Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2019. Round 26 Grand Finale at Sheringham

The Race to Sheringham Grand Finale 2019

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2019 round 26, The Grand Finale, took place at Sheringham on Thursday. It was the first time in tour history that 6 players were still in contention of winning the money list although with the other 5 competitions looking unlikely to change hands all focus was on just who would win today with points, birdies and blobs unlikely to matter.

To add to the drama the groups would be going out in reverse money list order. But first Bob had to undertake a fitness test to see if his back would hold up. This took place in the car park and was expected to be an intensive session. But after a single stretch of his arms above his head he declared himself fit and marched off to the practice area.

The first group headed to the first tee and although unlikely to win a season prize they were all in the running for todays £5 winners cheque which could also play a part in deciding on this years overall money list champion.

Sandie gets the final round of the season underway

John B, Mike and Sandie all had solid if not spectacular opening 9s with 16,15 and 14 points respectively. Mike was struggling on the recently dressed and scarified greens with a number of 3 putts.

However although he only got one 3 pointer all round he did have a blob free round meaning he finished the year in second place for the lowest average blobs comp. His total of 29 points kept him off the podium today.

It was Mikes putting not driving that let him down today

Sandie had a fairly similar experience and again only had the one 3 pointer as her second 9 also was worth 14 points for a 28 point total.

John describing his opening tee shot as he hit it

John B was best placed but then lost the plot on the back 9 with 5 blobs. Sandie had been playing mind games with him suggesting to him that he talked a lot (really?) and he was unable to function with his gob shut. He finished in last place on 25 points.

Things turned nasty in the bar as Mike hits john in the face with an imaginary baseball bat

The group behind featured Vince and Andrew who could both still win the money list with a win today and other results going their way. They both started with blobs which was one of 5 7's Vince had on the opening 9 but still had 14 pts.

Vince on the way to a 7

Andrew looked to have played himself out of contention with only 13 points on his opening 9.

However both players picked up on the back 9 and had 30 points after 17 holes before inexplicably both blobbing the last for their second blobs of the day as they came in on 30 points.

Andrew tying himself in knots as he drove off on the 3rd

Jill, on the other hand, was on golfing fire, as she tamed the front 9 taking full advantage of the extra par 5s available to ladies. She had 21 points and a repeat of that on the back 9 would give her the best round of the year but more of that later.

Jill was on top of her game today

The final group contained the real contenders for the money list prize and game faces were on. Greg Kevin and Bob were all scoring ok but none of them were at the top of their game with a few duffs, poor chips and missed putts mixed in with some good holes.

Greg was first to falter with a blob on the 4th and it looked like his chances of the money list were fading with only 14 halfway points.

Greg just stayed out of a 2nd fairway bunker and played a great shot on to the green

Kevin needed to finish above Greg and all was looking good until the par 5 7th when he foolishly got his driver out putting it just short of the beach and OOB for the first of 3 blobs over the next 5 holes. The back 9 was only marginally better and with a total of 26 points he was now reliant on others if he was to lift the money list crown.

Kevin chips onto the first to secure his first point of the day

As often happens it looked like Bob had also played his way out of contention before a Bob charge put him back in the running after 10 holes. However a visit to the bunker on the 11th and gorse bush on the 13th stalled his progress and only a good par on the final hole moved him away from bottom place to finish on 27 points. The money list victory that looked a shoe in before his back injury had slipped through his fingers.

Bob does well to get out of the long rough on the third for a 5.

Chris just needed to win today and the title would be hers and she certainly meant business as she had a faultless 20 pts on the front 9. Although after the 3rd bonus par 5 for ladies Bob was heard to say "not another one" as Chris claimed a 6 for 2. It was most un Bob like as he immediately apologised for saying out loud.

Chris hits away from another hazzard she just avoided to enter.

So by the time the payers had got halfway through the back nine there were only 3 players lefty who could win the title Kevin (if Jill could win and Greg stayed out the prizes), Greg (if he finished in top 3) or Chris (if she won outright).

Jill continued to play well and built on her opening 21 points with a blob free back 9. However her par, par finish made a real difference as she finished on 39 and was clear leader in the club house.

After Greg birdieded the 15th he had started to build a good score and was now playing match play with Chris. When she double bogeyed 16 and 17 there was only one point in it coming down the last.

