Kevins 9 hole comeback comp round 2. (Halesworth)

Today was the second and final round of Kevin's 9 hole comeback comp held at the Halesworth 9 hole valley course. Unfortunately holes 1-4 were being reconstructed and closed so the competition was held over holes 5-9 played twice. Unfortunately this meant renaming the competition to Kevin's 9 and 10 hole comeback comp.

Going into round 2 John had 20 pts, Bob 19, Kevin 11 and Ian 10. So in effect there were two matches going on to decide winner and wooden spooner.

The players preparing to teeoff on the 1st hole of the day.

On examining the card Kevin was quickly into a strop as he would have 4 holes with no shots instead of the 2 if the full 9 was being played. Despite getting 3 pars and a boggy on these holes he only got 7 pts for his efforts. He never really recovered from this golfing injustice but still managed a one over handicap 19 pts for his round.

Kevin teeing off on one of the many holes he didn't get a shot on
and yes he was bitter

Ian played well and with 2 holes to go had drawn level in the wooden spoon comp. Sadly a bad teeshot into the impossibly long grass cost him his ball and a blob. He finished the round with 16 pts and captured the wooden spoon

Ian contemplating his next shot as John plays his approach to the green

John again had an excellent day with 5 pars and 5 boggys giving him a massive 25 pts for the day. It was disappointing for the players and imaginary crowd that they were not treated to club throwing or a swearing display but hopefully these will be aplenty when the main summer comp starts in a fortnight.

Bob's second attempt at taking a golf photo with much
 the same problem as last time

Bob also played well and kept John in his sights all day. He parred 4 of the last 5 to keep the game alive. Unfortunately a visit to a ditch and resulting blob on the 4th had meant he had too much to do to catch John but finished the day with 23 pts.

Bob putting for a birdie (he missed)

So well done to John for winning this comp. Onwards to Bungay for the first round in the Round Norfolk golf tour summer comp.

John had 3 putts from here to win the comp but only needed 1.

Norfolk golf tour summer challenge rules and fixtures

This years Norfolk golf tour summer challenge is starting a bit later than normal. It will be played over 15 rounds ending on 1st October. Entry fee is £1 per round (collected on the day) with a competitor having to play a minimum of three rounds to qualify for a prize.

As always there are 4 competitions running throughout.

1. Average stableford pts per round
2. Most stableford pts in a single round
3. Eclectic (best score on each hole) off half handicap. Handicap is average handicap over comp (In case handicap changes over rounds).
4. Order of merit. Points are awarded to first 3 in each round. 3 for a win, 2 for second and 1 for third. Most points at end of comp wins.

If Kevin isn't looking like winning any competitions then an extra comp will start in August. This will be the total stableford pts of your best front 9 and best back 9 added together. A one of entry fee of £5 to enter.

Provisional fixture list. Subject to being able to get tee times etc

Wed 11^th June  Bungay

Fri 13^th June Cromer (afternoon round at NUGS)

Tue 17^th June Weston Park

Mon 23^rd June Barnham Broom Hill

Tue 1^st July Diss

Tue 15^th July Thorpeness

Tue 5^th August Bawburgh

Wed 13^th August Thetford

Tue 19^th August Royal Norwich

Wed 27^th August Caldecott Hall

Wed 3^rd Sept Caister

Thur 11^th Sept Barnham Broom Valley (at NUGS)

Tue 16^th Sept Halesworth

Tue 23^rd Sept Eaton

Wed 1^st Oct Sheringham (including prize giving)

The fixture list will be kept up to date on the blog. Bob has kindly agreed to be fixture sec again this year and Kevin to be keeper of records.

Kevin's 9 hole comeback comp. Round 1 Easton

The first round of Kevin's 9 hole comeback comp was played at Eaton 9 hole course yesterday. It was a day of high scoring (for some) and controversy for others.

Under clear blue sky's both John and Kevin got off to flying starts with John paring the first four holes and Kevin having two pars and two bogeys giving them 12 and 10 pts respectively. Kevin was particularly pleased that after his recent stomach op he didn't split in two. Bob and Ian had a solid 7 and 6 pts at the same stage.

Kevin's comeback teeshot on the first.
Notice the poise and balance at the end of the follow through.

John's attempted birdie putt on the first with Bob keen to get in on the photo.

Ian about to teeoff on the par 3 3rd which he went on to par.

