SENIORS MATCH HOME AGAINST GREETHAM VALLEY 16th May 2024 RESULT W 4 - 2

Wet, wet, wet. No wind, and not cold, but it rained from shortly after our tee-off, and the intensity of the rain just changed from light to moderate and back, the whole day. The halfway hospitality was a welcome oasis. Nevertheless, our intrepid band of hardy golfers (or hardly golfers, judging by some of my less perfect shots) turned up and played the match in good company and with good humour. After five earlier drop-outs from our original team, and a C team match the same day, we struggled for a reserve and their Big Man Leon Price kindly played for us with Charles, and they gave a beating to their GV opponents. David Court and I took it in turns to play holes well and saw off long-hitting GV Captain Patrick (a youthful 59-year-old) and his partner Nigel. Mick Marriott produced a near hole-in-one (I am told) to take the NTP prize on the 16th.

Thanks to all who lasted the course. We'll look forward to visiting Greetham Valley in 2025, to be hosted by their incoming Captain Chris Doherty.

Pip

SENIORS MATCH HOME AGAINST GIRTON 29th May 2024 - Result W 41/2 - 31/2

A dry day, at last, if not over warm, and an early start. Mick and I sank some serious putts to see off the Girton Captain and his partner; the match was tied as the last group was finishing, and Charles and Richard delivered a final blow to give us victory. David Court took the NTP wine on the 9th, and Charles Webb VC took it home for Girton. Some stern words about slow play were delivered as the middle groups had lost ground, but at least the Caesar Salad wasn't going cold. A thoroughly enjoyable day, we look forward to re-visiting Girton on 30 August and hopefully an away win.

SENIORS MATCH AWAY AGAINST SPALDING 20th May 2024 RESULT L 5 - 3

A slightly chilly start at Spalding Golf Club, but the sun soon appeared and we were able to enjoy the course - my third outing here and my first in dry conditions. We had a long-putting display from Trevor on the front nine, to be 3 down at the turn, and although better on the back side we had lost 3-2 before Mike Stallard had his tap-in birdie on 17. As the first 4 results came in and we were 4 games down, I feared a whitewash (a reverse of what we gave Milton 2 weeks ago) but two wins and two halves gave us respectability for a final 5-3 loss result. Hopefully we can turn it round when Spalding visit BP on 22nd July. NTP was Mike Earl for us, although I did feature briefly on the sheet and didn't 3 putt. Andy Phillips was NTP for Spalding. Ham, egg & chips at £12 was fair enough.

SENIORS MATCH AWAY AGAINST STOKE ROCHFORD 13th May 2024 RESULT L 5 - 3

Well, I think a 5-3 loss is a respectable result at Stoke, it's a great course in good condition, the greens are fast and hard to read; it definitely gives the home team an advantage to be putting on them. Hopefully when SR come to Burghley on 28th June we can reverse the result, and more. Tim and I were never ahead, to be 3 down with 4 to play. We managed a few three-putts on the early holes and suffered a chipping-in from an impossible spot, an unlikely sandy par and a generally deadly short game from 82-year-old John M. But we sparkled on the last four holes to secure a half.

The beef and pork carvery was good value at £17. For BP Mike Earl won NTP on the 12th, and Darren Knight was NTP for Stoke Rochford.

Honorable mention in dispatches for our Vice-Captain Paul, who kindly volunteered to stand down when I had summoned an un-needed reserve (David C) at short notice. I am still investigating who tried to send a text to my landline this morning, which got turned into a garbled voice message by a robot and led me to believe someone had cried off at the last minute this morning due to a crisis. All very strange. I hope everyone turns up for Greetham Valley at BP on Thursday.

Pip

SENIORS MATCH AT HOME AGAINST PETERBOROUGH MILTON 3rd May 2024 RESULT W 8 - 0

An overcast morning, with rain threatened for later. Fortunately it came late enough, and initially light enough, for us all to be back inside without getting too wet.

A satisfying whitewash against Milton, who are usually strong opponents, perhaps helped by the slower-than-usual greens which the visitors took a long time to get used to. (If at all).

NTP for Milton on the 3rd was Steve Knight, and the second bottle of wine was carried over for another match as nobody from Burghley managed to be on the 9th green.

Congratulations to Richard Martin for a win on his first appearance for the team.

Pip