Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017. Round 14 at Cromer

The Crab Classic at Royal Cromer

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 round 14 took place at Cromer on Tuesday. The forecast was not good but a strong field (including the current 4 top earners on the money list) had their balls thrown up in the air and pairings were selected.

There was controversy before a ball had been hit when the Cromer starter accused Kevin of teeing up in front of the yellow markers. Not wanting to cause a fuss Kevin reluctantly moved his ball back two inches although video evidence later showed his ball had not infringed the rule, honest.

Video evidence clearly shows Kevin's ball is behind the line
 although he still re teed to keep everyone happy

Despite the obvious additional pressure Kevin still managed to keep his ball out of the dangerous water hazard by driving it across to the 18th fairway. As the wind got up Kevin surprisingly managed to keep his ball in play and with the help of some rare good putts got to 16 pts after 9.

Kevin escapes from bunker by third green

Playing partner Ian was not faring so well in the wind so after a couple of holes elected to keep his driver in the bag and hit irons off the tee. A tactic that meant he scored on most holes but with 5 of them only being for 1 pt he was restricted to 12 at the turn.

Driver wasn't seen again after Ian's drive on the second
as the wind tried to carry it out of bounds

It became apparent that this was still good as the group behind were struggling to tame the wind. Chris did manage a good par on the panoramic 4th but was struggling on a number of other holes.

Chris's drive on 4th leads to a par 

Bob had a typical all or nothing start with 3 blobs and 2 pars in his opening 9.

Bob thought he was Harry potter as he attempts to hit his ball through the tree on the third

Jill was the most steady although a lack of pars restricted her scoring. She did at least make it on to all the front 9 greens.

Jill also found the bank on the 3rd with a pine cone getting close to the hole than her ball with her chip.

Unusually none of the group scored a point on the short 8th and all finished on 11 at the turn.

As the inward 9 started the skies darkened and rain started to fall. However Kevin responded well and with the wind now in a more helpful direction he took his score to 24 pts after 13. At this point the heavens really opened but Kevin and Ian pushed on regardless. If only he had known that he already had enough points to win then Kevin could have gone to warm up in the clubhouse. As it was his game fell apart and he could only add 3 more points over the last 5 holes to finish on 27 but still more than enough to take the trophy.

As the rain fell heavily Kevin's round started to fall apart on the lighthouse hole

Ian put in a little surge parring 12 and 13 before he too was sunk by the weather and seemed to be deliberately hitting his ball into the ferns in order not to have to play any more of the hole, he finished with 23 at the end.

In the rain Ian hits up towards the 11th Green

The group behind were also starting to lose the will and when thunder and lighting went off they took to playing speed golf. By the time they reached the 17th they had had enough and walked off the course.

A miserable looking 3 were just too wet to finish today's event

Fortunately RNSG excellent rules cater for such a situation and rule 12.1.3 (which was not made up in the bar over tea and cake) clearly states that if rounds can not be completed due to severe weather (and not for other reasons like you are playing badly and decide to go home early) then the title will be decided by the scores on the last hole everyone completed. On this basis Kevin was first on 26, Jill Second on 23 and Chris 3rd on 22.

Hopefully the weather will be better next week when the tour moves to Sprowston. As it is the start to the second half of the season the best 3 front and 3 back 9's in July, August and September (or BTFATBNIJAS as it is more snappily know as) competition kicks off.