With Tuckwell unaware of how many would be turning it up, it was a pleasure to see a dedicated thirteen congregate in the clubhouse. Meadows notable in his absence and A.T notable by his presence but perhaps wishing he wasn’t with his game at rock bottom. Chubb and Daft set the tone, tea for 2, with Autumn well on its way.
Welcome Back
Big 4, Chubb, hopefully becoming a full time Nottingham resident very shortly had the opening honours and duly carved one at 45ยบ. No such problems for Horsurgh Snr and Marriot dissecting the fairway. 2 points all round thanks to Chubb’s powers of recovery.
Problems arose on the 3rd as the trio nonchantly teed off into the distance. Group 2 noticed the error and tried in earnest to reel them back, as hole 6 was being played rather than hole 3
Although in fairness there weren’t clear indicators…
Hole 3: 413 yard par 4
Hole 6: 531 yard par 5
Non-existent course information…
Has anyone seen the tee markers?
Finally back on track and now group 2! It was the former ‘rat catcher’ who kicked on through with a handsome 20 point 9 hole total. A good opening blast from Marriot boosted hopes of swelling his average and arriving at Cotgrave as tour leader, until a minor wobble approaching the turn, leaving Chubb with a 7 shot advantage.
Horsburgh Snr finally found some form on the back 9, still ruing the wrong turn: 4 points when played out of turn, 0 points when legitimate! Chubb was in fine position for another 36+ score with a shot down the reachable par 5 18th but decided to abstain. Still, another great finish and surely a contender next year with increased availability.
Marriot managed to accelerate after the turn and had equaled Meadows' 6 round average on 17 with an excellent nett birdie but suffered a similar to fate to Chubb with a hole too far, leaving Horsburgh the only one to finish strongly.
Not that I'm doubting your ability...
Dessaur, with Hefter expecting the worst, hit a beauty down the first and buoyed Horsburgh Jnr, who was adamant 40 points were on the agenda, until remarks about adding his last 2 scores together surfaced. Dean, injury free, made up the threesome.
Confident
A short tight course should have suited Horsey’s metronominc game and more points in 9 holes than his previous 18 backed up the claim, 3 nett birdies helping the scorecard.
It could only go one way for Dessaur after a tee shot of such magnitude, and so it was to prove but not without sparkles of intermittent brilliance and trying to distract Horsey at any given opportunity. Dean, ignoring the childish pranks as best he could, rose above it with consistency - just one no score up 3.
On to the back 9 and more of the same for Dessaur, this time swiping Horsburgh’s putter and claiming he left it on the last hole, raising the blood pressure. Clearly shaken by the shenanigans Horsey regrouped to finish strongly for his best finish for some weeks, leaving plenty of time to work out how to approach the back to back October golf weekends on the journey home.
Dean was another to fall foul of the 18th but finished with another 30+ total to add to the average. Horsburgh by 2.
Best turned out
Daft, with a whole new outfit, courtesy of a new for old insurance policy unveiled the clubs of the future - although I am not sure heeded the notice off the first…
Dilemma: Shall I ring / No phones allowed on the course... yes/no/yes/no...
Once again relentless from Hefter, three 3 pointers in the first 5 holes left him again as front 9 master for the third week running. Could he draw on his previous experiences to see it through?
Daft was struggling with the big dog and finding short and left the favoured destination, although only 1 no score on the front 9 showed good character.
Hall, still shaken by the Sheffield United scarf hanging in the proshop, couldn’t find the recent ryhtymn. Hefter by a whopping 7 shots.
It got worse for Daft, when questioned by Tuckwell on 12 as to the manner of his next shot, ‘just through the gap’ was the retort. ten, 100 year old oak trees in close proximity would have suggested that there was not much gap to aim for - Hall and Hefter rightly took evasive action – but were still nearly the target as wood was clattered.
Hall, having now added the consistency to his game through regular playing, produced the back 9 high of the day and a wonderful 21 points: a nett eagle on 15 always helpful and outright 4th in the tour standings.
It all boiled down to Hefter’s powers of belief and at the third time of asking duly delivered, but not before a minor scare. A nett eagle on 11, helped the 9 hole wizard to 31 points with 5 to play, the last time out not one further point was added. One point in the next two holes set the alarm bells ringing but 8 cigarettes back to back on the 16th tee calmed the nerves and a great finish for an excellent total. Well played.
Hoenigmann, ‘Titleist 4’ , was given the last slot, deemed needing the maximum time to repair, with last nights town outing still a hazy memory and was partnered by Radford and the Tuckwell’s. Tuckwell Jnr followed Chubb off into the wilderness and was to repeat the feat off the 2nd, for a double no score. Confidence was still high and especially so after quadrupling the score on 3. The third tree hit, resulted in the third ball lost and yet another blob but level par for the remaining 6 meant scoring was solid.
A.T powered one down the 1st as fingers were crossed and breath held as a 50 yard pitch was faced. The chance of it going at severe right angles extremely high, but with great character A.T. managed to find the front edge and keep the shanks at bay. Iron after iron past without a mere deviation, ‘tete trouble’ off the tee on 6 and 7 slowed the scoring but 9 holes were safely negotiated.
Radford was striking it brilliantly off the tee and was holing some crunch putts but was finding the rough heavy and the trees unforgiving.
Hoenigmann, unable to shake his splitting headache, revealed his powers of recovery were not as they were, but wouldn’t stop him testing them to the limit.
A.T. by 2.
A.T arrowed into to 3 foot on the par 3 10th, but the putt slipped by. Tuckwell Jnr took the 100/1 odds that he would hit the big tree on 11 and duly obliged, but for once didn’t lose the ball.
Tuckwell Jnr lost ball number 4, after carting one way right into the back of beyond on 15 but remained composed to post a steady score considering.
But it was down to one man, having recorded 5 steady scores so far and in his last TGS outing of the year, a 30+ score would see the 2 horse race become 3. Thoughts a 3+ score would have been welcome; with a golf game that had been in tatters, rumours of a 3 point back 9 in Le Touquet, late night practice sessions and extra visits to communion, ok maybe not the last, but a game in disrepair nonetheless. A 3 putt on 16 didn't rattle the seasoned campaigner and absolutely joy as the 18th green was reached with not one shank, a testing 6 footer was rammed home to conclude an excellent round and the honours by 5.
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