Clarke Cup

So, where to start!

A quick repeat of the thanks on the day to Clarkey for once again organising the location, accommodation and most importantly ensuring the group would receive the discounted rate on beverages. Thanks also to Richard and David and latterly Mark for stepping in at varying lengths of short notice to ensure our event kept a semblance on competitiveness.

Day 1

Day one started with Europes formidable opening pairing of Steve Davies and Dave Hadden taking on the USA weak link, sacrificial lambs of Si Davies and Zach Jones. Right from the moment Si launched his first tee shot into the pond on the right, this pair were up against it. Team Europe Ham and Egging it nicely, whilst Si and Zach were just Egg and Egging it really, their games stunk!! Whilst Steve was just rolling par putt after par putt in the USA lads had given up the ghost on the match. Their misery finally confirmed on the 12th green with a “Dog licence” defeat for those old enough to remember 7&6!

The game behind was much closer, our polite enquiries were met with a small deficit ongoing for Europe, but as the match progressed Dan and Ev where clawing it back and were seemingly reminding Rob and Mark they were choking ! A great performance from the European lads to claim the half on the last hole

When our first game had reached the 17th tee we were joined by Game 3 players in Wadders and Degsy for Europe and Richard and David for Team USA. They were trying to avoid the impending soaking by walking in with “A serious case of the CBA’s” said Wadders. He and Degs had lost all hope of giving the younger Dreaves pair shots and conceding 150 yards off the tee!

The “Experience” of Clarkey and Kirky cruised to a comfortable victory against Keith and Les N. I think I was actually envious of Keith, who said the batteries had gone on his hearing aids with a few holes to play, how I wished I couldn’t hear Simon questioning himself about why he kept smashing it 300 yards, but into the lions enclosure

As Steve and I were basking in the immediate warm glow of victory on the 13th green we looked across to the 11th and asked Lee and Matt how they were getting on against Les H and John A, I confidently suggested that they couldn’t be as bad as Si and Zach, but Team Europe were 6 down and lost the next 2 holes to lose the match 8&6!

The final game saw Josh and Mark C defeat Team USA’s Banker team of Paul F and Frank. The match result by all accounts looked closer on paper that it should have been. This match notable mostly for the site of Josh looking like a drowned rat on the balcony at the end having no brolly or waterproof trousers

I thought it was nice of the hotel to provide a realistic viewing experience for the United game at 5:30, by having the rainwater come gushing in through the ceiling onto the assembled speccies!

After the match it was on to dinner and there seemed to be a consensus that the food was great and it was onto the draw for the singles- the “luck” of the draw threw up some tasty games and after much goading we retired to bed with the promise of doing it all again the next morning

Frankie was in Group 1 having accepted a shared half point with Team Europe’s missing player. This was meant to relieve Frank of the pressures of the matchplay and hopefully mean he wasn’t reacquainted with the wooden spoon for the daily event, unfortunately this didn’t not quite work and by the time the results were read out Frank could be seen cuddling his comfort spoon! Ann-Marie had messaged me to say could he have it back as he was struggling to get to sleep without it on the pillow this last month!

Summary of the Sunday singles would show Team Europe winning 7 points to Team USA’s 5 points to give Europe an overall victory of 10.5-7.5

We tried to present the trophy, but it became apparent, we didnt have it!

Rob had brought it to dinner and after a quick check behind the bar, Les believed that he or John A had taken it back to their room for “safe-keeping” but then had checked out earlier without it. A handshake from Paul sufficed in the moment, whilst we would check on leaving if it had been found in room 203!

Whilst I was at reception enquiring and then waiting, Les came running in saying he had found it under the seat in Johns car ! 

A great couple of days and a great result for my boys, well done men! I retire with a perfect 2/2 record as skipper, a victory for strategy and gut feel over Paul’s finger in the air style. Let’s do it all again next year fellas.

A final quick shout to Society Legend Col, who will be chomping at the bit to be sharing our fairways some time soon. We missed him, his golf and his banter this weekend.