the time the Captain, I and our
Millbrook opponents stood on the 12th tee the black clouds loomed
and rumbles of thunder were heard. As we reached the green the heavens opened
with torrential vertical rain followed by a short but sharp fall of hail
turning both the fairway and green white (see Algy’s photos). The hail soon
melted but left the puddles on the green with the pin surrounded by a 6+ feet “diameter”
puddle. From that point onwards it was a matter of occasional shortish sharp
rain showers but the thunder storms, by good luck, stayed away from the course.
Most groups soldiered on to the end but one, nameless group gave in to the
weather after the 14th.
Our group
were all square after the 15th then Algy had a long putt on the 16th
leaving it about 5 feet from the hole. After the other three of us failed to
hole out with a 3 Algy kept his calm to win the hole. So we teed off on the 17th
1 up. Then unfortunately our fortunes turned. I gave very little help on the last two but Chris,
Millbrook’s captain showed us his true capabilities, which we had seen little
of until then, winning the 17th and finished with an excellent par
on the 18th for a Millbrook overall win of +1.
With a very
good 4 & 3 win by Chris Roy and Richard Young, a commendable +2 win for
Andrew Lawrence and Barry Donovan and again a 2 & 1 win by Andy Shilton and
Ian Simpson it still was not enough, with JOG going down with only 3 wins
against The Millbrook 5.
Nearest the
pin: for The Millbrook, Kevin Hughes; for JOG, Andy Shilton.
Over drinks
we found out that the Millbrook captain Chris Freeman became the first
registered member of Millbrook in 1977. At that time the club was known as
Lyshott Heath Golf Club reverting to Millbrook, it’s name before 1977, in 2002
when it became a member-owned club.
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