Chris makes a good 2 putt on 14 as the tension mounted

Chris secured the two point bogey need to beat greg with 35 points but not enough to win the day.

Greg's 19 point back 9 had moved him up to 3rd place with 33 (what were the rest of you up to!!!) meaning his £1 third prize put him back ahead of Kevin to win the big prize.

Greg's back 9 was best of the day

He also won the average stableford points and lowest average blobs just missing out on the RNSG record on both.

Greg with one of his 3 trophies

Bob won the Eclectic with a new record score.

Bob with his Eclectic trophy which funnily enough was twice as big as all the other trophies

Kevin beat Andrew on countback for highest score of the season with 41 pts and set a new record to win the best 3 front and back 9's in July, August, September (and this year October).

Kevin with one of his best score trophies

With presentations completed the prize winners pooled their winnings to pay for the traditional fish and chip end of season formal dinner where next year the black tie dress code will be expected to be followed.

Hopefully all tour members have enjoyed this years summer tour and as many as possible will be joining in on the winter tour when it starts at Flempton in mid November.

Round Norfolk summer golf round 25 at The Suffolk

The Scruffy Salver

This was the last round before the RNSG tour finishes at Sheringham in a fortnight so with it being so tight at the top of the money list you would have thought players would be queuing up to play. However this was not the case as injury, other commitments and rival golf tours had decimated the field. In fact only the minimum of 3 players were left meaning they were all guaranteed prize money today. At the end of the post I shall cover who can win what but before that what happened today.

The Suffolk isn’t everyone’s favourite course so it would be interesting to see what condition it was in. And judging by the state of the first tee box not very good although the greens and fairways were the best the tour has seen at this venue. 

There had been shining new balls on special offer at the pro shop and everyone had bought some. Kevin was the only one one brave enough to use them today as Vince bullishly announced he would be using the same ball he had used for the last 3 rounds. 

It was therefore no surprise when Vince’s unloseable ball headed off the first tee straight into the river to be the first of 7 he lost during the day. 

Vinces plays into the river to lose his second ball on the first hole but somehow still managed an 8 for a point

It was more of a surprise when Kevin successfully took on the river to reach the par 5 in 2 before securing his birdie. It was clear he meant business as he racked up the points on the front 9 as his putted was red hot. He had 23 of them adding 4 to his three best front 9 points scores.

After hitting a tree off the tee on the short 5th Kevin hit the green with his second.

Chris had started solidly but after Kevin had parred the 4th for 3 more points (which had got a well played through gritted teeth) she moaned that he was doing too well and she wanted to win. It was pointed out that she should score more points then and she certainly took this advice on board as she parred the next 5 holes to also have 23 at the turn.

Chris's approach to the 3rd comes up short but she was soon getting her A game out of her bag

Despite the number of ditches he was visiting Vince was still in the hunt with 17 points after 8 holes. But after hitting his ball in the stream running down the side of the 9th fairway his game started to unwind as this plus 3 more blobs meant he only got 13 more points to finish on 30 and well out the prizes.

Despite what looks like a good swing the ball actually went along the ground into the next ditch, although on this occasion the ball was recovered.

Chris started the back 9 badly as a couple of poor tee shots meant she only had 1 point from the opening 3 holes. She claimed to be put off by the fact the men’s tee box was next to hers on the 10th.

Mens tee was 50 yards further forward than it should have been on the 10th which was apparently unfair.

Kevin couldn’t make the most of the opportunity as his hot putter once again deserted him from inside two foot as he missed a couple of short ones, and when Chris birdied the 13th the gap was down to just 2. 

Chris chips up to the 15th to close the gap to 1 point

By the time they reached the 17th it was only 1 point. It was the nearest the pin hole and when Kevin and Vince failed to register (from 200 yards) Chris popped hers on (from 145 yards) to claim the £1 prize and a good birdie chance and this turned out to br the pivotal moment as Kevin chipped on before sinking a 15 foot putt while Chris left her birdie attempt short.

Chris then hit a poor tee shot under a tree and after taking 4 to get to the corner of the dogleg failed to get a point to finish on 38 and gift Kevin the title. The only thing left to see was if Kevin could set a new high score for the year. He had taken 4 to get on to the par 5 18th green and had a downhill 12 footer for a new record. However the well struck putt just failed to drop leaving him on 41 points but with a new course record.

