Chris Wins First Major On A Challenging Day at Lingdale
With several members having attended the Sir Gary Sobers Festival of Golf over in Barbados only a week before, the sunny weather was a welcoming site.
The course layout was a challenging one; the rough was deep so before the start of our round it was noted by our chairman that pace of play was a priority so everyone should mindful.
The course was in great shape both fairways and greens, it was a tough test but fair, it had everything and made you think.
There were some memorable moments from the day and one that comes quickly to mind was seeing our secretary Denny Senior having a senior moment riding around in his pensioner mobile come golf cart, it was a real spectacle and a must see in our gallery.
Jacko Powel hit a solid tee shot on the 17th but put his second into the green side bunker. With a difficult pin position Jacko was fortunate or unfortunate to blast out and hit the flag, the ball almost going in.
Longest drive was held on the 15th hole and was won by Roan Mcleod, Roan also took the 2nd place prize after winning on countback from Eddie Wedderburn, it’s been a while since Roan as won anything so it was a good day, next step is to win an event which he hasn’t done for many years, the standard in the CGS being so high now.
Nearest the pin challenges were very competitive as usual, up for grabs was nearest in one on the 7th and nearest in two on 17th. Jacko Powell won the nearest the pin and Vassel Brown the nearest in two.
The predictions on the day was that the scoring wasn’t going to be very low, there were some long par fours on the back nine and into the wind they were a real test. As always someone rises to the occasion and puts in an impressive effort and on this occasion it was no different. It was the turn of Chris Powell, with 37 points to win his first CGS major. It must be said that 37 points on the day was a really good score some solid golf played by Chris to shoot what would be one under his handicap via the standard scratch scoring format. Well done to Chris on winning the Chairman’s Trophy.
One of the hot topics of the day which was looking to overshadow the great golfing display from Chris was golfs old nemesis, slow play! It was spoken about during the first tee briefing from our Chairman Junior Harris but unfortunately some players just weren’t paying attention. This was the only issue that spoiled a very good day, everyone enjoyed the golf course and welcomed a return in the future.
Players need to take responsibility for their pace on the golf course and this includes the speed at which they move between shots and bear in mind groups behind and in front. This subject has been a bug-bear of golf probably since the game started and isn’t going to be fixed anytime soon and maybe never. But if everyone as pace of play in their mind at all times so when you loose sight of the group in front it switches a light on in your mind to say “I need to catch the group ahead” and “maybe we are playing too slow”. If you want more time to play your shot or read a putt you can give yourself more time by simply walking quicker between shots it’s really that simple, we must all remember we are not the only ones playing and we must considering others, there is a nineteenth hole where you can catch up on conversations but playing slow on the course because you’re having a chat is not good enough, save it for the end of the round, you may come to enjoy your round but so as everyone else.
If you haven’t done so already familiarise yourselves with how to speed up play it’s on our website link provided – http://www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk/?page_id=641#Pace
Also remember ready golf is the way forward and this is being adopted by the R&A see link for a guide on “Ready Golf” – http://www.randa.org/Pace-of-Play-Manual/Rules/2-Management-Practices/SubRules/5-Ready-Golf
It’s a shame to cloud over a good day’s golf from Chris Powell but again well done Chris.