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