Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016. Round 17 at Barnham Broom Valley course

Wednesday saw Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016 round 17 take place at Barnham Broom Valley course. The day started with controversy when the 5 players balls were sent into the air but no clear groupings emerged. After much discussion and video playbacks the officials ruled that a rethrow would be required which this time was successful. Bob and Ian were placed in the first group and headed off to the opening tee.

Ian getting the competition underway on the first

Ian started with a solid teeshot before the hole petered out ending in a point. The excitement of playing his first round off a new handicap of 17 seemed to be effecting his play as a couple of blobs and a single par restricted him to 14 pts on the front 9.

Bob was confused on the first hole as he appeared to think it was a par 12 only to discover his 12 shots didn't qualify him for any points. He soon put this disappointment behind him as he followed up with a birdie and par. The birdie took him to the top of the eclectic leader board. Progress then slowed and a blob on number 8, when he found the river kept him to 16 pts at half way and a 3 way share of the lead.

Bobs approach to hole 6

Meanwhile there was more pre round drama in the group behind when on the way to the first tee Mike rammed his trolley into the back of Sandies leg causing both a yelp and some skin breakage. Sandie was making a welcome return to the tour but may have been affected by the trolley incident as she failed to score over the first two holes. She seemed to have recovered her composure over the next three holes before spotting that Mike had marched on ahead of her as she prepared for her shot. Spotting her chance for revenge she smacked her ball at Mike but only managed to hit his bag. However this was a start of 3 more blobs and only 9 points at half way.

Sandie putting for a point on 2nd hole, she missed

As usual Mike had started strongly before surprisingly slipping up with a few mishits and 3 successive one point holes put him on 16 pts.

Mikes approach to the 1st leading to a par

Kevin had been playing poorly recently and seemed most interested in winning today's most balls in the water comp going on the 2nd and 7th however some good recovery play kept him up with the leaders on 16 as well. 

Kevins teeshot on 5

As the back 9 started any comeback from Ian soon disappeared as he only got 3 points in the first 4 holes and despite a solid finish it wasn't going to be his day as he finished out of the money with 27 pts.

Bob was being a bit inconsistent on the back 9 with 2 blobs and 4 pars as he came down the last and found him facing a short down hill putt for another par which he sadly fluffed to finish on 32 pts.

Sandie was now focusing on setting a new tour record of most blobs in one round, currently standing at 7, and she left nothing to chance by securing 4 more blobs and a new record of 9 for the round. On the 9 holes she could be bothered to score points on she managed 20.

Sandie on the way to a record breaking number of blobs

Mike started the back 9 badly when he tried to hit his second shot on the 10th hole through a tree trunk just in front of him with the ball bouncing away never to be seen again and letting Kevin into a 2 point lead.

Great shot from Mike onto the green and the long 11th leading to a par

The gap remained until on the par 5 13th  Kevin once again found the river from the tee. His second ball was in a bunker after 5 shots only, for the second week running, Kevin holed the bunker shot for 2 pts. Mike played the hole properly for a 2 pt par but the injustice of it all impacted his game and he fell away to finish on 29 and 3rd place.

Kevin made sure the most balls in the river prize was his with a 4th entry on 17 but again scrambled a point meaning he needed a par on the last for an unexpected win. He soon found himself with the same downhill putt as Bob but this time it was a successful effort for a win as he stretched his lead at top of the earnings list.

Kevin chips close on 15 to secure his par

Next week it is off to Ufford Park where even more water can be found. Will anyone be able to go in on more than 4 occasions, will anyone hit it further into the woods than Bob has done this year and can anyone get 10 blobs in a round. All this plus chances to close the gaps in the season competitions will make it a fascinating day.

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016. Round 16 at Kings Lynn

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016 round 16 took place at Kings Lynn yesterday.  A field of 4 had entered all of which wanted to add to their seasons earnings as the road to Sheringham heads towards its climax. After a few weeks away from the tour Chris made a welcome return with her handicap having recently been cut by two.

