Result – Lost  4½ - 3½

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Sixteen of our number met up at Harbourne Golf Club, on the outskirts of Edgbaston, on a warm, sunny day. The objective being to record our first win of the season.  Sadly, we only just failed in our quest, the match result being in doubt until the last pair trudged off the 18th green.

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This course turned out to be a really good test of golf with some interesting terrain and long, tough, well bunkered holes. The 18th for instance being a 230 yards Par 3 over a valley. The slope rating of 131 meant some players had more than enough shots to make it do-able on the day. However, this time we discovered that WHS stood for Warwickshire Handicap System!

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Some matches were closely fought affairs. We recorded 3 halves and 2 wins, one by the narrowest of margins, but suffered three heavy defeats. I was lucky to play with Rob Payne against David (Dai) Williams, The Warwickshire Captain, who struggled with his putting (luckily), and Rick Waddington receiving 14 shots. We managed to scrape a half on the last green, mainly through Rob’s putting once he kept his ball in play. Mark Anderson & Mark Robinson, the dynamic Forest duo, won 6&5, John Cumming & Ross Antonczyk won 1 up. Our President & Alan Veitch and David Matthews & Steve Yemm both halved their matches.

 

Unfortunately Peter Ball & Dave Stowell lost 5&4 with Peter aggravating a back injury and having to struggle round with a buggy on the back 9. Ian Browne & Paul Wilson lost 4&3 and Patrick Brooke & Brian Trendell, in the last match, lost 2 down.

 

We were very well looked after by the catering & bar staff with good service and excellent food. The course, a vast green expanse nestling in a housing estate, was in excellent condition but quite hilly in parts and played long with tricky greens. Apparently the pin positions were still those used for their recent club championship.

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My only errant tee shot was induced by a drunken Rastafarian who, with his mate pushing his bike in a similar state of inebriation, decided to stay on the public right of way in front of the 11th tee box and discuss with our fourball the finer parts of basic golf trivia.

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I was introduced to the Harbourne Club Captain, Simon Griffiths, who was currently playing in the Sky Caddy Championships with his Pro at The Belfry. I asked him to pass on our thanks to the members and management for facilitating our event and the cook for her sumptuous meal.

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Sam Collins.