It was a return to golf, and to a familiar venue, for the second event of the 2021 season. Just 7 months after having three of his vertebrae fused together with titanium and bone “matter” the Captain had only played 18 holes of gentle and pretty shabby golf since taking the Green Jacket at Trevose. He wasn’t sure how he was going to play as, due to his temporary relocation to London, he hadn’t been getting to the range to swing a club properly.
The lead up to the event was a little confusing as the original tee time at Ingon Manor had been changed by the hotel and the messages got confused, but by and large the members gathered for a very crusty bacon roll – and only Boyce took advantage of the tea and coffee. Fincho was touring the midlands for an ATM but arrived back with enough time to join the final three ball.
I have a card entitled “Done is a right twat” for the first three ball of the PR, the Boyce and WHV Skyscanner – who all looked like they played a solid round together – with the platonic life companions logging 28 points each, and Boyce nursing his game to 30 points. The Gibbon had probably had some alcohol, as there were three blobs on the front nine – but from nine thru 13 he played one under gross and then stuttered again. He did hit a reasonable shot into 17, measured at 2 inches inside that of the Captain to take the Shark.
The second group saw Noz struggle to 21 points, Pickle get 27 and Juice deliver a solid 33 – with 19 on the front and a 242 yard dog on the 10th.
In the final three, the Captain, the Finch and the Cat had a relaxing round. Or the Captain did. The Cat was all over the place – left and right off alternate tees to give him 4 blobs and 7 points going out on the way to 17 overall. The Finch – a former scratch player in his youth – now has a WHS index of 25.4 and joined Cat Z off 28 – didn’t help him much as he struggled to 29. The Captain, also with a new WHS from the weekend in Cornwall and the struggle round, was off 19 – getting two shots on one hole for the first time in living memory. He played solid par and bogey golf, no blobs. Went out in 18 and came back in 21 to win at a canter and was probably a little grateful for the 3 or 4 lip outs and horseshoes. Typical honeymoon golf – he’s already felt the wheels come off.
So for the first time since purchasing the ring and the shield, the Captain takes the honour to Portugal. And is looking forward to returning the event to its spiritual home and matchplay format next year.
