A picture postcard scene awaited the return of the Divot section following their Christmas break. With a very heavy frost, the pro shop made a fortune from the sales of winter tees and yellow golf balls!
First away saw Richard Morton and Ron Johns against Michael Schooling and Nigel Ayers. Par golf being order of the day from the start, the Schooling and Ayers pairing found themselves three down after three holes, due to a combination of Richard's driving and Ron's putting, although quite where Richard found his form from, following a lack lutre display the previous day, is still a mystery. Only kidding Rich!
With Michael and Nigel determined to pick up some points, a better back nine performance saw the birdies arrive, and this was enough to level the match after 16 holes.
Pars again saw both pairings hang on in for a well deserved half, a good result by all accounts, and a two over back nine for Michael and Nigel. Nigel needs some clippings for his scrapbook!
Second away were Ken Breaker, complete with a new flat top haircut, and Roger Schooling up against league leaders Adam 'Elvis' Joseph and Mike, or should that be Nike, Anthony.
This match came alive on the second tee, for whilst waiting for the group in front to be down by the greenside bunker and safely out of Elvis's range, a whiz was heard through the air and Mike found himself with a golf ball lodged in his ear. I know it was cold morning, and although all the group were greatly appreciative of the glow of warmth coming from said ear, the only shout forthcoming was an ouch from Mike!
With the mats badly frosted over, a comment of "Bambi on ice" followed Roger's tee shot on the third, and with all players struggling to gain a secure footing, the big swinging and hitting Elvis was not firing on all cylinders.
On the tee on the seventh, with Ken just starting his downswing, a shout of 'Yes' was heard all over the links, loud enough to see the ball dispatched out of bounds and towards Penally.
Keeping in the spirit of the game, Ken was allowed to replay the shot, and normality was restored, enough to see him and Roger two up after 10 holes.
With the ground thawing out, Elvis was able to get the secure footing required, and by the 14th he and Mike had turned it around to be two up. Winning the 15th saw the lead extended and a par finish enough to secure another victory.
Third match of the morning saw Richard Chapman and Gavin Field-Thomas up against David Douglas-Law and Andrew North. It is hard to believe that Richard and Gavin hadn't yet had a victory in the league, and following New Year, resolved to change that.
When par followed par, perhaps this was going to be the day. Standing on the sixth tee, Richard, with a sublime tee shot, read the conditions perfectly enough to obtain an eagle and join that elusive hole-in-one club!
This just continued to spur on the partnership and although David and Andrew played well, they had no answer to the display of power on show and eventually had to succumb on the 14th.
Reflecting on their first victory, and with a one over gross score, the talk of "nobody would have beaten us" seemed quite appropriate, although Gavin's thoughts of turning pro may be a little ambitious! A good story nevertheless!
Next away saw the unbeaten pairing of Tim Edwards and Laurence Lindsay against Steve Evans, standing in as substitute for Mickey Barrett, and Mark Duckett. Following Mark's tee shot on the first, Steve was quite happy not to play a shot and just take Mark's ball down by the bell.
This set the pattern for a very close game, and with Tim and Laurence as consistent as ever, unforced errors would be the deciding factor.
Pars being the norm, Steve and Mark just managed to sneak ahead after the 16th and despite being told to mark a one-footer on the 17th, they were asked to see the ball into the hole and made no mistake.
A first defeat for Tim and Laurence, and daylight between them and league leaders Elvis and Mike, although Tim and Laurence have had their free week.
Last away this week saw Gareth Rees and Ian Thomas against Niclas Thomas and Martin Durham. With Gareth and Ian anchored at the bottom of the league, determined to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon, and Niclas and Martin still with title aspirations, this was an important game for both pairings.
Once again pars had to be order of the day, the lead changing back and forth during the opening four holes, until a superb birdie by Niclas and Martin on the fifth, opened up a two-hole advantage.
The next few holes were halved, with Gareth and Ian managing to reduce the advantage on the ninth, to be one down at the turn.
Sensing a glimmer of hope, Gareth and Ian kept things tight and when Gareth rolled in a birdie on the 13th for them to go two up, things looked promising. Another hole secured at the next meant a three-hole advantage going over the line.
Being three up with four to play isn't a position that Gareth and Ian have found themselves in this season, and when three balls missed the green on the 15th, Ian had only to hit the green to gain the advantage. With the flag tucked tight on the right-hand side, aggressive play was not the shot to play, middle of the green would have done, especially when the target was missed. Niclas and Martin won the hole with a brilliant greenside shot for par.
The 16th was also secured, with Ian feeling the pressure and having putting yips. Tension mounting, and with Niclas and Martin both four-foot from the flag on the 17th, the game was back to all-square.
With both shots to the 18th green just missing right, the nightmare continued for Gareth, when Ian knifed his wedge through the green. Niclas then played his customary short game to gimme territory, enough to claim victory.
Results were as follows: R. Morton and R. Johns halved with M. Schooling and N. Ayers; K. Breaker and R. Schooling lost to A. Joseph and M. Anthony 3 and 2; R. Chapman and G. Field-Thomas beat D. Douglas-Law and A. North 5 and 4; T. Edwards and L. Lindsay lost to S. Evans and M. Duckett 2 and 1; G. Rees and I. Thomas lost to N. Thomas and M. Durham 1 down.