Jamie, the head green keeper at Walmley was a resounding winner on Wednesday and I presented him with a bottle of wine. He and his team produced this ever improving, parkland course magnificently!
The definition of the fairways, the beautifully mown approaches and aprons, the double-hand-cut-and-ironed greens inspired so many words of praise from the players, it was a delight to listen.
Work on improvements to the club during lockdown are a clear bonus both on and off the course:
The new bunkers, which have been tastefully revetted, both frame and protect the par 3 eighteenth, giving it an appearance of shear quality.
One of the past captains, a retired joiner, has built a super outside covered area, adjoining a very good kitchen and bar, meaning that everyone could enjoy their pre-round bacon rolls and a few beers afterwards.
The whole experience of Walmley was splendid.
Of the 100 players participating, 41 were 10 handicap or less. This lead me to put the nearest-the-pin in 2 on the fourth hole, which is an index 1, parr 4. Jeff Thomas (5.4) rose to the occasion and just for good measure he also won the longest drive prize (there is no truth in the rumour that a post-round urine sample revealed that as well as a full bottle of CBD oil, he has also had six Covid jabs)
Graham Bull won nearest the pin on the eighteenth.
Martin Gadsby's reinstatement to the team will be under revue I think, as he only contributed on three holes to a 79 that narrowly edged it's way into 5th place on a count back.
Alan Pratt, Jim Clarkson, Nigel Truepenny and Steve Dingley were demoted to 4th with a count back on 80.
On the podium this week:
- 3rd - Jeff Thomas, Stevie Neale, Matt Bateman & Nick Chauhan
- 2nd - Charlie Spear,John Ward, Anthony Omo-Dare & Wayne Furber
- 1st - Martin Dunn, Richard Tart, Eamon Revill & Steve Faulkner.
