RND VETERANS v BURNHAM & BERROW

Wednesday 14th May

It was the morning after the day before.

We’d lost 4½- ½ at East Devon in the away leg of the Emerton-Court. Not the start we’d hoped for. Our final pair of Andrew Sutherland and Alan Coles negotiated a half on the 18th tee, much to the home team’s displeasure. The East Devon greens looked great, but each one played at a different pace. Ours are back to how we remember them - the same speed on every hole.

But I digress. Back to the match. Three players dropped out in the final week, so big thanks to Chris Taylor, Kevin Wickham, and especially Tom Stirzaker, who stepped in with less than 24 hours’ notice.

I played in our third pair, against the Burnham Captain. They have done this for as long as I can remember. I thought it was just a quirky tradition, but it makes life so much easier for the match Captain. It gave me plenty of time to sort out all the admin, and time to warmup before going out to play.

Mick Scambler and I were concerned when our opponent outdrove me on the first and reached the side of the green in two. I was giving him five shots. We had a tough match, but we won 3&2. Mick played well and it reminded me of our Emerton-Court win at Tavistock a few years ago. Happier days.

We were 2½-½ ahead and it looked like we would have a lead to take up to Burnham. Then …  bish, bash, bosh, boom … we lost the next four matches.

Special mentions to Dave Miller and Pat McGuckin who won 7&5 (ruthless), and Steve Irving, whose second shot to the 15th landed on the 16th tee box.

Captain David grumbled about the dress code because of the heat. Thanks, from me to our team, who looked smart, got on with it, and were a credit to the Club. They clearly impressed the seven French visitors I’d met earlier, and who were playing behind us. A bit of tradition goes a long way.

Before we sat down to dinner, grace was delivered by Reverend Hopkins.

Nearest the pin on the 5th: Martin Dunton for Burnham and Gary Fisher for RND.

Gary Fisher

Veterans Captain

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