Very hectic week

The last week has been mostly matchplay, it is a format that I really enjoy and it seems to suit my erratic style of play.
The first match was on Monday at Whitefield Golf Club, playing for our handicap shield team. I do like Whitefield, its not the longest course and has several sort par 4s which if I am hitting the ball well, really suits me as I can usually reach holes under 300 yds with a drive and a wedge or 9 iron, which tend to be my strengths.

I played well and my driving was mostly straight and after trading the first few holes I hit a purple patch parring 6 holes on the trot which took me from all square to 5 up and I eventually finished up winning the match by 5&3. The overall score for the team match was a tie with 3 wins each and on match finishing all square.

Tuesday I was playing at Ellesmere in the first round of the HowdidIdo Moroccan matchplay, I was playing a chap who had to give me 4 shots. I started very well and won the first 5 holes and was 6 up after the first 9 holes. He came back at me winning 3 holes on the run to half my lead but I held out and won the match by 4&3.

Wednesday and the first round of another National knockout competition, this time the Nike, in r which I reach my area final last year. We were playing at Heaton Park, a good municipal course in Manchester. We both played pretty well and the match was very close. I missed the chance to go 1 up on the 16^th, when my opponent scrambled a half with a very good recovery for the trees behind the green and then on the 17^th, my steady driving deserted my and I hit my drive into the long stuff and wasted the shot I was receiving and so I went to the 18^th one down. I hit another wayward drive but managed to find the green with my second, my opponent had trouble in a bunker and I won the hole to take us to the 19^th. Sadly I hit a very wayward drive which finished in the trees and I had to take a penalty drop and failed to reach the green with my 3^rd. My opponent found the green with his 2^nd shot and that was it, he parred the hole to win the match.

A break from matchplay on thursday saw me back at Ellesmere for a Stableford competition, I started with a bogey but then failed to score on the 2^nd despite being within 50 yds of the green 2. After 2 bogeys I only had 5 points after 4 holes but after another bogey on the 5^th, I found some good form and went par, par, birdie, par to finish the first 9 on 19 points. I had a rare par on the 10^th, then after 3 bogeys holed a long putt for a birdie on the 15^th and after bogeys on 16 and 17 I hit the 18^th green off the tee and holed another long putt for a birdie 2 on the last. I scored 22 points on the back 9 to finish with  a round total of 41. This was 5 shots under my handicap and after threatening for the last few weeks I finally had a nice handicap cut to drop my handicap to a new low of 13.0. It was also a record low gross score for me of 82.

I didn't hang around as I had agreed, at short notice, to play in a team open at Manchester and had to rush straight off after handing in my card. I didn't play too badly at Manchester although the day did take its toll towards the end of the round. I did contribute on several holes although on one hole I had a 12 foot putt for an eagle and ended up 3 putting. Our team finished with 79 points just one point off 3^rd place.

Friday and another matchplay, this time in the semi final of club knockout, and after yesterdays cut I was giving my opponent, Sue, 10 shots. We set off in rain with would continue all the round.

I won the first with a par, but lost the second where we both had bogey 5s but Sue had a shot. I was giving a shot on the 3^rd as well and after finding a bunker off the tee I tried to clear the ditch with my third and only found the rough after missing the green with my 4^th, Sue holed a long putt to win the hole easily and go 1 up.

I found the green with my tee shot on the 4^th and made a par to win the hole and get back to all square.

I won the fifth with a bogey despite giving a shot when Sue found the ditch with her 2^nd shot, we we halved the 6^th when we both had bogeys and then on the 7^th, I topped a iron to bougble bogey the hole and lose it when Sue also double bogey and bring us back to all square. A par gave me a half on the 8^th to Sue's bogey, nett par and then she hit her tee shot on the 9^th to 6 feet and despite a par form me she holed the birdie putt to go one up at the turn.

I found the green in two at the tricky 10^th and 2 putts gave me a par, but again it was only a half as Sue had a bogey with a shot. A bogey at the 11^th was enough for me to win the hole after sue laid up and then found the bunker.

