Seniors on the brink…
After another strong year for the Seniors Team, they are just one game away from being league champions for a second year running. The adverse weather has meant that there is a bit of a fixture list pile up, so this week there are a couple of match reports to go through, even though they suffered defeat last time out they are still in a very strong position.
Herons’ Reach GC FSGL Match Report [Friday 18 August and Tuesday 12 September]
The following report refers to the matches played against St Annes Old Links in Weeks 15 and 17 of the FSGL Season.
Captain’s Match Report – Away at SAOL – Won 3 ½ to 2 ½
Due to the weather conditions, I/ we anticipated a difficult match, there was a constant wind of at least 2-clubs with occasional 3 to 4-club gusts, thankfully the rain didn’t persist and apart from the wind the playing conditions became pleasant. I’m sure we have all had the feeling of deep foreboding when your opponent declares he is no longer playing off 6, he is 5 (and to prove his ability he drives onto the adjacent parallel fairway, puts his second shot on the green and then sinks a 15-20 foot putt for a Birdie 3). I’ve not actually seen all the cards, but the rumblings and mumblings from the remaining matches suggested there was a lot of ‘ups and downs’ experienced, but as the saying goes, “There are no pictures on cards” and the result went in our favour which was a great relief. Well done team!
Captain’s Match Report – Home at Herons’ Reach GC – Won 6 to 0
It took a while, and more than a few telephone calls and negotiations with all relevant parties, but we managed to get a match organised and more than that we had a resounding 6 – 0 win, well done! The course wasn’t presented in its finery despite all the hard work by the Head Greenkeeper and his staff, the good old English weather gave the course ‘a right battering’. Hole 2 closed due to waterlogged fairway and rough, all Bunkers GUR, pools of standing water in various areas of the course and very soggy underfoot; so the Local Rules for the competition reflected the conditions – Preferred Lies through the Green. Although it was a tremendous victory it was also a hollow victory insofar as SAOL only fielded 10 players, meaning there were two 3-Balls (best scenario to be mustered in the circumstances). ‘Nuff said!’
That’s twice we have swallowed the bitter pill in recent weeks, and it was definitely unpleasant. I’m not casting aspersions, but I was surprised to be told by the visiting Captain that there are several changes to his team, 7 to be exact! OK, we made 2 changes, but 7… c’mon! The loss wasn’t all that disastrous, insofar as we gained 5 points; coupled with the 12 points gained from SAOL we are now top of the League with 1 match to play. I’ll let the statisticians do the math (sic).
Look forward to our away match against Blackpool Park The away match is scheduled for Tuesday 19 September 2017, first tee-time will be 11:00am (Tea/Coffee will be available from 10:00am). Please be aware that the team fielded by Blackpool Park may or may not resemble the team we played back in July (they are scheduled to play Fairhaven on the same day, and play Green Drive the following day). I am one of life’s optimists, but the cynic in me says they will field their strongest team to thwart our chances of retaining the Championship despite them not having a chance to win it themselves
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