Men's Club Champs… a great weekend and what a cracking finish!
It was great to see the biggest field in my time at the club peg it up for this year's Men's Club Championships with 96 in attendance. Most get a little nervous standing there on the first, but this year is the first Championship from the newly extended tee, which did cause a couple of re-loads. So after round one on Saturday, we had a clear leader in the Handicap Rosebery Medal, with Paul Harris carding a fantastic nett 63. This is a swing I know well and I've always known it could produce a score like that. A great round, but Paul still had Ant Seymour bearing down with a nett 65 and another group of players on 67. So, all to play for on Sunday. In the Scratch Brookes Cup event, the pro shop's very own Alex Inns lead the way after day one with a superb gross 69, which gave him a small lead over the man-on-form, Cameron Morris, who shot a cracking 72. So who could keep it going on into the final round?
As is tradition, quite a number of our competitors stayed at the club on Saturday afternoon to drown their sorrows, great for the bar takings, but not so good for the sore heads in the morning. However, all turned up ready for action although some in better condition than others. On Club Champs Sunday we always have the jungle drums beating with rumours coming in from the course, 'he's just dropped two' or 'he's gone birdie, birdie'! But as the terrace filled up with spectators, the scores were creeping in, with new member Lee Akerman and 'Big' Tony Ferdinando leading the handicap competition for a while. Then overnight leader, Paul Harris, handed in his card with a nett 73, not bad under the circumstances. This left the door open for Anthony Seymour who still had to shoot a nett 70 to take the title… and that he did! So the coveted Rosebery Medal accolades went to Anthony Seymour who made a heart-felt speech, helped along by his little boy Sylvester.
The scratch competition would however throw up far more drama. The lowest handicapped golfers always come in last down the 18th, just to add to the tension, and the rumours were coming in that it was now between Martin Cooper and Alex Inns, but nobody really knew the exact state of play. However, up steps Martin Cooper and chips in from just in front of the green to force, what transpired, to be a play-off with Alex. So off they went on the three hole play-off, they both parred the 1st and the 17th which left it all to play for coming down the last. Two decent drives, but maybe the pressure showed as Alex pulled his approach into the left bunker followed by Martin who pushed his into the right-side trap. Both then stepped up and played a pair of incredible bunker shots to leave them both the distance everyone hates, the three footer, but with the added bonus of 100 people watching on from the terrace. Alex first up and stroked it home leaving all the pressure on Martin who unfortunately lipped his put to hand Alex the Club Championship. It's a real shame that someone has to lose, but thank you to both for putting on such a tense and exciting show. Congratulations to Alex, a great golfer, and a great lad and the club are proud to have him as their Club Champion.
So another fantastic weekend with just another few special mentions, congratulations to Charles Loftus who bagged himself the Lithium battery Motocaddy in the pro shop prize draw, and well done to Rob Jones who won the hilarious, 30 man, 150 yard challenge which always throws up some very interesting shots after a couple of beers. A great weekend and thank you to all who supported it.
Coming up…
A week on Saturday we have the England vs. The Rest of the World event. This event is played at lunchtime and is a stableford competition of which every point counts for your respective side. The presentation is made of this coverted trophy after play when food is available as well as a bit of live music laid of by Roger Wildig. Always makes for a great afternoon at the club, so if you would like to represent your country then please head to the men's competition board and add your name to the list. This is open to ladies, gents and juniors, so long as you are a six or seven day member.
FootJoy Shoe Sale
While stocks last we are offering 25% OFF some fantastic top end shoes, including D.N.A's and DryJoys. So why not pick up your winter pair, before they're all gone?
Shop Sale
The Pro Shop Spring/Summer Clothing Sale continues to make way for the new autumn/winter collections coming in in the next week or so, including Under Armour, Glenmuir's logo'd range and Puma. Offers include:
