SENIORS HOME MATCH AGAINST ST NEOTS mon 23rd June 2025 - Result W 51/2 - 21/2

 It was a bit of a fraught start on Monday morning as both Burghley Park and St Neots were one man short at 8 AM 

Fortunately, Stephen Cheeseman and Chris Patterson of St Neots  agreed to go out as a Singles  match and Richard Gilbert stepped into the fray to play with me against Senior’s Captain, Mick Mitchell and Graham Bargraves. Stephen did really well to came back from Dormie 2 to grab a half with a Birdie on the last.

Thank you to those guys for changing their planned matches.

As it was Burghley Park won 3 matches quite comfortably and  two more on the 17th and lost two matches on the 17th.

Of particular note was Stephen Wilcox‘s and Clive Pearce‘s result of seven and five . Stephen was full of admiration for the once more mercurial play of Clive Pearce.

However, their result was not the biggest margin of victory of the day . That came in the first match where Richard Gilbert and myself won eight and seven. Before Monday, I was really only aware of the name Gilbert in relation to rugby balls soon to be used in The Lions tour down under,  Gilbert Jessup, the outstanding batsman for Gloucestershire in the early part of the 20th century and Gibby Gilbert who finished 2nd to Seve at Augusta in 1980. After Monday’s game, it will be Richard Gilbert‘s name that I will remember as he played quite outstandingly taking only 84  shots. In fact he and I had a better ball score of 78. It was difficult for Mick Mitchell and his partner, they didn’t particularly badly, it was just that Richard played exceptionally well. Well done Richard a real pleasure.

Thank you to all the support staff for making the day so pleasurable particularly Joan and Margaret in the halfway house. Onward to Peterborough Milton a week on Wednesday.

Paul

SENIORS COFFEE MORNING - 9th June 2025

 30 -  Seniors took part in the Annual Over / Under 70 Stableford Competitions

Winners & runners up

Under 70s

            Gents    KB Trophy            -    David Lennie        19 Pts

                                                               Keith Terry            16 Pts   

            Ladies   Bolton Goblet        -    Stephanie Crook   19 Pts

                                                                Vivienne Swift      16 Pts

Over 70s

            Gents    Ted Steel Trophy    -    Roger Metcalfe       18 Pts

                                                                Michael McCarthy  16 Pts

            Ladies  The Jones Trophy    -  Anne Fensom           20 Pts

                                                                Janet Duff                18 Pts

Over 80s

        Gent or Lady. Ocean Trophy  -   Chris Harrison-Smith    20 Pts

                                                                Zillah Taylor                 17 Pts

        Nearest the Pin 3rd                       Anne Fensom

SENIORS AWAY MATCH AGAINST OUNDLE 16th June 2025 - RESULT L 11/2 - 61/2

 It was a tough day in Northern Northamptonshire for The BP Seniors Team

 

Whilst up above it was Cloudless at ground level it wasn’t so much overcast as downcast. A disappointing day saw Oundle triumph 6 1/2 to 1 1/2.

 

For some the journey to Oundle had been slow with a very busy A1, for some the golf had been difficult on Oundle’s notoriously tricky nay quirky Back 9, for one of us the thought of climbing a tree to play his shot to the 15th Green was just too much. I wonder if I’ll get my ball back!

 

Nevertheless Keith and Pip rued missed opportunities, Neil and David came close and brilliantly David and Richard grabbed a Half, but it was left to Peerless Peter Hickman to grab the lead match by the neck, with excellent play between Holes 9 and 16 resulting in a 3 and 2 win.

 

Well played Oundle a deserved win. Peter Steele mastered the 9th to grab the wine for BP and Senior Veteran Peter Turner was nearest the 9th Pin for The Hosts. Peter and I had a lovely chat with Captain Colin Stanton and Peter Smith. Finally a Thank You those who stepped up to play, your support to The Team is greatly appreciated.

 

St Neots next Monday. Plenty of time for practise.

Paul

SENIORS HOME MATCH AGAINST GIRTON 28th May 2025 - Result L 5 - 3

If only the weather would behave, it must be a nightmare being a TV Meterologist never mind a Climate Change Expert. 

The First 9 holes, for all of us, was spent, obviously trying to hit golf balls in the right direction. However it was also a case of jacket on, jacket off, umbrella up, umbrella down, keep the clubs dry, clean your ball and of course keep up with the group in front and try to win a few holes. It’s tough being a Seniors Golfer. 

Tim Chapman had a super round of golf, sadly not aided and abetted by myself. His chipping on the Back 9 was seriously top drawer and thus it was ironic that after we had clawed our way back from 4 down at the turn, to Charles Webb and Garth Hanlon, to Level on the 17th we both missed putts that would have earned us a win or a half. I did afterwards reflect on The Ryder Cup of 1969 at Birkdale.

Girton proved to be too strong for us on the day, but with 2 matches lost on the 18th it was very close. Peter Hickman eulogised about Kevin’s return to form, which included Kevin winning the wine at the 16th and there were also very good wins from Mike and Dave and Richard and Clive. Matches lost all went to 17 or 18 which indicates how near  but how far. Bill & George were so close but were undone by a par from Rob Smart. Adrian Fraser was nearest the pin for Girton. 

