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.

RNSG Round 6. The Open at Thorpeness

RNSG – BRITISH OPEN – THURSDAY 15 JULY 2021 – THORPENESS – THE WAR ON THE SHORE

The final major of the year was expected to draw a strong field of entrants at this popular and testing venue. With 3 unique winners of the previous events it was all to play for. There was a large gathering of around 50 members of the public down in the village eager in anticipation of the days events. Alas with only 5 players appearing public interest was lost and they went off for walks, boating on the lake, and coffee in the café.

The lack of participants was particularly disappointing, as we know nothing is more important than the final RNSG major of the year. The BBC web site showed only a 3% likelihood of rain but clearly this was off-putting. To be fair Jill withdrew at the last minute due to waking up with a pain. Andrew has his flaws but that seemed harsh. We think Andrew had a good day on the sofa watching the lesser British Open on TV though. John was waiting by the phone for that late Olympic hockey team call up. Tim was golfed out after clocking up many rounds of late.

The pre-round eats got off to a bizarre start – Greg ordered “a simple sandwich, something plain like ham on brown bread” and was actually literally delivered a slice of brown bread, no butter with ham on! That was a much better outcome than the after round eats – a 25 minute wait due to a “printer error in the kitchen” for a scone to be “prepared” seemed to suggest a degree of technology sophistication not normally associated with putting a scone and butter on a plate. 

At the start every one declared their hand – Christine had been showing more form than Shergar  - before he was stolen. Kevin proclaimed his 35 points on the Old Course and 41 points on the Jubilee, and along with his impressive Woodhall Spa logo’d shirt hopes were high for the current course record holder. Bob had turned up in Tiger uniform with his red shirt promising a strong ending. As you will see later Bob indeed did create history with a record breaking last 5 holes. Tracey was just pleased to be along as an irregular player, and we were all pleased to catch up with her too. Greg was in his 5^th week of a dizziness illness, and 13^th consecutive day without a break from feeling giddy and was pleased just to have made the drive there with only 6 motorists honking him. His hopes were low.

The randomizer went into action and Kevin treated us to sound effects too for a change. Greg couldn’t recall actually pressing any buttons on the app but somehow ended up with the Frazer clan. Bob and Tracey having driven down together, were stuck together on the way home. too When they were paired together Bob smiled pleasantly, through gritted teeth and rolled his eyes. Tracey smiled pleasantly and muttered something which sounded like “unpaid carer duties”.

Bob gets the Open underway

Bob and Tracey shot off in the front of the field. Bob had 9 points after 4 holes, Tracey 6 points. Their progress halted on the 5^th tee as Bob told Tracey to wait as they had caught up the group in front who were on tee. After a few minutes waiting behind bushes keeping out of the way it was clear there had never been a group there at all. Tracey smiled pleasantly and muttered something which sounded like “unpaid carer duties”.

Back in the 3 ball group Greg adopted the approach of not falling over with his balance challenges and played within himself to keep the ball in play albeit with a few tops on the way. 3 woods off the tee, safe approach shots just short of the green, and the hope of chipping and putting to pick up an odd par were the order of the day. He had 6 points after 4 holes. Kevin adopted the approach of taking 3 rescue off the tee too, but safety is not a favoured club in his bag and business as usual was resumed as he blobbed 2 of the first 3 holes. Chis tried to make Kevin feel less bad by matching his blob regime. The choice of returning to the pro shop for a Frazer family ball top up was declined, although one kindly dog walker had found 3 balls and later left them on the tee in an attempt to be helpful. The Frazers declined to use them – apparently they were of far less quality than the ones they kept hitting into bushes and losing. For some reason the Frazers also prefer the yellow and green grass coloured camouflage balls and remain surprised when they cant be found. Hmmm.

Kevin hits his shining grass coloured ball into the long grass, again. Ho Hum

Greg kept plugging away and managed to score on every hole and mustered 15 points at half way. A few times Chris bailed Greg out with lucky ball finds when a lost ball looked more likely. Kevin’s pleasure at Chris’ help to Greg was hard to detect and he didn’t share the joy. The quality of play in that group of 3 was so poor that there was a competition to find lost balls taking place which seemed to be more interesting than the golf. Kevin had his normal feast or famine round threatening the all time blob record with 5 on the front 9 but managing 10 points on the 4 counting holes. Chris was steadily mediocre managing 11 points.

