Match Report 2014 Morecambe Golf Club
The final Parrots Golf Society day for 2014 was held at the usual venue of Morecambe Golf Club on Friday. A bumper turn-out of 19 players made the trip, making it one of the largest in Parrots history and the largest of the season. They were rewarded with dry conditions throughout the day with the sun shining for the afternoon round, although the usual coastal breeze was blowing.
Sadly, winter work on Morecambe’s greens meant that they had been scarified, much like Wilpshire, and cut longer than expected, which made them slower. However, a cut during the morning by the greens staff and adjusting to the pace meant they played a little better in the afternoon.
After bacon barms and coffee, the morning round proved to be a close affair with three players sharing first place. Usual morning specialist Tony Johnson was matched on 18 points by Trevor Middleton and Jim Clayton.
Lunchtime was a chance to catch up on the first day’s Ryder Cup action as well as plenty of soup and sandwiches, and then it was time for the final round of the season with players going out in reverse order based on their standing in the overall table.
High scoring at Morecambe is always difficult with no Par 5’s and a number of long Par 3 and 4’s. However four scores stood out on the day. In joint third place with good scores of 34 points were Mark Thomas and Bill Pye (who shocked everyone later when spurning the opportunity to have pie at dinner!).
For some reason I seemed to click with the slower greens in the afternoon, and my playing partners (and I!) looked on in disbelief at all the putts that went in for me, helping me to a gross score of 74 and 37 points. Surely, no one could better that!
In the last group, of course, were the four players who had a realistic chance of taking the overall title, with Tony Johnson leading the way. Maybe one of these would be inspired to a big score?
Well, sadly for them, Mike Barnes (finishing in overall 4th place) and Trevor Middleton couldn’t improve on their discard scores. Paul Greenaway, however, brought home a score of 31 points, improving by the two necessary to leapfrog Trevor into 2nd place and leaving Trevor in 3rd.
But finishing the season in style was Tony Johnson. Unfazed by the pressure at the top, Tony scored 39 points for his first win of the season and ensured that he was the emphatic overall winner for the season. Well done to Tony, who not only won the Parrots Society title this year, but was also joint winner of the Thornton Golf Society as well as winning the weekend away at Portal. An amazing season!
Following an excellent evening meal by the staff at Morecambe and the prize-giving, it was a good job that Tony had a couple of minders taking him home with all his booty!
Handicap changes from Morecambe for next season were :-
Tony Johnson 27 to 23 (made up of 3 for the win at Morecambe and 1 for the season win)
Mark Thomas 23 to 22
Bill Pye 23 to 22
Trevor Middleton 19 to 20
Martin Greenaway 8 to 9
Mark Rhodes 8 to 9
Finally then, Mike and I would like to thank everyone who has played this year in the society, I hope many good days were had, and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible playing again next year. Once the bookings have been made by Mike he will e-mail everyone in his own inimitable way around early Spring in the new year.
Enjoy the winter break!
Cheers, Glenn
