The early starters in the Divots last Sunday were undecided about playing in the conditions forecast, so a vote was held to determine whether to play or sit in the warm comfort of the club and watch the rugby World Cup game between England and Wales. After a recount, the game of golf prevailed, just as well really!
With a late change in the starting order, the first away honours fell to Loz Phillips and Andrew North, looking for a change in fortune, up against Richard Day and Steve Evans.
In an attempt to ease the burden on his body, Loz has acquired an electric trolley. Not any old electric trolley, but the all-singing and dancing model a la Field-Thomas, complete with remote control. However, after failing to get it to move - something about a red light or something - he eventually got to the tee quite late, with Steve Evans making a fuss about being one up due to late arrival.
With all the Divots section outside on the patio area, Loz eventually made it to the tee, looking hard in short sleeves. With three drives despatched and only Steve left to go, the inevitable topped shot appeared - much to the amusement of the massed ranks, after all the earlier fuss made. However, thanks to Richard's opener, Steve made amends and secured the hole.
Poor Loz and Andrew must have felt in with a chance on the sixth, with both their shots on the green and their opponents short and right. Both putts just missed, but their par was safely in the bag. Then an outrageous putt from Steve, at the last call, from 25-foot, sneaked the half. When your luck's not in, you're up against it.
A tight game really, with all four players continually looking over their shoulders for the tee shots from the group behind. Andrew was hit on the ankle on the fourth, and Richard nearly had his ear taken off on the seventh tee. A lesson in etiquette possibly required, or perhaps a quickening in the pace of play? Who knows?
Nevertheless, when Richard sank another monster putt for the partnership on the 13th, the writing was on the wall. Dormie five on the 14th, Loz and Andrew battled hard, but failed to stop Richard and Steve winning the contentious bonus point. Such was the intensity of this match that even the minute's silence was running about 30 seconds late, but then have you ever known Steve being quiet!
Second away were Richard Morton and Clive Law up against league leaders Michael Schooling and Gavin Field-Thomas. I hope that Michael has a good supply of balls, as Gavin's first tee shot was last seen heading towards Kiln Park! A good close game this, with Clive showing why he should have been playing Divots golf for years with some superb drives.
All square on the turn, but with Michael and Gavin having successive shots on the 10th and 11th, they took full advantage, winning both holes.
That was how the game stayed until the 16th, where Richard hit a huge drive, carrying the ditch and looking to run it up to the green, but came up short! On getting to his ball, he found a dead mole next to it. Known as a mole killer for the duration of the day, poor Richard had the bad luck to come up against a real killer blow when Gavin played a superb six-iron out of the rough on the right-hand side and found the green from 180 yards. Playing off 24 and having a shot... he's having a laugh!
On the dance floor for a nett one, job done another victory secured. Now mole killer Richard can moan as much as he wants, but as was said back in the comfort of the clubhouse, he shouldn't be such a good player. Sorry Rich, no points for coming second.
Third match out saw David Douglas-Law and Neil Dickinson finally get a game in, against Adam 'Elvis' Joseph and Ron Johns. Now David and Neil must have fancied their chances when Ron turned up complete with a full bandage on his right hand. Something to do with burning himself while cooking apparently, others may say that it was Elvis's persistence in making Ron practice out on the practice ground causing badly blistered fingers.
With Elvis not quite recovering from the previous day's Burleigh Leach competition, and nearly taking Roger Schooling's head off on the second green with his drive from the fifth, and Ron nonchalantly walking up to the putts and without any regard for the line nailing them, David and Neil were up against it.
With work looming at 11.15 for David, both he and Neil had hoped for a quick finish. They got it all right, but not in the way they were hoping for. Four down after 10, a concession was the only way that David was able to make work on time. "Just as we were beginning to mount a fight back," was Neil's closing remark. Well, there's always next week!
Next away saw the Wizard of Oz, Kenny Breaker and Ian Thomas playing against Chris Hughes and Nigel Ayers. Chris and Nigel hitting superb drives off the first caused some tension in Kenny and Ian, with both their drives failing to make it over the top. Four shots played and barely past the bell on the first, at least Kenny had an excuse with more slipped discs than a DJ. Ian, however, had none. A lot on his mind apparently.
With the second hole going the same way as the first, Kenny had to retire injured, and subsequently concede the game to Chris and Nigel, who, showing no mercy, claimed they were robbed of a bonus point! There's sportsmanship for you. Tough league the Divots!
Next away saw Stephen Davies and Mike Anthony up against Richard Chapman and Rob Hall. Eager to reverse the previous result, Stephen and Mike looked keen to put in a good performance. However, pressure must have told, as a bout of 'club abuse' after the approach to the first green from the normally mild mannered Stephen saw the determination to win spill over.
The pattern of the game was a birdie/bogey performance from Stephen and Mike, while Richard and Rob concentrated on getting pars. The steady performance by Richard and Rob saw them one up at the turn, and despite Mike sinking an eagle putt on the 13th thanks to Stephen driving the green, Richard's superb stiff chip from down the side of the 14th immediately regained the lead.
That was how it stayed, a close victory for Richard and Rob and some points on the board.
Out next were Allan Morton and Barry Frayne up against Scott Davies and Laurence Lindsay, making his first appearance this season. Scott and Laurence set out their stall straight away on the first hole to take the lead. Although Allan and Barry managed to level matters by the fourth, Scott and Laurence were having none of it, winning the next two holes.
A birdie on the ninth and success on the 10th meant that they moved to four up. Allan and Barry dug deep to win the 11th and gain a half on the 12th, but alas were unable to make any further in roads into Scott and Laurence's lead. A combination of bad luck and bad play was the after-match comment from Allan and Barry. Oh how they rued those missed putts!
Last out were Gareth Rees and Brian Hartley playing against last minute recruit Andrew Morton and super sub Roger Schooling, who said he wasn't going to play winter league this year. A combination of Andrew's long drives and Roger's approaches saw them go into a two-hole lead after five holes. Solid play by Gareth and Brian pulled the game all square at the turn and they eventually went on to secure a 3 and 1 victory on the 17th.
Even so, Gareth was rueing the disappearance of a couple of balls from his partner's play... but then again he was used to that last year!
The committee was convened for a post-match huddle to interpret the concession of matches prior to the 14th, and it was decided that a bonus point could only be awarded if the match was played to a conclusion. It was decided that Divots players were of such good character that they would not use gamesmanship to prevent opponents winning a bonus point -golf in true spirit that!
An eventful raffle afterwards saw Elvis's tickets not entered again, Steve commenting that Pro-V's were made for him and the delayed disappearance of the two balls Gavin won. What a waste!
Apologies to the Rabbits section for delaying their start by overrunning by 10 minutes, but it didn't really matter as on the first hole they were searching for balls anyway! Only kidding boys!
Results were as follows: L. Phillips and A. North lost to R. Day and S. Evans 6 and 4; R. Morton and C. Law lost to M. Schooling and G. Field-Thomas 3 and 2; D. Douglas-Law and N. Dickinson conceded to A. Joseph and R. Johns; K. Breaker and I. Thomas conceded to C. Hughes and N. Ayers; S. Davies and M. Anthony lost to R. Chapman and R. Hall one down; A. Morton and B. Frayne lost to S. Davies and L. Lindsay 3 and 2; G. Rees and B. Hartley beat A. P. Morton and R. Schooling 3 and 1.