Walmer & Kingsdown - Wed 18th Oct 2023

Report

Just one name stands out today, Babet... Four 4-balls bravely faced the on-rushing Storm Babet with a steely look of determination. Those drawn in the first group couldn't hide the smiles on their faces knowing that even if they got wet, there would be 12 others who'd get wetter. But still, they set a good pace & got around within 4 hours, which is pretty impressive for Society golf, amidst Storm Babet, on the cliff tops of Walmer & Kingsdown.

The Front 9 was just about complete before the ever increasing rain began... being blown on by Storm Babet's howling winds... In the 1st group, Andy Miller, fresh from his hole-in-one at Upchurch, bravely had his brolley up on his bag... but the sloping fairway & the increasing wind conspired to crash his trolley down to the ground, on the majestic 13th, disrupting Andy's pre-shot routine as he crawled around on the floor picking up clubs, and tees and balls that had been thrown from his bag. Regardless, Andy kept his composure, put everything back in place & began his pre-shot routine again, only for the sloping fairway & the wind to conspire again to send his trolley & bag crashing to the floor. This time however, a hand full of balls tried to make an escape & Andy was off sprinting down the sloping fairway to gather them all up again. Incredible, Andy managed to keep his composure, catch his breath, as well as those balls & came in with a great 36 points. Impressive in this weather & yet it only got him 3rd place.

It was in Group 2 where the big points were scored. Three of this year's 'Player of the Year' contenders were slugging it out. Jon Hunnisett with a credible 30pts (for only 11th place... Great golf today with 11 out of 16 getting 30pts or more). Nigel Stevenson scored 35pts which only got him 3rd in this group, 4th overall but up to joint top in the Player of the Year standings... but I did hear that he too had engaged in umbrella chasing activities... Group 2's top two were the top two scores overall as well, this earned Group 2 a cool prize of £4 each in our team competition today. Ever steady Carl Bolton, who has done a great job in booking a good looking 2024 season for us, scored a whopping 38pts, which puts him joint top with Nigel in the Player of the Year standings... but only 2nd today as Anthony Gardiner, the renaissance man, came in with 39pts including a blob on the 18th. Well played Anthony, that handicap is coming back down & we'll enjoy taking an extra shot off next time as well.

The final two groups, also known as, the wet ones... were equally impressive, if not more so, in the way that they faced Storm Babet with a steely eyed determination. Gerry, Terry, Bob & Ricky (Who sound like they could be a 70's punk-rock band) all came in with 33pts & John Knight went one better with 34pts - well played!

Most Golf went to Laurence, I'm not sure how as he'd scored 13pts off the first four holes... but because no-one won the Nearest-the-Pin on the 17th, we gave Laurence a sleeve of balls to cheer him up as he had the longest drive home out of everyone...

Nearest the Pin prizes went to Bob on the 4th, the Rhodfather on the 11th & Bouncy-Castle Dave on the 14th.

We return to the impressive Kings Hill course on November 15th before setting up a great finals day on 14th December.