Riley rules the roost!

As we arrived at The Shropshire nobody could have foreseen the dramatic events that were to unfold during the afternoon.  With a slightly later start and slightly cooler weather, though still warm and sunny, the CGS gathered looking relaxed and smart in white shirts and ready to fight it out as we moved into the second half of the season.  As we came off the course later that afternoon there were puzzled looks and expressions of surprise with whispered questions, “How many? Are you sure? It must be a mistake?”

By the time we reached the presentations everyone was smiling again and sharing in the delight that one of our most popular members had played a round of golf that will live in the record books for a very long time… AND not a single birdie on the card!!!

The Shropshire isn’t the longest course we play but drift offline and there’s the long, clinging rough and some big trees.  Add in the long spell of dry weather and the fairways can give lots of run or big bounces – but not always in the direction you want.  At one stage I thought my playing partners were hitting leg-breaks off the tee the ball turned so much.  Not everyone found the course to their liking or enjoyed it as much as some other courses so who would play it well, put in a good round and challenge for the prizes – who’d be in the running?

Making a guest appearance was Frank Skinner, no not that one, traveling up from the London ACGA and also Lendis Brookes from Maxstoke GCC as well as Charlie McCook from Coventry who its rumored has been a guest once before!  Congratulations to Frank Skinner who proved to be the “strongest” player on the course holding the rest of us up when the results were announced.  Frank took the ribbing with broad shoulders and an even broader smile.

There was a feeling of disappointment with the standard of the food and of the service which wasn’t up to that we’ve experienced elsewhere but that was soon dispelled once the results were announced.  The longest drive with an accurate strike that found the centre of the fairway and passed the existing marker by a good 20 yards was Jay Berryman.  Jay hit some really long drives but had been a little erratic with his direction but on this hole was to prove the master, well played.  Nearest the pin was to prove another popular result.  I haven’t seen Tony Brown feature in the prizes too often so it was a really warm wave of applause for today’s “Mr Accurate” as he walked away with the nearest the pin trophy.  Well played, Tony.

So what about the big prizes?  In second place and on the podium yet again, one of this season’s most consistent performers was Chairman Junior Harris with 37 points.  In third place with 36 points was long hitting Ian Higgins, Ian usually picks up the long drive prize but this makes a change.  Long time CGS member Tony Sealy produced his best round ever for the CGS however he did not renew his membership this season so his 39 points was only good for best guest score.  Today’s competition was all about one person, though.  At the 15^th she hit a 6 iron into the green, hit the pin and dropped in for an eagle 2 and to win nearest the pin in two. For the rest of the course she literally ate it up with 9 pars, that eagle and 8 bogeys to score a massive 49 points.  Bow down and pay homage to the CGS legend that is Mary Riley!!! Describing the way Mary played, Ian Higgins said – “straight down the middle, on the green, in the hole.” And that’s what she did all the way round making it very clear who wears the trousers in the Riley household!!!  Well played, Mary.  We all admire and respect what you accomplished at the Shropshire but hope you’ll give us a bit of a chance next time!

Full Event Result: