Meadows Makes Hay

Back with a bang after a lengthy weather enforced absence. A fulsome fifteen on a glorious summer’s afternoon attempted to tame the might that is Horsley Lodge. Following a scratch competition, tricky pin placements was all that was needed on slick undulating greens. Posting a score on the front 9 a must, with a tough back 9 to follow and plenty of water.

Buttress, Daft and Frame were on pole and it was Frame who was first to (mis) fire but was thankful for a false start, reprieve and chance to regain composure. Mulligan’s all round was the word from the players lounge. A nett eagle up the opener for Buttress set optimism on high, followed by a similar result for Frame on 2. Daft remained steady as Buttress recovered exceptionally from some erratic drives. A solid opening 9 saw the group split by 2 and a platform for greater things. However, fatigue was cited in the back 9’s low accumulation: new fatherhood, wedding expectations and house moves all weighing heavily. With no one keen to impose themselves it was a shoot out down the last for the honours. Unfortunate for Buttress, his ball shot out of town and it was left to Daft to sneak home with the trio separated by a point.

Chubb, Hoenigmann, Allen and Meadows, thought buggies would be the order of the day, the latter expecting GPS as promised but was left disappointed. Hoenigmann thankfully found the brake before careering into the tee and registering a strike with the cluster of bags. All or nothing for Meadows as the opener sailed off into next week never to be found again, but back to back birdies signaled intent. Chubb, on his season debut, dished up a mixed bag of 3’s and 1’s as did debutant Allen. Hoennigmann, the man of the moment, produced his best 9 holes to date, 7 points in the opening 2 holes, inspired, and a 2 shot half way lead. Meadows appeared to be stuck in first around the turn but opened up the throttle with his second back to back birdies of the day and 10 points in 3 holes. Allen and Chubb both consolidated with some solid golf as Hoenigmann hit the wall, quite literally on 13, as the ball ricocheted back towards the whites of his eyes, a last minute emergency manoevre saw him unscathed but 60 yards further away from the hole. It was left to Meadows to play out his round for the honours, 2 blobs and two 3 pointers up the stretch summed up the day!

Horsburgh Jnr, Hall, Ladd and A.T were the penultimate group. Rumours that the glass was half full and not empty for Ladd, looking to round off a the weekend in style, a Watford win and a glorious ’69’ on the previous day, apparently the best Baker Snr had ever seen… Come on, cricket, honestly. A.T peaked early on the first from there after driving proved as difficult as the route to Horsley. Self appointed USPGA tour official Horsburgh was in the thick of action on 2 as a Ladd approach scooted dangerously across the green to the water only being kept dry by a brittle branch, a drop was refused and suggestions that Horsburgh should bugger off to Southern Hills fell on deaf ears! A.T’s seemed to be favouring the reload as Horsburgh remained rock steady. Hall appeared to be battling inner demons, with the seed of the TGS low planted firmly in the back of the mind. Horsburgh a comfortable 5 clear at the turn. Hall had a purple patch round amen corner with a couple of 3 pointers to reduce levels to ‘simmer’. Ladd finally gained momentum scoring all the way in from 11, but it was Horsburgh, all aboard the showboat, draining nonchalantly across the 13th, pin still left in, crowd watching. The best was left to Hally, after a tumultuous ‘bag whack’ that echoed across the valley, 2 points were required to avoid the unheralded. Somehow on the par 3 16th Hall avoided the waiting water by perching perilously on a bridge over troubled waters, the only option was a reverse back handed swat that wiggled and found its way, through the windmill, over the viaduct and in and out the clowns mouth impressively on to the short stuff, 2 putts secured a very important 2 points. Hall was last seen chuntering that he knew he should have taken up the game left handed! Horsburgh remained rock solid to post the only card with a score on every hole.

Tuckwell Jnr, Baker Snr, Dennis and Hefter were drawn last. Dennis was taken to one side and asked to be seated whilst the full effect of his previous exceptional rounds would be revealed. A cull form 21 – 14, clearly affected pistol, with a ‘wormburner’ off the first, but finished with a chip in for 3 points, 2 birdies in the next 3 holes and 11 points after 4 looked ominous. The handicap committee wondering how they could wriggle out of this one, with another big Dennis pay day on the horizon. Baker Snr did his bit for the cause marking Dennis off a handicap off 4! 7 points after 9 was a little harsh. Baker Snr as usual struck irons off the tee with usual power, precision and accuracy as Tuckwell Jnr stuck to his game plan of 15 good holes and three complete shockers. Hefter lit the fuse on 7: chipping through the green and down a precipice, an unfathomable shot lay ahead: With the ball thinned as just shot from a cannon, the first syllables off some profanity were short lived as the ball careered full ball into the pin and dropped straight into the cup, among roars of laughter. Tuckwell found water for the second time, on 8, as form player Baker Snr squeezed in a delightful up and down on 9 in front of the gallery for a monster 20 points and 2 point lead. Hefter kept things steady until a belting tee shot on 13 just found water. Dennis couldn’t quite build on the early momentum with the ball being dispatched to all parts. Baker Snr regained parity in the middle of the 9 after taking a sabbatical. With it all in the balance up the last, Meadows could be seen prowling the terraces, keen on news from the approaching 4! Tuckwell limped home by one from Baker Snr with Dennis a further point back.

After a two month absence, it was Meadows (33) who scooped his maiden tour victory with some aggressive play, followed by Horsburgh Jnr (32) and Tuckwell Jnr (32). A beautiful course with undulating greens saw ‘65 blobs’ in total and no less than 5 from the champ! A definite for 2008.