A matchplay win and a handicap increase.

Sunday was the first round of the Bell cup, the ladies team event in which we got to the quarter-finals last year. Our match was at home to Didsbury and all our girls were giving shots, including myself who gave 3 shots.
I was 6^th out and quickly went 2 up with a bogey, par start, however my opponent hit back with 2 pars to bring the match back to all square,

I went back to 1up when she made a mess of the 5^th and a bogey on the 6^th was enough to go back to 2 up.
We halved the 7^th and 8^th with bogeys and pars respectively, but went back to one when I 3 putted the 9^th.
3 putts at the 10^th meant another half and then 11 and 12 were both halved with bogeys.
I gave a shot at the 13^th but we both made a mess of the hole and we halved again, this time with an 8! Then I hit the green on the par 3 14^th and 2 putts gave me a par and the hole to go back to 2 up.
I was on the par 5 15^th in 3 but on the wrong tier of the green and again took 3 putts and halved the hole.
A good drive on the 16^th set me up well and my opponent hit a tree with her second shot and was only able to reach the green in 5 shots. Although my second shot wasn't great I put my 3^rd safely on the green and rolled the putt close to win the hole and the match by 3&2.

With the last pair still on the course the team score was 3-3 and we waited nervously for them to finish. It went right to the last green where our girl holed out for a par to win her match and give Ellesmere a 4-3 victory.

I had a lot on during the week so only managed one practice round before the Thursday competition, Although I played well so approached the comp quite positively, unlike last week.

We were playing the first medal of the season and I  was playing with our Lady Captain.

On the first tee I took my 26 degree hybrid as usual, this club will normally get me onto the green if I hit it straight. I pulled it a little to the left but what was worse that to my surprise it overshot the green by 20 yds.

Sadly this week my driving wasn't as consistent as it usually is, so I did struggle quite a bit and for the 3^rd week running I scored badly on the first few holes. however I mostly putted better than last week. I did play better on the back nine and could have finished in my buffer, depending on a ruling on the 9^th hole.

I hit an awful shot which clattered in to the trees and came to rest on a path up against an stone edging as shown in the picture at the top. I had free relief but we didn't know whether this edging was classed as part of the path. If it wasn't I could take a drop on the path, but if it was I would have to play 3 off the tee as there was nowhere to take relief other than on a steep bank covered with foliage.

We decided than I play from both positions and then find the correct ruling after the round. With the ball played off the path I made a 4 but the ball from the tee resulted in an 8. The ruling was that the edging was part of the path and so the 8 stood, resulting in me being outside my buffer and receiving a 0.1 handicap increase, which, although it doesn't seem much, changed my handicap from 15.4 to 15.5 and increased my playing handicap from 15 to 16.

I do try to bring my handicap down so I was disappointed with it going up, but in fairness my game so far this season doesn't merit any better.

And so to the round.

Hole 1

My teeshot when 20 yds through the green I fluffed the chip, so was on in 3 and 2 putts gave my a double bogey 5.

Hole 2

My drive went way right, but I hit a good 3 wood which unfortunately finished in a greenside bunker. I got out ok but overflew the green, a chp on and 2 putts for a double bogey 6.

Hole 3

A poor drive was pulled left trees, had to play out down the 2^nd fairway and then tried to go over trees, fortunately ending in a good position. A 6 iron finshed just short of the green and I chipped to 10 feet and holed the putt for a bogey 6

Hole 4

A decent tee shot finished just short of the green, I chipped to 12 feet but underhit the putt which finished a foot short of the hole, but sadly I missed that tap n for a double bogey 5.

Hole 5

I hit my drive well but pushed it right and it found the ditch that runs up that side of the hole, after a penalty drop I hit a good 3 wood just short of the green a chip and 2 putts gave me my 4th double bogey this time a 6.

Hole 6

I hit my drive high and left but had a good enough lie to hit a decent 3 wood which left about 14 to the green, I thinned a 6 iron which ran off the back of the green. A chipped to 3 feet and holed the putt for a par 5.

Hole 7

Finally I hit a good long straight drive leaving an 8 irion to the green but I hit it fat and left it 30 yds short. I chipped on and 2 putts gave my a bogey 5.

Hole 8

Another drive high and left meant I couldn't try to clear the ditch and I had to lay up short, A 3 wood finished 20 yds short and I chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 6.

Hole 9

An awful teeshot clattered the trees and finished against the edging of a path, as described earlier, I played 3 off the tee but only succeeded in finding the ditch that runs up the hole, A penalty drop meant I was playing 5 I missed the green, chipped on and 2 putted for a quintuple bogey 8.

All that meant I had taken 52 shots for the first 9 holes.

Hole 10

I hit my drive a bit thin but it ran on well, I topped my 3 wood and a 2^nd finished short of the green, my pitch ran through the green. I chipped to 8 feet but missed the putt for a triple bogey 7.

Hole 11

I hit a decent drive and played an 8 iron to 100 yds, I found the green with a 9 iron and 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 12

A reasonable drive finished to the right of the green, a chip and 2 putts for a bogey 4.

Hole 13

An average drive and a decent 3 wood left a pitch to the green and 2 putts gave me a bogey 5.

Hole 14.

found the green with my hybrid and 2 putts gave me a par 3.

Hole 15

After a good drive I again topped a 3 wood, another 3 wood left me 90 yds from the green but a thinned pitch went through the back. I chipped to 3 feet but missed the putt for a double bogey 7.

Hole 16

I hit a good drive but I didn't hit a very good 8 iron and was left with a chip over a bunker. A very nice shot with my 56 degree wedge finished 3 feet from the pin and I holed for a par 4.

Hole 17

I hit a good drive and a decent 6 iron to leave me 160 yds from the green. A nice straight 3 wood found the middle of the green, but I misjudged the putt which finished 4 feet from the hole and missed the return putt so a bogey 6.

Hole 18

A pulled tee shot found a greenside bunker my escape finished through the green but I chipped to 2 feet and holed the putt for a bogey 4.

A better back 9 of 45, for a total of 97 and a nett score of 82.