Hurtmore Golf Club Wednesday 8 May 2024

by Ian Begg

We all assembled nice and early at Hurtmore to the worrying sight of fog, which had delayed all the members teeing off before us so we had a relaxed and extended social gathering in the clubhouse eating very nice bacon baps. After an approx. 40 minute delay the main event of the day, the 18 hole morning session, got underway, and within a couple of holes the sun was out and what proved to be lovely weather for the rest of the day set in. You couldn’t ask for better weather. Sunglasses and suntan lotion definitely required which made it tempting to lie down and soak up the rays. And to go with the weather, the course was in good condition, with fast greens that made life interesting once you got to some of the more undulating greens later on in the round.

Having played poorly at Badgemore Park and let my doubles partner Nick get a lead on me in the grand prix, it was time to get to business and try to catch him up again. Playing with Steve Adams and Mike Clothier we got off to a cracking start, all paring the first, a feat we managed to repeat on at least one if not two other holes during the round.

All three of us played well with Steve and Mike both ending on 36 pts. I had a ‘first’ for me and had nothing worse than a bogie all round. Unfortunately I also had a ‘second’ (I’ve done this before elsewhere unfortunately) in that I drove to the back of the green on the par 4 10th before 4 putting! We all misread that green.  Just as well or my handicap would have been cut even more.

We got back to the clubhouse for a decent pie and chips lunch, before the 7 keen souls headed off for the Mexican Caddy Texas Scramble. I’ve never had the pleasure of (legitimately) kicking my ball on the course before, but it was an interesting and fun twist with some very nervous footwork around the hole. Tim, Nick, Steve and I had a bit of an advantage over the three ball team of Alan, Mike and Philip, so we managed to win -8 v -5, including an eagle 2 on the 4th after a great drive and nifty footwork to get us even closer to the hole from Tim. Talking of cheating on a golf course …..

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4MCDlaPBB5/?igsh=MW1ndDJpOTVxcm9rbg==

RESULTS

Winner                           Ian Begg                40 pts

Runner up                     Nick Aitken            37 pts

Third                              Steve Adams          36 pts

Nearest the pin           Stephen Nower     6’ 9”

Tex Mex Caddies         Nick Aitken, Ian Begg, Steve Adams and Tim Houghton             26 strokes