Experience over Youth

Each year at the start of the season we host a match between a North Northumberland League team and the County Juniors (who included two of our members, Johnny Moffet and Chris Forrest). It’s a privilege to do this and hopefully the teams enjoy the challenge and playing the course. It’s the first time we use the white tees each year and the first time there’s a formal event: I felt under-dressed when I saw the number of suits, ties and badges* filling the bar. My job was to welcome the teams at the formal meal and to make sure the club behaved itself: accordingly I changed into jacket and tie+. And suitably, the sun came out and the course looked good.

Youth had triumphed over experience over the previous five years but despite a good start the situation reversed itself this year with the League winning 4-2 – a fitting result to salute the last match under Malcolm Lynch’s chairmanship as he steps down in April: ever- genial Tommy Cowie from Seahouses is likely to take over and was also present.

The golf was impressive – perhaps more importantly so was the collegiality of the two teams, especially the juniors who were well turned out, practiced together and waited to support their teammates when they had finished their game. I wish them luck in their season. My only worry was the time the whole event took; most players were at the club for almost 8 hours. Perhaps that’s inevitable but it’s a big commitment which – as many clubs find with friendly matches – can put people off. + But which tie? Decisions like this make or break a captaincy. The Captain’s tie? Too pretentious with so many officials about. The club tie? Too formal. I went with the old club tie; I think it worked.

* (Apparently Bamburgh has a captain’s badge somewhere but it went missing a year or so ago: a bit like Austin Powers' missing mojo, it’s disappearance could explain why captains’ golf is never quite as good as it should be.)

The end of a dream

It's hard to think of a better matchplay team than Trevor Thompson, Michael Thompson, Phil Holmes and Mark Dawson - even with me included. Experienced, match fit (all in the top 7 in the the week before's competition) and even (apart from Phil) on time.

Apart from the Alnwick team.

Their captain had chosen the leaders of the winter league and had not selected himself: a wise choice I should also have made.

We had the third round of the Mail on Sunday competition on Saturday, away against Alnwick. I was starting to get excited about reaching the finals which are held overseas - Phil had said he had alrrady bought his shorts and sunglasses - but sadly Alnwick won 3-2 despite the best efforts of Michael and Phil who won their matches. Trevor's and Mark's results are, like my golf, probably best forgotten (Mark said he felt abused).

I hadn't played Alnwick before: it's a club which had got into financial difficulties and has been rescued by a new owner who has recruited new greenstaff and is investing a lot of money into it. It will take time for this to take effect but their team was understandably very bullish about the future and the layout has great potential. The course had some features which fitted my game: the opening downhill par 4 teasing a big drive - mine flew at least a foot into the air, diagonally, landing just in front of the ladies tee. The 8th is open on the left side having only one tree in over 300 yards. The tree that my second shot landed underneath.But, as someone who must have lost something once apparently said, it's the taking part that counts. And good luck to Alnwick for the next round.

The final mixed greensome

There are 73* ways of being disqualified in golf.

Some of the world’s best golfers have been disqualified for various reasons, and we are lucky at Bamburgh that our Competitions secretary wants us to share, in fact enjoys seeing us share, these experiences of some of the world’s best golfers. And on Sunday I thought we had the opportunity to repay the compliment by disqualifying Keith Whitfield – and the others in his team, Tessa and Susie McKeag. But Nicky’s compassion shone through and instead they came first. It was the last of the winter mixed greensomes. I arrived at the club from Edinburgh, having been at a wedding the previous evening, having driven through heavy rain. I expected to see no-one else there but there were about six people all eager to play; more came later so we had six teams, one the threesome. The weather got better but remained cold and we only played 15 holes ; and the last group turned round after 8 to play 13. But they got 31 points to second placed Malcolm Cresswell and Fiona Southern’s 29. They didn’t play the full round.... but they did play and they played well. DQ or not? You decide.

The consensus was that the events had been worth doing offering as they did something a bit different. Of the four we played, two had been won by married couples, two by a threesome: a message for handicapping next year. There was also a thought that we should run similar greensomes on Friday evenings in Summer. We’ll investigate.

* Actually, like 47.6% of all statistics, I made that up: I’ve no idea how many ways there are. But there are a lot of them.

Real Winter Golf

I was on a ski lift and saw this:

Even if global warming continues to give us more snow in winter we'll be able to cope.