| Date: | 15th September 2007 at 08:45 |
| Venue: | Wildernesse Club |
O.T.G.S. v WILDERNESSE - 15th September 2007
Last year we suffered the ignominy of a 7-1 defeat and by 4.30 it appeared that this year there was every chance of going one better and being the recipients of an eight nil whitewash for the first time in the match`s history.
The day had started badly when one of the team failed to arrive effectively ensuring that we would be two points down before a ball was struck in anger. Your scribe had ten minutes to grab some clubs, shoes and a buggy and prepare for the inevitable. The last time that Miles and I had partnered each other six years ago and prior to my enforced retirement from the game, we had slaughtered a strong Wildernesse top pair. As we approached the first green this time it soon became apparent that history was not about to repeat itself. After my first shank, from which Connell recovered manfully, it transpired that amongst my motley collection of weapons were three wedges but no putter. (Peter Bathurst`s wonderful story of the 7 irons came to mind).
Graciously the opposition allowed us to share one. Miles hit an immaculate drive on the second to within five yards of the pond. Jackson managed to scuff it ten yards. The ball didn`t even splash, it just sank as if grateful to avoid further abuse. And so it continued; apart from a tap-in birdie at eight the morning was a disaster.
Elsewhere things were not looking too bleak: Reich and Mertens were two up crossing the road but eventually succumbed and the strong pairing of Dresner and Mills were in a similar position crossing the road in the other direction. Two up with five to play they contrived to lose the next four holes. Bob Gonda, playing in his last match, was not quite the force of old and despite Philip`s best efforts they went down 3 and 2. Four nil at lunch.
Richard Lea came in for Bob after lunch and partnered by the Hon. Treasurer they were heading for the ultimate disgrace against the Club captain, who played out of his socks all day, and Ian Cowdroy when Ian, possibly remembering his loyalty to the Society and perhaps anxious to be asked back next year , nobly called a penalty on himself for moving a leaf in a bunker by the eighth green thereby reducing their winning margin to a mere 8 & 7.
Unable to find a last minute replacement for our missing member and unwilling to inflict myself yet again on three of my few remaining friends, I had to re-jig the afternoon batting order which left Tim playing with himself, so to speak. He put up a tremendous battle against Madderson and Pomeroy and despite being dormy four down came within a whisker of rescuing half a point when his eight footer on the last ran over the lip but failed to drop. Six nil and the mood darkening. Meredith and Dresner were three down after five but just as I was preparing the note which would be found beside my lifeless body, promising news from the front and the big fight back was under way resulting in our first point albeit on the last green. (There is no truth in the rumour that an agreement was reached with their O.T. opponents to uphold the honour of the Society).
Bringing up the rear, Reich, who has never been known to lose two matches on the same day, and Connell, at last bereft of the albatross which had been hanging round his neck all morning were having a bit of trouble with one of their opponents. Two years previously David Jay had cost us victory by tramlining a ten yard putt on the eighteenth and now he was up to his old tricks again. This time it was on the tenth with the ball barely on the green having rolled back down the slope and the pin on the top level. Straight in the can from thirty five feet or for those of a metric disposition two rods or half a chain. However that was the last throw of the dice and we ran in comfortable winners 4 & 3.
Hail and Farewell: we welcomed David Golding-Wood to his first match albeit playing for the opposition and hope to see him for many years to come. He certainly started off impeccably with one point for the Club and one for the Society - completely unbiased! As mentioned, Bob Gonda intimated that this would probably be his last match and we shall miss him. He has been a regular participant for over thirty years and I should like to thank him for his friendship and the help and enthusiasm which he always brought to this fixture.
Finally our thanks as ever to Wildernesse. The course was as near perfect as I have seen it in fifty years although the greens were on the Augusta side of speedy! The catering was up to its customary high standard and the staff were, as usual, attentive and obliging. We look forward to returning next year on September 13th.
Morning:
Miles Connell & Ian Jackson v David Small & David Evans 4/3
Trevor Mills & Richard Dresner v Peter Madderson & Mark Hodder-Williams 2/1
David Reich & Tim Mertens v Ian Cowdroy & David Golding-Wood 2/1
Philip Meredith & Bob Gonda v David Jay & Colin Pomeroy 3/2
Afternoon
Richard Lea & Trevor Mills v David Small & Ian Cowdroy 8/7
Tim Mertens v Peter Madderson & Colin Pomeroy 1 up
Philip Meredith & Richard Dresner 1 up v David Golding-Wood & David Evans
David Reich & Miles Connell 4/3 v Mark Hodder-Williams & David Jay