monthly medal royal

Saturday 8th November Royal Lakeside

The car was full with Lefty, Noi and Howard as we left Pattaya and headed for Royal Lakeside for the last match this season. Interestingly many of you will already know that the roles of each course will change next year with Bangpakong hosting the medal round and Royal Lakeside the stableford – a change they say is as good as a rest and I for one think it will add a bit of fun.

The number of sparrows joining us at this event was much lower than normal due to the Inter-Societies Competition also being played over the same weekend. Those who remained behind will be upset to hear that one of our newer but nonetheless well liked members (Vaughan Litton) was injured at Royal Hills in a very unfortunate and quite frankly appalling manner. Vaughan, we all wish you a very speedy recovery and look forward to you coming back to the Londoners Golf Club as soon as you are able.

No problems with the “little chaps” in front ‘cos this the was “The Day” – grip it and rip it, with the eclectic and 12 months of bragging rights up for grabs the only scores that mattered were birdies and then more birdies!!

Secretary Steve had sent the batting order out in flights with the first 4 of each category playing with each other gladiator style in a fight to the death – OK so it wasn’t quite that dramatic but for those of us in the first groups, Max Boyce summed it up well when he said “I was there”.

So it was that Eric, Howard, Trevor and I teed it up on the first and tried desperately not to follow our friends from the land of the rising sun to the out of bounds fence. All of us had plenty of holes “open” to make this interesting and it started right there and then on the first with yours truly missing a relatively short birdie chance, Howard holed out for a 4 but he’s had several here already (he he) – sighs of relief from Trevor, Eric and I. Trevor made birdie at 7 – maybe he’s taken the lead, nope, he’d had a few here already (birdies that is) – shame!!
Howard made another birdie at 10 – nah, no good that hole owes him nothing – needless to say I missed another chance (I feel a trip to Thanaya Plaza coming on and one “old” putter spending some time behind the television!!). On we went with the deadlock intact – at 14 everyone (but me) hit magnificent drives. Me, I’m in the trees but hey, there’s a gap – grip and rip an 8 iron – that looks really good right over the flag but a tricky putt left – choose a line and close your eyes. What a glorious sound the ball makes as it takes the final six inches of borrow vertically to the bottom of the cup. Expectant looks from all – nah, I’m pretty sure I’ve birdied that before boys. It went down to the wire but this year’s eclectic looks to be won by Trevor and possibly on the last hole – maybe!!

Ah well there’s always next year and with any luck the big friendly Kiwi will rub next to me and I’ll pinch his mojo so that he can shoot high 80’s!! So, it was off to the shower to remove the dust a sweat of battle and maybe time for a couple of cold ones with our playing partners.
With so few in attendance it was not long until we were able to start the presentation. A warm Londoner’s welcome to guests and now new members Augusto and Romeo Romei (proud father and his son) along with Keith (Guest of Don) and Andy Armstrong who I believe will have a nice new handicap for Jimmy to abuse when the time is right!
Those that were able to take more than pride away from the game were:

Near Pin # 3                        Mary Brown
Near Pin # 6                        Da Hedges
Near Pin # 12                     David Jeffers
Near Pin # 15                     Eric Mallace
Near Pin in 2 # 2                David O’Callaghan
Near Pin in 2 # 11             Robert Marsh
Near Pin in 3 # 7                Trevor Stevens
Longest Putt # 5               Andy Armstrong

Those who made Jimmy’s Sunday special with excellent scores were:
Flight A – Howard Leigh – 67
Flight B – Tony Lovell - 69
Flight C – David O’Callaghan - 73
Overall – Hans-Gerhard Wagner - 66

Oh by the way, the birdie on 14 did count and Trevor was gracious enough to call me at home as Lefty, Howard and I were having a cold one by Bazza’s pool – so the skipper steals flight “A” in dramatic fashion and as I have said before – a better comeback than Lazarus!!
See you at the pairs competition this weekend or at the club championships on the 22nd & 23rd

Barry Scaife
Captain
Londoners Golf Club

Monthly Stableford Royal Lakeside