The Walt Disney Classic
9 hardy folk turned up at Caldecott Hall for the latest tour
round and completion of the sought after Yarmouth Triples Series, which had
unfortunately narrowly missed out on £million funding when Rolex opted to
sponsor their European Tour series instead.
Previously described as a marmite course there were mixed
emotions about the Caldecott course to come. Clearly the green staff were in
the “summers nearly over mode” as manicuring left a lot to be desired, indeed
grass on the tee of the 4th hole would have been a nice feature. The
greens were true but slow running at about 3.5 on the imaginary stimp-meter.
For a change competitors did not have to battle through
packed spectator areas to get to the first tee. Indeed as it turned out with no
wildlife spotted all round even the animals had opted to give this one a miss.
Cleary they had seen the weather forecast.
With Kevin, John and Bob all turning up in identical shirts
and trouser combos it was too embarrassing to send them all out together.
Kevin, John and Ian went off first starting and finishing like greyhounds. They
may be fast but would that pay dividends in scoring terms?
Vince, Tim and Bob set off next, ignoring advice both to get
a wiggle on because of the forecast rain and to take note of the worldwide Golf
Tour agreement to speed up play. Would their DeChambeau type diligence help
them accumulate more points?
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| Tim gets in the zone on the first |
Greg (who was still alive after all - check out the previous blog), Chris and
welcome returner Will brought up the rear. Could they keep it together in the
face of NHS type waiting times between shots? With Chris getting 850 yards of
teeing benefit AND 2 extra shots could any one stop her recent run of good
form? And how often could Greg mention that point before getting whacked by
Chris?!
On the first Ian, making only his second appearance of the
year, hit a magnificent tee shot which promised much. However as we know in
golf a good first shot or a good first hole is a bad omen and thus it proved. A
couple of blobs, including the first saw Ian get to 13 points at the turn.
After 2 good rounds already this week that was disappointing and we expect a
quick bounce back in the weeks ahead from this wily veteran.
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| Ian's fine teeshot down the first with his shiny new driver |
John, who in case any of you had forgotten has represented
England at old boys hockey, was a little off his best with 15 points. That was
a shame as this was a big day for John. Being his 6th event of the year
he joins the Big Boys leaderboard and was hoping for a rise up the rankings.
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| John demonstrating some hockey drills as he attempts a putt on the second |
Kevin was not himself. A stunning 20 points, no blobs, and
hitting it straighter than Michael Gove’s loyalty to his friends, looked like
this was to be his day.
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| Kevin's birdie attempt on the 4th is on its way but comes up just short |
It was all happening in Group 2. Bob enjoyed some great
golf, alas that was being played by Tim and Vince. Bob had 11 points, including
a negative yardage shot after hitting a tree and having to duck as the ball
shot back past him. Tim had a nice birdie on the 3rd to help him to
19 points. Vince did his normal routine – 6 x 3 pointers and a couple of less
good holes saw him to 21 points. Wow. The Mexican Bandit was back in the mix
for sure.
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| Vince on his way to one of many 3 pointers |
In Group 3, Greg found the Mickey Mouse element of the Walt
Disney classic to be both good and bad. A woeful first tee shot undeservedly
dribbled 200 yards down the fairway, just passed Chris’ tee box in fact
(seriously!). Then a well hit iron to the green went into the childrens sandy
play area. A “bunker” with a cavern under the lip. Not nice. The ball needed to take on the trajectory of a
North Korean missile and not even Seve would have got that out. On his next
hole Greg dragged right into the bushes but made a save from 70 yards to keep
the blobs away. Good short game play outweighed mixed driving as Greg scrambled
to 19 points.
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| Greg teeing off while still dry |
That was only just ahead of Welcome Back Will with 16 points and Chris with 17, a points haul that didn’t fully reflect some good all round form from todays best-dressed attendee. Will’s iron only approach to golf saw an impressive start back to golf. Recently retired we hope to see more of Will soon, and no doubt Mrs Will will appreciate skilled use of the iron too.
