The Barnham Broom Valley Vase. Round 14

The 14th round of the 2019 Round Norfolk Summer Golf Tour took place at Barnham Broom on Tuesday 2nd July. As a result of several withdrawals, the line-up was reduced to three – Jo, Robert and Bob. On the plus side, organising the groups was a lot quicker than normal.

Some discussion took place about the possibility of Jo receiving extra shots but after a lot of head scratching it was decided to refer it to Golf Dinosaur afterwards – leaving the possibility of a VAR like review affecting the outcome of the match.

Despite the low turnout, every effort had been made to prepare the course and limit its use by other golfers. It felt like we had the course to ourselves and the group wondered what it would be like to have your own golf course. Then some of the group realised that they did have their own golf course!

Expectations were high for an enjoyable round of golf. After 20 minutes of demanding stretches and practise shots (actually coffee in the Sports Bar), play got under way.

Group selfie taken by someone not used to taking selfies!! Robert's obviously done this before but Bob and Joe seem to have forgotten all of Golf Dinosaur's media training.

Robert started on the par 5 first hole with a strong drive but missed the fairway to the right. After an unsuccessful search he was forced to take a drop and despite a good shot into the green was not able to score. Bob started well and was on the green for three, just missed a birdie putt and sank the return for a par. Jo was through the green in 4 shots and got down to secure a 6 for two points. First blood to Bob.

Bob at the 1st starting his back-swing (or in the middle of his down-swing?) - answers on a postcard.

The next two holes offered plenty of water jeopardy which was avoided by everyone. However, Jo was the only one to make a par (on the 3^rd) which helped ease her into the lead.

Jo sending her 2nd shot on the 2nd hole over the water and on to the fringe of the green.

Meanwhile, Robert was quietly getting himself back into contention after a poor start and a magnificent tee shot on the long par 3 4th set him up for a narrow birdie miss and a tap in par. Bob hit a poor tee shot and ended up with a 5. Jo, despite landing in the hazard, still got onto the green and down for a 5 and 1 point to maintain her slender lead.

3 balls on the 4th green - Robert's (on the left) there in 1 and the other two there in 3

The next 5 holes looked like it could be the turning point in the game as everyone struggled to play to their handicaps. Both Robert and Bob had two blobs but Jo managed to score on every hole.

At the halfway stage the scores were:

Jo – 16      Robert – 12      Bob - 11  

Jo and Bob started the back 9 well, managing to hit the narrow fairway of the par 5 10th, and both comfortably scored 2 points. Robert on the other hand pushed his drive just into the rough on the right and then zig-zagged his way up to the green but ran out of shots. 

Robert trying to thread the needle on the 10th.

The par 4 11^th (the 2^nd hardest hole) saw Jo sink a long putt for par and then go on to recover from a green side bunker on the 12^th to make 5 and extend her lead. Bob dug out a 5 on the 11^th after a poor tee shot but failed to score on the 12^th after hitting a superb tee shot (that’s golf!). Robert only managed a point from a good position on the 11^th but recovered well on the 12^th from two poor shots to make a 5 and move into second place with Bob.

Jo rushing back from her pit stop on the 12th.

Robert looking like he's got too many clubs to choose from but actually managing two trolleys at once (while Jo ambles back from her pit stop) and proving that the age of chivalry is not dead.

After 12 holes the scores were:

Jo – 23      Robert – 15       Bob - 15

For the next 4 holes, Robert and Bob went toe to toe in pursuit of second place. By the start of the 17^th, Bob was leading by 1 point. At this point, Robert got careless off the tee and failed to score on the next two holes. Bob managed to score on both holes, finishing in what must be the lowest second place score ever (verification required by statto!).

Meanwhile, Jo was sailing serenely on, finishing with a par on the 18^th, and showing the boys how to play golf. The course record (held by the author) could have been at risk if a few more putts had dropped instead of slipping just by. Her only blemish came on the 16^th, just after Robert whispered to Bob that she hadn't had a blob!

The final scores were: 

Jo – 34      Bob – 25      Robert - 21

No-one made the green on the nearest the pin, although Jo was just inches off the green. So a huge sum of £1(?) will be carried forward to next week at Bury St Edmunds.

Footnote:

It turns out that the Bawburgh Ladies are playing Barnham Broom in a League match very soon so Jo was keen to play this round to check out the state of the course. Taking a leaf out of the USA soccer team play-book, she took the opportunity to sneak into the ladies changing room afterwards to look at who would be playing. That’s when it all unravelled as she bumped in to the Barnham Broom Ladies captain and tried to convince her she was looking for the toilet!!  Just make sure you win Jo.

Fun Fact:

It turns out that Robert’s nickname is ‘Bear’, so be careful next time you give him a hug!