Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017. Round 9 at Rookery Park

The Desert Classic at Rookery Park

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 round 9 took place at Rookery Park on Thursday. It was surprising to find that this was only the second time the tour had ever ventured here and on the last occasion no players had managed to break 30 pts. With a large field of 6, hopes were high for a better standard than back in 2013. That day Kevin, John and Bob had been 3 of the players and they all once again failed to hit the 30 pts mark today but did the new players fare any better?

John got us underway and insisted playing 3 off the tee despite his first shot being in no trouble. After an unusually solid start normal service was resumed with blobs on holes 5 and 6 (holes in which he has failed to register a point on so far this year) leaving him with 12 half way points.

John insisting his drive off the first was in trouble when it wasn't

Jill and Chris seemed to think they were having a better ball round as neither scored well or badly on the same hole (for stat fans they would have got 41 betterball pts between them). Chris did have 5 one point holes early in her round but recovered to get 15 pts at the turn.

Chris's opening drive

Jill scored solidly but found a lot of bunkers so failed to make enough pars and had 14 pts.

Jill avoiding bunker trouble on the first

In the group behind tour debutant Greg was having a few problems with his driver but demonstrated his skills from around the greens as he chipped and putted expertly. The greens were very sandy but it didn't seem to put him off. He was tornament halfway leader on 16.

Put off by the press photographer then Greg's approach to the par 3 4th  for once failed to reach the green

For the second week running Kevin got off to an under handicap start before completely blowing up after a bad drive and then missing several short putts. Despite this he still looked in contention on 15.

A familiar look of disdain

Bob was in complete denial that he had ever played here before but records clearly showed he was here in 2013 where he got only 8 pts including 4 blobs on the front 9. Kevin even helpfully reminded him as to which trees and ponds he had gone in on that day. He didn't fare much better this time with only 12 pts and a share of last place.

Bob revisiting a number of trees from his 2013 round

As the back 9 started John seemed more interested in trying out the 4 rescue he had purchased from the pro shop just before the round. Surprisingly he didn't demand his money back as he could only add another 11 pts with its help and last place on 23 pts.

Kevin also completely feel away getting only 4 pts from the first 6 holes before a couple of late pars managed to get him to 25 pts and just avoiding the wooden spoon.

Kevin was put off by the sudden partial eclipse (or Bob's finger) as he drove into a fairway bunker

Bob still couldn't remember ever playing here and Kevin forgot to mention he got 19pts on the back 9 last time in case it put him off. He did manage 16 pts to put him on 28 but out of the prizes.

A much improved back 9 from Bob, 

Jill was still finding lots of bunkers but managed a blob free round as she also got 16 on the back 9 and picked up another 50p to added to this year's winnings thanks to her total of 30.

The lead group approaching the end of their round on the 16th green

Chris went on a charge with 5 back 9 pars and looked like she would be the first player to play under handicap on tour this year. However a shabby 7 on the last restricted her to 35 pts.

By now Greg had found his driving boots to go with his excellent short game and recorded 6 pars coming home. Sadly a poor tee shot on the long par 3 11th was to prove decisive as the blob there cost him a rookie win as he finished on 34 pts.

Greg tries to salvage a point from out of the trees on the 11th

Not surprisingly Chris's 35 was also a new course record although I suspect Kevin, Bob and John won't be keen to come back next year.

Next week the tour moves to the familiar surrounds of Eaton where someone in the large field is sure to break this year's sub handicap voodoo. 

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017. Round 8 at Barnham Broom Valley

The Barnham Broom Valley Vase

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 round 7, The Valley Vase, took place at the Valley course Barnham Broom on Thursday. It was a record of field for a RNSG tour event with 9 players teeing off although only 8 finished. There was also the welcome return of tour veteran John who had once again chosen to home his game abroad before starting his 2017 campaign. The approach had proved to be a huge failure in 2016 when he finished last in most competitions but he was sticking with it.

The balls went up in the air and the groups were duly chosen although Chris was not happy to have to play with Kevin. However you can't argue with the balls so they marched off to the first tee.

It only took one shot to put Kevin into a bad mood as despite hitting what looked like a reasonable drive his ball was never found in the lush rough. When he had recovered he hit a purple patch and had 13 pts after 6 holes. Sadly this was as good as it got as he took the rest of the round to double his tally and finished well done the field on 27 pts.

