Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp. Round 7 Costessey

This week the Round Norfolk Golf Competition took place at Costessey Park Golf Club in weather more suited to the Arizona Desert than Norwich in summer. Due to the Frazers abandoning the UK for a two week stay in their Slovenian hide-away, the attendance was reduced to 3 (John, Ian and Bob).

John Herring adopted the 'just in time' tactics successfully employed by Kevin Frazer over the years, and turned up 10 minutes before tee-time, just as Bob was reaching anxiously for his phone.

The competition got under way on the par 3 first with all 3 tee shots clearing the water but unfortunately John's ball landed in the greenside bunker just under the lip. Without a clear shot, John had to pitch out across the green and eventually settled for a 5. Ian 3 putted for a 4 and Bob took an early lead with a par 3.

On the par 4 2nd hole, all three tee shots successfully avoided the fairway. John managed to land in the rough to the right over the stream on the 7th hole. Bob managed to clear the stream on the left and land in the rough by the 6th green. Ian didn't fancy either of these, choosing to top his drive 100 yds into the rough. All three players then proceeded to zig zag their way up towards the pin with Bob managing the best score with a 6.

Three good tee shots on the par 3 3rd hole all landed on or very close to the green. John managed to convert the best position into a 5 while Ian overshot the hole but recovered with a long putt to finish best placed with a 3.

After 3 holes Bob was the early leader, closely followed by Ian with John reflecting that perhaps he should have had a warm up first (and he never liked Costessey anyway).

However, the par 5 4th hole sorted the men from the boys and despite reaching the green in 3, Bob four putted for a 7, Ian scraped a point and John was back in the game with a tidy 5.

All three tee shots on the par 5 5th hole found the fairway, justifying the decision of the veterans 3 ball in front to wave them through. All three finished with a 6 although Ian scored 3 points due to his handicap advantage. At this point Bob (now playing for the first time with a 20 handicap) felt obliged to adopt a Kevin Frazer persona and mutter a few comments about large handicaps.

After 6 holes Ian and Bob were tied top with 13 points. However, over the remainder of the front 9 holes Ian pulled away, Bob made a mess of the 7th hole and John fell away. 

At the halfway stage Ian led with 20 points, Bob was second with 17 and John third with 11.

The back 9 saw Ian continue steadily with only 1 dodgy hole and an unfortunate long drive on the 17th which finished in the river. John got his second wind and towards the end of the match looked like he might grab second place. Bob ran out of steam early on the back 9, recovered with a par and a birdie but in the end suffered from a long straight shot into the river on the 18th hole.

Final scores were Ian comfortably first with 37 points, Bob just second with 28 and John third place with 26. Ian's new sponsorship from Mazuno seems to be paying off.

As it was realised that with only three taking part, everyone was guaranteed at least a point, it was decided to organise another match before the Frazers returned! 

The Norfolk golfing circus moves to Swaffham next week. Watch this space. 

League table to follow on the Frazer's return to the uk.