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| Best dressed golfer, Will, decides to take an iron for this long approach shot |
At half way as the rain started to descend the scores on the
doors were close:
1.
Vince 21 points
2.
Kevin 20 points
3.
Tim and Greg 19 points
As the back 9 got underway the old Kevin was back with a
rapid implosion including 8 penalty shots on 9 holes. Researchers are
suggesting that to be potentially record breaking although most thought Kevin
had been far worse in times past. With goose well and truly cooked a meagre 12
points took the Tournament Director out of the running with a 32 point finish.
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| Rather flattering photo of worst dressed man Kevin just keeping the ball out of the woods on 14 |
Ian improved with a par par par finish to add 15 to his earlier
13 and a lowly 28 point haul. It wasn’t that exciting so the blogger will leave
it there. The less said the better. We all know those days far too well.
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| Ian duffs his chip to the 10th into the trees for a disappointing blob |
John (who by the way has represented England Seniors at
hockey) had a very creditable 19 points to get to 34 points overall. Just out
of the prizes.
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| Is it golf or is it hockey? |
Meantime back in the middle group, Greg had firmly handed
the bad back baton over to Bob who badly struggled. In the end Bob took some
illegal drug assistance to bag 8 points in 3 holes. Just as well as he only had
13 in the back 9 for a wooden spoon 24 points. Never nice to play with a bad
back though Bob so well done for sticking at it.
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| No photos of Bob in action today so here's on from the archives |
As the rain tumbled heavily Tim blew a solid effort with
late blobs on 16 and 17. Tim had 17 points on the back 9 for 36 points overall.
Decent stuff again for the regular podium finisher.
With 3 further 3 point holes Vince had reached the maximum
number of 3 pointers for a tour member in a round (9) if they ever want to be
invited back, so threw in a few bad ones to make his score and handicap look
reasonable. 38 points was indeed a good effort. Vince is now taking a break
from the tour driving his camper van up to the far reaches of the Highlands and
Islands. At least today was good practice in holding people behind up!
Bringing up the rear, and rising above the muttering about
the front group being in the warm and dry with a coffee and cake, Will came
through a mini stumble to post 15 points and 31 points (only one blob) overall.
That’s a great start back on tour, and politely missing out on the prize money
first time up too, which was well received by fellow players.
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| Will decides to take an iron from the tee |
Chris kept plugging away as she does. She too found her
Mickey Mouse moment when a well struck second to the heart of the 13th
took a trampoline bounce into the forest never to be found again. Despite that
Chris added another 17 points to get to 34 points overall and took the
disappointment of not sharing the 50 pence prize for 3rd place that
she deserved well.
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| Chris with her game face on as she looks to beat her ball into submission |
Greg stormed into the back 9 sensing possibilities of a good
round. A chip on the 10th ramming in off the flag for a birdie and a
lip out birdie par on the next taking him to 3 under was an early move ahead of
the field. A run of 6 x 2 pointers was then interrupted at the nearest the pin
hole the 17th. Greg not only snuck a foot inside Vince’s shot but
also nailed the putt for the 3rd birdie of the day.
In torrential rain Greg had a 6 footer par putt on the last
for 41 points to join Kevin and Andrew on the best points of the season round.
Alas a horse-shoe lipper meant it wasn’t to be. 40 points was still a new
course record though, Greg’s first ever, and Chris the previous record holder
handed over the mantle with her normal good grace (not that she even knew she
held that record).
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| Greg in torrential rain |
Overall that left Greg first on 40 points (no blobs), with
Mexican Vince second on 38 and Steady Eddie Tim 3rd on 36 points. (Note on reviewing the cards Tim only had 35 points as he had been awarded 3 points for a par on a hole he got no shot, although this didn't affect the prizes)
It also meant Greg now holds the newly created Yarmouth Triple
Crown (Yarmouth and Caister, Gorleston, and Caldecott) and nudges a whole 16
pence ahead of Barren Patch Bob in the overall order of merit.
Next up Newmarket – place your bets on next weeks winner.
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