Organiser Terry Domagala and JOG Seniors Captain Tony Lloyd on the first tee with
Bedford and County's Captain Richard Shortland and last year's Captain Chris Bareford
Tony Lloyd reports on his first match as Seniors Captain
Playing your first match as Captain of the Senior Section is quite a landmark, so I offered to relieve organiser Terry Domagala of his blog-writing duties and pen a few words of my own on our away match at Bedford and County.
I was up with the larks for the 45-minute journey as I had never visited this course before and didn't want to be late on any account.
Most of our players also arrived in good time for coffee and introductions - apart from three who got stuck in traffic. Fortunately I was able to contact them by phone to ascertain that they were only a short distance away and would easily make their tee times.
So, after the formalities, Terry and I made our way to the first tee on a bright but chilly morning.
Posing for a photo with our Bedford and County opponents I was already sizing up the first hole and picturing my ball soaring up the fairway following my golf lesson the day before.
Things are never that simple are they. I was a little anxious as you might imagine. Terry was more forthright. You looked like a rabbit in the headlights, he remarked later.
Anyway, you guessed it, my first shot went left into the trees and I was already on the back foot.
We quickly went two down but fought our way back to all square, even one up briefly.
Both our opponents missed the green on their Nearest the Pin hole while Terry and I both hit the green and won the hole.
Could we do it again on OUR Nearest the Pin hole? I missed the green right but Terry hit a cracking shot to within a few inches, taking the hole and winning a bottle of wine.
For those of you who have not played Bedford and County there is a short par 3 which defies belief.
It is the 16th where the green is protected by a row of mature Scots pines immediately in front. One of our opponents hit a tree and ricochet out of contention while his partner sent a shot soaring over the trees but short of the green. Mine didn't so much soar as bobble through a gap in the trees to end up miraculously on the green. Hole halved in par.
After the 16th we were all square, but sadly ended the day 2 down with local knowledge on the last two holes very important. That's my excuse anyway!
As Terry and I sat in the bar waiting for our colleagues to come in we were hoping for the best. Then praying for a miracle as three more JOG teams reported narrow losses.
Our pride was saved by three wins, but the result overall was a 5-3 win for Bedford and County.
The defeat on my first time out as Captain was hard to take, but after a refreshing pint, sausage and mash and spotted dick, I was feeling a little happier with life.
My heartfelt thanks to all of the team for a day I will remember for a long time.
And thanks in particular to Terry who acted not only as a brilliant organiser but also as my "counsellor and life coach" as he tried to settle my nerves!
Next stop Aspley Guise at home on April Fool's Day. Oh no!
Results in full
Tony Lloyd and Terry Domagala: Lost 2 down
Steve Luckman and Alban Macdonald: Lost 2 down
Algy Grimes and Tony Walters: Lost 1 down
Graham Gadsden and Paul Jones: Won 5 & 3
Paul Hammond and Paul Life: Won 2 & 1
Dave Wood and Gavin Little: Lost 2 & 4
Paul Dobson and Oz Osman: Won 3 & 1
Peter Wade and Michael Newstead: Lost 1 & 3
Tony tees off. Fortunately you can't see where the ball went.
Let's just say it was a nervy start for the new Captain's first match
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