Tollerton Golf Society: View From the 19th

As seen and reported by resident Bookmaker: Chris 'Bangles' Hepburn...

As it enters its 4th renewal, the TGS Tour continues to grow in stature, with 23 entries at this stage, the list of featured courses growing once again, and even a fabulous website dedicated to the tour, which should provoke plenty of comment and banter over the coming months, as well as detailing all the facts 'n' figures.

The 3 previous winners are among the field of 23 declared runners at this stage, and all 3 of them have strong claims to double their tally of titles, but with the standard rising all the time, and the handicaps becoming compressed as a result of 3 years results and statistics, picking the likely winner appears more difficult than ever this time around.

As ever, carding the minimum number of rounds, 6, is likely to prove problematic for some of the field, and even at this early stage, word is that both McLoughlin & Buttress are unlikely to achieve the minimum, and their odds reflect this, irrespective of their ability on the course. Perennial traveller, Neil Tuckwell, is likely to figure at some point over the season but the probability of remaining in the country throughout the Summer must be classed as 'uncertain' at best. Of those to whom the label “doubtful” is currently applied, the “Good Doctor” Jay Brown may have most to lose by failing to card the 6. He made a mockery of the North Shore Challenge last autumn, when winning by a record margin, and his talent on the course is there for all to see. However, it would take a monumental effort to score sufficient points off an opening handicap mark of just 5. Ex-Pro Neil Thacker is another who’s completing the 6 is in some doubt, and even if he does, he’ll need to be right on his game to stockpile enough points, playing off just 3. Should he do so, one looks forward to watching Bob Horsy handing out his home made scented candles to the rest of the field at Cotgrave in October!!

The latest “ratings”, show Messrs Thacker & Brown achieving the same figure as Tour stalwart Chris Ladd. He could easily have won in 2006 – and possibly would have, were it not for his nightmare 12 at Bondhay – and enjoyed a more consistent campaign last summer. Always prone to throw in the odd shocker, but generally solid, and he rates a fair bet at odds of 7/1, providing the rounds can be accumulated after relocating to Swindon during the week. Similar comments apply to Paul Frame, who is another one capable of very high scores on his day. Consistency is definitely not his game though – managed to fire both a 16 and a 42 last season – and he’ll be hoping to get off to a good start at Beedles, having enjoyed his previous outing there.

Tour Secretary, webmaster, chief scribe (and reigning Champion Golfer!) Simon Tuckwell enters the fray on the back of a “health scare” – would be favourite if it were a stroke play format?!? – but appeared to be on good terms with himself when seen out recently, and a tally of numerous San Miguel and a couple of bottles of red suggest that he’s firing on all cylinders once more. Has no easy task in hanging on to his crown however (hahaha) off such a miserly handicap mark, but still dangerous to rule him out.

The Preston Potter – aka Jim Dean – has yet to really make his presence felt in the fin

al reckoning, but does possesss pedigree: having 2 Tour wins to his name, and a regular on the Old Peculiar circuit. Has a nice steady g

ame in his locker, and, provided he makes the minimum 6, he could easily reward each way support – at least. As has been well documented in recent press articles, to say Bob Horsburgh comes into the 2008 Tour in bullish mood would be something of an understatement… “my handicap’s all wrong… off 25, I’ll piss it easily… by halfway” – just one of his better quips. If his game lives up to its of course billing, then the title would be a formality, but others – and the formbook! – may beg to differ.

Son and heir, 2006 winner Jay Horsburgh, had a disappointing time last season, but is undoubtedly now well handicapped as a result. If he can once again discover the stready, metronomic… zzzzz golf of 2006, he could easi

ly take a hand and stake a claim for title #2, and will no doubt have his supporters. At a similar sort of price, Tim Meadows has been busy on the “all weather” circuit during the winter, and has won a couple of minor events at Stanton during this time. By all accounts he’s been striking the ball well and long, and is expected to mount a sustained challenge this time around.

There appear to be a couple of runners, towards the foot of the handicap, whom one could safely strike a line through even before the 1st ball is hit. Among them are Matt Hall – has shown steady improvement, and possess

es a solid looking swing despite being a relative newcomer, but still a lot to find on the book – and has a mid summer wedding to distract him, Warren Dessaur, who’s has shown flashes of ability to compliment his natty attire and comic genius may find the quota difficult to fill with current back problems, and Chris Hepburn,

who despite challenging for honours in 2005, has seen his game disappear ompletely, and it will be a massive surprise to see any of this trio figuring on any leaderboards. If you’re looking for a speculative wager at a big price, then Mike Hoenigmann may have most to offer. Relatively speaking still a novice, the improvement shown over the last 2 years showed its

elf when heput the cat among the pigeons at North Shore, when firing rounds of 31 & 36, which helped him towards a commendable 3rd place. The acquisition of a new driver (club not a chauffeur – yet!) seems to have been a massive help, and he’ll be keen to gain the bragging rights over business partner Rob Baker. Certain to get the 6 r

ounds in, and a 28 handicap to exploit, he rates by far the best of the 28 brigade. Winner of the innaugral TGS 2005 championship, and North Shore individual and team champion 2006, Rob Baker, has been an infrequent starter in the following 2 years, but has no doubt been playing plenty of golf on the various other courses around the globe in the meantime. Apparently will miss the curtain raiser for an alternative engagement north of the border, but, provided they let him back into England, he could well be in the shake up come October.

The ante po

st market has 2 runners priced at 10/1 – Mark Hefter & Tim Jenkinson, both of whom will fancy their chances of getting involved at the finish. The former finished we

ll last year, and has a string of 30+ scores to his name. However, his handicap mark has fallen as a result, and, as possibly the worst putter on the tour, he’ll need to sort out this element of his game if he’s going to be a player (had bought a new short stick apparently). Jenko, meanwhile, is something of a dark horse, having made few appearances on the tour. The possessor of a lovely slow golf swing, he could well shoot some big scores, but will have to find some consistency, and try not to choke if he ever finds himself in contention. Balancing the schedule may be difficult with Jenko Jnr imminent. The one confirmed newcomer to the tour this year (so far) is Al Rotton, who’s face will be familiar to many, and he definitely has a squeak off his opening mark of 22. Those who have played with him in the past have seen what he’s capable of, and 16/1 could look a very big price indeed if he opens up with a couple of high 30’s. Paul Radford, another relatively unknown quantity and new to the game, played the tail end of the 2007 season. A powerful looking player with a neat touch on the green. At 25's, looks to be well priced and likely to play all rounds.

Barry Baker has demonstrated a very solid game whenever he’s teed it up, and it will be interesting to see how he fairs in relation to Baker Jr this year. Off an opening mark of 24, he could definitely make hay in the early stages, and if he’s able to appear in the majority of rounds, I would expect to see him towards the head of the leaderboard. Market leader, Richard Daft can count himself most unlucky not to have his name on the trophy already, having been a model of consistency whenever he’s played. Undoubtedly one of the best players on the tour, and able to start off a handicap mark some 3 shots higher than he scored 34+ of previously, he rates a worthy favourite.

Clearly, therefore, there are many live contenders for this year Championship, but preference is for Andrew Tuckwell (nap) to make his class, and potentially massive scoring tell this time around. The selection struggled a little off marks of 9-11 last season, but as a result, begins this campaign of a 12 handicap. No stranger to the winners circle, with 4 tour wins already to his name, and having shot some massive scores in the past – 41 off 7 at Cotgrave in ’06! and North Shore 2006 winning captain (pictured below, centre)– he looks the proverbial “handicap snip” and it will be very disappointing if he isn’t able to mount a serious challenge.