Unusual though it is, and far from being hit to a foot, I do think it is worth recording the unique glory of the Skins from the Brissle at the weekend.
The 2013 Brissle saw the return of some old friends – like Peter, Ronno and Coops, after too much time away. It also saw all the new dads in the society fall foul of ‘other commitments’, and none of our new members undertake the long drive. Oh, and Aust might have done the right thing going to the 5 all draw instead of braving the hilliest course I’ve ever played.
We were enjoying possibly the best nosebag ever in a very smart clubhouse when the banter turned to the blank piece of paper presented by Gamble Gibbon. As usual there was no value in the outright title (especially not once Noz worked out that Coops was playing off 11 at his club, had been taking lessons all winter and was off 16 for the Brissle – his money was pretty much guaranteed). That took us onto the specials – Pete getting some real interest in potentially taking £35 for a gross birdie, or £70 for net albatross (he got close, but no cigar). Ron was looking for value, and ended up geting 15/2 on taking both of the spot prizes, after enquiring on a price for the Donk to Shark (having won Ron £25 at the Spittle for getting inside his mark). Suffice to say that the fourball with Ron, Coops, Noz and Greggors was all about the wagers all day, and the ex TD might have forgotten to play golf whilst trying to buy his way out of some serious exposure to Ron.
The Manor House course is very memorable – with 3 or 4 picture book par 3’s and some spectacular views. I was showing good form on the par three’s, giving myself birdie putts on pretty much all of them, even if I couldn’t buy a putt (I took 4 putts on the 2nd). So after a long and interesting afternoon in shade and sun whilst Millers and Rob played some good golf in our group, we arrived at the 17th.
This is what we saw from a tee that was a good 100 feet above the green just 115 yards away – in a very spectacular setting. Ron had dropped his tee shot around 18 feet short of the pin and was in the box seat – having also claimed an easy Big Dog on the 3rd. He was looking at taking at least £40 from the Gregory coffers.
So the stage is set for perfect drama – 4 on the tee, 4 at the green – the whole of the membership in attendance, all with an interest in either watching Greggors lose money, or win the Shark for themselves. Suggestions were shouted up to the tee “just miss the green and Greggors will cry!”.
Up steps Rob, with a wedge, it looked good off the tee, slightly left, and indeed landed pin high but just too far left – which was confirmed by a very excited and then disappointed Christopher Gregory – about 2 feet outside Ron’s. Next up is Millers, also with a Wedge, and flicks one high into the air, directly at the pin – squeals of delight from Greggors as the ball lands inside Ron’s and rolls towards the flag, and then continues to roll past the flag and just off the back of the green – if it had stayed on the green, Ron was toast.
By now, the atmosphere in the natural ampitheatre was electric, with late evening sun adding to the spectacle. Up steps Pete Ash – just minutes after seeing a chip worth £70 finish 6 inches from the hole on the 16th, and playing some decent stuff. Pedro hasn’t sharked since 2010, and his own wedge shot was high and left and wet and lost. So it all comes down to the Donk and his wedge shot. The Donk had won both of the sharks on offer in 2013, and has now won more than any other member – surely he wouldn’t tank his tee shot on purpose, as suggested by Millers just after he’d tried to win it. My 3/4’s wedge shot felt good – high, a little left, but it landed pin high and stopped around 12 feet from the pin. Cue a lot of running around and laughing from the proprietor of GambleGibbon, and a classic head in hands pose from Ron. I believe I may have proclaimed, arm’s aloft, that “I am The Shark!” after seeing where my shot finished.
And I missed the 6th birdie putt of the day.
