RNSG round 8. Diss

Border Battle

Autumn seemed to have arrived early as a new Magnificent Seven crossed the southern border into the untamed wilderness of Suffolk. Jumpers and trousers, rather than ponchos and chaps, were the order of the day and, based on the scores, there wasn't a bandit in sight! The course looked (and, in fact, was) in excellent condition for our arrival and pre-match discussion was about how golf is trying to ensure the now not-so-new 3-minute search time is adhered to by players. It was agreed that everyone has a responsibility, and a stop-watch on their phone, so there was no excuse.

The not-so-randomizer continued to pair tour members with those they had been randomly selected to play with previously, though no-one really complained, and Jill, Kevin & Andrew headed out first. Diss opens with a gentle par-3, at which the all three made double bogeys! The use of the stop-watch was immediately put into use after Kevin's tee-shot at the 1st, and again at the 2nd and 4th.

Andrew and Kevin having fun in bunkers and rough while scoring nil points while Jill
waits to make a birdie

There were very few highlights during the first group's front-9. Jill made an excellent birdie-2 at the 4th, having waited patiently for Andrew & Kevin to spend far too much time (playing not looking) in the rough and/or bunker. Kevin made good 3-point pars and the 5th and 9th, 

Kevin about to duff the ball off 7th tee

whilst Andrew did likewise on the 7th and 9th,

Andrew struggling in rough on 8th as Jill looks on

but too many mistakes led them both to only 13 points; Jill led the way in the group with 14 points having blobbed the open two holes.

Jill had a few early issues getting her round going

The second group of Chris, Jo, Bob & Robert appeared to fare better. Chris and Jo both got a 3-point par on the 1st, and Chris followed this up with more of the same on the 5th and 6th whilst heading towards an impressive 18 on the front-9. 

Jill slaps away another good drive

Bob was not far behind and, despite a couple of blobs, scored 16 thanks to an excellent birdie-2 and 4 points on the 7th. 

Bob confronts his golf trolley in a stand-off over what club to use

Jo's good start was followed by another 3-point par at the 3rd, but she fell away to score just 15. Robert's score of 14 was impressive, bearing in mind the blobs at the 1st, 8th and 9th and, although disappointed, he was unaware that this would have been a competitive score in the other group!

Robert tees off on 4th

The back-9 started well for the first group - 5 points for each of them on the 10th and 11th - but poor shots, inconsistent swings and some unlucky lies would make the closing holes a struggle. Andrew blobbed the par-3 12th and failed to make any further progress, finishing on just 28 points. Jill could not find a 3-pointer after the 10th and her 16 points on the back-9 gave her a total of 30. Kevin's excellent pars on the 14th and 18th (including an up and down from the bunker) helped him amass a credible 18 points and 31 overall.

Jill photobombs Kevin’s tee shot 

In the group behind, Jo's struggles continued and, despite only blobbing the 18th, she could only score 13 points and join Andrew in joint 6th place on 28. Robert did manage to score on every hole on the back-9, but with only a 3-point par on the 12th, his 15 points left him in 5th place on 29.

As Kevin waited patiently to see if his score would be good enough for the main prizes, Bob was making good progress, despite 5 1-pointers; the 3-point pars on the 12th, 15th and 16th helped him score 16 points for a total of 32. Bob's par-3 record was excellent - 14 points over 5 holes - made him suggest afterwards that a new par-3 competition should be introduced, but there was little support from the others!

Meanwhile, it was becoming a comfortable and almost emphatic tour win for Chris. No blobs all day and three more 3-point pars on the back-9 saw her score 17 and a winning total of 35. Not even Kevin's mention on the 18th green that he had got up and down from the bunker could put her off - she just repeated the feat with a putt from off the green!

A fun, but tough, round for all the players and congratulations to Chris on her victory. The Tour heads to the Wild West next, and to a new venue - Gog Magog. Will the weather be warmer? Will the bandits reappear? Tune in next time!

Virus-free. www.avg.com

RNSG Round 7. The Olympics at Purdis Heath

 The Olympics at Purdis Heath

It had been a 5 year wait but the RNSG Olympic gold medal was finally up for grabs at Purdis Heath on Tuesday.

A small field of 6 had made it to the first tee where the randomizer once again paired the Bernard's together in group1, this time with Chris, while Greg, Kevin and Bob made up group 2.

It was perfect golfing conditions with light winds and sunny skies so Kevin's course record of 36 looked under threat and it turned out that it certainly was.

There had been several medical bulletins at the start of the day. Chris was suffering with blistered feet and swollen ankles after her walking break but still got off to a solid start. It then got a bit untidy and with no pars on the front 9 she only had 13 points.

Chris tees off on 10th for her first par of the day

Robert was complaining about his poor putting although being the only player who wanted the pin removed after months of it not being allowed may have been a clue. He did manage a couple of pars on the front 9 to be one of a cluster of players on 16 points at the turn.

Robert tees off on 6th for his second par of the day

Jo's medical update was that her bad back was getting better and there was no sign of a problem as she started to rack up the points. A birdie on the 7th helped her to 20 pts at half way.

Jo in action

As it turned out 20 pts was only good enough for a share of the halfway lead as Kevin (blistered little toe) also had 20 pts. This was all the more surprising as he was having trouble getting the ball off the tee, with shanks, mishits and daisy cutting drives being all on display. However his putter was red hot and a number of long single putts made up for the adventures getting to the green.

Kevin on way to par on short 9th as it was short

Bob had not reported any health issues but started off with a blob. He was also blowing hot and cold too but another player on 16 pts.

Bob in early bunker trouble

Greg reported he was pretty much over his dizziness that had effected him so much at The Open that he won it. He started strongly with 3 opening pars before fading slightly to another on 16 pts. The lowlight being going into 3 successive bunkers on the 8th hole for an unsurprising blob.

Greg in the 3rd of the bunkers he found on the 8th

However Greg's bunker troubles were only just starting as he tried to visit as many more as possible at the start of the back 9 as 3 successive sand filled blobs meant he only had 2 points from 5 holes. However after a bit of a talking to he then finished off with 4 more pars to restore some respectability with 28 points but still last place.

Greg, Bob and Kevin all hit the 15th green and end with pars as Greg's recovery begins

Chris started the back 9 with a couple of pars but her recovery was short lived as she faded and ended on 29 pts.

Chris, unlike her ball, was in the bunker at the 13th but still manged to scramble a point

The chickens came home to roost for Kevin on the back 9 as his poor tee work continued but he was now also finding plenty of bunkers as well. His putter couldn't save him and he limped in, literately, with only 11 back 9 points for 31 and out of the medals.

Another classic drive from Kevin put him in trouble again

Robert was still complaining about his putting until he agreed to the suggestion of keeping the pin in and suddenly the putts started to drop. With a strong finish he leapt up to 33 pts and secured the bronze medal for team Barnard.

Unfortunately I've no photo of Robert putting but this one will have to do

You never know with Bob if you are going to get a Bob charge or collapse on the back 9 but today it was the former as he started to get his game together and quickly move himself into medal contention. 19 points on the back 9 had him on 35 points but would it be enough for gold.

Bob makes a great bunker shot on the 11th

No. As Jo was the only player to hold in together over both 9's and the gold medal was never in doubt. A second birdie on the 18th was just the icing on the cake as she stood proud atop of the podium. 

Jo hits another excellent drive, probably

Due to Covid restrictions there was sadly no medal presentation (or medals) but hopefully there will be by the time the 2024 RNSG Olympic golf gets under way.

With 3 rounds left Jo is strongly placed in a number of competitions but the fat lady hasn't sung yet as the tour moves on to Diss in a fortnight.