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

SENIORS HOME MATCH AGAINST PETERBOROUGH MILTON 2nd May 2025 - RESULT D 4 - 4

Friday saw BP Seniors play Peterborough Milton GC at Burghley. Debuts for Neil Chedd and Peter Steele. It is always excellent to see new members playing and enjoying themselves.

A very close affair with the match being halved 4 points each. The Top two matches were very close, in fact Myself and Keith somehow managed to go from 4Up at the turn to 1 down going down the 18th. Keith who had a great First 9, 39 shots, and myself had puts to win the last but failed. To be fair David Steer, for PM, drove quite outstandingly on the Back 9, standing out was his drive on the 15th, 30 meters past the bunkers, impressive. Mike and Dave did very well to win as did the Two Peters, Peter Steele, but BP were 4-2 down with the final two matches to be settled.

Richard & Pip returned to the Clubhouse very animated about some very good play from Sut Panchi, PM.

Fortunately Messrs Earl and De Trafford came through 2&1 and Steve and Richard had a great win 4&3 in the final match to seal The Half. Richard was most complimentary about Steve's putting. Steve was very happy too.

Nearest the pin for PM was won by Niel Courcey and for BP an outstanding shot from Richard Gilbert won him the quality Aussie Red

As ever the match was played in great spirit and Geoff Dyson, PM Captain, was fulsome in his praise for the reception his team received and the quality of our course. He very much enjoyed the chicken curry too.

A special thanks to Joan Hickman and Anne Harrison-Smith who provided Beverages and Biscuits in our Halfway House. Greatly appreciated. 

Onward to our first away match at Stoke Rochford.

Paul