Bobs teeshot on the 4th which he unfortunately mistimed
as it trickled off the tee 

Bob got back into the game at the 5th with a good par as John shanked his teeshot into the road. However the contriversary started at the par 5 6th. After some good teeshots John got to a ball and said it was a Wilson Staff, which Kevin was playing. So he hit it. Walking a bit further John identified another Wilson Staff which on closer inspection was Kevin's actual ball. John 'rulesworth' Herring was insistent that the 2 shot penalty for playing the wrong ball should be applied meaning Kevin failed to score on the hole. Kevin's fragile mental game was now shot to pieces as he crumbled over the remaining holes, including 3 drives out of bounds and no more points.

Bob faffing about on 6th tee as everyone else patiently wait to drive off.

John's teeshot on 7th which just managed to stay in bounds

Ian's game too seemed to disappear at this point with 3 successive blobs as he kindly deliberately scored less points than Kevin to help encourage him after his 8 week lay off. However John and Bob both being heartless Bas*£#ds powered on, racking up the points and leaving Kevin in golfing pieces.

John putting out on the last for yet more pts.

The final scores at the end of round 1 were John 20, Bob 19, Kevin 11 and Ian 10. The second and final round is at Halesworth next week.

Foursome flops.

Yesterday two of Round Norfolk Golf Tour regulars (Bob and Chris) paired up in the qualifying round of the Bawburgh mixed pairs.

With the threat of rain the game got off to an early start. The men had decided to tee off on the odd holes and opponents John and Annie were teeing off first. John hit a solid tee shot down the middle but unfortunately Bobs tee shot headed towards the pond and rested on leaves just inside the hazard. 

Bob's opening tee shot heading for the Pond

One air-shot, duff and drop later the hole was lost and it was on to the second.

Good tee shots from both the ladies was followed by an exceptionally good shot to the green from John leading to a birdie and 2 up.

Chris Tee shot on 2nd

Bob and Chris were given 6 shots and this was the first shot hole. With a reasonable drive from Bob and Annie in the trees it looked like a hole would be clawed back. Unfortunately a shot into the trees and some duff chips meant the hole was only halved with a net 6.

Chris trying to hole a long putt on the third for a win but ended with a half

A good tee shot from Chris on the 4th saw the hole halved with pars.

Chris teeshot on 4th

The 5th was another shot hole but unfortunately Bob ballooned his tee-shot into the show-ground camp site. However with Annie and John struggling as well Chris had the chance of a putt to win the hole with a 7. Unfortunately she left it short so remained 2 down.

Chris putting to try and win the 5th but finished short

The sixth was played in a sharpe shower and with Chris heeling her drive off the tee they found themselves 3 down.

Brollies out

On the 7th John put his drive in the flower bed and Bob in a bunker but Chris recovered better and sunk a good putt to secure first win of the day to reduce the lead to two.

Chris sinking putt on 7th for first win

Another par for team Bob and Chris on the 8th further reduced the lead to 1.

The 9th was another shot hole and after a big drive from Bob both teams boggied the hole and it was a third win in a row and the match was all square after 9.

The back 9 started more tightly and apart from a sliced tee-shot by Chris on the 10th then solid golf from both teams meant the next two holes were halved.

Bob putting to half the 10th.

A fine tee shot from Annie on the par 3 12th ended with a par and a win to once again go 1 up.

Bob missing long putt in attempt to half the 12th

On the 13th both mens tee shots ended in the bunker

Both tee shots found same bunker on 13th

But thanks to an excellent bunker shot from Chris a par and win was secured and match was halved again.

The 14th was another shot hole and after good tee shots for the ladies both men put their partners into the trees.

Chris chipping back out of the trees

Chris and Bob recovered the better and for the first time in the match took the lead.

The 15th was a straight forward half for both teams.

Unfortunately Chris hit a duff drive off the Par 3 16 and with Annie putting her teeshot by the pin the match was again all square.

Chris about to duff tee shot on the 16th

Two great drives on the 17th meant the game was in the balance but once again Annie played a fine shot up to the pin and a par and win was secured to once again take the lead.

Chris trying to match Annie's good approach on the 17th

The 18th was the last shot hole and despite indifferent golf from both teams Bob and Chris secured the win with a double boggy 6. 

In the gloom on 18th Match was again all square.

The match was all square so it was back down the first. Unfortunately once again Bob hit a poor drive out to the right.

