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Tony Griffiths
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Archive for February 23rd, 2014
Friday, 21st February 2014
Captain’s Ramblings:
Following January’s wash-out at Cottrell Park (now re-scheduled for May, by the way), the inaugural match of the 2014 season took place at Clevedon on 21st February.
Numbers were slightly depleted, probably because of half-term holidays, with 24 hardy souls trying their luck by the shores of the Severn estuary.
As it turned out, conditions were remarkably favourable. There was a moderate breeze, and the odd sharp shower, including one of hail endured by a few of the later groups. Most of the fairways were reasonably firm, and the greens, on the whole, were fair and true, the course holding up extremely well overall given the recent biblical rainfall. One or two holes presented a stiff test. The 8th – ‘The Castle Hole’ – with a steep drop and a 160-yard carry against the wind off the tee, with trouble either side, was a differentiator. Some mastered it with ease, and others suffered the fate of having to dig around in the undergrowth and struggled to make points. The par-3 14th, also with its steep drop, proved an interesting exercise in club selection in the swirling breeze.
After the customary (and excellent) bacon rolls and coffee, Jon Ager got proceedings underway as incoming captain, with a sneaky drive straight down the middle, whilst no-one was watching (Simon and Brendan will confirm that it was legitimate!) To Jon’s great relief, this provided an adequate challenge for the bottle of whisky, with Stuart Perry and John Essom vying for the prize in the early stages, eventually won by Manny Virdi.
From the third group out, Tony Griffiths was unsurpassed, providing the solitary name on the score sheet for ‘Nearest the Pin’ on the innocuous looking 3rd hole, obviously finding his range early in the round.
Adie Shilston claimed the best aggregate score across the 3 par-3s with 8 points – the equivalent of a creditable 2 ‘net birdies’ and a ‘net par’.
‘Longest drive’ had to wait until the 5th group out to be decided, with Jon Ager setting a conquerable early marker (with some arboreal assistance). With mutterings from a few about the absence of demarcation between fairway and rough at its furthest extent, Stuart Perry and Adie Shilston unequivocally whistled past in subsequent groups. But the prize was eventually secured by Alan Jones, in his first outing with the Nomads – congratulations, and welcome, Alan!
In a departure from the usual protocol, the ‘division’ prizes – top player in each ‘division’ NOT in the overall top three – were decided along handicap lines this time, with the six players with the lowest handicaps challenging for ‘Group 1’ and so on. Prizes, and congratulations on creditable performances, went to:
‘Group 1’ (Handicaps 0 – 15.4): Manny Virdi (36 pts)
‘Group 2’ (Handicaps 15.5 – 17.4): Adie Shilston (36 pts)
‘Group 3’ (Handicaps 17.5 – 22.0): Mike Simpson (34 pts)
‘Group 4’ (Handicaps 22.1 – 28): Jed Wrench (with 3 players in this ‘group’ tied on 29 pts, the prize was awarded to Jed, as highest handicapper in the competition – NOT for his sartorial display!)
With the overall average score for the day being just over 29 pts, the three main prizes deservedly went to three players who had clearly mastered the tricky conditions. Andy Alexander secured his first ‘podium’ finish in 3rd place with 37 pts, narrowly defeated by Mark Gardiner, in 2nd on ‘countback’ who, as far and away the lowest handicapper of the day, produced another fine performance, with a gross 77, including an eagle 3 on the tricky 16th over the water. But John Essom romped to victory, and first prize, on 39pts with an imperious 24pts on the back nine, surpassing a good few players’ scores over the entire round!
The day’s festivities were rounded off with the usual banter over a beverage or two, during which James Farley’s shot of the day was revealed – a putt from well off the green leaning over a barbed-wire fence with the ball lodged just in-bounds underneath it, which rolled obliging into the hole.
A hearty meal of Chicken and Ham Pie, and fruit crumble were consumed with alacrity, before the formalities were wrapped up with the distribution of prizes, including the monthly raffle which was won by Alan Jones – a lucrative first outing, Alan!
Jon finally reminded everyone that next month’s outing was at Forest Hills on 28th March. Jon said that he hoped as many people as possible would attend, in honour of Ben Green, a much loved friend and former member who passed away suddenly in 2012.
Jon and Darren will shortly be issuing invitations to the Newton Cup, to be held at Woodspring Golf Club, Long Ashton on Friday 25th April 2014.
See you next time!
Scores:
| 1 | John Essom | England | 39 |
| 2 | Andy Alexander | Scotland | 37 |
| 3 | Mark Gardiner | England | 37 |
| 4 | Adie Shilston | England | 36 |
| 5 | Manny Virdi | England | 36 |
| 6 | Darren Williams | Wales | 34 |
| 7 | Mike Simpson | England | 34 |
| 8 | James Farley | Ireland | 31 |
| 9 | Derek Freeman-Jones | Wales | 30 |
| 10 | Darren Collier | England | 29 |
| 11 | Ged Wrench | England | 29 |
| 12 | Stuart Perry | England | 29 |
| 13 | Tony Griffiths | Wales | 29 |
| 14 | Chris Pulfree | England | 28 |
| 15 | Dave Curtis | England | 28 |
| 16 | Gary O’Connell | Scotland | 28 |
| 17 | Simon Howlett | England | 28 |
| 18 | Steve Graham | England | 26 |
| 19 | Alan Jones | England | 25 |
| 20 | Jon Ager | England | 25 |
| 21 | Jitesh Mistry | India | 24 |
| 22 | Mark Graham | England | 24 |
| 23 | Brendan Turbitt | Ireland | 22 |
| 24 | Steve Standbridge | England | 18 |