In a Carbon copy of the US PGA at Purdis Heath Ian charged into an early lead with 4 pars in the opening 6 holes before In-explicitly getting into trouble off the tee on seven and failing to score on the next two holes, ending the 9 on 18 pts.

Another par for Ian early on the opening holes

Kevin was still struggling off the tee but was scrambling well to stay in touch before a run of 5 1 pts in 6 holes restricted him to 14 pts.

Kevin putting up short on the 4th

Whereas Kevin's driving may have been a little wonky, as he skirted the edge of the woods on several occassions, then Bob was taking no risks in his mission to win, who can hit the ball furthest into the trees, for the second week running as he buried his opening drive (and then several more) into the woods however when he did keep it on the fairway he scored well and had a respectable 15 at the turn.

Bobs opening drive on the first was straight into the left hand woods never to be seen again

Chris's reduced handicap didn't seem to be impacting her as she got off to a flying start including back to back birdies on 5 and 6. Her putter was red hot and she had a clear half way lead on 21 pts.

Good approach to awkward second green

As he saw today's title slip away Ian decided his best chance for glory was to make sure he retained his, who can go in the most bunkers, title with a magnificent display going in bunkers on virtually every back 9 hole and on the 17th even managed a fairway and green side double. This tactic restricted his points total to 34 and left Kevin and Bob a chance to catch up.

Oh look, Ian's in the bunker on 11.
 (note the same one Kevin was to hole out from moments later)

Chris started the back 9 as she played on the front with two more pars. It looked like this years current 'most points in a round' comp of 40 pts would be shattered until a poor teeshot on the easy par 3 12th bounced off a tree into a small pond followed by another blob on the next as well, which stalled her progress. However with 36 points after 17 holes she could not be caught so decided to put in two entries to the 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods' comp which were good, as they were never seen again, but the judges felt the consistency Bob had shown hitting into the woods made him the winner.

Another good tee shot on 10 led to a par

Bob fell away at the start of the back 9, including back to back blobs on 13 and 14, before a birdie on 15 put him back in the hunt for 2nd place. However only 5 pts over the final 3 holes left him just outside the money on 30 pts.

Bobs tee shot to the par 3 12th.

Kevin put an end to his long run of single points when he holed his bunker shot at 11 for a birdie. This seemed to spur him on as he was only player to score on all back 9 holes but some untidy play over the last 3 holes restricted him to 32 points and 3rd place as Ian's final hole par meant he collected the second place pound.

Kevin cant believe his teeshot on 13 has bounced back off a tree and not in the woods.
 Bob then showed him the proper way by burring his ball deep in the woods never to be seen again. To prove it wasn't a fluke as he repeated the trick with his second shot with his second ball on the hole.

There were no changes on the competition leader boards so it's on to round 17 at Barnham Broom next week where a bumper entrance is expected. Mike returns to see if he can keep his lead at the top of the average stableford points and lowest blobs tables.

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016. Round 15 at Bury St Edmunds

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016 round 15 took place at an overcast and drizzly Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday. After the excitement of back to back majors it was back to a normal comp this week but despite this a high class field, featuring 4 of the top 5 money earners this year, had elected to play.

Mike got things under way with a solid par on the opening hole. He then had a wobble over the next two holes getting only one point. It looked like the tours most consistent player, and leader of the average stableford points comp, might eventually be about to crack but normal service was soon resumed with some excellent play finishing with a birdie on the 9th and 19 pts at half way. There was some controversy when, on the 6th hole, he placed his ball behind Ian's marker, which was 3 foot closer than his, but his eagle eyed playing partners were having none of it and stopped him before he tried to sneak in the putt, nice try though.

Mikes opening drive leading to a par on the 1st

Ian had another flying start with 10 pts from the opening 4 holes as he shot into the lead before, in-explicitly, muffing up the next 3 holes for a single point. A 3 putt on the 9th didn't help matters as he returned 15 pts and was far from happy.

Ian's birdie putt on the second, he missed

Bob and Kevin were having their own game of 'who could hit the balls into the trees the most often. However despite this they still managed to scramble points on every front 9 hole.

