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Report from Sam Roberts
The NTLPA Spring Golf Meet - Wednesday 18th April 2007
held at the Royal Winchester Golf Club
What a stunning day! Wall to wall sun, a dry golf course and a goodly number of your mates to play with. It can’t be bad.
Fourteen souls drove off the first tee starting at 11.30; two three-balls and two four-balls. Always a tricky shot this, as it is the first of the day and everyone is watching! The excitement was ramped up even more when it was decided after the last minute to make the first hole the hole for the longest drive competition. The first on the Royal Winchester is a tester anyway, with a tee on the top of a hill and the fairway sloping left to right in to two bunkers in front of you. The decision was taken ‘after the last minute’, because the first three had already teed off and were about to take their second shots! However, one of our 28 handicappers in the first three, Dennis Fowler, had hit a half decent drive and it had stayed on the fairway, which is one of the stipulations for winning the competition, so he was in with a good chance. I was in the second three and, casting all care aside, let rip with my driver and amazingly sent the ball a good fifteen yards past Dennis’s spot. Although it won the longest drive competition it marked the peak of my efficiency with a golf club that day as the rest of the game went steadily downhill, such that, after only 14 Stableford points on the front nine, I only amassed a measly six points on the back nine!
Others fared better; none more so than the eventual winner, Pete Thompson, who, with an amazingly low handicap of ten, managed to play to that handicap with 36 points. Our host for the day, Mike Leonard, with his local course knowledge (not to mention a smidgen of skill), came a close second with 34 points. However, the most chuffed member was Dennis Fowler, who turned in his best ever score of 33 points and was awarded the third prize for his efforts. The closest the pin competition was a close run thing. Chris Allerton, in the first three-ball, was in with a shout, leaving his ball twenty paces from the pin. A chuntering Dave Jones, in the second three-ball, demanded a recount after his ball was found to be twenty-two paces from the pin. The prize went to Brian Salkeld, who finished well inside them both.
Prizes were awarded over a pint or two and some tasty bar-snacks on the Club verandah after a pleasant shower and change of clothes (an unusual local Club ruling).
As I said, the day was glorious. The course, founded in 1898, is well established and well kept with stunning views. So even if the golf gods were against you, it was a most enjoyable day - believe me, I know! It was a great shame that we were missing Brian Woods (‘Woodsie’), who is not so good following a massive stroke, and Ann Dean, who is slowly progressing after horrendous operations to remove aneurysms and blood clots from the area of her brain. We wish them both a full recovery.
I am delighted to say that Chris Allerton has offered to host the Autumn competition on the superb Dunwood Manor Golf Club course, to the north-west of Romsey. All serving and retired golfers of whatever standard are welcome. Keep a look-out on the website for the date, which will probably be during the first two weeks of October. If you would like to be added to the general NTLPA golf distribution list, please let me know. Tel: 01264 365662.
Sam Roberts
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