Greg keeps his balance as he sinks another putt

At the front of the field Tracey had put a run of 14 points together in 6 holes but only added one more for 15 at half way, one in front Bob who had tailed off with only 5 points in the last 5 holes.

Tracey in front 9 action

So onto the 2^nd 9. The Frazers traded long putts. Kevin from 20 foot, Chris from 15, Kevin from 25 feet which stopped on the lip of the hole for 8 seconds before giving itself up. Kevin then did a full 360 lip out from 20 feet which drew a consolation “bad luck” from Greg. Chris laughed far too loudly, and far too lengthily for it to be comfortable.

Chris in putting action

A bizarre incident midway through the 2^nd 9 was the finding of an unbroken hens egg in a bunker – complete with supermarket use by date.  The kind of mystery that is up there with Bigfoot, aliens and who abducted Mike and Sandie Hammond?, which will no doubt be the subject of a documentary.

Kevin found some form, just one more blob to keep him off the all time worst blob leaderboard  of 8 blobs and a fine homeward 18 points to get to 28 overall. Chris with 3x 3 pointers and a great birdie 3 for 4 points also had 18 points making 29 overall to take family honours. Greg kept plugging away using his driver only twice in the round, keeping to the boring but safe method. Despite a run of 1 pointers there were also a few more 3 pointers and he came to the last on 28 points – nervously close to both Kevin and Chris.

Greg was just pleased to find his ball (again, not that Kevin was bitter) as he selected his next weapon

Back at the front, if that makes sense, Bob had 9 points in the first 4 holes of the back 9, but then went into chipping and putting meltdown to blob 5 successive holes and tie Kevin on 6 blobs overall. No one has ever finished that badly we believe, although when Greg had to walk off with a bad back once and didn’t play the last 5 holes he didn’t score either. With just the 9 points on the back 9 Bob’s 23 point total won the “bottom trumps” prize. Tracey smiled pleasantly and muttered something like “unpaid carer”.

I think this pretty much sums up Bobs last 5 holes

Tracey herself played some nice back 9 golf. Helped by a 4 pointer to offset one blob she had 14 points coming to the last, which made for 29 points in total. So with Chris having 29 in the clubhouse, Kevin with 28 in the clubhouse, Tracey on 29 with one to play and Greg with 28 and one to play – it was nervy tense stuff. Padraig was due to drop by to see who had the steel to play well under such pressure and make the late call up to the Ryder Cup team, but remained hidden and no doubt observing in the bushes.

Tracey lost her first ball but somehow made a second ball net par for 2 points to get to 31 overall. Greg’s 3 wood method had let him down off the tee with a scaggy looking  150 yard semi duff. He followed it up with a safe 7 iron just short of the cross bunkers at 100 yards and a punched 9 iron pitch and run that looked perfect but ran through the green. With Bob, Tracey and a squirrel in a tree looking on Greg’s chip-back sand wedge nestled in the hole for a 3 pointer to tie Tracey on 31 points. Greg punched the air - before a mini giddy attack left him wishing he hadn’t.

Greg chips in on the last. (Yes actually a photo that matches the text!)

Countback showed identical 15 point / 16 point splits for Greg and Tracey, but Greg’s last 6 hole score of 12 points was enough to win. As it turned out with Tracey being an associate member (not paid the £20 tour card fee) she was not eligible for prizes but none-the-less it was a good effort and we may see more of Tracey in the weeks ahead.

 With a pair of major wins this year Greg moves up the leader board in the prize money, and with his safety approach first creating a blob free round that was helpful too. Chris and Kevin made good eclectic progress

So…  we roll on to the business end of the tour with some great venues ahead. Next up is Purdis Heath on Tuesday 3^rd August for the Olympics and another double prize money opportunity. Look forward to seeing you all there.

RNSG Round 5. Swaffham

 Swaffham Salver

On a murky day the RNSG tour moved on to Swaffham. Due to injury, holidays and other engagements then a small field of only 5 made it to the start line today, so plenty of prize money potential.

The randomiser was in mischiefs mood as the first 3 presses all came up with group 2, so much to her disappointment Chris had to tee off with Kevin in group 1.

