Frame by 1, in the Season Opener

An all round bonus for the 2011 season opener, at Radcliffe. No rain, no-one on the course and a £20 twilight green fee. Tuckwell was met by the usual handicap inquisition from Frame, Horsburgh and Daft who all proclaimed unfair treatment, but were dismissed.

Tuckwell, Frame and Daft opened proceedings. Frame quickly reminding his playing partners of what to expect with a roller coaster of 3s and 0 pointers.

Tuckwell was scrappy, to be polite, thankful to be hitting the ball straight rather than at right angles. A couple of 3 pointers the highlight, a handful of 3 putts fuelled some frustration.

Daft was rock solid with an exhibition of fine tee shots and top draw approaches. 17 points at the turn establishing a 2 point lead over Frame.

Frame rather impressively hit 8 shots on the 10th but somehow finished with 3 points after finding his original tee shot and hitting a miracle approach. Tuckwell followed suit on 17, 2 blazing shanks off the tee appeared to be a lost cause but the initial shot had ricocheted onto the fairway, and an unlikely up and down was secured.

Daft rode his luck towards the climax of the round – a variety of errant drives were deflected back onto the fairway and a few worm burners were converted. The touch finally deserted on the penultimate holes, or maybe handicap protection, as a plus 36 pointer was downgraded to a solid 34.

Frame hit the afterburners, calling and delivering a fine repertoire of shots. The highlight summoning a raking draw to finish pin high beside the 18th green. 4 nett birdies and a nett eagle left Frame with a superb 22 point back 9 and the group spoils.

Jenkinson and Pike arrived straight from the office as Hall eased out of the car / mini-jet to join Horsburgh.

Horsburgh performed at his metronomic best for a blemish free opening 9 as Pike and Jenkinson tested their creative talents whilst finding some choice positions. 13 points in 4 holes left Hall dreaming of big things - 2 points on the other 5 deflating the bubble. Horsburgh by 1.

A nett birdie on 10 was as good as it got for Hall – although, there was plenty of positives to suggest big things for 2011. Pike couldn’t get his powerful guns to fire and was left to dream of what could have been.

Jenkinson provided the stellar golf on the way in. Some calypso shots and unerring accuracy resulting in 21 very points – as always Jenko was left reflecting what could have been .

Horsburgh, with his new found distance off the tee, was able to capitalise with his quality short game. A solitary point up the last ensuring that further alterations to the handicap were not applied!

So, the 3 handicap grumblers filled the top 3 positions to suggest that the axe had been wielded fairly. It would wield once more for Frame (36) who was to be victorious ahead of Horsburgh (35) and Daft (34). Jenkinson finishing strongly for a fine 33 points.

Double Delight for Daft

The nearly man of the TGS Circuit finally got his hands on not one, but both of the seasons trophies.

Horsburgh and Tuckwell threatened to thwart Daft once again at the climax of the 2010 tour ,at Cotgrave Masters. With Daft's 6 point lead cut to one coming up the 18th, the champion elect fired the most important iron shot of his TGS career into the heart of the green, to finish with a 3 shot advantage.

More was to come as Daft then pipped Horsburgh in a high scoring season finale that saw him take the Annual Away Day Champion trophy, at Stanton-on-the Wolds.

6 years without a trophy then 2 come at once!

The Destiny of 2010

With 2 Rounds to play, the destiny of the TGS 2010 Claret Mug has been blown wide open.

With 4 scores to count, rounds on the board could be crucial.

J. Horsburgh - 139 points
Rounds of 43 - 33 - 32 - 31. No stranger to the final day shake up and a definite rider for the final 2 fixtures. With the weakest score fairly solid there may be little chance to make huge advances on his current points score especially off his new mark of 13.

R. Daft - 133 points
Rounds of 42 - 37 - 27 - 27. Another usually in the final 4 but yet to land the covetted Claret Mug. Now in the handicappers grasp off a mark of 8, but a definite in the final 2 rounds should see his lowest scores surpassed.

S. Tuckwell - 126 points
Rounds of 35 - 34- 30 - 27. Always there or thereabouts, due to playing in every round! but unable to post the big score due to the low handicappers mark. Confident of beating the 27 and 30 point mark but unlikely to do so by 13 to equally Horsey's current lead.

A. Pike - 119 points
Rounds of: 38 - 30 - 26 - 25. The 'ironman' cannot be written off, with the capability to score big and has done previously at both Horsley and Cotgrave. Plenty of shots to play with and 2010 Tour winner at Cotgrave already.

Waiting in the Wings...

M. Hoenigmann - 104 points (3 rounds)
Rounds of 35 - 35 - 34. In poll position before Sunday, but with only a final appearance at the climax at Cotgrave a score will be needed. A man who thrives on pressure and a definite most improved, this is well with within the grasp although there is no room for error.

Something a little bit special required, with attendance not guaranteed...

J. Brown - 95 points - 3 rounds of 38 - 30 - 27

A. Rotton - 92 points - 3 rounds of 32 - 31 - 29

N. Thacker 89 points - 3 rounds of 34 - 28 - 27

R. Chubb - 88 points - 3 rounds of 35 - 28 - 25

M. Hefter - 88 points - 3 rounds of 32 - 30 - 26

S. Harris - 88 points - 3 rounds of 32 - 29 - 27

Jay Makes it a 3 Horse Race

A first time visit to the surrounds of Oakmere Park saw a fivesome take full advantage of the low attendance, to post some large scores.

