Hi all,

 

The New Year started out well at Formby, with a packed attendance and some gloomy skies despite the forecast (though maybe the gloom was just the Evertonians on the first tee bemoaning Agent Rafa). 

 

Things soon brightened up despite it being a cold day. The course as usual was in great nick and our group – myself, Zach, Wadders and Nello – got going at pace, with myself and Nello also playing a 2nd round matchplay. Some of the “apocalyptic” scenes with fallen trees remained, following the winds in December, with some tree areas roped off under GUR.  Nello particularly got some benefit though, bouncing off two trees on the 7th and back into play.  Zach also looked in good form, booming some big drives and getting into contention, only fading with a couple of blob holes and a dive into the gorse on 15.  Wadders got his usual steady fade going and plotted his way around the course very well.

 

Meanwhile, Nello and I continued the matchplay, with me ending up 2up at the turn. After chunking my tee shot at 10, Nello gave me a big let off, with my scramble for bogey equalled by him 3-putting.  The back 9 was where it really got going and with my par on 12 and birdie on 13, the 15th was the hole where it ended.  Some good tee shots by all on 16 and we walked what felt like a mile down to the temporary tee on the 17th, playing it as a par 4. I confess it wasn’t until the 18th tee when I realised it was looking like a decent round, and with a par, par, par finish and 2 over gross back 9, I knew things were looking good. 39 points and a 2 shot cut to boot, along with various comments about home advantage and the theme from Smokey and the Bandit.

 

Thanks to playing partners Zach, Wadders and of course Nello and a great day for everyone in the society at obviously a great venue……

The day started with my dad and I picking up an ever-so-slightly hungover Matt Naylor. Not a day to be hungover when the residents of Formby had been without water all morning. Little did we know his day was only going downhill from there. He later informed me of his excitement about a rejuvenating sausage roll from the halfway house after seeing the one I had purchased in the group ahead of him. Only when he was salivating at the shop window did he realise mine was the last one. I assume this was a large contributing factor in the wooden spoon being claimed later in the day. Better luck next time Matt.

Before I started my round I was approached by Steve Clarke and asked if I would be willing to take on the role of vice-captain. I very happily accepted and now, with the backing and respect of my peers coursing through my veins, I bounced along to the first tee ready to take on whatever golf could throw at me. That was until I remembered I was playing my first-round match play against last year’s finalist Colin Davies.

My nerves were eased when Col hit his tee shot fifty yards right off the first tee allowing me to win the hole but like the great competitor he is he bounced straight back and won the second. He then out drove me on the third and I wondered whether it wasn’t going to be my day. Eight holes later I was dormie eight and I realised I was wrong. Sorry Col! He did win the next three holes and played great on the back nine before we halved the fourteenth to end a match played in great spirit.

In terms of my stableford performance I think my playing partners must have realised I was on a good score when I didn’t get a beer from the halfway house. Those who know me know there are not many situations in which I would turn down such an opportunity to quench my thirst but I wasn’t risking a wobbly back nine. I managed to keep up my level of play on the back nine and thankfully finished up on the winning score.

I thought the course was in great condition for the time of year and the greens ran very true. Although anything with grass was always going to be a vast improvement on last years frozen tundra. It was nice not having to try and judge golf balls bouncing forty yards in the air for a start.

Congratulations to our new captain Ste Davies who did a great job with the scores. I was particularly impressed with his ability to announce the correct winner given the previous incumbents propensity to get it wrong. Just joking John, I’ll be happy if I can be half the captain you were.

Thanks again to everyone who voted for me. It’s quite fitting that I am Ste’s vice-captain as he was the one who introduced me into the society. I look forward to taking him on (and beating him) at the Ryder Cup.

I hope everyone enjoyed the day and I will see you all at Runcorn.

Thanks and congrats to our winner, Josh Hadden

After several missed turns due to Colin’s beliefs that he knows the way, the sat nav finally got us there at what felt like 3 a.m.

In the foursomes we started off a fantastic team, cool calm and calculated only to somehow end up with a double bogey on a par 3 and some idiot forgetting to mark the score card and following his own set of rules. As Les sank a slippery 20 footer on the last , frank was first to come with a finely laminated copy of the rules and disqualify us on the spot for assuming 4 of us wouldn’t miss from 3 inches. Frank would travel home with his pro vs in his pocket, congratulations frank.

After checking the forecast I was assured no rain was due, so it was rather fitting that it started after 1 hole. Steve Doran was determined it still wasn’t wet enough, and found the water 3 times on the 3rd hole.

John seemed determined to inform me he “hates golf” and Ste had given up even looking for his balls , the 3 people in my group averaged a cracking 20.6 points and set the bar very high.

It was a lovely course and I enjoyed beating josh by 16 points and Foode by 17. My second major presented to me in a car park when everyone had left felt phenomenal.

Thanks, Simon

I had looked forward to playing Pleasington again as I had found it extremely pleasant the last time we played there…….but in the words of Mike Kirkland, it became rather Unpleasington as we left the second green.

Dan Foode, all hangover and topped shots at this stage, was suddenly chasing his bag and umbrella in the wind and rain whilst simultaneously trying to put his waterproof top on!! Perhaps this changed the mood as I was in full Victor Meldrew mode at this point. To be fair I was still moaning on the 10th tee when our Skipper looked at me and said “bloody hell Nello you’ve got 18 pts!!” The moaning did stop briefly on the Par 3 adjacent the river with the house and beautiful garden and summer house…….it only stopped to allow me to enquire if I could book a week’s holiday next June!!

Obviously I managed to hang on for the win, it’s been a while so very much enjoyed. Thanks to the Captain and Dan for the good company and putting up with my mutterings.

Hopefully we can all find it pleasant at Pleasington next year! 

Thanks and congrats to our winner, John Nelson

….

Fail to prepare and prepare to fail they say. Well, preparation for Knott End came on Friday afternoon at Ormskirk GC. Two topped tee shots off the first and two lost balls, same on the second and so it went on ! 5 points for the front 9 and the inevitable occurred (just for Simon) and I walked in after 11 holes with 8 points and 9 lost balls!! Physically and mentally drained I doubted I would be making the first tee today. After securing a buggy late yesterday I gave it a go with no expectations at all. This game baffles me at times as the Hadden mating call of “fore left” or “fore right” was only heard thanks to Daniel, Derek or Dave erring off the tee and not my normal golfing version of the Red Arrows!

It has been a while and some close shaves along the way, but really pleased to have “got it done” again and look forward to getting together for the weekend at the end of the month. Look after yourselves guys as we exit full lockdowns and see you all at Belton Woods. Special mentions for Col and Steve Dorian today with 37 points and what promised to be more, great scoring chaps!!

Oh and for anyone not within earshot Josh has said you may as well not bother turning up as he is 98% sure he will win the Club Championship!

Dave

If I had thought there was half a chance of me winning and writing this report, I might have paid more attention to what was going on!

Once again Preston offered a first class welcome, a cracking course and fine weather for a wander around the countryside. The mutterings from Campbell of ‘jammy git’ started on the the first hole and continued well into the evening presentation – hopefully he will have stopped by the time we get to Knott End. Thanks go the him, Nello and Zach for the company and I’m sure we will want to visit there again. Tough luck to Steve losing it on a count back; for some reason he seemed quite happy about it -eyes on Belton Woods perhaps.