With only two official Caribbean Golf Society (CGS) events left before the team for the ‘Ryder Cup’ style match is announced, our CGS members have started jockeying for position. The players have also started thinking about the end of season prizes for ‘Player of the Year’, and ‘Birdie’ champion amongst other prizes for the end of the year.

The CGS welcomed another new member to the ranks of CGS, Hamandishe Mushayi. welcome Haman.
Tea, Coffee, egg and bacon roles were a good start to the morning.
I could see on everyones face they were all up the challenge, who will win what? As the boys started limbering up and swinging their arms on the range with a free bucket of golf balls.
We have been blessed with very good weather at the last four events, however, on this occasion the morning wind, rain and a little mixture of sunshine welcomed the members to Bromsgrove Golf Club. Speaking to most of the players before hand there was an air of optimism for the day’s events, unfortunately the heavy rain that fell earlier in the week meant there was going to be seven temporary greens which were later reduced to six. By the time we got to the first ‘Tee’ the sun came out to greet the first four ball.

The first few groups to drive off were long and straight, and of course there some ‘fat shots’ a few ‘Sally Gunnels’ and more ‘push’ and ‘pull’ shots. Not the best start for some but as you can well imagine a good number of those bad shots were converted into pars and some decent approaches were turned into bogies. I heard Ken Brown started with a par on the first and finished with a par on the eighteenth however, the stuff in between left a lot to be desired! Back to the range for Ken I think!

Peter Key started like a train on the front and recorded a great score of 18 points, with a playing handicap of 24. Other notable performances were Lyndon Douglas returning 28 points after eighteen holes but it was the manner in which this was achieved, with spirited determination for someone who has not been playing very long!!

Denny reported that in his group there was a great rivalry between Tony Irish and Balbir, he said “their banter and competitiveness helped my game and the amount of points I scored, their sporting rivalry throughout the eighteen holes, made the walk an enjoyable one!”

After eighteen holes of golf and playing ‘guess the location of temporary greens’ it was good to get off the course, shower, relax and have some good food and drink in the nineteen hole! The bar and lounge staff were very welcoming and served us very well. The CGS would like to thank the golf professional and all the staff at Bromsgrove Golf Club for making our stay an enjoyable one!

This event discovered some new talent and personalities in the winner’s circle which goes to show the CGS handicap system must be working, so come on guys the winners circle is there for everyone regardless of high or low your handicap is.
It was great to see individual winners paying homage to other golfers they were playing with, both Tony and Bugsy said “ the guys really encouraged them to stick with their games and words of encouragement were plentiful coming down the stretch” I must say both of these guys and most of the members have supported the CGS events without complaining and it was good to see them humble before us. I’m sure I glimpsed a tear or two in their eyes. It is great to see such passion and gratitude been shown to towards their fellow players.
Tony Irish said, “ I played great out there, I hit the ball well, and l left a few putts out there, but overall, it was a very good ball-striking round in some trying conditions. It was good enough anyway to put Bal under some serious pressure”

Team captain Jacko said “I am happy with my consistency at the moment, I obviously came up a little bit short on this occasion but I guess that‘s the way it goes sometimes but I am definitely looking forward to the next event”.

I am sure the CGS members would like to join me in congratulating Captain Jacko for comparing the evenings presentation so well, what a masterful display. as master of ceremony. He got total strangers to clap and take part during the presentation and came over very well, we will have to sign him up to the CGS on a long term contract just in case the BBC tries to poach him well done jacko!

The Committee would like to thank all its members for their continual support and discipline on and off the golf course.

Overall Winner:

The lovable crafty cockney from London Mr Tony Irish with a very credible 35 stableford points just beating captain Jacko on count back. Even though Mr Irish is a Londoner, I’m sure the CGS will agree with me when I say it was a pleasure seeing a true gentleman in the winners circle for the first time playing with an 11 handicap. In third place was the ‘Happy go Lucky’ Bugsy, aka lloyd Thomas, well done son, your really deserve it (still has a dodgy handicap thought!).

Longest Drive:

Captain Jacko with a long straight drive splitting the middle of the 18th fair way, with a drive of over 250 yards (not bad for a man with a bad back!) Junior we’re looking for you at the next event!

Nearest the Pin:

Mr. Accuracy himself Roan McLeod won with a beautiful straight six iron shot onto the 187 par 3 green. The shot was very impressive to see the ball flying through and into a very strong ‘head wind’ with check and spin as it landed

Event Result: