Etchinghill - Wed 19th Apr 2023

Report

How fast were those greens!! That was the first thing most of us said when analysing our rounds whilst enjoying our drinks out on the patio, enjoying the glorious sunshine, after our round at Etchinghill.  We started at 9am with a great Breakfast. Following a spectacular draw for our five 3-balls, and a quick warm-up, Carl, last month's champ led us off (after we watched the local Gurkha regiment playing speed golf... well, for the 1st hole at least...).

With speedy greens, and a brisk breeze, scoring was never going to be spectacular... Gerry Benson, having paid twice for today's round, started with a birdie and continued his good form for a front 9 top score of 20. This also included a dubious drive on the third hole which looped up & landed about 10m in front of the Tee box... at least it keeps you humble, Gerry! A special shout-out to Gary Hastings who was returning after a two month absence, only to retire after 9 holes, but he's assured us that he'll see us next time...

Whilst many of us faded on the Back 9, Bob, in his own inimitable way, kept plodding away and top-scored with 17 points which helped him into 3rd place with 30pts.  A special mention to Bob's playing partners, Bouncy Castle Dave & Plumber Ken (yes, they'd be very interested if you want to hire a Bouncy Castle, or have some plumbing issues...) - usually they are in with a shout for 'Most-Golf' (in-fact they are the only two winners of the unwanted prize so far this season) but not today... There was a lot of love in this group, & it inspired both Ken & Dave to season high totals of 28 for Ken & 29 for Dave (Oh how I loved hearing that Dave beat me on countback all the way home in the Bouncy-Castle van...).

So, who "won" the unwanted 'most-golf' accolade then? I hear you say...  Today, we welcomed new member, Sam Baker, a member at Westgate, playing off our lowest Handicap today of 11, & Sam immediately made many new friends by picking up 'Most Golf'. Thanks Sam, but I'm sure we'll see your golfing prowess soon...

Generous as ever, we had a 'nearest-the-pin' prize for all 5 Par3's, including the 500yard (or so it seemed with the brisk breeze in our face) 15th hole.  Unsurprisingly, no-one won the 15th... but surprisingly none of the 15 golfers got on the 9th or the 11th green... & somehow everyone managed to allow myself to win the 5th & the 17th... Prompting Bob to remind everyone who last season's King-of -the-Pin trophy winner was...

The top two golfers, Gerry & Carl, had to be separated by countback on 32pts, with Carl winning for a 2nd month in a row... The 1st time someone has won two-in-a-row since Carl achieved the same feat in May/June 2019... (It's only the 4th time it's happened since our Stats began 13 years ago... & only once has someone won three in a row!!) Now, how many will we cut Carl's Handicap by ready for next month's game at Sene Valley on Thursday 18th May? [Get it in the diary...]