2020/22 December 17th Round 17:
Kings Hill Golf Club - The Christmas Cup
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Kings Hill Golf Club 01732 875040
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Captain's Match Report
I am sure like everyone else in the Society, I look upon playing our December event at Kings Hill as one of the highlights of our golfing calendar. Considering the time of year, the course is usually in excellent condition, and so it was disappointing to only find out on our arrival at the course, that a decision had been taken only that very morning, by the Greenkeeper not to allow buggies - which meant at least one of our members not being able to play. Also, a couple of our number unfortunately, had to drop out for Covid related reasons. So not at all the best start to the day, with Tim having to do a quick reshuffle of some of the groups. And then there were the weather conditions. The mist and fog, were to be truthful not great, so it was not that much of a surprise when we got the news that the Greenkeeper had again stepped in, and temporarily closed the course on safety grounds.
As it turned out, the fog delay amounted to some 35 minutes, and when Tim Grimes, Ian Marshallsay and David Williams and I set off at 10.35 am, conditions were still not that great. And even with the course allowing two of our eight groups to start from the tenth, there was already an obvious concern that the latter groups could be affected by both the weather, and by the end of their round, bad light. Therefore, all one could really hope for was that the golf did not end up reflecting the gloomy weather.
As it turned out the golf was not that bad, although on the front 9, I managed to find a bunker on the two par 3s and ended up blobbing both. However, any disappointment was soon eased by coming off the ninth and getting into the clubhouse for our festive sausage roll, and a bit of warmth.
Going down the tenth, it was obvious there was little chance of the weather improving so it was good to get to the eleventh where we could unload our festive drink and raise a paper cup to ourselves and those in the group behind us.
From the eleventh onwards, the rest of the round seemed to go very quickly but I have to say by about the sixteenth I was beginning to miss not having the comfort of a buggy. Anyway, many thanks to Tim, Ian and David for the laughs and being great company. And when signing off our cards it was clear one among our group had at least a reasonable chance of being in the final shake-up. It was also obvious that with the light fading as it was the last couple of groups would be struggling to see their balls. And so it proved, but thankfully we all just about managed to get back to the clubhouse before total darkness descended.
Dinner this year was a served two course Christmas meal which, whilst not like the carvery we have enjoyed in the past, still managed hit the spot, with service to match. And the Secret Santa went very well, so many thanks to all on that. I got a very nifty battery powered hand warmer, so looking forward to trying that out!
Anyway, when all the scores were totted up Tim Grimes took Division 3 with 30 points and Ian Brenchley took Division 2 with a score of 35 points. But with a score of 36 points, David Williams not only won Division one, but was also our well-deserved overall winner and received the Christmas Cup.
I should also make mention of the best guest who, from the five players who took part, was Carl Bolton with 36 points playing off a handicap of 17. Nearest the pins were as posted on the website.
Finally, I want to say many thanks again to Tim, and also Dave Verga, (who arranged for the purchase of drinks we had at the eleventh). Many thanks also to Paul Damper and Mark Parsons for all their help with the score cards.
And therefore, all that remains for me to say is, I hope that, despite these challenging times, you and yours have a very happy and safe Christmas. What the new year may bring could still be a bit of a lottery but our next scheduled event is at Pedham Place Golf Club, London Road, Swanley BR8 8PP on Friday 21 January 2022, and as usual Tim will send further details nearer the time.
With all very best wishes
Geoff
Captain
Geoff Mills
Captain
Results
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| Pos. | Player | Starting H/C Index |
Course H/C |
Starting Div. |
Front 9 | Back 9 | Total | Finishing H/C |
Finishing Div. |
Champions Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dave Williams | 16.5 | 17.2 | 1 | 19 | 17 | 36 | 15.9 | 1 | 16 |
| 2 | Ian Brenchley | 23.1 | 24.1 | 2 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 22.1 | 2 | 15 |
| 3 | Dave Verga | 18.6 | 19.4 | 2 | 18 | 16 | 34 | 17.8 | 1 | 13 |
| 4 | Lee Beale | 18.2 | 19.0 | 1 | 18 | 15 | 33 | 17.9 | 1 | 12 |
| 5 | Paul Damper | 15.3 | 16.0 | 1 | 19 | 14 | 33 | 15.0 | 1 | 11 |
| 6 | Michael Bourner | 19.6 | 20.5 | 2 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 19.2 | 2 | 10 |
| 7 | Phil Scotton | 16.5 | 17.2 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 16.4 | 1 | 9 |
| 8 | Scott Cleaver | 22.7 | 23.7 | 2 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 22.5 | 2 | 8 |
| 9 | Tim Grimes | 25.3 | 26.4 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 25.3 | 3 | 8 |
| 10 | Barry England | 8.1 | 8.5 | 1 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 8.1 | 1 | 6 |
| 11 | John Peachey | 16.9 | 17.6 | 1 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 16.9 | 1 | 5 |
| 12 | Geoff Mills | 32.5 | 33.9 | 3 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 32.5 | 3 | 4 |
| 13 | David Withers | 30.2 | 31.5 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 30.2 | 3 | 3 |
| 14 | Ian Marshallsay | 22.0 | 23.0 | 2 | 15 | 13 | 28 | 22.0 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | Adrian Reeman | 27.6 | 28.8 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 26 | 27.6 | 3 | 1 |
| 16 | Brian Goodhew | 28.1 | 29.3 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 28.4 | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | Dave Elsworth | 23.0 | 24.0 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 23.4 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | Bob Crouch | 22.2 | 23.2 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 24 | 22.6 | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | Bill Bevon | 17.3 | 18.1 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 17.5 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | Stuart Verga | 26.8 | 28.0 | 3 | 16 | 8 | 24 | 27.4 | 3 | 0 |
| 21 | Adrian Harvanko | 15.8 | 16.5 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 16.1 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | Dean Priestman | 10.1 | 10.5 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 10.4 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | Tony Jacobs | 20.9 | 21.8 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 21.7 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | John Burbridge | 22.8 | 23.8 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 23.8 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | Mark Parsons | 25.4 | 26.5 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 26.4 | 3 | 0 |
| Q2 | Tim Gibson | 23.0 | 24.0 | 2 | 20 | 15 | 35 | 22.0 | 2 | 0 |