Captain Charles was fulsome with his praise for Burghley Park GC. Our course is a clear favourite amongst many of their members and that was before the result not after. Many thanks to all those at BP who contribute to making these fixtures possible.

A short break before The Leicestershire on June 11th. Thank you to all who played, I’m struggling with the admin but really enjoying the company.

Paul

SENIORS AWAY MATCH AGAINST SPALDING - 19th May 2025 Result L 5 - 3

 It was, I believe, Harold Wilson who said " a week is a long time in politics" and I'm pretty sure most of us have said "a week is a long time in golf"

In fact only 4 days passed between our glorious match at Greetham and our match out on The Fens at Spalding.

Spalding GC, however, is far from a flat, featureless landscape and  has many attractive  holes but after 3 holes I was thinking "what am I doing here?", I'm pretty sure I overheard Tim say to John that he thought I was "bold to lay up on the first and give myself a 300 yard shot to the pin". Fortunately Kevin kept BP in our match early on and we scrambled a half, winning 3 of the last 4 holes.

A very good win by Mark and David and then Peter & Michael was not sufficient to ward off an assault from Spalding for who Michael Harper and Laurie Hales excelled against a determined Michael Earl and an uncharacteristically out of form Clive Pearce. Mike and Rob came very close, it was very good to see Rob playing for us again even though he has struggled with "fitness". 

A Big Thank You to Ex BP members Tim Baines, Captain, and Mike Stallard who warmly greeted us on arrival, and proudly showed off the recently refurbished Clubhouse. Congratulations too to Mr Hickman for at long last adding to his Wine Cellar. Another lovely day out. Girton in 9 days.

Paul

SENIORS AWAY MATCH AGAINST STOKE ROCHFORD 12th May 2025 - RESULT L 5 - 3

It is always a delight to play at Stoke Rochford GC. We are guaranteed a warm welcome and SR Seniors Captain Stephen Major did not disappoint. The Course was in very good condition especially given the warm, dry weather we've experienced over the past few weeks. SR has many challenging holes and the greens were somewhat quicker than those at BP. 

BP got off to a good start with a win from Mike Barton and myself. Highlights being Mike's 20m putt on the 6th and opponent Barry Coop's birdie on Par 5 16th, where we achieved 3 pars to accompany the birdie. From 3 Up at the turn the match ebbed and flowed and it was with some relief that Mike parred the 17th. A most enjoyable round. Stoke Rochford then came in with 3 wins all 2 & 1, then a so close 1 Up loss for George C-J & Away debutant Peter Steele,who also sneaked the nearest the pin for BP at the short 12th. An excellent win by Bill Glencross & Peter Hickman, also 2 & 1, followed by two Halved games gave Stoke Rochford the victory 5 & 3, but it was CLOSE!

Remarkably every match reached the 17th Green and was the closest match that the majority of us could remember. Nearest the pin for SR was Bert Tregidgo, I still can't pronounce his Cornish surname.

A special note should be made of Game 2 where Michael Earl and David Court had a real battle with Martin Harvey & John Hitchman. A combined score of 9 Under par for the four ball was quite remarkable. I enjoyed watching Michael's drive on the Par 4 13th that reached the green.

But well played everyone, a cracking day's golf played with tremendous skill and passion and as ever with the greatest of mutual respect and friendship.

Onwards to Greetham GC on Thursday, preceded by a Competition at Girton GC for Mark Hotchkin, David Shales and myself on Wednesday. No time for rest at this time of year.

Paul

SENIORS AWAY MATCH AGAINST GREETHAM VALLEY 15th May 2025 - RESULT W 4 - 2

How quickly the weather changes in this wonderful country of ours. Only yesterday, May14th, Mark Hotchkin, David Shales and I were playing at Girton GC in a Past Captains Event, with temperatures in the mid 20s whilst temperatures at Greetham barely got above 15. It was a multi layer day for me! As it was BPGC rose to the task and produced some very impressive golf. To win 4-2 on The Lakes Course is no mean feat. Many of their fairways are struggling after Winter Weather and Spring Drought but the Greens played very true and many of The Pins were challengingly set pretty close to edge.

Peter Steel and myself took on Seniors Captain Chris Doherty and Stephen Calnan. A most enjoyable game of golf where no side was ever Up by more than 1 and in fact 11 holes were halved, 7 on the Back 9. Peter's excellent up and down 5 on The Par 5 15th and a fortuitous 30m chip to 8cms from myself on the 17th saved the day. Stephen's irons to the green were quite outstanding and due he told us to lots of practising. A lesson for some of us!

Another close win by Tim and Peter with both playing well and Peter hitting a glorious shot into the 18th followed and then a convincing win by Richard and Bill gave BP a 3-0 lead. However Greetham hit back with 2 very good wins in Matches 4 & 5 despite good play from BP and Alan Kinch winning nearest the pin on the 17th.

All down to Match 6 and with Terry Jones and Bob Matthew cursed their luck to have come up against the mercurial Kevin De Trafford, particularly on the 16th, I believe, where he went into the tree, out of the trees, into the bunker only to splash out and sink his putt for a great par 5. The very dependable, steady Clive Pearce was extremely animated about Kevin's play, but I would say Terry and Bob were even more so.

An excellent day. Greetham were tremendous hosts and Chris represented the Club with distinction. Onto Spalding on Monday.

Paul