The week started on Sunday with the Dearden Trophy a mixed 4 ball better ball, I played with the husband of one of the lady members who was injured and couldn't play. We didn't play too badly but nothing special and scored a total of 37 points, 8 behind the winners who had 45 points.
Monday I was out again on glorious weather, playing a fun round, typically without a card in my hand I scored 39 points, I had 35 after 15 but dropped a few over the last 3 holes. It was just nice to play some decent golf in lovely weather.
On Wednesday I was part of Ellesmere's team in the Regional qualifier for the Lancashire Ladies Handicap Competition, the best 3 medal scores from 4 were used and the top 2 teams would qualify for the final later in the year. I didn't play too badly but did drop some silly shots and finished with a net 78, or other scores were 74, another 78 and an 81 and our total of 230 was good enough for 2nd and a place in the final. The competition was played at Blackley and I was shocked at the state of the course, lots of GUR on the fairways and the greens were very patchy and multi-paced, quite disappointing considering the fine condition Ellesmere is in at the moment. I will be playing there again next week when Ellesmere take on Blackley in the Shield league.
So on to Thursday and a medal competition at Ellesmere, it wasn't the best of conditions quite windy and also wet for most of the round. I didn't start too well with 4 double bogeys in the first 5 holes, but I got it together and 3 pars over the next 7 holes pull me back on track, unfortunately my problem with longer irons came o the fore on the next 2 holes where bad shanks (or whatever they are) put me in bad lies and I had 2 consecutive quad bogies. I did finish well with 3 more pars over the last 4 holes. Well it would have been 3 pars if I hadn't had a moment of stupidity. After I hit a lovely shot to 2 inches off the green, I only went and marked my ball on the fringe of the green, my playing partner didn't see it so I called the penalty on myself, turning what would have been a very good par into a bogey. So I finished with a nett76, which after Stableford adjustments left me in my buffer at least. The competition was won by an excellent net 67 by what is the most improved member of the year, She has finished top 2 nearly every completion this year and has seen her handicap drop by 4 shots already this season.
Today (Friday) I played in the team open at Gatley golf club with girls from Chorlton and Davyhulme. Gatley is a nice little 9 hole course, so you play each hole twice, although there are some variations in tee position. It was another wet morning when we started out, but I personally started really well paring 5 of the first 8 holes, unfortunately I misjudged the distance of the par 3 9th and badly under-clubbed then over flew the green from a bunker and blobbed the hole, but I still had a personal score of 21 for the first 9. I didn't play quite as well the second time around, I also did have much luck with 3 putts rolling round the hole and staying out and a couple of shots slightly off line ending in awful lies, I also played the 9th identically to the first time albeit from a different tee position and blobbed it again, so I only scored 14 points for this 9. Our team total, best 2 scores to count on each hole, was 74 and we finished just one point behind the winners.
Gatley is a course that seems to suits my game, you didn't have to lay up at all and could go for all your shots and I only had to use longer than a 7 iron once in the whole round so that meant I wasn't too worried about my dodgy mid iron play. as most holes were drivers, fairway woods and pitches. I think the 9th/18th is deceptive to visitors but I would think if I played the course again I would play this hole better.
So onto the detail of Thursday's round.
Hole 1, A reasonable 6 iron finished short of the green but a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4.
Hole 2, A decent drive but a topped 2nd still left me with a 5 wood to the green I hit it pin high but in a bunker, got out in one and 2 putted for a double bogey 6.
Hole 3, The Drive was a little off line and caught the trees, but I had a decent lie and played a wood to short of the ditch about 110yds from the green, I hit a nice 7 iron, but it ran through the green into deep rough, I chopped it out then chipped onto the green but 2 putts gave me another double bogey 7.
Hole 4, Pulled a 7 iron left of the green and chip down to the green finished short, a chip and 2 putts for a double bogey 5.
Hole 5, A reasonable drive but I then hit a wood into a bunker short of the green, I got out but didn't reach the green, so a chip and 2 putts for another double bogey 6.
Hole 6 Another decent drive and 3 wood left me a pitch to the green, unfortunately it over ran but a chip back on and 2 putts gave me a bogey6.
Hole 7, A good drive but into the wind left a 3 wood to the green, I hit it well but into a bunker, but out first time and 2 putts for a bogey 5.
Hole 8, A decent drive and a nice 3 wood left a 60 yds pitch, it just ran off the back of the green but 2 putts gave me a 5, my first par.
Hole 9, A nine iron to the fringe of the green but 2 putts gave me a 3 and another par.
So I finished the nine in 48 shots, not bad after the poor start.
Hole 10, A slightly short drive followed by a nice 3 wood, left about 70 yds, My pitch was slightly left of the green but a chip and a 8 foot putt gave me a bogey 5.
Hole 11, A decent drive and a reasonable 5 iron for once left me a 120 from the green, a 7 iron just missed the bunker and 2 putts form the fringe gave me a par 5.
Hole 12, My drive was a little short and right, but I chipped to 15 feet but just missed the putt so a bogey 4.
Hole 13, My drive went way right into a stand of trees but I moved the ball 80 yards to leave a 6 iron to the green, sadly I shanks it across the fairway to the base of a tree, I couldn't chip onto the green so I knocked it to the side of the green but then over chipped into a bunker, got it out then 2 putts for a quadruple bogey 8.
Hole 14, I shanked 5 iron into deep rough, got a good contact but hit a tree and it bounced back into the rough, it took 2 more to get me out then a chip to the green and 2 putts for another quad bogey 7.
Hole 15 A lovely drive and a nice 3 wood found a bunker just short of the green, I it got out but didn't reach the green, a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey 6.
Hole 16, A decent drive but I scuffed a 5 wood, I hit a nice pitch to 6 feet and holed the putt for a par 4.
Hole 17, I hit a good drive then laid up before the ditch with an 8 iron, A lovely 3 wood finished just a couple of inches off the green and 2 putts gave me a par 5, or it would have done if it hadn't been for me stupidly marking my ball on the fringe, so a bogey 6.
Hole 18, I hit a nice 7 iron pin high about 20 feet from the hole, missed the birdie but safely in for a par 3.
So another 48 for a total of 96 and a nett 76, needless to say I was very annoyed at the penalty shot but I am sure I would do it again.
So again , 6 pars (well ok 5) but the card spoilt by the 2 quad bogeys. I am so close to having a really good round, but I just need to sort the mid irons out, I am not playing over the weekend but I might find time for a little practice with my irons at the range.
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