Crown Golf Champion of Champion

Today I played in this event at Cotgrave Place Golf Club, Nottingham. 86 competitiors with separate prizes for Juniors, Ladies, Men and Seniors, with an overall prize for the best nett and best gross.

I came second in the seniors with a nett 72, 71 was the winning score and fifth overall to a winning score of 68, 69 was second and then there were two 71's.

I was supposed to start on the 10th, which is a par 3 but just as I was about to be called to the tee I was whisked over to the first to join another group. This completely threw me and I hit my usual duck hook drive, took 7 on the par five and then had a disastrous 6 on the par 3 second. Five over par after 2 holes is not a good start, so I am pleased that I hung in there and played very nice golf from then on, even though I three putted three times as the greens were the fastest I have played on in some years. I never left a first putt within gimmee range, most unusual for me.

I now have a nice engraved glass tankard and a sleeve of Callaway golf balls.

Well done me old mate,  real shame about the start but as an old wise head you new not to give, up now go fill the tankard and have a well earned drink

Well played John

It looks like David feels you need to carry him again Thursday

Congratulations John.

Russ

Don't be silly Wayne, whingeing makes the world go round.

I forgot to mention that we played right off the back of the White Tees, played long it did.

jonny, the problem for everyone today was the speed of the greens. They were like glass and virtually unputtable. I just could not get the damn thing close, was always having to hole good putts to try and keep the three putts down.

I might add that the winning score was by a Cotgrave member and he went round in 70 off 2 handicap.

Well done John, flying the GolfShake flag high.

well played m8

Thank you all very much for your warm congratulation for my limited success in yesterdays competition.

I should not have been playing as I was not a club champion in any of the sections and never likely to be in the Seniors, as with the low age set at 55 years of age to qualify as a Senior, we have players who are indeed very good.

I was asked to fill in by our current Senior Champion, Domel, whom some of you know very well.

It is therefore very satisfying to have done so well when all the competitors were all current club champions of their Crown Golf club. 31 clubs participated.

As it happens, Stuart, David is mustard around South Winchester, so don't count your chickens before they are hatched, as they say.

I have some Top Flite Gamers, some Top Flite Z-balata, some bridgestone treosoft, all at reasonable prices. I also have two dozen assorted pick-ups, if you are that desperate.

See you tomorrow evening.

Tis I who took out the duplicates, because I CAN!!!!

TheLyth

You mean it's 7:55pm an Govans finished his round................don't believe it

JP, will done on the round.  Wish I knew you were playing would have popped over, I only leave 15minutes away.

Which course did you play at Cotgrave the Open or Masters ?

It must have been Deans birdie at the first that shook us into action.

It is not our fault if they could not match us, David.

What was the result again?

Hi Darren, we played the "Open" which I thought was very interesting, although the greens were virtually unputtable because of their speed, like trying to putt on lino.

You will see me again shortly as myself, Dave L and Kev H have decided to support your charity event.

I've heard with MM making the 4th.  Will be a formidable 4 ball !

I need their quality to carry me round, Darren.

Be good to see you there John, and yes you should have told us you were up this way, could have caddied for you (or chauffeured).

I needed someone tp putt for me that was for sure.

Nice of you to offer to drive my buggy for me though, Tim.

I thought of you today as we played South Winchester. I said to David on the 13th Tee "I bet Tim wishes he was here".

Glad to here I'm in your thoughts John!  Would have loved to have been there, must make time to come down and have another go at that course, it got the better of me last time and I bear grudges against places like that.  Probably would have struggled though, the swelling on my finger from the weekends bouncy castle incident hasn't quite subsided but should be OK for a thrash at the weekend.  The pain in my hip, shoulder and ankle is bearable though, and the blisters on my fingers are not as sore now!

Keep me in touch about when your playing again and I'll see if I can wedge it in.  Hopefully Dave won't deliberately crash his car again this time just because he was scared I might beat him.

PS - have you played Abbotsley, John?  Another decent little Crown course if you fancy meeting (sort of) halfway one day.

Me thinks the guys need to come to Woodlake Park John.

Just had a look at Woodlake Dave, hope the course is better than their website!  Only a couple of hours from here and definitely easier to get to than S. Winchester!

 Very well done John, sorry to be late with the congrats but the computer was down....actually that's a lie...I couldn't figure out the new layout (tho' v good Darren). I think that class comes through in the end. What did you put it down to? I know you mentioned the fast greens but was it good putting?

 I think also that you should feel especially proud because of the large field involved. It must be a great confidence booster. I'm pleased for you.

Thank you, Patrick, it was a very good day for me with such a bad start.

The greens, though beautiful to look at were way too fast for me, so it was not the putting that got me round but a general improvement in my general play all round. I did hole some good putts but they were usually after sending the first putt way too long. I also three putted on at least five occasions.

Only yesterday I played with my Sherield guys at Paultons Park, Southampton. I started with four straight pars. something I have not done for over ten years missed three putts from with seven feet to have four bogeys in a row, then a par at the ninth saw me out in four over par.  I missed another seven footer on 10 for a bogey then two more straight pars saw me on the 13th tee, facing a short par five. I hit a good drive, six iron just short, chipped up to about 8 feet, now looking to get back to four over. Ran the first putt four foot past and my brain lost it and I hit the ball again and again like the famous Monty Python sketch and recorded a blob. End of round, all because I don't seem to have holed a putt for months.

I am now going on holiday to have a rest from this most stupid of games, hoping that on my return I might have a better idea on how to get the ball in the hole.

Tim without a doubt, and the reason the web page ain't up to much is because they spent the money on the course. There's alot of clubs that get this prority sadly wrong. The veiws from here on a clear day are also stunning, a great course with greens the envy of many surrounding clubs. I know you would enjoy it there but don't expect to shoot your usual 35+ points here Tim.

Good news also 3iron is sorted!!

Woodlake Park is a fantastic course, Tim, well worth the visit.

 I doubt it John, I reckon you'lle be looking for places to play, using any old shitty hire clubs. By the way I did a 76 yesterday which was 5 over par (yes in that wind) at Moorallerton, which has to be the second best round of the summer season for me. I too cannot place what it was (usually it's good putting... sub 30 putts) but it wasn't that so I looked at my card

11 pars

2 birdies (should have had an eagle)

2 double bogeys.

 Anyway, that's enough of blowing my own trumpet but Damn, I feel good about it.

Patrick, I was hoping to break 80 for the first time since my comeback but blew it big time.

A good score from you at Moor Allerton. Soon be in single figures.