Macdonald Portal Hotel Match Report 2015
This year’s Parrots society weekend away took place at MacDonald Portal in Cheshire last weekend, which was a repeat venue from last year’s trip as everyone enjoyed the courses so much. It was to be a repeat performance in more ways than one!
The weather in June up to last weekend had been ‘iffy’ to say the least, so there was some concern in the run up to the weekend, what the weather might throw at us, however, as it turned out, very little rain came down on the competitors over the two days. Unfortunately, only 9 people were able to make the trip, with both Bill Pye (calf muscle strain) and Paul Greenaway (two fractured fingers) being late injury victims.
This year the two courses were to be played in the reverse order with the Premier played first on Sunday, and the Championship on Monday, with both rounds counting towards the overall Parrots leaderboard.
On Sunday, three out of the eventual top four on the day came from the second group out of myself, Pete Whiteside and Richard Westwood. The interloper getting the third best score of the day was Martin Greenaway on 30 points in the first group out. Richard played his usual ‘shit or bust’ golf but a good back nine of 17 brought him into 4th place on 28 points.
Pete, however, played exactly the opposite style of golf, and his steady round of 34 points was only marred by no scores at both the first and last holes. However, despite their efforts, both Richard and Pete could only gaze in amazement upon one of the best performances of chipping and putting that the Parrots have ever seen from the ‘Magician’ himself. Chipping in from off the green on both the 5th and 14th holes and another six one putts (including a 50 footer on the last for birdie) meant that only 26 blows of the putter (two of them from off the green!) had been taken in the round and helped me amass a total of 39 points.
So, a repeat performance of my win on the first day last year, and on the course I did so badly on last year with my favoured course to come. What could go wrong? Well keep reading folks.....
Another excellent meal was had in the evening (except for Geoff Moyle, who ordered duck even though he didn’t like duck, leading to Pete Whiteside eating two!), and of course a few ‘bevvies’.
This year the trip coincided with the last day of the US Open golf and so Martin Greenaway duly organised a sweep for the winner. Due to the lateness of the finish, the winner wasn’t known until the morning. Now last year a late goal from Portugal in the World Cup gave me the sweep win resulting in a short celebratory run round the bar. This year a three putt on the last green from Dustin Johnson, gave the title to Jordan Spieth, but I don’t remember Pete doing an equivalent celebratory run round the breakfast room, when he found out he’d won!! There was also a poker game held in the evening with the pot being split between Mike Barnes and Robbi Butler.
Back to the golf. On the second day, it was again agreed that the players would go off in reverse score order, and so myself, Martin (9 pts behind) and Pete (5 pts behind) were in the last group. Surely the same shit couldn’t happen twice?!
Well apparently it can. For myself, I just couldn’t seem to get going on day 2 (again). To make matters worse my chipping and putting of the day before had deserted me, and I again limped home in last place on the day with 24 points.
So the winner was likely to be either Pete or Martin, but with Pete extending his overall lead over Martin to 8 points at the halfway stage that looked unlikely. A great run of scores by Martin at the start of the back nine though, saw that lead cut to just 4 points.
However, the golfing gods were to be on Pete’s side. As evidenced by proceedings on the Par 3 14th. Pete had stuck his tee shot into the lake in front of the green, so playing three, he shanked his next shot which ricocheted off a tree to land on the green and leave a 20 foot putt from above the hole, which he duly knocked in!!
That, together with similar exploits on the next two holes, put paid to Martins charge and with another very steady round of 34 points, the highest of the day, Pete was crowned overall champion with a total score of 68 points.
Well done to Pete, a very deserved victory, his play was the most consistent over the two days and was a very worthy winner.
I was left to claim the prize for day 1 winner and, the day 2 winner had to come from the three players tied in second place from day 2, Martin, Mike and Geoff (“how did I not score any points on the last two holes”). A close count back saw Martin claim the prize courtesy of a best back 6.
Another superb weekend all round (despite my succumbing to déjà vu and more cries of Wheels off Wellard!) and all that remained were the presentations and the (not too long) drive home, some stopping for some well earned refreshments on the way.
Handicap changes from Portal were :-
Pete Whiteside 13 to 11
Glenn Wellard 9 to 8
Robbi Butler 21 to 22
The leaderboard and handicap changes are already posted to the website with Geoff Moyle now sitting atop the leaderboard with 6 players now having reached 5 scores or more.
That’s all for now. Next up is Clitheroe on 1st July.
Glenn (aka Wheels off Wellard)
