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?

RNSG The Masters at Heacham Manor

The Masters at Heacham Manor

With the weather forecast predicting temperatures near freezing and gale force winds it was obviously the start of the 2021 Round Norfolk Summer Golf tour. As tradition dictates the tour always starts at the same time as the Masters in Augusta. The main differences between the two tournaments is that they don’t have half the field pull out the day before, as it might be a bit cold and windy, plus the potential quality of the golf. As it happened the RNSG Masters was played under sunny clear blue skies, although it was rather windy and the golf was once again probably not up to Augusta standards..

Turned out to be a lovely day at Heacham Manor

With the field cut to 5 everyone was in with a good chance of a prize and the opportunity to make early progress up the money list. Especially as a major offers double prize money, which has been increased from previous summer tours. There was also the chance to make it onto the virtual honours board as a major winner.

With the WHS now in operation and without either of the tours handicap experts available no one was really sure what handicaps people should play off but using a combination of shoe size, age and day of the week we came up with numbers acceptable to all.

So it was all to play for as the groupings were sorted out, using a covid secure balls in the air government approved method, before Robert got the tour underway.

Robert gets the 2021 season underway

Robert was playing with Jo and Kevin. The Barnards have played here on many occasions so were offering Kevin dubious course advice leading to the lose of his ball on the second hole as he stumbled to 5 points in the first 5 holes. From there his game picked up with 14 at the turn.

Kevin was mighty relieved to clear the water on his way to his first par of the day

Robert was going along nicely showing his skill at keeping the ball under the wind, at least that's why he said he kept hitting it along the ground. Three early pars had him on 18 at the turn. 

Jo and Robert couldn't be separated, score wise, throughout the day and even hit the wrong fairways together

However he was surprised that Jo was beating him with 19 points after a very impressive opening 9 with the only blemish of a blob on the 4th.

Jo on the way to her only blob of the day after going in the pond at the 4th

In the group behind it was an erratic affair with blobs and pars flying in in equal measures. Vince, however stole a march on Chris with a 4 for 4 on the 9th to have 16 points to Chris’s 12 after 9.

Chris in action during an up and down day

The back 9 followed a similar pattern as Chris secured another 13 to Vince’s 11. This left the pair in 4th and 5th overall with the action for the prizes in the group ahead. They did report that they had explored many of the less visited parts of the course so felt they had had their money's worth.

Vince with one of his better lies today

Despite being only a week out of lockdown the course was empty with no other golfers spotted so the players could relax and focus on the Barnards going head to head.

Kevin started the back 9 strongly with 3 opening pars but as soon as Robert used mind games  and pointed out he was back in contention he knew his race was run as he blobbed the next two holes. He recovered to finish strongly but his final total of 31 points was never going to be enough.

Kevin is relived his approach shot didn't go in the pond at the 12th

With a par on 14 Robert had pulled into a one point lead over Jo who didn’t get shots on two of the last 4 holes. The Masters was his to lose and he would have to have a complete meltdown not to win. And what a meltdown it was as he spent the last 4 holes in long rough, water or recovering from poor drives. He managed only two points to finish on 32.

Despite Jo trying to put Robert off he sunk his putt as he built up towards his meltdown

Jo only needed 4 points over the last 4 holes to win but she too started to run out of steam as she finally started to struggle in the tricky conditions. A scrambled 7 on the last put her one point ahead of Robert and victory was secured when his long putt lipped out the hole for a closing blob.

Jo was crowned this years Masters winner

So Jo was the 2021 Masters champion, yet another new winner of the title and early leader on the money list.

The next RNSG fixture isn’t now until early May when hopefully it will be a bit warmer but before then the postponed last round of the 2019-20 winter tour will be taking place at Mundesley where it is still all to play for if you can remember that far back.

 Autumn Tour Round 5 at Hunstanton

The end of the RNSG Autumn Tour is nearing its climax and, with different winners from the first four events, the much-coveted title of 2020 Champion is there for almost all the tour members.

However, despite this, only a field of seven had entered the usually popular Hunstanton event, This was reduced on the morning to just six when Kevin had to withdraw due to ongoing effects from long-tail Covid; as we know with Kevin, this was not an easy decision but certainly the right one.

And so, on a reasonably mild, sunny but breezy day, two 3-balls were left to fight for the available 5 daily prizes, asking who would be the one left penniless? The players would find the course in brilliant condition but, with the wind, fast greens, numerous bunkers and some thick rough, it proved to be a challenge for everyone. With the incoming WHS rules coming in before the final event at Sheringham, this would be the last time that the FSS would need to be calculated, and the men were relieved that the ladies would only receive one additional shot.

Relieved men that they wouldn't have to worry about FSS again

The ladies went out first, with Jill, Jo and Chris all appreciating the proximity of the sea by wearing their lifejackets again, just in case! Each of them hit impressive opening drives and Jo made the early running with two opening pars, immediately improving her leading eclectic score on both.

