Constable Country welcomes the RNSG (Round 2 Brett Vale)

 Welcome to Constable Country

The 2021 RNSG tour caravan ventured to one of it's more remote venues this week, as players made the long trip to Brett Vale Golf Club in Suffolk's Constable Country. This was everyone's first visit and everywhere seemed, though well manicured, very flat and we started to wonder why there was a "Vale" in the club's name; this would become apparent soon enough.

With some Covid-19 restrictions in place, the field of six met on the clubhouse balcony for a tasty bacon roll and coffee before groups were chosen using the latest app on Kevin's phone - a random group generator! It deemed that Greg, Andrew and Kevin would go out first, followed by Tim, Bob & Christine; the excitement of this new method was almost uncontainable! 

Kevin gets proceedings underway on the first

Kevin started strongly, with pars at the first two holes and a bogey at the third, for an early lead on 8 points but, as we entered the more rolling countryside, the wheels were about to fall off. The picturesque fourth hole is a par-3, with water to the left, which Greg found, and water behind, which Kevin found; Andrew found the green but 3-putted! 

Andrew completing his 3rd putt on the 4th while Kevin and Greg pondered what ball to use on the next

More water on the fifth hole saw none of the group score points. However, the group steadied and, after the front none, Kevin had 15, Greg 14, while Andrew struggled to just 11! 

Greg tees off on the 5th on a way to a group blob. Kevin is keen to hit his new ball into the pond to keep the other one company

In the second group, Tim was sporting his new low handicap for the first time in RNSG history and the pressure resulted in a blob at the first. He recovered, however, with three 3-pointers on the front nine and a fantastic birdie for 4 points on the fifth - the same hole the first group had failed to score on!

Tim was soon in the groove

Christine started steady, but only managed one 3-pointer on the ninth hole. 

Chris on the way to a solid opening 9 holes

Bob, meantime, was sporting a new lockdown beard giving him that trendy "living-on-the-streets" look. His golf, however, was in good form and a fantastic tee-shot on the second led to a birdie two for 4 points. Controversy did follow this group, as they struggled to deal with the very wide ball-retrievers on the flagsticks which seemed to fill most of the holes. After a couple of bounce outs, they decided to lift the retrievers for each other before they putted. The rules committee are split on this one, but their ingenuity has to be commended. At the end of the front nine, it had obviously helped as Tim had 18 points, Bob 17 and Chris 15. 

Controversial or what!

The back nine started with a downhill 97-yard par 3 - no trouble at all, or it shouldn't have been. Andrew 3-putted for the only point in the first group, and Tim parred it, while Bob made his second birdie two of the day. The rest .... well, let's just leave it there! Andrew's form was struggling but, with 10 points on the last 4 holes (including a birdie tow on the 16th) helped him scrape 15 points on the back nine for a total of 26. 

Part of Andrews back 9 struggles

Greg was hitting the ball well but not scoring many points and was probably disappointed with his eventual 15 on the back and 29 overall. 

Greg also had a few bunker issues on the back 9

Kevin, with the help of a friendly tree and some straight drives, deservedly won the group with 17 on the back and 15 overall - time would tell whether this would be enough to take one of the major prizes available.

 

Kevin about to drive off as Andrew and Greg read a short novel waiting for him to actually hit it.

Chris struggled on the back nine, obviously saving her form for the County Championships on Friday, and her 10 points on the back left her in last place overall on 25. However, it was noticeable that her outfit had changed from matching Bob on the first tee to matching Tim on the last - it was good of her to go to such lengths to blend in with her partners!

With people now watching Chris plays an excellent bunker shot on 18.

Bob was going great guns until he blobbed the last two holes; we can only presume that living on the streets and the lack of food eventually caught up with him. His 16 points, however, did enough to secure second place, just ahead of Kevin. 

Tim trying to confuse Bob by suggesting the next hole is over the wood.

Tim's good form recently continued into the back nine and, despite a couple of mistakes, he also managed 16 points and a winning total of 34. A much enjoyed day and a golf course which, with time and work, will become a popular venue.

Thoughts soon turned to Thetford next week and the field of 11 that have entered, leaving one important question - will the random group generator cope?