Travelling south to our third event of the season through ominous thick fog and traffic warnings on the M1 and thoughts of delayed starts and cancelling the event racing through the one’s mind were all thankfully allayed upon arrival, with local golfers heading to the tee.
With a record 28 golfers including 2 guests, this was the biggest turnout, if not the biggest in the society’s history, for a monthly event and as numbers allowed, the Bdzola brothers, Buddy and Matviy, were delighted with the announcement a team event would be held.
After breakfast, play got underway at 10.30 with Aces teeing off first through to 8’s an hour later, a consequence of such a large number playing. Conditions were grey and overcast but within 20 minutes, the sun broke through the clouds and shone the entire round enabling play in shirts without additional layers.
Not having played the course last year, I can see why members suggested returning, if only to play the signature short par 3 holes, 4 and 5, situated in an old quarry, where the tee for the 4th is located at the top of the quarry and club selection critical. As golfing vistas go, looking down into the quarry must be up there with some of the best in the UK my opinion.
Following completion of rounds, members sat down to a self-serve carvery, and with plates piled high, the walk back to tables proved tricky. The excellent carvery was followed by an equally scrumptious sticky toffee pudding with a hint of ginger and custard.
Once watered and fed, Roman announced the various event winners, beginning with the birdie pool winners paying £10 per birdie to Anton Sydor (x2), Ashley Sanders, Boris Zadarko and Jon Iwanejko.
The team event winners followed, with best two scores on par 4 and 5 holes, and all 4 scores to count on par 3 holes. The winning team of Queen’s, Geoff & Mick Gillies, Mick Borys and Mick Melnyk each won a bottle of wine coming in with a score of 91 points, 3 under par and 5 more than joint runners-up 10’s and 9’s teams.
Mick Borys scooped 75% of minor prizes with only a monster drive by Anton to win longest drive preventing a clean sweep:
Nearest Pin (x2) & Nearest Pin in 2 Mick Borys
Longest Drive Anton Sydor
Finally, divisional prize and overall event winners were announced. Looking through the scores, the average division 1 and 2 scores were low at 25.9 and 25.6 respectively, which in my opinion was down to fairways which were too long holding up balls with little or no run and just off some fairways, very long, completely covering balls requiring search parties, and one of the factors prolonging everyone’s rounds.
The overall winner was Bazz who was presented with UGAGB Spring Cup by last year’s winner Mick Lobaz. Stepping down from the UGAGB committee last year has allowed Bazz to concentrate on his golf which is certainly paying dividends, congratulations Bazz!!
We now have a 5 week wait until our next event, which is in God’s own county at Horsforth GC, Leeds on Sunday 25 June. This will be the society’s first visit to the course. Watch out for registration announcement in due course.
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