Kevin about to slice another ball into the trees on the 5th

However Bobs putting was much the better as Kevin missed a number of short putts leaving him trailing on 13 pts (and in the trees 6 times) to Bobs 17pts (and in the trees 7 times).

Bob hitting out of the trees on the third hole

Kevin's driving didn't improve much on the back 9 going into the trees on the first 3 holes before somehow rescuing 2 pts on each. A silly blob on 16, with a short chip into the bunker, and a couple more missed little putts stopped him from getting back in the hunt but his 17 points on the back 9 meant his 30 pts overall was in line with his season average.

Kevin missing a par putt after good recovery out of the trees on 14

Ian again starts strongly with 17 points in the first 7 holes and shot into a two point lead. He then missed a short putt on 17 before getting stuck in long grass under trees on 18. He clearly hadn't had the tree practice of both Kevin and Bob as he failed to get the ball back in play and failed to register a point. He finished on 33 pts but would it be enough.

Ians approach chip to the 12th

Bob was still duffing the ball off the tee allow not into as much trouble as the front 9 as he continued to score points on most holes. On the last he had a short putt for 2 pts which Kevin insisted he took. Bob, not realising it was a par 5 missed the putt before hitting the ball away in frustration thinking he had failed to score. Unfortunately for Kevin, Bob claimed Mike had conceded him the putt and claimed his point for 3rd place and the 50p prize. 

Bob driving the ball into the left hand trees on the 11th

Mike had been going about his business solidly but uncharacteristic blobs on 12 and 16, where his reliable fairway wood let him down, meant he had fallen from the lead. However the fat lady had not yet sung and with Ian's poor finish the door was still open as its never over until it's over etc etc. So he only needed a bogey on the last to claim first prize. But he did better than that with a tasty par and 35 points overall to take the £2.50 purse.

Mike on the 11th tee, unfortunately he still had to finish the 10th hole first

So Mike keeps his lead at the top of the average stableford points table, while Kevin still leads the money list although with nothing to show for today's effort the other players are closing in.

Next week the tour heads north to Kings Lynn, where in form player Chris returns to the fold.

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016. Round 14, US PGA, at Purdis Heath.

Yesterday saw Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016, Round 14, US PGA, take place at Purdis Heath. This was the final major of the year and the £5 first prize could go a long way in deciding who would be at the top of the money list as we enter the climax on the road to Sheringham.

Purdis Heath was making its first appeance on the tour and only one of today's field had ever played here before so as a result the bookies had installed John as a firm favourite for the title and his first major win. However as events got underway this looked like a mistake as John found bunkers, and there were a lot of them, on the first 3 holes to record only 2 pts. He then played some great golf and some not so great golf as pars and blobs were the order of the day and he finished the front 9 on 11 pts, and in last place, with the bookies feeling mighty relieved.

John failing to get out of one of many bunkers

Following the success in winning his second major, the Open, at Gorleston last week Ian was the form player and he continued this into the start of this round with 3 pars in the opening 4 holes. He then opened up a big 4 point lead by securing a birdie on the short par 4 9th with an audacious downhill putt from off the green. He had 21 pts at half way  (which when added to his 20 back 9 pts from last week gives him a big lead in the best front and back 9 in July, August and September competition). 

Ian teeing off on first and an opening par

Kevin was having a solid front 9 and even stayed calm when a good drive on the 7th took a huge kick off the fairway into deep rough leading to a blob. Despite moaning about it for some time his playing partners showed little sympathy as they got on with their own games. He finished the 9 strongly with 2 pars and second place on 17 pts.

Kevin attempting a long par putt which he didn't make

It was good to see Bob back on tour after a months absence and with his plumbing back in working order. He played a very consistent front 9 and was only player to score on each hole. However a few wayward shots restricted him to 16 pts.

Bob playing out of the rough, again

Johns back 9 continued much as the front with a mix of pars and blobs. As the only player who knew where most of the bunkers were he used this knowledge well to go in a number of them. He did slightly better on this 9 but finished on 24 pts and no prize.