Kevin made a good recovery on second clearing the water with his second shot

Chris was having a much more solid round and was playing to her handicap with 20 pts after 10 holes. After that she had a poor run with 6 pts in 6 holes and would need to play well over the last two holes to get in contention.

Chris gets down in two from edge of 5th Green

The final member of the group, Jane was not happy with the green keeper who insisted on mowing the fringe of every green as she putted. This restricted her scoring on the front 9 but a good par on the 9th got her to 13 at halfway.

Jane made to putt on 3rd green as her partners knew the mower was putting her off

In the group behind David was making his return after injury and had been given the all clear by his acupuncturist to play. It was as if he had never been away and apart from an untidy blob on the short 7th was scoring well. He was leading the round with 26 pts after 14 holes but his 'golfer's' elbow was causing him too much pain and he was unable to complete the last 4 holes which had to recorded as blobs. Harsh but rules is rules and there is no appeals process.

Points galore on 3rd as David, Sandie and John get 8 points between them

John's Spanish training camp looked like it was working as he started very solidly. However he couldn't avoid throwing in some trade mark blobs in amongst a number of pars. He finished with an excellent par, par finish and 29 pts but out of the prizes.

John managed a great up and down from side 18th green, this chip was followed by excellent putt

Final member of the group Sandie had the best front 9 of anyone as she racked up 19 pts and with 24 pts after 12 holes looked well in contention. But then from nowhere things started to go wrong and she could only get 4 more points and 28 in all.

Sandie chipping on to 4th green. From where she was it was a surprise that she missed the green by a couple of feet

In the final group, bad boy Robert was suffering after a night on the town and claimed he had been partying to nearly 11:30pm. This seemed to affect his short game and he never really got going with too many one point holes, and only 26 pts overall.

Jill was also performing with good holes interrupted by a sprinkling of blobs. If she spent more time concentrating on her own game rather than laughing at the misfortunes of other players playing pin ball in the trees, then maybe she would be more consistent.

Jill once again laughing at a club throwing incident

Bob was going along solidly until a run of 3 pars in 4 holes just after the turn put him in the mix. His momentum was halted by three putting from 2 foot on the 14th. However he remained in contention with two to play.

Bobs second on 5th after hitting his drive nearly 50 yards

Back in the leading group Jane had now got her A game out and recorded 3 back 9 birdies shooting her up the leaderboard with 32 points.

Jane teeing off on back 9 and back into contention

Chris also birdied the 17th and those 4 pts plus two on the last also had her on 32.

Chris putting down hill on the 11th getting her ball nearly halfway

This just left Bob in with a chance to win but would need a par and a bogey on the last two holes. With the par secured on the 17th he was made to putt from 6 inches to secure his first win of the season and climb the money list.

Drama on the last green as Jill gets her putt out of the way leaving Bob to make his short putt for the win

With so many players competing the competition lists have had plenty of changes. Thank goodness RNSG have now got their brand new database system working.

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017. Round 7 at Thorpeness

Players Championship at Thorpeness

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 round 7, the Players Championship, took place at Thorpeness on Tuesday. Due to injuries and better offers the start list was reduced to 4 golfers but it was still another exciting battle.

Chris had a disappointing start with only 3 points after 5 holes but her game then picked up parring both the par5's and pulling her back into contention on 13 pts.

Chris teeing off over the iconic Seventh

Meanwhile Bob was having an erratic opening finding trees, bushes and bunkers. However thanks to generous use of Bob's lost ball rules he still scrambled a lot of points and had 14 at halfway.

Boib in Bunker shocker on 4th (after being in the trees off the tee)

Kevin had got his 'A' driving game out of his bag but had mistakenly bought his 'Z' short game to go with it. He wasted lots of chances as he got to 18 front 9 points.

Approach on 3rd found a greenside bunker

Jill looked like she would have the halfway lead until rolling into some bushes on the 9th. A pair of shears would have been more useful than the iron she choose to try and hit the ball with and she could only put it further into the bush resulting in her only blob and 17 points at the turn.

Jill getting her round underway on the 1st

Things closed up on the back 9 as Kevin and Jill stalled while Chris and Bob started a charge. There were only 4 points separating the 4 players with 6 to play. When Kevin pointed this out Chris said she was not in contention and to prove the point blobbed the next 4 holes. She finished well with two closing pars and 24 points but out of the prizes.