Jo's excellent opening drive

 All three were steady through the front nine, with only two blobs between them, but points were hard to come by and the only 3-pointers came at the 2^nd hole for Jill and Jo. It was Chris, however, who proved to be the steadier, finding the speed of the greens sooner than anyone else, and lead the group with 16 points at the turn thanks to seven 2’s and just two 1’s, with Jo and Jill back on 13 and 12 respectively.

Chris was had a blob free front 9

The men followed and as is often the case, were more erratic. Robert and Andrew found bunkers on the first, though Robert did recover for a bogey and 2 points. Andrew failed to score and Vince, from the middle of the fairway, pulled his ball left and never saw it again. Robert played well, not surprising on the course at which he is a member and, despite some off-the-tee issues, scored a respectable 14 points.

Robert gets underway

Vince had a slow start but, in classic style, got on a run from the 6^th hole. An excellent putt for a 2-point double bogey, a brilliant tee shot on the par-3 7^th for a 3-point par, and a textbook 4-point par on the 8^th helped him to 12 points at the turn. 

Vince on way to opening blob

Andrew was inconsistent on and around the greens but had the three par-5’s to thank, with 3-point pars on each, helping to 15 points and 2^nd place overall.

Andrew also on the way to an opening blob

All players were pleased by the appearance of Kevin who, despite knowing all the scores at the turn, ignored the temptation to share. His observation of how players were struggling with the conditions only helped to confirm his decision to not play was the right one. The ladies, by now, were well into the back nine appearing (from afar) not to be struggling as much as the men and opening up quite a distance between the two groups - yardage wise that is, not points! In truth, they were also struggling to build on reasonable starts. On the 10^th hole, Jo failed to score. With less than a foot to putt out for 2-points, she failed to read the break and then did the same for the 1-pointer coming back! Only the difficult 200-plus yards par-3 14^th hole gave the ladies some 3-point opportunities, Jo taking hers with a par and Jill getting the field’s only birdie of the day. Jo struggled and, with two more blobs, could only score 9 points on the homeward nine for a total of 22.

Jo only managed a point a hole on the way in

Jill kept any more blobs off her card until the last, but with six 1-pointers, scored just 11 and 23 in total. Chris fought on valiantly but could not find a 3-pointer all day. Unfortunately, she could only score 12 coming in, but the overall score of 28 was going to prove a difficult challenge to the men who were still some way behind.

Jill getting one of her 11 1 pointers today

Despite channelling his inner Gary Player by dressing in all black, Robert was still being frustrated by his tee-shots. However, some great recoveries and excellent putting kept him in the hunt. Two perfect 4-woods got him to the back of the 13^th green and, two putts later, he had his second and last 3-pointer of the day.

Robert gets out the bunker on the 10th for a point

Vince also made a 3-point bogey on the same hole but, sadly, this was to be his only success on the back-nine. The headwind and a sore back were taking its toll and, with only 2 points in the last four holes, he finished with 11 points and 23 overall. 

Vince sensibly duffed his approach to 10 to leave him in a good position to secure his 2pts

Andrew was driving well but the rest of the game needed improvement. His only highlight on the back nine came on the par-3 14^th hole but, alas, the birdie putt just slid past, as many had for him in this round, and a disappointing 11 points left him on 26 for the day. 

Andrew putting on 10th but sadly not on the traditional green area saved for these shots

Robert was unfortunate to lose his ball on the par-5 15^th hole, but a strong finish on the last three holes helped him to another 14 points, and he was the only player to not score less on the back nine, finishing on 28 overall.

All of this meant that, on a low-scoring day, Chris and Robert (new winners again) shared first place.

Chris on her way to her first win of the season albeit a joint one

With Andrew in third and extending his lead in the overall championship. Jill and Vince tied for fourth, sadly leaving Jo without any reward for a hard day’s work. The results meant that Kevin, currently in second place overall, had lost little ground and was still in the hunt for the title. Following a review of the speed of play, it was clear that the men finished about a hole and a half behind the ladies, equating to about 400 yards. However, bearing in mind that the ladies’ course was some 367 yards shorter than the men’s, this was only to be expected.

The Tour moves on to the final event at Sheringham next month where, it is rumoured, 11 players have entered. The new WHS rules will be in place, so everyone will be curious to see what unfair handicap they have been allocated and what inflated one everyone else has been given! The championship trophy is almost in Andrew’s hands but, with big-money prizes available at the last event, several are lining up behind to trample over him should he stumble.

RNSG Autumn Tour – Woodbridge Wanderers – 30 September 2020

An orderly, gang of 9 turned up to play in pleasingly symmetrical 3 x 3 balls at an excellently presented course in great settings, warmish weather with a fair breeze blowing and a big threat of rain on the last 9 holes.

