Round Norfolk Summer Golf Tour. Round 5 at Gainsborough Lakes course

The Gainsborough Goblet

Before I start the report for round 5 of the round Norfolk Summer Golf Tour I must report that a mistake has been uncovered on day 1's scoring which has affected the prizes. You may recall there was the first ever 4 way tie for 3rd place. However according to the card for Tim he was awarded a 4 for 3 points on the 10th hole which is stroke index 11 so with his impressive 10 handicap he should have only had 2 points for a total of 35 and out of the prizes. The money list has been adjusted but more importantly Tim needs to urgently repay 4p to each of Chris, Mike and Greg. Golf Dinosaur Monster suggests a bank transfer would probably be the quickest solution so if the above can provide Tim with their bank details at the earliest possibility I'm sure this matter can be quickly rectified.

Anyway with important admin out of the way let's catch up with the second days action from Gainsborough, this time on the Lakes course, which was in surprisingly tatty condition.

The players gathering at the start of the contest

With heavy rain forecast Sandie was put in charge of sorting out weather conditions as she has a contact in that department and this resulted in a surprising, virtual rain free round, at least until her group had nearly finished leaving the last group to get a proper soaking.

The first group off was Robert, Tim and Jill but frankly none of them threatened to get involved in the prizes managing no more than 16 pts on either 9 getting 32, 31 and 28 pts respectively.

Robert on the way to a solid 32 pts but out of  the prizes

Jill did manage a good shot on to the 17th, it wasn't her only good shot, which was enough to win the big nearest the pin jackpot prize which was at least some consolation for her efforts.

Jill gets her round underway

As their rounds came to an end Tim felt a spot of rain on the 18th tee. As normal Tim then deliberately hit his ball into trouble so he could pack up early and walk in to avoid any water damage. However on this occasion his plan failed as his ball was found behind a tree. His next attempt was to lose it by whacking it across the fairway into the woods on the other side, but he had forgotten his tendency to bend the ball and a huge banana slice ended with the ball on the green. He quickly sunk the putt for an outrages birdie as he dashed off in order to get into the dry. He late claimed it was all skillful play but I think we all better.

Tim practicing his banana bend (the ball not him) early in the round

Group 2 was where most of the action was as yesterday's winner (Andrew), Runner up (Bob) and third placer (Mike) were drawn together.

They didn't disappoint as the points were racked up over the opening holes with Mike being the most productive with 19 points on the way out. 

Bob had the only Blob of any players on the front 9 but made up for it with a birdie for 18 points.

Bandit Bob hits it straight again. Yawn Yawn

Andrew had a slow start with a run of 4 one pointers but picked up the pace and was back on handicap by birding the short par 5 13th. He couldn't keep up the momentum to finish on 33 pts but it was still good enough for the 3rd place 50p.

Andrew got off to a slow start on the Lakes

Up ahead Greg was again showing some remarkable consistency with his 3rd blob free round on tour this year as he constructed an excellent round of 35 points and second place. 

Greg gets it out a fairway bunker

Fortunately Sandie was making up for lack of blobs in the group by getting 4 in 5 holes as she finished on 24 points. To be fair she had been doing her challenge of playing 27 holes a day so it wasn't surprising she had began to fade. Maybe she should try eating more bananas to keep her strength up. 

Sandy showing great stamina as she kicked off yet another hole on her challenge

Chris had a solid round although no one was sure what the penalty was for grounding your whole body in a bunker when she fell into one. 31 pts wasn't enough for a prize today.

Chris drives off from a rather tatty tee box

The last group had the worst of the conditions and, probably, golf. But they did take the most photos for you all to enjoy.

Tracey never really got going with a mixed round of great shots and miscued ones. One such was a topped drive straight along the ground at a group of geese. A young gosling wasn't expecting that as it watch the the ball bounce straight onto its head and was out for the count. The geese went mental as the circled the young bird like a group of emperor penguins keeping warm in the Antarctic. With geese now all in a small area it gave Tracey the opportunity to sneak round the group and whack the ball into the long rough.

Tracey hits it OOB on the par 5 13th to sum up her day

I'm afraid I don't know what happened to the chick but noted the specials board had baby goose on it when we got back to the bar. 

After John and Kevin had tied on 33 points the day before then all that mattered in this round was to see who would come out on top today as they descended into match play after quickly becoming off the pace for any prizes.

Johns game was a little off today

There was never more than a couple of points between them as the tension racked up.

John and Kevin suggest Jo should play quicker so they can get on with the important matter of the day

Kevin was also looking at completing his 3rd blob free round of the season when the Heavens opened on the 16th fairway. Kevin could not see anything through his glasses but still opted to take a wild swing at roughly where he thought the ball might be and was nearly right as he toed it across a stream into a wooded area never to be seen again and his only Blob of the day.

Kevin about to shank his ball as it rained down with toads and newts

As a result John held a one point lead coming down the last. After Kevin had secured his 2 pts John needed a 2 foot putt for the win but with pressure building he pushed it past the hole (shame) as both players finished on 27 pts and another tie (although strictly speaking Kevin had won on countback, although he pretended it didn't matter).

Sandie, Chris and Greg looking smug sheltering after their round as Sandies contact
had kept it dry for them but not the last group

The only player in contention in the group was Jo who had 18 pts at half way and was 2 under handicap after 11. 

Jo sunk some good long putts today
as Tracey eyes up some baby rabbits to target with her next drive.

However with the weather deteriorating, dead birds littering the fairways and two of the group playing their own match her concentration was broken and with a couple of blobs she faded to finish on 32 points.

Jo eventually cracked at the end of her round

It was just left to see who out of Bob and Mike would win. Sadly for Mike it appeared that playing and caddying 27 holes a day was tiring him out too as he faded badly over the back 9 to collect only 12 more points and out the running (have you thought about eating more bananas?)

Mike regretting not having a banana to keep up his strength

Bob On the other hand, looked like he was going to get another 40 points as he had 34 after 15 holes but when he blobed the next 2 it looked like he may have thrown away the win until he sealed the deal with a final par and 37 points (with 3 blobs!! and much muttering about handicaps in the bar).

Sandie completed her 27 holes in the afternoon with another 14 points for a total of 38 pts for the day which just eclipsed Bobs winning total although despite her protests GDM confirmed that didn't count as a win.

It was a great couple of days golf so thanks to Chris for organising the trip, Golf Dinosaur Monster for admistarting prizes etc and Sandie for the bananas.

The tour moves back to the seaside for the next couple of weeks, staring at Cromer on Wednesday where we will see if Bob the Bandit can maintain his form.

If anyone is lucky enough to be drawn in Mike's group then do ask him about when his uncle was a caddie boy there many years ago, although you probably won't need to request the story.