Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp. Round 17 Sprowston

The final round of Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp took place at Sprowston earlier this week. With most of the prizes sown up it was just a case to see if anyone could have a stonkingly good round to capture the best round or best front and back 9 in August and September (including October 1st).

The front 9 was a bit of a disaster fest with very few pars and lots of blobs and single point holes. Kevin was in particular trouble after scoring 5 points on first two holes he only managed 6 more over the next 7 for 11 points.

One of many bunker shots Kevin played during the round.

Bob was also struggling and apart from a par on the easiest hole on the course was not scoring well and finished on 13 at half way.

Bob spent much of front 9 getting back to nature in the trees

It was a very similar story for Chris with a lot of indifferent golf to also secure 13 pts.

Chris teeing off

Ian was doing a bit better and managed to pick up 3 points on two of his 2 shot holes to get 17 pts.

Ian on way to an early 3 pointer on the par 5 2nd.

For Kevin the back 9 was an even bigger disaster. He somehow 3 putter a makable birdie on stroke index 1 and followed it up by 3 putting a makable eagle put on the short par 5 13th. Despite this he had 10 pts over the first 4 back 9 holes. Unfortunately the disappointment of the two 3 putts must have effected him badly as he blobbed the next 4 holes and managed a single point on the last for another 11 pts and 22 overall. A solid last place.

Another teeshot leading to a blob

The other 3 players had rediscovered their games and were all scoring well. Chris started to keep the ball in play and made the most of her 2 shot holes getting 3 points on each and combined with a good par 5 on the 13th enabled her to get 20 back nine points and 33 overall.

Chris attempting to get out of deep fairway bunker

Bob also started to play well keeping his 3 wood in play rather than the woods. He also used his two shot holes well scoring 7 points across them both. He got 21 pts to just pip Chris with 34 points overall.

Bob teeing off on the par 3 14th leading to a disappointing single point

Ian needed to keep his game together if he wasn't to be caught by a typical Bob charge. Again he played well if not at his best but needed to scramble a point on the last to end the back 9 with 18 pts and 35 overall giving him a 1 point victory.

After the round there was a lavish ceremony were prizes were presented.

Bob won the order of merit and eclectic competitions. Both of these favour the golfer playing the most rounds but this should not detract from his achievements (although it obviously does really). Ian won the best score (42 at Halesworth). Best front and back 9 in August and September (including 1st October) which was again 42 thanks to his Halesworth round. He also won the most coveted competition of the average stableford points per round.

Golf pig handed out the cash but, probably as he hadn't won anything, Kevin forgot to bring the trophy's which are still in his shed.

Golf pig handing out the large cash prizes at the lavish closing cermoney

Next year the whole competition structure is being re worked in order to be fairer to players playing less often, with prize money available on every round, and give Kevin more chance of winning something. Watch this space for more details.

Final standings

	Kevin	John	Bob	Chris	Sean	Ian	Matt	Prize fund
Average pts	26.93	27.40	32.06	28.56	20	33.25	29	£16.50
Most pts	36	34	37	37	20	42	30	£16.50
Eclectic	-9.5	-12.5	-15.5	-5.5	28	-11.6	5.5	£16.50
Order Merit	15	11	34	8	0	28	4	£16.50
Aug & Sept best front & back 9	40	29	39	39		42	30	One off £5 entry fee
Average blobs	3.9	4.3	3.2	3.3	6	2.5	3.5	cup
Number rounds	15	10	17	9	1	12	2

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp. Round 16 not Eaton but Barnham Broom Hill again

Tuesday saw  round 16 Round of the Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp. However due to an alleged double book the venue was switched from Eaton to the Hill Course at Barnham Broom at the last minute. It was that or join in with Ladies president day at Eaton.

Barnham Broom Hill was deserted and the small group of three didn't see another player all round.

Bob had a very solid front 9 scoring on every hole. Unfortunately there was a lot of scrambling for points so he only managed 14 on the front 9.

Bob playing out the rough on 1st hole

Ian had a very similar start to Bob and scored on 8 of 9 holes for 15 pts.

A good recovery chip, from Ian, from a wide tee shot on the 2nd but still got 2 pts

Kevin got off to the best start with 5 pars and 4 bogeys for 21 pts and a clear half time lead.

Kevin's tee shot on the par 5 5th leading to a par

Ian never managed to re capture his Halesworth form and had a frustrating back 9 scoring only 27 pts and last place.

Ian putting for par on the Par 5 12th (he missed)

Bob started to get his game together and driving well. He started the back 9 with a 4 pointer but his only two bad teeshots, on 12 and 16, both lead to blobs and he ended up with 17 back nine points and 31 overall.

Bob's teeshot to par 3 11th.

Kevin's good form ran out on the difficult 10th where he thought he was Sevy and tried to play an impossible shot from behind a tree and only managed to duff it into a hedge. This was followed by putting the ball into farmer Browns field on the 14th (followed in by Ian's ball) and these two blobed holes limited him to 14 back 9 points for 35 overall and a rare victory.

Kevin helping to look for Bob's ball on one of many ball searches he took put in over the round

Due to further fixture issues there will be two further rounds of the Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp with visits to Sprowston and Sheringham planned so the season will now end in Mid October.
Current standings

	Kevin	John	Bob	Chris	Sean	Ian	Matt	Prize fund
Average pts	27.29	27.40	31.94	28.50	20	33.09	29	£15.50
Most pts	36	34	37	37	20	42	30	£15.50
Eclectic	-9.5	-12.5	-15.5	-5.5	28	-11.6	5.5	£15.50
Order Merit	15	11	32	8	0	25	4	£15.50
Aug & Sept best front & back 9	40	29	37	35		42	30	One off £5 entry fee
Average blobs	3.7	4.3	3.4	3.6	6	2.5	3.5	cup
Number rounds	14	10	16	8	1	11	2

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp. Round 15 Halesworth

A small field gathered at Halesworth for round 15 of the Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp. Kevin had tractor issues on the way down and turned up with just enough time to get to the tee. This didn't seem to affect him as despite missing a few shortish putts he played to his handicap over the first 8 holes. Unfortunately a blob on the 9th started the rot but he still had 15 pts at half way.