John securing a par on the 10th

Bob was staying in the hunt until his luck ran out and he blobbed the middle 3 holes restricting him to 12 further points and 28 overall for 3rd place.

Bob somehow found his ball and rescued 2 points on this hole

Ian started to slip away as he too found a lot of sand making it difficult to record lots of points. He managed 14 for a total of 35 but would it be enough?

A good tee shot from Ian on 12

Kevin was on a charge with 13 pts (including a birdie on the 10th) in 5 holes but just as it looked like the title was his he duffed his next tee shot into a pond and allowed Ian back into the lead. However a solid finish snuck him back into the lead to secure his 4th major by 1 point with the big prize putting him clear at top of the money list.

Kevin hitting poor tee shot on 11 but scrambling 2 pts

With just two months to go there is still much to play for with no obvious clear leaders in any competition as the tour moves on to Bury St Edmunds for the start of August's action. 

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016. Round 13, The British Open, at Gorleston

On Tuesday the  Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016 Open took place at Gorleston Golf club. Due to a clash with the rather less prestigious Dereham ladies open then only 5 players turns up for the start.

First off were Ian and John H. Founder member John had so far only managed 10 holes on the tour this year and had been away in Spain recovering from the experience so was hoping to get all the way round this time. Things couldn't have started better as he set off with a 3 point par befor slipping back into old habits with a blob on the next. This inconsistency continued over the front 9 as he reached 14 points so he was surprise when told that he was clear in 3rd place at half way.

Johns opening drive

Ian was playing a bit more consistently although a blob on the long par 4 6th restricted him to 17 pts but it was still good enough for the lead.

Ian gets his round under way

In the group behind Mike was the standout player as the whole group struggled over the front 9. By the 8th hole they had had 8 blobs and lost 6 balls between them. However Mike still managed 16 pts and second place at the turn.

Mike showing his bunker skills on the 4th which weren't good enough to avoid a blob

Kevin had a woeful start despite hitting some good drives. His putting was particularly poor which he blamed on the greens not being as fast as his putting green at home as he scrapped just 10 pts and last place.

Kevin sinking one of his longest successful putts of the day

In a carbon copy of the masters held at Hunstanton earlier this year Andrew went off like a train with a birdie par start accounting for over half his front 9 points. Then like at Hunstanton he had a blob fest with five of the little devils over the next 7 holes and only 11 points after 9.

Andrew chipping up to par the 2nd

The back 9 continued much as the front with Ian and Mike both scoring on every hole. Ian even managed to get his ball down a rabbit hole in the bunker on the 16th to demonstrate his accuracy. He finished on 37 pts as the clear winner and this years golfer of the year in winning the  Open. It was also a course record so not bad as he claimed to have never played the course before.

Ian retrieving his ball from a rabbits house on 16th

Mike's back 9 highlight was sinking a down hill birdie putt on the short 17th contributing to his 33 pt second place. It also further increased his lead in the average stableford competition. The only downside was when his hat was caught up in post Brexit immigration issues as it was clearly not British and he didn't have the necessary paperwork.

Mike about to drive off on 13th

The real interest was in who would win the £1.00 third place prize. It looked to safely be in Johns wallet as he was 5 points clear after 14 but then a serious of trips to the gorse bushes, long rough and bunkers (sometimes on every hole) meant he racked up 4 successive blobs and finished on 24 points. 

Johns second attempt to keep ball in play on 16th

Kevin and Andrew were still seeing who could cock up the most holes with a string of double and triple bogeys. After Andrew failed to score on 16 it was all square with two to play.

Andrew having bunker problems on 10th leading to 5th blob in 7 holes

Kevin made sure of not taking the lead with another 3 putt on 17 before both players scrambled 2 pts on the last so were both on 24 pts as well so the Pound prize was split 3 ways. In the end golf pig would only give each player 30p as no one had change for a ten pence.

Kevin hitting good tee shot on 13 before cocking it up with his next shot

Sadly it was probably Andrews last round on tour this year as he is off to do something called a job. Hopefully he will be back this time next year when this job thing finishes. Golf pig has especially enjoyed his contributions as there is no chance of him taking any end of season prize money from him.