Kevin is off to a mountain retreat for a week before the race to Sheringham finishes at Sheringham in two weeks time. But who can win what?

In terms of the money list his £2.50 prize today gives Kevin a 9p lead over Greg. Bob and Chris are just behind with Vince and Andrew also able to claim the title with a win on the last day.

The other competitions seem to be sewn up as Greg can’t be caught in average stableford and lowest average blobs.

Bob is over 3 shots clear in the eclectic and can only be caught by Vince if he can par the 4 holes he has failed to in 15 attempts to date.

Kevin has an 8 point lead in best front and back 9s which would be hard for anyone to catch and unless someone gets 42 points or more at Sheringham is likely to win best round of the year too.

So all attention will be on the money list tour title at Sheringham where the players will be going out in reverse money list order. There looks like a bumper turnout and as tradition dictates the season will end with prize giving followed by fish and chips. 

Round Norfolk summer golf round 24 at Kings Lynn

The Kings Lynn Classic

As the 2019 Tour nears its conclusion, and thoughts turn toward some much needed prize money in the absence of current leader Greg, nine keen players ventured to the excellent King's Lynn. For some - specifically Robert, Kevin and Andrew - this was an opportunity to bury the ghosts of disappointing results in last weekend's Bawburgh Club Championship. For David and Vince, it was a first-time visit to one of the Tour's favourite venues, whilst for Bob it was a welcome return to Tour following his recent back problems. Bob announced before we started that his back is worse when sitting down, so there would be no excuses for him today as golf is a "stand up" sport!

 

Players gather on first tee as Bob demonstrates his standing up skills

A complicated, but fair, draw was made and it was Vince, Andrew and Jo who were first away. Vince's lessons look like they were paying dividend as his opening tee shot headed down the middle of the fairway. 

Vinces club head speed is so fast its just a blur or was it taking the photo into the sun

A short time later, Jo followed him down the middle once, of course, she had alighted from the taxi that took her to the advanced ladies tee. It was Jo who got off to the steadiest start with six 2-pointers in a row. 

Jo scores more points as Vince tries to hide behind the flag stick (i'm afraid it will take several more boot camps to pull that trick off)

Andrew's mixed fortunes scored him 10 points in the same six holes whilst a bogey 5 for 3 points and a Spanish par (4 for 4) saw Vince creep into an early lead on 13. However, Jo was to leave her playing partners well behind with 3 points on the next two holes, whilst the boys failed to score on either. At the end of the front nine, Jo was on 19 points with Vince on 14 and Andrew 12.

The second 3-ball decided to play different varieties of golf. Tim was "Mr Consistent" and, despite a blob on the ninth, he accumulated four nett birdies and four nett pars for an impressive 20 at the turn. 

Tim was in imperious form opening up with 7 straight pars

Chris, who had agreed with Andrew at the start of the day that consistent golf was the key to success, through this philosophy went out of the window early and, much like Andrew, found the going tough, struggling to just 11 points.

Chris found the going tough today

Bob, despite his recent injury, had not lost the knack of using tree-ricochets to find the middle of the fairways or greens. Back-to-back birdies, both for 4 points, on the fourth and fifth holes made up half of his total of 16 at halfway.

 

Bob in bunker action on a typically up and down round

In the final group, Robert got off to a very slow start and had to thank a nett birdie on the fourth hole to help him reach 10 points after nine holes. As consolation he need set a new RNSG tour woodland record hitting 4 trees and one pine cone in 5 successive shots!

Roberts tee shot heads for the trees, probably

An internal competition soon developed between his playing partners, Kevin and David, as they exchanged proverbial blows. 

David was a model of consistency over the opening holes

David was the more consistent, with eight 2-pointers and a blob for 16 points at the turn, whilst Kevin's usual variation of shots and scores, including three nett birdies, was the key to his halfway score of 17.

 

Aided by his shinny green (not yellow!) balls Kevin had his short game working well today

All the players did have to contend with a family of geese who decided the lush grass on the approach to the par-5 ninth hole was the best feeding ground. They seem unfazed by golfers and their balls; in fact, they knew the safest place was directly in line with the middle of fairway and the flag!

By now, the leading group was well into it's back nine and, Andrew was finding a little more consistency. A nett eagle on the par-5 thirteenth hole was the highlight of his round but his final score of 26 did nothing to repair the pain from last weekend. 