Chris shot to 11th green off top of the bunker

Coming onto the 17th it was anyones game (except Chris) but when Kevin hit a bad drive into the bushes he looked out of it. Jill then surprisingly went in a bunker before Kevin's hit and hope ended on the green as he got an unlikely par.

Kevins approach to Par 5 14th

Coming down the last both Bob and Jill drove towards the bushes and could only chip back to the fairway for their seconds. As long as Kevin didn't go into a greenside bunker then the game was his for the taking. However he did and could only manage 1 point on the last.

Bob tees off on short par 3 10th and for once it headed in the right general direction 

Jill hit a great 3rd and as the short hole was inexplicably a par 5 for the ladies then two putts gave her the 3 pts needed to become the Players Champion with 35 pts.

Jill chips up to the 12th Green

This just left Bob needing to make a short two foot putt to tie with Kevin for second place, which he did. Kevin was not at all bitter when in the press conference when it was pointed out he only missed two fairways whereas Bob only hit two yet they still tied.

For stats fans, and to make him feel better, Kevin wants you to know his was the first blob free round on tour this year.

Next week a bumper field has entered meaning, subject to injuries or better offers, the first 3 tee start in tour history may be required.

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017. Round 6 at Costessey Park.

The Costessey Classic

Yesterday saw Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 round 6 take place at Costessey Park. It was the first time the RNSG tour had been back to Costessey Park since the course layout had changed. There was a bumper entry of six including the return of RNSG regular Ian who had been unavailable for any April fixtures.

The groupings were decided with Mike, Ian and Bob going out first. As none of them can be trusted to take any photos, as they don't really understand how new fangled technology works, then action from this group is limited. At least our photographer managed to get them to line up before getting their round underway.

First group on first tee. It took our photographer some time to get them all to face the same way

Ian and Mike both started well and with just a couple mistakes they both had a respectable 16 points at halfway.

Bob was more erratic and it took a three point par on the 9th to eventually get him to double figures and 10 points.

Bob struggling to get a point on short 5th

Kevin led off the second group but after three putting the first and finding the water hazard on the second he got into one of his moods with lots of unnecessary effety jeffety language. It didn't help when his apparently 'good' shots clipped trees or got stuck on grass banks. His fellow group members were therefore surprised he had managed to get 14 pts after 9 as he was acting as if he had half that number.

Kevin about to have a moment after thinning his chip on the second

Sandie had a solid opening before a combination of bad luck and tentative putting restricted her to 11 pts. Maybe she needs to swear a bit more.

Sandie missing her par on the 1st

Chris was the only player who really got to grips with the new layout as she ripped the course up with some excellent shots and good putting. It all went wrong on the 8th when Chris had a short (almost gimme) putt for her par. Kevin, On the other hand had huffed and puffed down the hole before sinking a good putt for par. Chris missed her short putt. In the press conference afterwards she admitted that she had let herself think that it would be ironic if she missed her putt after Kevin had made such a fuss and still got a par. Kevin was left in no doubt who's fault it was for what happened next. However more of that later as Chris had an excellent 21 points at the turn.

Good recovery from fairway bunker on the 3rd

Meanwhile in the group ahead fortunes were reversed as Ian and Mike fell away while 2 birdies from Bob brought him back into contention. In fact all 3 players finished on 28 pts.

The search party eventually found Ian's ball on 16 but it didn't stop him getting an unwelcome blob

Sandie continued her erratic round with a couple of good pars mixed in with three blobs and only 23 pts at the end for last place.

Great tee shot from Sandie on 11 and a tidy par

Kevin had now decided to introduce throwing his clubs at his bag to show his frustration but he soon found he wasn't very good at that either as he kept missing the bag before having to go and pick them up. His golf had improved and with 27 points and 3 to play looked like second place was his but 2 blobs and a double bogey restricted him to 28 pts as well and a share of second place.

Good chip to the tricky 13th but failed to get down from the edge of the green for his par

After the 'incident' on the 8th Chris's game fell apart as she uncharacteristically went into tress, rivers and out of bounds. She finished with back to back blobs and only 8 pts coming home. However her total of 29 was still enough to win the day and add another £2.50 to her season earnings.

Chris hit a good tee shot on the monster 10th hole but could only manage a point

Golf Pig was not happy with an unprecedented 4 way tie for second place, meaning each player got 37p each, as he didn't have the right change.

It looks like being a disappointingly small entry for next weeks event at the prestigious Thorpness golf course so a chance for players to move up the money list.