Victor Vince is Back in the Groove at a Birdie Packed Rook-less Park
As the British Open got underway 5 hopefuls headed towards Rookery Park for the latest RSNG summer tour event. With a 60% female presence, the ladies were getting 2 extra shots on the SSS adjustment added to their handicaps. All kittens and recipes, 4-packs of lager and Sporting Life editions were left at home in this gender free event. Without a Frazer or Spanner in sight Greg was in the chair to get things underway, but with traffic jams en route there was no ball draw as Sandie and Jo were late arriving. Greg, Jill and Vince went first followed by Sandie and Jo just behind.
The weather was mizzly but warm, making a light covering of moisture on a bone dry surface tricky to master. Sadly with the stands having been shipped over to Portrush and the crowds watching golf on TV there was another disappointing spectator audience of zero to support this event, although rather irritatingly greenkeepers did their best to noisily follow the groups and fulfil that golfing prediction of a good walk spoiled. Zero was a popular number as it was the amount of rooks spotted at Rookery Park. Strangely the golf pro was not up for rebating green fees for that blatant piece of mis-selling.
In group 1 Greg stormed away with a fairway and green hit in regulation but missed the 4 foot birdie putt. Decentish play continued on much of the first 5 holes for Greg until rumblings of a bad back re-surfaced limiting his swing. Unable to even put the ball down on the tee Greg gave it up as a bad job after 7 holes and retired hurt. His goose was cooked, his race was run and the larger body shaped lady had sung. With 3 back interruptions in 3 months it looks like more detailed medical opinions are needed.
Meantime back with those playing all 18, there was a friendly approach to the game with Jill, Sandie and Vincento all getting 12 points, and Jo on 15 points. Jill managed a birdie on a par 5, Vince had his normal collection of good scores and blobs. Jo was the most consistent with no blobs at all, and it has to be said a very neatly marked card that was handed in. The Tour has not yet awarded a handwriting prize but that’s one for consideration for sure.
On the 9th hole the 2 x 2 balls came together as a 4 ball to complete the round as Greg miserably slunk off home for 48 hours of ceiling watching.
Vince had just returned from a couple of weeks in the Arctic and with endless sun boosting his melanin levels to an all timehigh, he had clearly de-frosted posting a devastating run of 12 points in 3 holes, including a birdie 2 for 5, a 4 for 4 and a paltry six for 3. With the risk of securing at least 3 more rounds of significant verbal abuse for having too many shotsVince decided to ease back and protect the handicap with 8 points in the next 7 holes to finish on 20 points for the 9 and 32 points overall.
Jill produced the kind of form we are used to – steady, solid and 17 points towards the best front and back 9 holechallenge, to get to 29 in total.
Jo stumbled early on in the back 9 with a couple of blobs but a strong 9 points in 3 holes finish including her own birdie saw her repeat the 15 point score for 30 overall.
Sandie who had played well but struggled on the greens on the first 9 put together her best back 9 of the season. Quick off the blocks with 9 points in 3 holes including a birdie 2, :Sanders” had 18 points after 8 holes, …. And 18 after 9 too. That made 30 points for Sandie.
So with every one getting a birdie and with the newly introduced SSS adjustment law coming into play and giving the ladies 2 extra points it made the outcome amazingly close.Vince had 32 + 0 (£2.50), Sandie and Jo 28 + 2 each in a tie for the imaginery silver medal (.75p). Jill with 27 + 2 had 29 points just a smidgeon behind (0p).
STOP PRESS: Sadly there were 2 mistakes in terms of points allocated on the cards. Jill wrongly gave herself 5 for 1 on a ladies par 5 so should have had 2 points and a total of 30. While Sandie had a 6 for 2 on a par 4 with only 1 shot so should have been 1 point for total 29. Therefore Jill and Sandie swap places.
No photos this week due to injured photographer issues. Apologies.
So we head further south to warmer climes and to the beach next week to Felixstowe. A good turnout is shaping up, have fun.
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