Andrew practicing his putting before attempting to sink a tricky 2 incher

Vince had four more 3-pointers and was keeping the ball straight. Only one provisional ball was hit all day and despite a blob on the difficult par-3 twelfth, he scored 18 points on the back nine for a total of 32. 

Vince played better on the back 9 (Eagle eyed readers may notice this is actually the 4th green but I can only work with the photos i've got)

Jo, meanwhile, was continuing with the "hit it long and straight" method not often seen on Tour and which, not unsurprisingly, was proving successful. Another 18 points gave her an excellent total of 37 in a blob-free round, and her tee shot on the par-3 16th to 10 feet looked sure to win her the roll-over jackpot nearest the pin prize to boot.

Jo hits it long and straight (Yawn,Yawn)

Chris was doing her best to rediscover the consistent form of late but, despite a couple of 3-pointers, could only score 14 points on the inward nine for a total of 25. 

Chris's game started to improve on back 9  as dark clouds, or someones finger, started to gather

Bob started the back nine well but, despite some more tree-to-fairway assistance, his lack of recent play saw him also toil to 14 points; all agreed 30 points on his return was not bad. 

Bob chips back to his fairway in fading conditions or someone had accidently set his camera to vivid setting

Tim was the very model of controlled, consistent golf as his perfectly judged fade and solid approach game saw him score another 18 points on the back nine despite, as on the front, a blob on the last. His score of 38 points gave him the clubhouse lead and, just to annoy Jo a little more, he had also snuck his tee-shot inside hers on the nearest-the-pin 16th.

 

Tim putts out with his red hot wand

The final 3-ball were having a battle-royale, well at least two of them were. Robert, like others, was finding it difficult find his form and could only score 13 on the back nine; perhaps he and Andrew will have better fortune when the re-visit King's Lynn next week as members of a rival tour.

Robert looks nervously to see if his latest tee shot has avoided the trees (it hadn't)

Kevin and David were like a couple of gladiators, inspiring each other to better and better scores.

David piles on the points with a tap in par on 11.

Both had a blob-free back nine, and a fair selection of one, two and three-pointers. As they stood on the eighteenth tee, David had levelled his score with Kevin, thanks to a Spanish birdie (see earlier for translation) on the par-5 thirteenth, and he was excited to see Kevin's tee shot head into the trees on the right. To most, this would be it and David scored a solid 2-pointer to score 19 and 35 overall. As regular Tour members and blog followers know, trees are just one of Kevin's many nemeses but, keeping his cool he cleverly chipped out back onto the fairway. 

Kevin chips out of trees on 18

A fine approach shot gave him a par opportunity, which he didn't fail to take, and his 19 points gave him 36 points in total. The joy on his face compared to David's despair was clear for all to see.

So, Kevin was third on 36, Jo second with 37 and Tim the winner with 38 points, and he won the nearest-the-pin prize. A small field are heading to The Suffolk next week for the penultimate event but, as things stand, six members can still win the title at the Tour Championship at Sheringham in October.

Meanwhile, the family of geese had made their way serenely back towards the ninth tee and over to the 17th green. A letter will be sent to King's Lynn Golf Club asking them to ensure that geese play the course in the correct order in future.

As a small post-script, Chris, Vince, Kevin and Andrew all returned to Bawburgh to play in the midweek stableford on Wednesday; scores of 35, 37, 39 and 40 respectively left all of them wondering why does the better game always come one day too late!!

Round Norfolk summer golf round 23 at Fynn Valley

The middle of nowhere cup

With just 4 rounds left in the race to Sheringham and this year’s money list being the closest ever then it was a surprise that so many tour members declared they couldn’t be arsed to travel into deepest Suffolk for round 23 of the RNSG tour at Fynn Valley.

At one stage it looked like there would only be 3 players which would guarantee that they would all be adding to their season winnings. On hearing the news, which would put his lead at threat then, current money list leader Greg, decided that Big Business could wait as he rearranged his diary to make sure he would be in the mix today.

Fynn Valley was making its debut on tour so organisers were hoping it wouldn’t be the same debacle as when we visited West Suffolk “golf” course at the same time last year where the fairways had been replaced by a giant dandelion patch and Bob got 43 points, which were both equally annoying. 