Kevin seemed to have also used the randomiser to pick his tee shot. The 3 options being in the trees, along the ground or good. It came up good for his opening tee shot but for the rest of the round that choice was hardly selected again. However his putter seemed to be on fire needing to be only used 11 times in the opening 9 holes. Chris was appalled, especially when a tee shot on the 200 yrd 6th barely got 6 inches off the ground but finished 15 foot from the flag and with the putt sunk she stropped off to the next hole as Kevin somehow finished the front 9 on 17 pts.

Kevin showing off his new bright trousers (which were the only colour in his size on Amazon)

However Chris was playing proper golf hitting fairways and greens and putting well so had a good 19 pts at half way.

A tricky looking shot on the 4th which did indeed prove to be tricky as it didn't go very far

The group behind were also having a mixed bag. Vince started with an opening par and although his driving wasn't at its best still had 16 points at the turn.

Not one of Vince best drives as I think it was a practice swing

Tracey also was solid enough but had 7 6's in the first 10 holes which kept her scoring down. On the back 9 things started to fade until a birdie on the last got her up to a respectable 28 pts but no prizes.

For Bob it was very much a game of two halves us he had 3 blobs out of the first 4 holes and just 2 points. Things didn't improve much as he had just 10 points after 9. But then he remembered it was the first of July and on the RNSG summer tour that means its the start of the 3 best front and back 9's in July, August and September competition. Inspired but this he roared into action with 3 3pointers on the first 4 back 9 holes on his way to 19 back 9 points. However his total of 29 didn't get him a prize.

Bob gets his round underway with an excellent blob

Kevin continued to have problems with his drive as his next 5 drives were all topped along the ground but at least not in the trees. However this made scoring difficult as he finished on 31 points and third place. However his two birdies consolidated his lead at the top of the eclectic.

Disappointment as a good put just swerves past the hole at the last minute

It was to prove to be a two horse race for the first prize. While Chris was going along steadily Vince was on a charge as he parred both the back 9 par 5's. After 16 holes it was 34 to 33 in Chris's favour and anyone's game. But then Chris made a monumental school girl error as she examined her score card and forecasted her final total and impact on her handicap.

There was only ever going to be one outcome as she duffed her tee shot along the ground into the nearest gorse bush for her only blob of the day.

One of many tee shots that didn't go in a gorse bush

Vince got a solid two points on 17 to take the lead. However roles were reversed on the last as Chris produced a fine par while Vince got into trouble to scramble a 7 for 1 and Chris had won 37 to 36.

So another top tussle on tour but without much impact on the overall money list as the Barnards still hold a big lead. However it's off to Thorpness for the British Open in a fortnight and with a small field expected, and double prize money, things could quickly change.

RNSG round 4. The US Open at Felixstowe Ferry

 The US Open

After 2 weeks of glorious weather it decided to rain as this years RNSG tour moved to Felixstowe for the converted US Open on Thursday. A large field had entered but who would actually turn up in the forecasted conditions.

As it turned out, everyone and better still the forecasted rain and thunderstorms never materialised with only the light shower to trouble today’s competitors.

The randomiser app was once again used to select the groupings which everyone, well at least Kevin, got very excited about. The randomiser had also successfully randomised the women into separate groups meaning there would be more golf and less chatting this day.

First off were Kevin, Bob and Jo. After a long talk from the starter, offering some excellent advice about not hitting the cars on the near by road, then we were off with 3 surprisingly straight drives down the middle. However normal service was soon resumed as Bob shanked his next into the long rough on the way to an opening blob. Another blob followed before a good par on the third and this stop start scoring pattern was repeated for the day as he stuttered to 28 points.

One of many shots from the rough for Bob although this one led to a par!

However Jo and Kevin thought they were scoring well as they rattled up the points with a series of pars. Jo had 19 at halfway but then had a dodgy patch including an OOB at the 11th which she never really recovered from as she came in with 33 points. Normally we would be talking about a score like that be a contender but today it would turn out that it was way off the pace.

Jo in a rare bit of trouble on the way to a tidy 33 points

Kevin, on the other hand, had two birdies in 3 holes and as he stood on the 12th tea was 5 under handicap. I’m no mind reader but he was probably thinking the US Open was in the bag. Only two things could stop him now. First if he fell apart and second if there were people scoring even better in the groups behind. As it turned out both were true as two blobs in the next 3 holes quickly had all those shots gone. Only a good par on the last got him to an under handicap score of 37.

