Potter Pouches The Pot

A first time visit to Ruddington after a 7 week absence. A local venue due to the holiday season being in full swing and inadvertently the final day of the Ashes, similar to the Morley Hayes visit back in the victorious 2005 series.

An early morning promise of low scores, due to fine weather, was reassessed with a stiffening afternoon breeze but Dean softened the blow, pulling some home course favours from the pro-shop, negotiating a £5 discount from the nice but assistant.

A.T, Doc Brown, and 2009 favourite, Daft opened up. Concerns regarding the latter who hadn’t had a midweek sighter and was one of the last to arrive having appeared to have caught the remnants of some swine flu - no doubt spread by Chester room mate, Chubb.

A.T could not have envisaged what was about to unfold after 5 points in the opening 2 holes and looking well set. This was matched by the ever steady Daft, wheezing into a handkerchief. The Doc was on hand with a consistent start of his own.

The 6th proved troublesome apparently rumours of a naked lady saw all balls hoiked treewards left. A.T proving to be the most experienced in these situations - recovered for par. So there’s 8 points in 3 holes Dad…

Daft sent a wormburner to within 6 foot of the par 3, bowl, 8th but the putt squeezed past. Brown faired worse, with one eye on Daft’s condition, circumnavigating the hole on 4 occasions to send his blood pressure to astronomical proportions, and steam rising on the short walk to the 9th tee. Fully armed with driver and a vat of testosterone, ball 1 was dispatched to Clifton with ball 2 Wymeswold. Daft faired little better as A.T used all of his guile for a text book par. 10 points in 4 holes… Daft by 2.

Pars all round up the generous 10th before A.T. lost it with after a wide tee shot on 11, a combination of 3 puts, ditches, reloads, ditches and roads changed A.T’s perception of the game: rearrange ‘camper-a-not-happy’

Brown refocused with an exquisite stretch of one over through the back 6, and 2 over in total, 3 '3 pointers' and a 2 over, gross 38, a very welcoming finish for another plus 30 score.

Daft seemed to be coping well before the Benadryl began to wear off, four consecutive one point scrambles mid way through was nothing compared to the 18th – where a pitch to the green was over juiced - flew out of bounds - hit a wall - and ricocheted back pin high on the green - 2 putts -par - thank you very much!

Homer Dean, fresh from the plane, Jenkinson, and Tuckwell Jnr were second up. Dean, finding the fairway, set the way, unfortunately Tuckwell went with the reload and Jenkinson a double -no guesses for who scored the only 2 points. Tuckwell responded with a nett birdie on 2, before boarding the bogey train with a ropey short game, only saved by some decent holing out. Pars on the final 2 holes at least gave hope for the back 9.

A birdie, nett eagle, on the long par 3 third boosted Dean before some uncharacteristic shots curtailed the scoring and 1 point in three holes. However there was good bounce-back-ability with 8 points in the final 3 holes of the 9.

Jenkinson was striking the ball well but couldn’t find his radar off the tee, nett birdies on 7 and 8 helped the scoring before another high wide and left finished the 9 as it started. Dean by 3

Tuckwell was right in the swing and transferred to the par express, racking up some good points in the process, before derailing on platform 14 and edging home in no way what so ever missing 30 points and looking for a shot back with one more sub 30 round…

Jenkinson was battling some inner demons off the tee, especially on the par 3’s, trying to out do himself each time on how far left he could hit it. Some good recovery play and putting ensured a more satisfying finish.

The scene was set for Dean who kept his foot on the throttle, one blemish on 14 after taking an iron for safety - if you’re going to mess it up you might as well do it with a driver. But not for the first time Potter was wizard on the greens – anything inside 10 foot a cert. 4 nett birdies on the way home posting the club house score.

After the customary 18 holes in the morning, Meadows was armed with trusty caddy Liz, and partnered with Hoenigmann and Horsburgh Jnr. Dorman just made up the quintet arriving in the nick of time but affected the first few holes due to a lack of a warm up. Rhythm returned as the 9 progressed with both par 3’s expertly navigated the 8th for 3 points.

Hoenigmann carried on with his Bondhay momentum - the pick of the holes a net birdie on the tough pond laden 4th. Meadows decided do save the ink in his pen by only scoring on 5 of the opening 9 holes although the birdie nett eagle on stroke 1 was sure to be satisfying.

Fresh from chortling at Tuckwell’s and Jenkinson’s wayward efforts, Horsey hit the ground running with ambitions of reeling in Daft – 4 nett birdies in the opening 5 holes and 14 wholesome points. A steady finish saw 20 points racked up at the turn and a 5 shot lead.

Meadows turned up the pressure gauge and flexed his guns to rip into the back 9 – 1 over through 6 – a bounce in the step and sway in the swagger. A lost ball on 16 and ditch drive on 16 may have caused the end for many but a penalty drop - and up and down – for par nett birdie – proof that if you’ve got it, you’ve got it.

Liz noted that the colour of the language was increasing as the back 9 progress with the air turning stronger shades of blue as Horsburgh, mainly, began to unravel, politely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZaqXSzF-ic

Hoenigmann had his customary purple patch – 13 points through 5 holes to 17 finishing with another excellent round. More joy on Par 3’s for Dorman – par and bogey – totalling 2 over for the four of them and job well done.

The Sky Sports ‘player cam’ fixed on Horsburgh with scenes reminiscent of Happy Gilmore’s debut tournament. 26 points through 13 holes still represented a good tally before double dyke trouble and the Meadows surge began to cause problems – still all good entertainment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCQumUTzxVc

A dry and enjoyable – for most - round saw all 10 unscathed - apart from those wearing shorts and were bitten to shreds - adjourn to the 19th for some refreshments and to put the pounds in the pot. The Preston Potter, Mr Jim Dean (34) secured his 3rd win in 15 starts with a 2 point victory as Daft (32) consolidated. Brown (31 B9:20) ousted Hoenigmann (31 B9:16) and Horsburgh (31 B9:11) on countback.

Just one more!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyPe662Vf3c&feature=related