Bentham Finale

I've always found that one of the best things about golf is playing different courses and dealing with the different challenges they present, so when I retired in 2008 I decided to organise a few days out for my mates ( no....that doesn't mean I was playing on my own), at a selection of golf courses within reasonable driving distance.
This morning, for some reason, I'm unable to access the archives on our excellent website, but I'm fairly certain none of the players who played that year currently play in what has now become The Parrot's Golf Society.
Now in our 18th year people have come and gone, but average number of players per game is higher than it has ever been. Over the 13 games we play (including the trip away) average attendance this year has been about 19 which is excellent. Even better there have been 9 different winners over the first 12 games with no-one winning 3 games, and only myself, Frank and Glenn Riches winning twice.
A big thank you to all those who make the effort to attend. It's much appreciated.

We tend to have our Parrot's finale on the last day of the season ( I'm not quite sure why ) and over the years it has produced some epic games, and some amazing scoring in the battle to find The Parrot's overall champion. For instance last year Andy went about 3 under par gross to score 44points and pull away from a very close field. Prior to that I had to par the last 4 holes to pip young Matt already in the clubhouse. Strangely enough I did ! The previous year Frank had a 4 foot putt on the last at Morecambe to beat Mel which he missed. Exciting stuff !

This year we arrived at Bentham with half a dozen players in with a chance of taking the overall title. As often happens the fixture had been rearranged because of the appalling weather on the original date and, but there were still 15 players eager to tee off on a lovely sunny day.

Shock news before we started was that overall leader, Glenn Wellard, had pulled out claiming he had a bad back ! Now I'm not a cynical person, but there were mutterings amongst some of the lads that Glenn, who has already mapped out his financial budget  as far ahead as 2031, had asked himself if it was worth spending £55 to win £100 when he might win it anyway ! Suspicions were deepened when the young pro told me that someone called Ben Wellard had been ringing up all week asking about the condition of the course and how difficult it was playing. Although a fully qualified magician, Glenn is not a master of deception !

Ben Wellard needn't have worried the course was playing very long. The underfoot conditions were very heavy and the wind was stronger than expected.

First group out was a threeball consisting of Kev G, Warren and Phil. After an excellent 20 points going out, Kev was probably wondering if he could score the 48 points he required on the back 9 to take the overall lead. Only 31 points short of that target he still finished with a very good 37 points. Kev won the prize for NTP in 3 on the 4th and Warren won the prize for longest putt holed on the 18th....approximately 5 feet !

The next 4 Micky Mousers out were Bob, Stevie F, Mark H and Marty P. Steve, who is a fine golfer and a fine taxi driver, but above all a fine man won NTP on the 6th and Bob, much to his delight, won NTP on the 10th.

We're now moving towards the business end of the day...Third group out comprised Andy, Marky T, Derek and Ray with the big question being could Andy, 5 points off the lead, repeat his heroics of the previous year ? Conditions were probably too tough on the day to do that, although he did improve his discard by 2 points, at this juncture joining 3 others on a total of 177 points. Even worse for Andy, he didn't win any of the 8 spot prizes on offer, as did none of the rest of the group.

Because of Glenn's absence, young Frankie was able to join the big boys in the final group along with myself, Glenn R, and Paul.
Knowing I hadn't had any breakfast Paul ( who is normally, a fine cabbie, a fine golfer, and above all a fine man ) had concocted a dastardly plan to deprive me of my lunch as well by denying the existence of a bakery in Bentham. His aim was to leave me bereft of energy in the latter stages of the round ! Would this cunning plot work ?

Poor Glenn R is the unluckiest golfer I've ever met ( can't remember who told me that ), but he was playing with 3 very well handicapped individuals. Needing 37 points to overtake Glenn W on countback his miserable luck left him on 31. Frank, probably playing out of his depth did very well to score 34 points and pick up 2 spot prizes. NTP in 3 on 14 and NTP on 17. Pie denier, Paul, needed 34 points to overtake The Wellard , but karma and inability to control his draw saw him receive his come-uppance with only 30 points. That leaves just me. Like Glenn R  I needed 37 points to do for G.W. on countback. 19 going out....so far so good. 30 points after 14 holes left me needing 7 points in the last 4 holes. Mini disaster on 15 ....3 putts from 20 feet meant a 1 point double bogey. On 16 my 3rd shot , a 10 yard putt from left above the green left me with a 30 yard chip from the right for my 4th shot. Double bogey....1 point again. On 17, a yard short of the green.....3 putts and 2 points left me needing a par on the last to be overall champion. Needless to say I ended up with a bogey 5 to finish 1 point behind my good friend and arch rival.

This put me level on points with Paul, but overall second on countback. Well done to both Glenn and Paul who both played a lot less games than me over the course of the season, and total vindication for Glenn's ( and his evil alter-ego Ben) tactics.

Winner on the day was Steve Fineman with 38 points, second Kev Gerrard with 37 and third on 36 was your hapless chairman.

A special mention to Stevie Ireland and Matt Murphy who shared the best score of the season with 44 points. Steve's wondrous 44 was at Wigan where the greens were well-nigh impossible, and Matt's 44 was at Silverdale with an amazing back 9 ( speedy recovery from your op., mate ). I owe you £12.50 apiece lads.

Excellent season. Hope to see you all again next year.

Regards,

Mike