Yet again a lovely morning, brilliant sunshine with just a hint of a breeze, with some good golf being played. By some. But once again, that time of year has arrived. Jim Martin (pictured) has returned to the Chicken field!
Vince Shaw and JBH tried to offload him on the 1st, 6th and the 11th, but all to no avail. We even tried to sell him, but no one would put their hand into their pocket and look for the odd holiday peso or two. So we were stuck with him, but we had a couple of hysterical moments over his game plan, that in the end, turned out to be non existent! In fact on the 14th tee, he even tried to demolish the sub station with his tee shot. He failed, of course, as the concrete proved too thick. Perhaps we might have better luck next week
There were shrieks of pain every time that JBH took a shot, as his thumb, that looked like an over-ripe plum due to a very close encounter with a hammer on Spike Evans's garage roof, gave him some grief. Vince reckoned that it was Jim's presence that caused the pain. But the allocated plus-one handicap didn't do any favours at all, and the booby loomed!
Pat Rees and Des Stone were showing their leader paces halfway into the morning, but there were some good Chickens still out there on the course.
Alan Keating, still smouldering from his drastic cut the previous week, had let himself go. Looking decidedly scruffy, no starched shirt, no tie, no pressed trousers, and that was only on the course; his score reflected his sartorial downside!
Fred Adlam came in with his chest puffed out, like chickens do, and remarked that his drive, nine-iron and two putts on the 7th was easy peasy, and obviously was looking to take the top corn for the week.
Wrong! You was pipped! Jim Taylor does it better than most when he's on song, and he was really pleased to learn that his 32 points for the Chicken course, was enough to earn him a couple of bob, and a cut in handicap from 12 to four. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fred was cut to seven!
It was nice to see Ken Fletcher back in the club again. Ken is waiting for an imminent hip op, and this prompted Vince to call for a Hip, Hip, and Hooray. But this was a real lead balloon remark. Nice to see Ted Martin making it all the way as well.
We give a warm welcome to two new members this week, Michael Taylor and Stan Hudson. They didn't set the Chicken world alight, but it's early days yet.
A few more Chickens this week by the way, so things are on the up obviously.
Results: Jim Taylor 32 pts. (£2.50); Fred Adlam 31 (£2); Dudley Williams 27 (£1.25); Rob Wilins, Des Stone, Cyril Evans, Pat Rees 25 (60p each);
Twos: Cyril Evans (£1.85); booby: Ted Martin (30p). Entries: 35.
J.B.H.