Potter's Magic Wand

Credit where credits due but there could’ve been one of many headlines: Unlucky for some. N.N.N.N.N.Nineteen. Don’t give up the day job. I’m a believer. The Omen.

Thirteen made the trip, although a lot of curtain twitching, phone calls and texting saw the numbers fluctuate throughout the day. Only one casualty as the sky alternated between various shades of grey and wetness. Ladd tried his best to dodge proceedings: citing a heavy work load, later revealed to be having BT installed at the New Hickling Farmstead!

Pre match drinks (and shelter) were the order before Thacker, Drury and Hepburn got matters underway. Heppers will perhaps regret quizzing the resident pro if he missed coaching hackers on late, wet evenings…Thacker and Drury began accumulating, unperturbed by the rat poison on the 6th tee as Hepburn did his best for England in the Eurovision ‘Nil Pwoin’. The highlight spectacularly sending the ladies tee marker cart wheeling into a thicket with a loose drive. Despite not having the radar properly adjusted it was Thacker by one at the turn. All good pros have their ideal yardage to the pin therefore it was perhaps no surprise when Thacker duly obliged for birdie on 11. The fact a semi thin, shank, top was dispatched off the tee was irrelevant. Hepburn unloaded a Barnes Wallace off the 15th which led to scenes of Watership Down, as it finally skimmed itself to a standstill. With the end finally insight , previous low beaten but more balls lost than points Hepburn headed for a G&T to assess his golfing future, (noting that the last time such atrocities occurred, young Thacker was a playing partner!) Thacker commendably scrambled home with only one ‘blob’ and the group spoils.

Horsburgh’s Jnr, Snr and Hefter set off in summer gear buoyed by Stats’ promise of sun!?! A steady opening by all 3 as the black abyss drew near. The edge of a brief, heavy shower didn’t dampen scoring but saw Horsburgh Jnr have a rare visit to the trees on 7, clearly tactical to keep the rain off! Horsburghs’ inseparable at the turn. Hefter appeared to being enjoying his prophecies but as the sun appeared and the course dried up, so did his points scoring. Something special about the 11th as Horsburgh Jnr fired the second birdie of the day: A 70yd pitch straight into the can, to snatch the impetus. Jason was 5 clear with 3 to play after trouble by Father on the 15th deemed ‘short straight’. Hilarity ensued as Bob found tree trouble up the left not once but thrice clattering timber and ricocheting back into play. With poker face back on Bob tamed the monstrous 16th and 17 leaving him two behind son up the last. Jason held firm despite relentless pressure to be home by one.

Season’s debutants Baker Jnr and Dean were up with Tuckwell Jnr, who had an absolutely unbelievable round… Unbelievable that he only went out of bounds once, only lost one ball and only blobbed once, although the top spin forehand was working majestically. Enough said. Baker as always proved there’s never a dull moment in the family genes, spraying it left, right and not centre. Although behind trees in deep rough twice accounted for birdies, natural! Dean, so often the nearly man, racked up an impressive accumulation of points, with a steady eye and wizard like putting. Baker and Dean tied handsomely at the turn. A close umbrella incident nearly derailed the Potter push, closing cutely and nearly drawing blood. A wobble after the turn let in Baker until disaster happened...Rob hit a fairway on 14, and hit the rocks. Although cream always rises: an outrageous birdie up the last. Dean regrouped and with a fine up and down on the last completed an excellent 18 holes.

Hoenigmann arrived in the nick of time with a horde of disgruntled regulars gathering on the tee (still in Stoke at 3.45!) and joined Ladd, Jenkinson, Dennis. Jenkinson was the first to show but struck up some military precision when there was no real room to. Ladd took up the reigns despite some swishing in the long stuff. Jenkinson’s mental set was not helped by a generous ‘gimme’ to Ladd by Hoenigmann. Jenks was incensed after Ladd declared a tongue in cheek ‘4’. ‘You can’t, you didn’t, you had 3 in the rough. The bait was set, the line tightened and Ladd got his man. Ladd by 4. Dennis picked up the pace scoring on all bar one as Hoenigmann finished creditably with the same ball. Despite being the tallest man on tour, Ladd recorded a marvellous feat, ‘a below the head par’: The ball not once going above 12”6… With this Ladd saw himself comfortably home.

The 19th proved too much for Jenkinson as he had the average age of the Vietnam Soldiers on his mind during the just short of 20 mile trip back home, proving Baker with more ammo than necessary. After last years wash out, finishing in glorious sunshine was certainly a highlight.

The sun certainly shone on Jim ‘The Preston Potter’ Dean (37) scooping his maiden tour victory, Baker (34) and Ladd (33) making it a squeeze on the podium. With winnings collected Jim departed, no doubt reminiscing fondly to another Tollerton high: Being serenaded in Eindhoven (to the Dexy’s tune of Come On Eileen) Oh, come on Jim Dean, Oh come on Jim Dean, come onnn Jim Dean!