I missed a good chance on the 12^th when I missed a par putt from 2 feet and the we halved 13 and 14. I made a bit of a mess of the 15^th so Sue was back to 1 up and the non the 16^th after Sue had driven into the trees and had to play out sideways, I found the greenside bunker when trying to play safe and took 2 to get out of the sodden sand before missing a 4 foot putt to win the hole.

Onto the 17^th and still one down, I hit a good drive, while Sue was close to the trees, she hit t out well and then we both played down short of the ditch, the ground waa very wet now and I hit a poor 3^rd which caught trees but fortunately finished on the edge of the fairway, Sue then did similar but found a fairway bunker. I found the grene wth my 4^th but all Sue could do was to just get out of the bunker before finding the green in 6, vI putted close for a bogey 6 and Sue could hole her 20 foot putt so I won the hole and we went to the last all square.

I hit a nice teeshot which was right on the flag but finished well behind the hole, Sue also hit the green but bounced onto the fringe, she putted up dead for a par 3, I followed suit and we were of to the first extra hole.

I had the tee and with a slightly fortuitous bounce I finished 5 feet from the hole, Sue missed the green but chipped on and then shaved the hole with her par putt. That left me 2 putts for the match and although I didn't hole the birdie putt I tapped in for a par to win the match.

Despite the rain we had a great match, never more than one hole in it and it really could have gone either way. I was delighted to have reached the final where instead of giving shots I will be receiving 2 or 3.

Finally to finish, the round that took me to 13.

Hole 1
My tee shot was a little short of the green but a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4

Hole 2

My drive was short and left but a nice 3 wood left me about 50 yds form the hole, sadly I hit the ball off the toe of the club and it went 45 degrees and nearly went in a bunker. I had a poor stance and could only knock the ball across the green, I hit an average chip but missed the putt so a 7 and no points.

Hole 3

A good drive and I tried to carry the ditch but pushed it into trees, fortunately the ball dropped safely and I hit a nice wedge but it ran through the green, a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey 6 and 2 points,

Hole 4.

I found the bunker off the tee, got t out but failed to reach the green, I chipped on and holed a 20 foot putt for a bogey, no shot here so just 1 point.

Hole 5.

Another good drive but failed to get on the green with my 2^nd, chipped on and 2 putts for a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 6.

I hit a good drive but not the best 2^nd shot I found the green with a chip and 2 putts gave me a par 5 and 3 points.

Hole 7

A decent drive then my 2^nd finished on the fringe of the green, I chipped to a couple of feet and holed the putt for a par 4 and another 3 points.

Hole 8

A good drive and a nice 2^nd left a short chip which I got close and holed the putt for a birdie 4 and 4 points.

Hole 9

My tee shot was a little too left but another good chip left a short putt for a par 3 but no shots so 2 points.

So a good finished meant I ended up with 19 points on the front nine.

Hole 10
A nice drive down the left and a lovely 3 wood which finished just short of the green, I chipped to 4 feet and hole the putt for a par 4 and 3 points

Hole 11

A decent drive then I hit my 2^nd a little left, but a good 3^rd found the fringe of the green, I ht a poor first putt and then missed my with my second, so a bogey 6 and 2 points.

Hole 12

My tee shot was left of the green and a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4 and 2 points.

Hole 13.

A lovely straight tee shot and then a good 2^nd which finished on the fringe, I hit my putt far too left and missed the par putt so a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 14

A nice drive finished just off the back of the green, I putted from the fringe again but again took 3 putts, so a bogey 4 and no shot so just 1 point.

Hole 15

A good drive and a reasonable 2^nd left a 50 yds pitch which finished 20 feet away from the flag and I holed the putt for a birdie 4 and 4 points.

Hole 16

A decent drive that took a poor bounce into the trees. I chipped out and then found the green with my 3^rd, 2 putts gave me a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 17

A good drive and could have tried to clear the ditch, but decided to play safe and chip down, sadly I ended on a downslope and didn't hit a great 3^rd, I found the green with my 4^th and 2 putted for a bogey 6 and 2 more points.

Hole 18.

I hit a nice tee shot to 25 feet short of the flag and holed the putt for the third birdie of the round and another 4 points.

So 22 points on the back nine for a total of 41.