Seniors team Captain David Barlow and organiser Jonathan Lean with Millbrook's Ian Stuart and Captain Ian Potter
Organiser Jonathan Lean reports
Although the day dawned bright and clear for our home match against Millbrook, it was obvious that most of the players had looked at the forecast for the day and shorts were in short supply!
The usual nervousness about everyone turning up on time soon abated and the team introductions were made.
There were only two minor issues. Firstly, one of our players (did I say I would not mention your name Steve Luckman?) admitted that he had forgotten his change of clothes. It was decided after a quick committee meeting not to confine him to the stud bar for his lunch!
A little back story to the second issue. As many of you will know I (Jonathan Lean) have had a new knee which is fine now but has resulted in some hip issues. I have kindly been loaned a buggy by Tony Goodson which I had loaded into my car ready for the day’s play. However, I found out the hard way that these buggies work best when turned on with the key which was still at home!
I therefore had to walk round the course. Would it be a case of ‘Beware the Injured Golfer’?
Acting Captain David Barlow and I got the ball rolling literally but David’s par on the 1st was not good enough to win the hole as their captain rolled in an outrageous 25 footer! One down after one.
We were giving away a lot of shots to the Millbrook pair and their shots on the 2nd were also enough to win the hole. Two down after two. Not looking good.
Two great second shots from JOG and a fluffed chip from Millbrook allowed us to pull one back on the 3rd. A birdie 2 from our vice-captain on the 4th pulled it back to all square. A missed 4 footer by yours truly and a par by Millbrook on the 7th meant that we were 2 down again. However, pars by the intrepid David on the 8th and 9th pulled us back to all square at the half way stage.
The back nine was a similar story with nip and tuck holes but the tide seemed to change when JOG eventually managed to get our noses in front on the 14th. This was soon lost so back to all square on the 15th. Millbrook fell foul of the tricky green on 16, both of them 3 putting from distance whereas a solid par from David secured the win. One up on the 17th and all looking good! I spoke too soon.
Wayward drives from both JOG players on the 17th allowed a solid par from the Millbrook captain to pull it back to all square. By this time the rain, which had started in earnest at around the 13th, found its way onto the golf grips and again resulted in wayward drives on the 18th. Pushing too hard with Millbrook both getting strokes on the hole. It meant that David Barlow needed to sink a tricky 12 footer to halve the hole. It agonisingly slid just wide so we lost 1 down. A great match, keenly fought with only three of the holes halved.
Martyn Graham and Dave Wood righted the ship with a win in the second match but then a string of four losses meant that we were heading for defeat. The final two matches were wins for JOG so the final result was an overall loss 3-5.
Nearest the Pin on 16th for JOG was Warren Churms.
A delicious meal of roast chicken and vegetables followed by Pavlova and ice cream was enjoyed at a civilised time of 2.30pm thanks to the staggered start.
All that was missing from the final speeches was the joke! I seem to have killed that tradition!
Detailed results as follows.
David Barlow and Jonathan Lean – lost 1 down
Martyn Graham and Dave Wood – won 2 & 1
Fred Williams and Peter Imray – lost 2 & 1
Chris Dennis and Warren Churms – Lost 1 down
Oz Osman and Steve Luckman – lost 3 & 2
Gerry Degaute and Algy Grimes – lost 2 down
Barry Donovan and Paul Life – won 4 & 2
Ian Maddison and Jed Isbell – won 1 up.
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