{"id":7522,"date":"2025-10-03T09:19:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T08:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/?p=7522"},"modified":"2025-10-03T09:26:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T08:26:45","slug":"special-branch-does-it-again-cgs-at-the-shropshire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/?p=7522","title":{"rendered":"Special Branch Does It Again \u2013 CGS at The Shropshire"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the unforgettable CGS Weekend Away at Hawkstone Park, the society\u2019s next stop brought us to the scenic fairways of The Shropshire Golf Centre in Telford. With The National Caribbean Monument Trophy (TNCM) on the line, the event drew a strong and spirited field of 33 players, many of whom had travelled from across the Midlands and beyond to be part of this prestigious occasion.<\/p>\n

A Gathering of Golfers from Near and Far<\/h3>\n

One of the most inspiring aspects of this event was the geographic spread of the players. From Nottingham to Birmingham, Wolverhampton to Coventry, and even further afield, CGS members and guests made the journey to Telford \u2014 not just for the competition, but for the camaraderie, the laughs, and the shared love of the game.<\/p>\n

Among the field were two standout attendees \u2014 Lloyd Gordon and Carlos Wallace, both from Nottingham \u2014 who were officially welcomed as full CGS members. Having previously played as guests, their elevation to full membership was met with warm applause and a sense of pride.<\/p>\n

Course Play: A Strategic Journey Through Silver & Gold<\/h3>\n

The CGS\u2019s decision to play the Silver and Gold loops at The Shropshire Golf Centre offered a compelling contrast in styles \u2014 a tale of two nines that demanded not only technical skill but also mental discipline and adaptability.<\/p>\n

Silver Course \u2013 A Tactical Opening Nine<\/strong><\/p>\n

The round began on the Silver Course, a layout that rewards thoughtful play and punishes overconfidence. While not the longest of the three loops, Silver is known for its subtle elevation changes, narrow landing zones, and demanding par 3s.<\/p>\n

The early holes required players to find rhythm quickly. Tee shots needed to be placed with care, as fairways were flanked by mature trees and cleverly positioned bunkers. The par 3s stood out as particularly challenging. With swirling winds and small, well-guarded greens, club selection was critical. Many players found themselves scrambling to save par after missing the target by just a few yards.<\/p>\n

The par 5s offered scoring chances, but only for those who navigated the doglegs and avoided the rough, which remained patchy in places due to the summer drought.<\/p>\n

Gold Course \u2013 A Water-Laced Back Nine<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the turn, the field moved onto the Gold Course, where the tone of the round shifted dramatically. This loop is defined by its abundance of water hazards, which feature on every single hole \u2014 either off the tee, on the approach, or around the green.<\/p>\n

The Gold loop required strategic shot placement and a cool head. Aggressive play could yield birdies, but one misjudged swing often led to a splash and a dropped shot. The signature 5th hole (14th of the round) was a standout. A tight tee shot between two ponds set the stage, but the real challenge came on the approach \u2014 a two-tiered green protected by a horseshoe-shaped pond.<\/p>\n

The closing stretch was equally demanding. The 16th and 18th holes featured narrow fairways with water lurking on both sides, forcing players to weigh risk versus reward on every swing.<\/p>\n

The Wind Factor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout the day, a stiff breeze swept across the course, adding another layer of complexity. On the Silver loop, it made club selection tricky, especially on the par 3s. On the Gold loop, it turned already intimidating water carries into nerve-wracking challenges. Players had to constantly adjust their strategy, often opting for safer lines and more conservative targets.<\/p>\n

A Complete Test of Golf<\/strong><\/p>\n

Together, the Silver and Gold loops offered a comprehensive test of golfing ability \u2014 from shot shaping and distance control to course management and mental resilience. The layout demanded versatility: players needed to adapt their game from the more traditional parkland feel of Silver to the hazard-heavy, target-style golf of Gold.<\/p>\n

Results<\/p>\n

George Branch delivered a standout round, finishing with 38 points \u2014 a full three shots clear of his nearest rivals. This victory marks his fourth major title in CGS competition, and it\u2019s a testament to the hard work he\u2019s put into his game.<\/p>\n

1st<\/strong> \u2013 George Branch (38 pts)
\n2nd<\/strong> \u2013 George Grant (35 pts)
\n3rd<\/strong> \u2013 Lecint Smith (35 pts) (lost on countback)<\/p>\n

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Nearest the Pin Winners<\/strong>
\n7th (Silver, in one): Errol Murray
\n12th (Gold, in one): Errol Murray
\n16th (Gold, in two): Dale Bromfield
\n9th (Silver, in three): Chris Wilson<\/p>\n

Birdie Hole<\/strong>
\n8th (Silver): Carlos Wallace<\/p>\n

Order of Merit (with two majors remaining)<\/strong>
\n1. Andrew Macdonald \u2013 616 pts
\n2. Raphael Richards \u2013 610 pts
\n3. Roan McLeod \u2013 562 pts<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n

This event was more than just a competition \u2014 it was a celebration of community, commitment, and the enduring spirit of the CGS. The willingness of players to travel from across the region, the quality of the golf on display, and the friendships forged and renewed all contributed to a truly memorable day.<\/p>\n

As we head into the final two majors of the season, the excitement is building. The Order of Merit is wide open, and the CGS continues to grow in strength, diversity, and unity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following the unforgettable CGS Weekend Away at Hawkstone Park, the society\u2019s next stop brought us to the scenic fairways of The Shropshire Golf Centre in Telford. With The National Caribbean […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7526,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[118],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tncm-trophy","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7522"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7527,"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7522\/revisions\/7527"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.caribbeangolfsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}