Bob looks on in admiration of Kevin's excellent drive, at least I think that's what's happening

In the group behind Greg got off to a flyer with 4 pars in the first 6 holes. But then for some reason on the seventh, with water a plenty, he zig zagged down the fairway like a boat tacking on the nearby river. This slip up, and another blob on the short 11th, cost him dearly as he racked up 36 points and the extra points lost on those two holes could have at least got him on the podium.

A smooth looking swing from Greg on the 6th but his little slip up on the next

Chris was doing fine tee to green but having putting problems. A couple of times short putts pinged back off the flagstick instead of going in the hole, damn you covid 19. She did however birdie the 5th hole with its temporary green and hole the size of a bucket. If all the holes had been that big she probably would have won rather than finish on 31 points.

Robert had a strange old round. Have to carry an enormous handicap of 20 around the course he appeared to be struggling with his driver. In fact it was more like a session down the driving range with provisionals being hit on most holes. However incredibly most drives were found as much to his partners surprise he got to 18 at halfway as his iron play had been excellent..

All the extra practice seemed to pay dividends as he stormed the back 9 with 5 pars, no drop shots and 24 points giving him a massive 42 points. But on such a high scoring day would it be enough.

One of Roberts straighter drives which once again was incredibly found.

Jill, Andrew and Vince all put themselves in with a chance. With Jill and Andrew both opening up with excellent scores of 19.

Due to lack of photos and feedback it is a bit of a mystery to know exactly what occurred. Photos from the tour library have been used to help you imagine it. Jill had a solid back 9 to have 36 points.

Jill in action on a previous wet and windy round at Felixstowe Ferry.

Andrew finished strongly with 10 pts on last 4 holes and 39 points on the board. Normally enough for a course record and major title but still 3 points behind Roberts total. Maybe he should get himself a bigger handicap.

Andrew playing in completely different conditions a couple of years ago so doesn't really help us knowing what his round felt like today.

This just left Vince with a record braking handicap of 30 to cope with. He used it wisely on the front 9 to rack up an incredible 24 points. As he stood on the 13th tea he was 6 under handicap. Only two things could stop him now. First if he fell apart and second if there were people scoring even better in the groups ahead. Once again both proved true as he slipped to 37 points and a share of 3rd place with Kevin.

Vince hitting out of the rough during a pervious visit although I suspect there was also plenty of hitting out the rough action today to

Robert gained his 3rd career major title and joined Jo at the top of the Money list as the Barnard’s  continue to hoover up the prize money. Fortunately they are not available for the next two rounds in order to generously give some others the chance to catch up but will also deny Robert becoming the first player to complete the career grand slam as he will miss the Open.

With this years proposed fixture list now bearing no resemblance to where the tour is actually going then the next round is at Swaffham on Thursday 1st July.

RNSG Round 3. USPGA at Thetford

 RNSG TOUR ROUND 3, MARCHES ON TO THETFORD – 20 MAY 2021

The allure of playing Thetford on a grey windy day saw an almost full turnout of regular tour members. With a field of 11 for the USPGA Major event, just Tim Sims was missing for the day. No doubt after his recent fine form he thought he’d give others a chance!

Bob Spanner was defending his 2014 course record of 37 points, and Kevin Frazer was the last course winner here back in 2018. Jo Barnard having won the first major of the year at Hunstanton was hoping to advance her Grand Slam claims and join the golfing greats.

Thetford’s course rating of 131 for the men and 134 for the ladies meant lots of extra shots for the field, but that reflected that this is the toughest course on the tour so far by some way.

3 hardy souls opted for shorts, 8 others went for an assorted attire all of which ended up hidden under various water proofs later in the round. The much sought after Best Turned Out Player Award was therefore rolled over to the next event, so the blog writer for that can risk offending the many.

Kevin’s new randomiser app determined the groups putting Tracey, Jo and Chris out first, ahead of Group 2s Kevin, Vince, Greg and Andrew, with Bob, Jill, Robert and John in Group 3. John Butler continues to break the Bawburgh dominance by flying the flag for Eaton. Being your clubs representative at a Tour Major is a big responsibility so lets see how John measured up to the challenge.

