Round Norfolk summer golf round 13 at Saffron Walden

The Scenic Salver

Round Norfolk summer golf round 13 took place at Saffron Walden on Thursday. After last weeks bumper turn out for the US Open then it was a much reduced, by very high quality, field for this round. Saffron Walden was making its tour debut so had worked hard to have everything in tip top condition. 

Saffron Walden looked in top nick with view of 18th green from club house

Excellent weather had also been laid on and during the round the players enjoyed fine views of a big churchy thing and a large stately home that no one knew the name of.

Stately home from 5th tee, that no one knew the name of

But enough of the tour guide what about the golf?

With a small field the balls in the air method was used to select groupings with the ladies and gents drawn in separate groups. There was much mumbling from the men’s group when it was announced that, for the first time since the introduction of the new ruling, the ladies SSS would give them 3 courtesy shots. They then strolled off into the distance to find their first tee.

Both Jill and Chris had untidy front 9s with Jill missing a few fairways and chipping through a some greens.

Jill gets proceedings underway on the first

While Chris also found chipping a bit tricky leaving plenty of 3 putt opportunities.

Chris teeing off on the 8th

Both players finishing with 13 front 9 points.

In the group behind Andrew told his partners that he had actually played the course before, with his aunt when he was a young lad. As Saffron Walden celebrates its centenary this year he must have played it in its first few years so couldn’t remember much about it as the then recently planted saplings were now mighty trees. 

Although he scored on every front 9 hole it was a bit of a scramble and with no pars only 14 points had been secured.

Andrew playing down the second with the large churchy thing in view

Money list leader, Bob, was having a strange day. He started with 3 successive blobs as he duffed a number of shots sideways but then recovered with a couple of pars and if he hadn’t missed a some short putts would have had more than the 11 points he did manage.

Bob putting for par on the 4th to secure his first points of the day.
Unfortunately it took him 3 putts so only the 1 point

After spending most of last week looking for balls in the woods Kevin had decided to use his driver only in emergencies which proved a sensible approach as he was involved in every hole and only an untidy 3 putt stopped him having a blob free opening. However he was clear leader at halfway on 17 points.

Kevin's tee shot to the 5th with the mystery stately home in the background.
There was real drama for him at this hole although not until he reached the 10th ????

Jill started the back 9 with 3 pars in the opening 4 holes with only a blob on the straight forward par 3 11th slowing down her progress. However her progress was not the only slow thing as the pair had to wait on every hole for the group ahead to finish. She did hit the nearest the pin 18th green to make a final par and record 29 points plus win todays nearest the pin prize.

Jill waiting on one of many holes for the group ahead to finish

Chris was also having a better back 9 but still chipped poorly. Being a show pony she did produce an excellent chip when the course Marshall was watching so she suggested he watched all her chips from then on. Clearly thinking he had pulled he did and reappear for all her chips shots for the rest of the round as she started to rack up the points. She was just one point behind Jill standing on the 18th tee but a good tee shot and 2 putts secured her 3 points and a tie but for what place?

Chris deciding what club to pick for her next tee shot
before surprisingly picking her driver (again)

The group behind were never able to catch the group ahead as most holes now included a ball search in the woods although for a change not for Kevin’s ball. With 6 to play Bob and Andrew were tied on 19 points, 4 behind Kevin but then Bobs duffs returned as he blobbed the next 3 holes. His back 9 had 3 blobs and 3 pars as he finished in last place on 24 points.

Bob working out how far to the nearest tree

Andrew was doing his best to keep Bob in it as his normal straight driver deserted him and he had to chip out of the woods and trees on several occasions. However an excellent up and down out of the bunker on the last kept him a point clear of Bob on 25 points.

Where do you think Andrew is playing from on this photo

This just left Kevin to see if he could keep his half way lead but disaster was soon to strike. As he reached for his favourite 7 iron for a simple chip and run on the 10th he couldn’t find it and realised he had left it on the 5th green. With the group behind (who probably had his club) a long way back he would just have to go on without. It is amazing how many times he found you need a 7 iron when you don’t have one. Despite this and some rather short tee shots with his 3 rescue he continued to score well and just needed a par on the last for 36 points. After hitting a green and a good putt he only had a 6 inch putt and the job was done but he yipped at it and saw it trickle by, although he did make the 2 inch putt back for 35 for a comprehensive win and course record.

Kevin misses putt on last which would have given him 36 points. Grrrrrrr

The course was probably in best condition of any played on tour this year to date so will hopefully be selected for next year so a larger number of players can enjoy it.

It’s back to Norwich next week as the tour moves on to Barnham Broom and the start of the best 3 front an back 9's in July, August, September (and October).