A trip up the M1 saw a revisiting of the sand laden ranked 1 course of 2006. Maybe the presence of the place accounted for some early casualties: A.T due to lower back troubles: Some attributing this to a year previous when an unleashed 3 wood left the reigning course champ cork screwing to the floor and onto the seat of his britches. The defense claim excessive painting and decorating. Hoenigmann missed out to celebrate the birth of a bouncing baby daughter on Saturday morning. This wouldn’t have stopped Baker Jnr who managed to golf Friday and a double weekend header of cricket after a Thursday birthday! But a hectic social calendar led to unavailability.
Needless to say a sterling effort of 12 including debutant Sanders of ex-KCC fame (and future: Ladd & Baker Snr with 18 holes to convince!) and ex-Tangerine. 1 game: And what a game, Jenko being chased off the pitch by an amoeba with an iron bar, not for the last time in his illustrious career! So why did we pack the football up again..?
2006 Champion, Horsburgh Jnr, paraded the trophy as he began his defence, albeit in the handicappers vice like grip.
Baker Snr true to form split the fairway: an impressive 3 iron complete with kitchen sink. A steady opening 9 saw all three rutting for the early impetus. A birdie up the tricky 9th the highlight from Sanders who led by one at the turn. Baker Snr wishing he’d swapped points for bunkers visited: 15 by the turn. The turn saw Ladd carry on in last seasons fashion stakes another top draw piece of head wear provided the catalyst at the short island 11th: A marvelous birdie for 4 points.
A very solid back 9 by all with only 2 ‘no scores’ registered by the trio. Sanders clear by 3 standing on 18 was made to sweat with a superb Baker ‘3’ point par but crept home to take the clubhouse lead by one.
Horsburgh Snr, Hefter (in a cutting lime outfit) and Frame were full of the joys of spring. Hefter so much so he thought he would visit another group: As a wayward second landed on an alternative tee box. Being a sport of gentlemen, the group allowed Hefter to continue, who promptly fatted the next into a wall which rebounded back to his feet, cheers lads! Unperturbed Hefter kicked through to a 3 point outward lead. With Frame and Horsburgh Snr producing a mixed bag. Things got worse for Frame as 6 holes without register on the way in, saw the Bondhay low just surpassed and led to the comment, ‘that I am never, ever, ever playing this course again!’ Horsburgh rallied around the turn as Hefter faltered although kept the group spoils.
Jenkinson, Hepburn and reigning champion Horsburgh Jnr (in attire suitable for Skegness pitch and putt) set off in the penultimate group. The writing appeared to be on the wall for Hepburn who sent his third on the opener crashing off a tree and ending up closer to the tee! Jenkinson appeared to be the ‘form’ player with a few ‘whoops’ and ‘hollers’ from the group behind as irons kept arrowing towards the pin.
Horsburgh appeared to be in holiday mode: with lots of sand displacement, with Hepburn looking in trouble. A G&T couldn’t revive the resident bookie who pulled up at the turn: sighting an apparent ‘sore wrist’ from the morning’s football game. Although the jury’s still out! Jenkinson by 5. A ‘3 point’ brace saw Jenkinson extend as all three kept it ‘dry’ on the 11th. Horsburgh consolidated, past the ‘Bondhay low’, as Hepburn resigned himself to ball spotting, banter and gin consumption!
The young bucks; Tuckwell Jnr, Brown, Meadows (complete with line of clothing and caddy…in appropriate footwear) were the final group out. A scrappy opening saw Brown first to show as the shoulders began to loosen and the accuracy tighten: Impressive from tee to green, wayward with the first putt and solid with testing return. Tuckwell was inconsistent as Meadows faired from the sublime to the ridiculous: either peppering the group in front, the over head aircraft or cars on the adjacent road. Brown clear by 1 after a ‘4 point’ birdie up 9. Crunch time on the 10th: Brown with the 4 iron. Tuckwell with the 3. Meadows with the 4 iron. Caddy with a chicken wing: As an immaculate picnic was unveiled! Meadows clearly in the mindset and the bit between his teeth (sausage roll remains) started racking up the points as Brown kept his foot on the gas. One lost ball too many accounted for Tuckwell’s afternoon. Brown held out for a 3 point group win despite battling some demons on the baize.
There it was an outrageously close opener. 7 of the 11 within 1 at half way. But it was debutant Sanders (32) with a crucial point up 18 that took the Greater Bonhay Open in a low scoring affair. Pipping Baker Snr (31), Brown (31) and Jenkinson (31) by 1 shot. Great work by all and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