For once the ladies and men played off the same stroke allowances showing that the Equal Handicap Allowances Matter campaign is finally gaining traction.

That tidy order belied the confusion a certain Mr Spanner had caused by leaving the address of Purdis Heath in the diary booking. Poor Greg and Vince who had put that post code in their sat navs, had set off in good time but realised close to Purdis Heath, or at it, that travel plans were amiss. Their subsequent mad dash to the right venue caused Greg to miss a lunch stop, and Vince dropped back to the re-organised last grouping to give him more time.  Nice to have you with us in spirit if not in actual presence Bob.

With pre-drawn pairs John Butler (returning from England over 80s winter hockey training) was included in the Barnard family bubble, Greg Gladwell was welcomed into Andrew and Jill Gooch’s family group. Vince became an honorary Frazer and joined up with Chris and Kevin to reminisce about IT in the 1980s, camper van tours, and days gone by when they all used to score 40 point hauls.

Time for the regular fashion report, well Robert Barnard wins this week’s best groomed player award with a smart blue and grey theme. That extra time on the hair-do was well worth it!  Andrew and Greg co-ordinated excellently in beige trousers and sports tops – it’s what the mature man is into this autumn, and it’s always handy for the mud stains to be the same colour as the trousers.

The miscommunication that had plagued Vince and Greg had clearly impacted the ladies dress sense too. Although playing the Woodbridge Golf Course there was no bridge, and no river – so why Jo, Jill and Chris all end up playing in life-jackets is unknown. Rumours that their diary bookings showed that we were playing a seaside course are being investigated.

Jo, Robert and John teed off first and in a tight first 9 tussle Jo won by a whisker (Jo you must get those seen to) with 17 points to the guys 16.

John gets things underway while Robert looks on in his smart golfing gear

Second group away saw Andrew find the course to his liking with a stylish 20 points. Greg having popped some anti-migraine pills on the second tee was not as co-ordinated in his golf as he was in his dress sense and limped to 14 points, just pipping Jill’s 13 points. 2 blobs each did for their chances of outright success.

Andrew and Greg discuss their disappointment on not winning the best dressed golfer prize

Following behind the re-emerging Vince struggled to a meagre 10 points with far too many blobs.

Vince on his way to his first blob of the day

Chris managed a steady 14 points and Kevin found some fine form with 18 points to be in a mid-way 2^nd place.

Chris nearly sunk this putt on the 3rd for what would have been a birdied but later on chipped in on the 16th for the only 4 pointer today

So onto the back 9 as the storm clouds gathered and the wind picked up, and the lifejackets were duly pumped. Jo and John stuttered with 14 and 13 points dropping them out of the mix on 31 and 29 points respectively. 

Jo emerges from the undergrowth after an unsuccessful search for the ball

Robert however buoyed by his best-groomed player award (note Robert was buoyed without a lifejacket) walked tall and proud for 17 points and a very acceptable 33 points total. Worthy of a place perhaps?

Greg got off to a poor start with 1 point in the first 2 holes and with waning interest and a sub-standard putter just avoided the wooden spoon with a poor 12 points and 26 in total. 

Jill found some form, as you would expect from the newly crowned Bawburgh Ladies Net and Gross Club Champion, and with 16 points could hold her head high (and well above water), totalling 29 points all together.

The last group also found the back 9 tougher, or is it really that we are all just a load of old gits that get tired far too easily nowadays? Vince reduced his blob quota so upped his game to a respectable 14 points, but won a really lovely spoon for the trophy cabinet. Chris got to the same 14 point total but by a different route, including the only 4 pointer of the day with a birdie on a par 5.

Chris suggests both her playing partners take provisionals on the 11th despite their original balls eventually being found on the edge of the fairway

That left “Long Covid” Kev to battle Silver Fox Andrew and Style Guru Robert for top honours. Things were looking good for Kevin until a blob on stroke index 17 pulled him back to equal 2^nd on 33 points with Robert leaving Andrew to take the crown and the winners pot for the day.

This was the last known sighting of Kevin's shiny green ball as it was never seen again after toeing it over the trees

The rain started as we were in the car park, so we were all grateful for a speedy 3 hours 40 minutes round that kept us dry. With the right postcodes in the sat navs everyone at least got home safely and quickly.

Although the temperature is falling things are hotting up in the Race to Sheringham, for The Autumn C19 Challenge Champion. It’s the biggie in UK golf right now and with not much sport going on in the UK there’s the possibility of a potential place on BBCs Sports Personality of the Year up for grabs and David Attenborough’s Instagram follower record is under threat.

Watch out for the next update as the tour swings back to the coast for the Hunstanton Sands of Glory Shield. (For the avoidance of doubt that is at PE36 6JQ).