Bobs poor tee-shot on the 1st playoff hole.
 Note how his hands have got behind the weight transfer.

Bob and Chris could never recover as John and Annie played regulation golf to win the hole and match.

At least Chris and Bob can now concentrate on the Round Norfolk Golf  Summer Tour when it starts in June.

Putting Championship. Round 2

On a grey and drizzling morning the second round of the Norfolk Golf Tour putting competition was held today at the Bawburgh family golf centre putting course. 

Defending champion Kevin was in buoyant mood sinking some good practice putts during the warm up phase. After losing in the play off John had decided that the solution was not to spend hours practice those short putts, nor was it to see a sports psychiatrist to help with those pressure situations but to buy a new putter.

Once again Frazerbury rules would be used.

This proved to be a much tighter competition than last time with only two holes being won outright over the first 9 holes. So at half way Bob and John both had 1 hole and Kevin had none.

Bob quickly took the lead at the start of the back nine. Under Frazerbury rules the person with the honour on the back 9 chooses which hole is played next. Once in the lead the traditional tactic is to choose more straight forward holes where a half is the likely outcome. Surprisingly Bob went for the opposite approach and selected more complicated pin placements. 

However after some more halved long holes Bobs tactic paid off as he won the 14th hole as Kevin fluffed a short putt for a half. So with 4 holes to go the score was Bob 3, John 1 and Kevin none. 

Once again Bob choose a difficult hole which allowed Kevin to win a well deserved first hole. 

Defending champion Kevin putting off needing to
win the hole to stay in the match

Either Kevin or John now needed to win 2 of the last 3 hole to force a play off but despite some imaginary hole selections from Kevin the remaining holes were halved. Bob was therefore crowned the new putting champion and John will be demanding a refund on his new putter.

Unfortunately Kevin forgot his phone limiting the number of photos today to one taken by John. Bob offered to take some but as all the photos he has supplied so far included parts of his fingers he was advised not to bother.

Putting championship round 1

Yesterday Easton family golf centre hosted the first round of the prestigious Round Norfolk golf putting competition. A high class field featuring some of the counties best putters had gathered to take part. The competition would be played under Marques of Frazerbury rules.

Field of top class competitors line up for pre comp photo.

Each hole had to be won outright by a player and the winner of most holes (played over 18) would win. For the first 9, each hole is played in order with tee off starting from previous hole.

Players warming up ready for start of competition

As the round started there were lots of early exchanges and after 4 holes Bob, John and Kevin had won one hole each.

Bob takes early lead

The first holes are fairly flat but soon the hills and mounds of the remaining front 9 holes took their toll (especially on John who didn't seem to realise you had to hit it harder to get it up the hills). After the front 9 Bob and Kevin had won 2 holes and John 1. Apparently the greens were not as quick as the ones John was used to from his recent trip to Spain (oohhhh).

John failing to putt up the hill (again)

As you know under Frazerbury putting rules for the second 9 holes the putter with the honour selects which hole to putt to. Kevin quickly took the lead and was 1 ahead of Bob and 2 from John who looked out of the running. Then out of the blue John found his touch and won 3 of the next 4 whilst Bob's putting game had gone to wait in the car. So with 4 holes to play John led Kevin by 1 and Bob by 2. 

Remind me not to ask Bob to take any photos in future

Taking full advantage of Frazerbury rules John selected 3 short holes for the next 3 guaranteeing halves so he remained 1 ahead with 1 to play. Bravely John then selected a stupidly long hole for the last which turned out to be a bad move as he scuffed his putt, and with Bob's putting game still waiting in the car, it allowed Kevin to win the hole.

This meant it was now a play off between Kevin and John with Bob, as stated in Frazerbury rules, choosing the holes. He chose the most difficult curvy hole imaginable and both Kevin and John could not get within 10 feet and both 3 putted the hole for a half. However Bob's putting game must have got bored waiting in the car and came back as Bob sunk the most remarkable putt. Sadly for him it was just for fun.

Next play off hole was more straight forward and after a cracking putt from John he was only required to make a short two foot putt for victory. Sadly for him the fat lady had not yet sung as he missed the putt and the return allowing Kevin to tap in for the win.

John missing the putt that would have won him the comp

Hopefully the excitement well be maintained if we get round to organising another putting comp in the next couple of weeks but for now Kevin is the champion putter 2014.