Bob was meant to be taking photo of Kevins par putt on 4th (which he missed)
but instead took a photo of Ian and his finger

Ian was meant to be taken by photo of Kevins birdie putt on 6th (which he missed)
but instead he took several photos of his finger, this was the best

Ian set off like a train with 5 pars on the front 9. He ended up with 21 pts which could have been even better if it hadn't been for a couple of poor drives leading to blobs.

Ians teeshot on the 3rd leading to a another par

Bob started badly with only 6 pts over the first 5 holes but then his game came to life, the highlight a birdie on the stroke index 1 9th for 5 pts. This gave him 18 first half pts.

Bob teeshot on the first which was hooked over the tree for a scmabled point

Kevin tired badly over the back 9 and struggled to get any consistency with his driver or putter. He finished with 26 pts which had been his average all summer.

However Ian and Bob were scoring points for fun with 3 and 4 pointers flying in. With 3 holes to go Ian still had his halfway 3 point lead over Bob but Bob was confident of catching him

Bobs birdie putt on the 12th, he missed but got his par

Unfortunately Bobs confidence was short lived as a serious of fluffed chips lead to a blob on the par 3 16th to gift the match to Ian. Bob finished with 19 more pts on back 9 for 37 overall.

Ian teeing off on 13th for a 5 for 3 pts

Ian and his hot putter continued well and he sunk a long putt for a par on the 18th to finish with another 21 pts and 42 overall, for the best score this year.

There are now just two more rounds left in this years comp.
Current standings

	Kevin	John	Bob	Chris	Sean	Ian	Matt	Prize fund
Average pts	26.69	27.40	32.00	28.50	20	33.60	29	£14.75
Most pts	36	34	37	37	20	42	30	£14.75
Eclectic	-9.5	-12.5	-15.5	-5.5	28	-11.7	5.5	£14.75
Order Merit	12	11	30	8	0	24	4	£14.75
Aug & Sept best front & back 9	36	29	37	35		42	30	One off £5 entry fee
Average blobs	3.8	4.3	3.5	3.6	6	2.6	3.5	cup
Number rounds	13	10	15	8	1	10	2

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp. Round 14 Barnham Broom Valley

Thursday saw round 14 of the Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer competition at Barnham Broom Valley course. It was part of the NUGS autumn salver so two prizes were up for grabs.

A field of 4 all dutifully put their entry fee into golf pig. Kevin, Chris and Matt were in one group with Bob in the group behind.

Bob practising missing putts before his round

The round got off to a flyer for both Kevin and Chris how had 13 and 15 points respectively after the first 6 holes.

Chris holing out for 3 pts on the second

Matt had a few more issues over the first few holes to manage only 13 points on the front 9 with 3 of those on the 9th. He was spending a large amount of time bouncing his ball off the trees.

Matt smacking ball around the woods on the first hole. A pattern that contiued over most of the front 9.

Bob was also going well and played to his handicap over the first 9 holes.

Meanwhile the 7th hole proved a turning point for Chris who shanked her tee shot into the dyke and proceeded to record the first of 5 further blobs. She still finished the front 9 on 16 pts.

Kevin also had a wobble on the 7th and 8th but recovered to par the 9th for 17 pts at halfway.

Kevin's teeshot over the tree on the 5th

Unfortunately Chris's game disappeared over most of the back 9 as she got only 7 pts to finish with a disappointing total of 23 thanks to a combination of bad luck and bad shots unfortunately combining.

Chris taking relief from the path on her way to a blob on the 10th

Matt had an up and down back 9. The highlight being a birdie on the 17th but he only managed 15 pts to finish with 28 overall.

Matt hitting his 'best drive ever' over the water at the 12th.
Kevin's average drive was only just behind it.

Bob was continuing to go well while despite a birdie on the short 12th Kevin started to falter

Bob on his way to securing two points on the par 5 13th

Kevin teeing off on 17th where he hit the green before 3 putting

With too many 1 point holes Kevin only got 15 on the back 9 with 32 over all. Bob only needed a single point over the last two holes to win which he got with a 5 on the par 3 17th. He finally finished on 35 pts for an unassailable lead in the order of merit comp.

Bob playing out of the bunker on the 18th.
He needed two attempts but got up and down with the second go for 2 pts
(although I may have remembered wrong)

With just 3 rounds remaining Bob and Ian now have the prizes sewn up. The prize commitee are having a rethink for a total relaunch of the prize approach for next season. (watch this space)

Current standings

	Kevin	John	Bob	Chris	Sean	Ian	Matt	Prize fund
Average pts	26.75	27.40	31.64	28.50	20	32.67	29	£14.00
Most pts	36	34	37	37	20	39	30	£14.00
Eclectic	-9.5	-12.5	-15.5	-5.5	28	-9.8	5.5	£14.00
Order Merit	11	11	28	8	0	21	4	£14.00
Aug & Sept best front & back 9	36	29	37	35		40	30	One off £5 entry fee
Average blobs	3.9	4.3	3.5	3.6	6	2.7	3.5	cup
Number rounds	12	10	14	8	1	9	2