Tuckers and Meds hit the range an hour early keen to make sure the advantage was not lost and was joined by Daft. Horsey couldn't afford such liberties having hot-footed it from Chatsworth with caravan in tow before de-connecting and arriving straight on the tee.

Meds, Pike and Daft opened up with Meds straight into birdie-birdie-nett birdie form, despite being hit by Horsey's approach (2nd shot) to the first - and a par 5 nonetheless! Pike found no such fortune with difficulty on the baize attributing to a slow start.

Daft, determined not miss out, opened with 2 birdies in his first 4 holes to be sitting pretty. A high standard of consolidation meant a superb level par front 9 despite 2 balls lost - albeit from firing off the wrong tee and be reprimanded by a group of lady members - and 23 points.

Meadows kept in the hunt with a very respectable 20 points, whilst a final flurry left Pike 4 further back.

A further birdie nett eagle for Daft on 11 was backed up with 2 more nett birdies over the next 3 holes. 38 points after 16 led the decision to blow it and only be reduced 1 shot or go big and be cut 2. 3 points over the final 2 left Dafty on a very ominous 42 points yet single figures! Gross 77, 4 over par - you can't complain!

Meds opened with 6 points in the opening 2 holes after the turn and finished strongly after a mid 9 wobble for a handicap reducing 37 points. Pike started strongly, nearly getting back to level 2's, before finishing safely with a very respectable 30 points.

A 2 ball for Tuckers and Horsey was very relaxed, Horsey with his first outing since Cleeve Hill, in July, nearly opened with eagle after Meds' size 10's stopped an arrowed approach to the 1st. Birdie it was. It was nearly back to back as the birdie putt on 2 finished inches short. Further 3 points on 3 and 6 meant 17 points had already been accumulated. A couple of severe hills curtailed the scoring slightly but 21 points was very impressive. Tuckers started slopily, with 4 points after 3, mainly thanks to a lost ball, but parred in to finish 3 behind Horsey.

Tuckers once again paid the price with another errant drive and lost another ball on 11, but immediately responded firing into 2 feet, on 13, for a tap in birdie. A further birdie followed on 17, before a birdie effort on 18 narrowly missed, but with every cloud - 35 points and just below the radar!

Usually given some stick for his metronomic tap and run play, Horsey was finding some excellent distance, inspired by his recent gambling exploits, finding himself relishing the par 5s. Having negotiated 4 safely, 1 under par gross, there was one final one to navigate up 18. 3 immaculate shots, left himself 3 foot from the pin and smiles all round, until it was relayed that he had to sink that for the win. But with ball of steel he duly obliged to finish with a gross 81, 2 under for the par 5s - and a monstrous 43 points. This was all amongst the turmoil of finding his best white Pringle Knitwear in the bottom of the bag with the remnents of a 4 year old banana spread all over it.

Game on for the Final 2 Rounds

Horsley Lodge - 26th September - 1.30 tee off

Cotgrave Masters - 17th October - 1.00 tee off

Hot off the Press

Chubb confesses...

'Also played at Breadsall Priory heathland course saturday- near death experience on the buggy- nearly rolled it over Avis Brown (Doc's mum) and Ants Mrs (Docs bro's fiance), after losing control in the wet. Rotton dived clear from the buggy as it careered widly down the slope. Span it about 3 times. Calamity Chubb strikes again!'

Chubb 1/6/10

Hepburn's Latest Accessory...

Costa Del Cotgrave

While Framey, Dafty and 15 other hardy Keyworth members headed to Ibiza Town for the formers stag (it's all very quiet boys, you've been back a week, there must have been some incidents...) Tuckers, Vinny and Duffin hit Cotgrave Masters in 80 degree Mediterannean heat.

Plenty of cream was applied, Tuckers - factor 25, Duffin - 15, Vin - moisturiser (an oversight) to avoid the magma sun, having already been burnt by the green fee.

The generous, stroke 6, 437 yard par 5 (bemuses me every time) yielded bumper points with Tuckers holing out for eagle (5pts) Vin - par (4pts) and Duffin - par (3pts)

Then, to truly add to the continental flavour, the drinks cart appeared. A round of cokes were about to be shouted before ice cold lagers were spied and consumed whilst walking down the fairway - nice.

Vin kept applying the pressure, and not the lotion, in a fine 22 point opening 9, with brother Tucker 3 points behind and Duffin 3 further adrift.

A half way beer restocking was just the tonic in the early afternoon heat, swaggering through the car park in shorts - great

2 points in 4 holes cost Duffin but 13 in the final 5 gave hope for the next days visit to Lingdale (if a Saturday night wipeout could be avoided) Tuckers limped home with 1 point in the last 3. The highlight confidently telling his playing partners that the island 16th was all about 'touch and feel' and to 'watch and learn' before chunking it abysmally 20 foot into the water! - nice.

Vin had ammased 39 points with the final two holes to negotiate and two shots on both. Having found water off the tee, the recovery play was excellent, unfortunately a rare (4) putting blip prevented further addition to the score. 3 points up the last meant a career best 42 points. The red face wasn't through embarassment...