Slow Play and Snaky Putts

If there is a slow play penalty, it would certainly have been imposed on Friday. Five gathered in the car park, then Mike went home to rest ... After that, it was, well, just a bit slow.

Charlie continued his form of late with a 46 over the opening nine holes, Malcolm just a shot behind on 47. In reality, this put Ewan and myself about four holes down at the turn. Then, as is now becoming the norm, Charlie maintained his form, Malcolm lost the plot (in a manner of speaking) and I pulled myself together. Final scores: Charlie 91, Kevin 92, Malcolm 99 and Ewan 110.

The particular features of the round were Malcolm's snaky putting on and from off the green, and a couple of enormous drives from Charlie (one was measured in excess of 280 yards - Richard, watch out). Malcolm's birdie on the 4th was a result of a great putt. He then put a string of pars together on the back nine. Charlie was putting for an eagle on the 1st and notched up a total of five pars, as did Kevin.

The big debate was whether to shift the handicapping system from the current one to CONGU, which is the system used by UK golf clubs. I have cross-checked a few to see what difference it makes. Malcolm old system 21 or CONGU 21.3 (very precise this new system); Charlie 20 or 19.0; Kevin 15 or 14.1; Richard 16 or 13.4.

So, what do you want to do? Old system or shall we embrace the new?

Handicap Update

Following the action on Friday, here are the updated handicaps.

Harry 14
Kevin 15
Richard 16
Mike 18
Charlie 20
Malcolm 21
David 37

Top Dog

On a breezy, wet Friday morning the D.O.G.S. gathered in all their finery for the Spring meet. With everything to play for, nerves were jangling and conversation limited. In keeping with he competitive nature of these events, there was a memorable shot off the first tee. Unlike Malcolm's effort at Carlyon Bay, Mike managed to move the ball forward - just - into the deep grass.

So, despite some truly magnificent driving by Richard, the scores at lunchtime stood at Malcolm 36 points, Charlie 35 points, Richard 32 points, Kevin 30 points and Mike 25 points. It looked as though it was going to be a close match in the afternoon, and it was still drizzling.

After the first hole of the afternoon, Charlie had made up the deficit with a peculiarly wayward (in every sense) Malcolm. By the third hole Charlie was in the lead, and there was no catching him. A front nine of 17 points was bettered by a homeward leg of 22 points. Malcolm's afternoon performance was woeful and he crept into double figures on the back nine after a final three hole flourish.

Final scores: Charlie 74 points, Kevin 64 points, Malcolm 60 points and Mike 54 points. Richard was disqualified on the basis of handing in an incomplete scorecard. Harry and David were disqualified for not entering a scorecard at all.

Charlie is Top Dog.

Sun, Rain and Hail

Mike and I set off in bright sunshine. Long drives bisected the fairway and easy shots into the green set the scene for a lovely relaxed round. Unfortunately, it proved to be a little too laid back, probably, and consequently the scores refelcted it. Mike shot 96, scoring 30 stableford points and I shot a 95 and a paltry 26 points. The big news of the round - I won the shirt for the first time on the 14th. A very strong wind moved the ball around 30 yards left to right. The other feature was the hailstorm that arrived on the 4th tee out of nowhere and the rain when we were sitting in the clubhouse.

However, I was also given a couple of cards from last week. One contained the alarmning score of 80 from Mr Thomas. As well as setting a new D.O.G.S. record for a low score, it means a big move in the handicap to 16.

Updated handicaps: Kevin 15, Richard 16, Mike 18, Malcolm 21, Charlie 21.