After this round Mike has further consolidated his lead in the average stableford points, with Chris's choice of playing the Dereham open and Bib staying at home to get his plumbing fixed Kevin was the big loser dropping from 2nd to 5th place. Once again thanks to Andrew from keeping him falling to last. 

The other main change was Ian taking the lead in the best front and back nine in July, August and September competioin although his 37 point total is sure to be beaten.

Next week the tour has its last major of the year with the US PGA at Purdis Heath. Ian could find himself at the top of the money list if he could do the double so it's all hotting up on the race to Sheringham.

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016. Round 12 at Thorpeness

It was another exciting day of golf as Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016 round 12 took place at Thorpeness today. It was also the start of this years best front and back nine in July, August and September comp, so it was a surprise that the field was reduced to just 4 players on the first tee.

All four players got off to a fast start with 5 pars between them on the first two holes. Then Kevin made an early bid for the 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods' when he hooked his drive on the third deep undercover. This was followed by duffing an easy pitch into a bunker on the 4th from which the ball never reemerged meaning a second blob and after leaving his short game in the car he restricted his front 9 to just 11points.

Kevin putting for optimistic par from off the green on 5th. He missed

After his good start Ian then proceeded to combine some good shots with some rather bad ones visiting the woods and long rough on several occasions. This unfortunately led to a run of one point in the final four front 9  holes and he found himself trailing on 10 pts.

Ian making a good recovery from the side of a gorse bush on the 4th

Mike had got off to the slowest start but then picked things up getting the measure of the fast greens better than anyone else. The 9th was a particular highlight when his rather feeble attempt to win 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods', with a duck hooked teeshot, left him a gap through the trees to get the ball back in play before completing his par to finish on 16 pts at halfway.

A rather stiff approach chip to the 1st from Mike but he soon warmed up after this

Chris started particularly strongly with 4 pars in the opening 5 holes. A good drive on the third unfortunately caught a bunker which stopped her doing even better. She fell away over the next few holes but still had the lead on 17 pts.

Chris on the way to a blob on the 3rd after a bunker and lost ball.
Shame no photos of the 4 pars either side of this hole

Ian started the back 9 strongly with 10 pts from the first 4 holes. This run only came to an end when he hit the winning shot in the 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods' competition with a second shot that went from one side of the fairway deep into the trees on the other side. One of the furthest into the woods seen on tour this year so a worthy winner. 

Kevin agreeing with Ian that he had just taken the lead on the
 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods' comp earlier on the hole

Unfortunately this was followed up with another blob on the next before a par on 16 and good birdie on 17 put him in contention from the 50 p third place prize on 29 pts.

Ians Tee shot on the 13th

Kevin also started the back 9 well single putting the first 3 holes including a birdie on 11. It was solid if not spectacular after that and his 19 back nine points kept him one ahead of Ian to add 50p to his seasons winnings.

Kevin looking in disbelief that he had hit another poor drive this time on 15

By now Mike had the course tamed with his approach shots and putting of the highest order. He recorded 5 more pars and got 20 pts to have an excellent 36 at the end. But would it be enough for the win.

Mike putting for birdie on 10. He missed

Chris started the back 9 with bunker problems. First taking two to get out of one on 11 before creating a beach by the one on 12 as most of the sand was whacked out of the bunker before, many attempts later, the ball finally appeared.

The start of Chris's bunker problems on 11

Disappointingly instead of putting in an entry for 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods' as she couldn't hit it far enough off line, she put in a very strong finish parring the last 3 holes. However it was not quite enough as it left her on 35 pts.

As Mike played his third round it qualified him for several competitions and he took the lead in both the average stableford points per round and least average blobs per round. The other tour players will be hoping he will be playing many more rounds so he can cock a few up like all the other players do.

All 4 players will be pleased with their back 9 scores they posted today in the best front and back 9 in July, August and September and hoping for better front 9s when the tour moves to Gorleston in two weeks time for the British open.