With no need to select groups then today’s trailblazers set off for the first tee to see what Fynn Valley had in store. Little did they know it would be a day of controversy, strops, sulks and much drama.

One of many over the hedge shots on the course as seen from the ladies 2nd tee 

It was very different to any course on tour with many short holes, dog legs galore and ditches/hedges to avoid making it a challenge, especially as no one had played before.

Despite Vince having to drop out the trees on the first and playing from the dropping zone on the second he still managed to have 10 points from 4 holes. He was clearly not happy with his driving so took a provisional on virtually every hole. As he started to use more of them he had 3 blobs in the rest of thre back 9 although still had 16 points.

Chris and Greg were both going along nicely playing sensible golf.

Greg showing his bunker skills early in the round

Chris had one blemish on one of the many doglegs to restrict he to 17 while Greg was blob free for his 17 points.

Chris hits nice tee shot on the third

Kevin started badly and when he casually went to tap in from 6 inches and missed on the 3rd hole the red mist came down. No clubs were thrown but the air was blue as he stropped round the next few holes. Huffing and puffing reaches a peak as he thinned his tee shot through the back and out of bounds on the short par 3 6th. He was well off the pace with 13 points.

Kevin thins his tee shot out of bounds on the 6th

Standing on the 10th tee things were about to change as first Vince hooked his tee shot out of bounds before Kevin pulled his tee shot towards the woods.  He stomped off after it and after exactly 2 mins and 59 secs he found it behind a pile of wood. It was quickly confirmed it was in bounds. More interestingly the area had a GUR sign and a white line on the fairway side but the full area of GUR could not be confirmed. But by a majority vote it was agreed a free drop would be allowed and he went on to make an outrageous par. 

It was not clear how much of this area was GUR, you decide

Things got better still for Kevin as he birdied the 14th to bring himself back in contention and one of the lead. But it was to end in tears as his luck ran out and back to back blobs took him out the running as he finished on 30 points.

Kevin sinks a tricky 2 inch putt for two points

After GUR gate Greg put his game face on and set off with purpose to make sure he won the day. But suddenly the wheels came off as he started to follow Vince’s lead needing to play a series of provisionals as his normally solid long game and tee-shots deserted him. He found most of them but could never pull out a big lead.

Greg missed the green by some distance but found his ball to secure a point

Vince’s game had stated to deteriorate further and the lost ball and provisional count increase. After finding yet another bush off the tee we were treated to a swearing outburst and mini club throwing incident that we are more accustomed seeing from other tour members. As his score drained away he found the bunker in front of the long par 3 17th and, as Kevin stood near by he shanked it straight at him. A nifty swerve saw Kevin avoid getting it smack between the eyes but he still got it on the back to be the first golfer to be hit by a ball twice on tour. His final total of 26 left him out the prizes but he did set a new record having played 28 tee shots in his round.

One of many, many tee shots Vince played today

Chris was matching Greg hole for hole until a poor tee shot into a ditch on the par 3 14th led to a blob and put Greg in a clear lead. However on the next there was more controversy. After going through the green she appeared to duff her chip to the green. On closer inspection it transpired that her ball had been sitting on top of a rabbit hole that was covered in grass. Her suggestion that she should have relief and play the shot again feel on deaf ears and a most unusual outburst and sulk followed although when Kevin and Greg both blobbed the next she cheered up.

Chris’s follow up chip after rabbit hole gate

After none of the players hit the 17th green, meaning a £1.50 rollover jackpot added to Kings Lynn, Chris and Greg both had 30 points standing on the 18th tee. It was a par 5 for the ladies and both players hit good tee shots. Chris advanced her ball further before Greg cracked an excellent 3 wood straight at the flag. Sadly for him he didn’t realise it was a dog leg and he had been aiming for the 9th green. 

However a good chip back left him with a long putt for his 4. Meanwhile Chris had an equally long putt for her par 5 which she confidently struck only for it to lip out leaving a tap in for 6. Greg had a chance for victory but his putt was never on line as they shared the win and more importantly £1.75 each.

For a short course it was a very long round but everyone agreed it was a good and quirky addition to the tour. If selected next year today’s players will have a distinct advantage next time round.

With Greg not playing again until the season finale there are still plenty in contention to be crowned tour champion.

Next week we are off to Kings Lynn for a very different challenge.