The first hole saw 2 birdie 2s for 4 points for Robert and Chris, with par 3s for 3 points for Tracey and John. John stood tall and proud for Eaton, but this proved the only 3 pointer of his round. The Eaton flag was lowered to half mast. John’s wife appreciated the wooden spoon as an additional kitchen utensil. Tracey did manage a couple more 3 pointers and a fine “ 4 for 4” on stroke index 4 but her 27 points did not trouble the winners rostrum. Given this was Tracey’s first round since lockdown it’s a decent effort on a tough course on a tough day. The tour expects more in weeks to come… 

Tracey make a welcome return to the tour

On hole 2 the first group ladies supported each other with community 7s for no points each and it was Vince sporting his 24 handicap on the RNSG tour for the first time who was the only one to claim a 3 pointer. Vince’s round would go on to include 2 x 4 pointers and 3 x 3 pointers, alas these 5 holes made up 17 points of Vince’s 27 total. Vince has made a bid for a new record – negative yardage of -82 after neatly finding the centre of a few trees in succession to reverse backwards down a hole. We will say no more. 

Vince missing a putt on the way to a 7 on the 8th

As the front 9 unwound Kevin had left his randomiser in play mode as he combined a mix of slices, tops and “mole rapers”, with some truly world class play. Of particular note was a fairway wood from 190 yards to 1 yard from the pin. Alas Kevin’s total of 29 points saw him finish in the bottom half – just.

One of the many bits of trouble ended in today

The front 9 was notable for an impressive 9 green keepers filling fairway divots, and a small monk-jack deer scurrying around helping Vince look for one of his balls in the woods. Wildlife was rather hidden today, some suggested they were in fear of a wild one from Kevin, although the first cuckoo of the year braved it out and was heard later in the day.

Kevin spent much of the round checking out the wild life

 At the top end of the points table the form players were gathering.  Jill had a very steady 20 points with just 1 x 1 pointer and no blobs.  Bob had 19 points with a nice 4 for 4 on stroke index 3. Andrew had 18 and was feeling confident of good things ahead.  Chris with 14, Jo with 15 and Robert with 13 looked to be out of it but dug deep to rise up the leaderboard on the back 9. 

Chris had a solid if not spectacular round

Meantime it was Greg who took the meaningless half way honours reeling off 6 straight pars for 21 points. Straight driving, rescue woods to the front of the greens and a chip and a putt had been Greg’s recipe for success.

 

Greg pondering after his teeshot on the first found sand. But there was much better to come

In a topsy turvy turnaround Robert won the also meaningless 2^nd half honours with an impressive 19 points. 3 x 3 pointers and no blobs was a fine effort as the wind blew harder and the rain came down. 

Robert holes an excellent putt

Jo with 18 points proved the Barnards like it wild and wet  - but that’s their own business, and Chris with 17 points of fine played spoiled by one blob made up the back 9 top 3 – for which there is no prize, just praise. 

Jo in a rare bit of trouble

Jill and Bob’s form dissolved in the rain with 11 points and 12 points respectively. Bob’s 2 points in the last 5 holes moved him from 3 under handicap with 5 to play to 5 over and is up there with the “major” collapses of Greg Norman and Jordan Speith. 

Bob stuck in the heather on the 16th as his round disintegrated

In group 2 things went rapidly off the boil. Andrew mustered 15 points with no 3 pointers and failed to cure his regular first putt woes of being 6+ feet past the pin. Jill is asked to remove one weatabix from the breakfast bowl to help his game in future.  

Andrew had his A game on the tee but D or E game on the greens

Greg meanwhile mimicked Bob with a late collapse getting just 2 points in the last 3 holes to move from 4 under handicap with 3 to play to level. A good effort on a tough course. On the last hole Greg had a 20 foot putt to tie Bobs long standing course record and left it 2 inches short. 

Greg in a rare bit of trouble on the 10th where he visited the edge of the woods (on either side of the course) three times before a chip and putt secured an unexpected par

And so it came to pass that Greg hung on for 36 points to claim his first major win and join Jo, who was 2^nd on 33 points,  on the major winners list for the year so far.  Robert and Andrew tied for 3^rd on 32 points, still a decent effort in the conditions.

Next stop for the tour is the much loved Felixtowe Ferry where with a slope index of 130 and damp conditions likely to continue another tough test lies ahead.

 

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?