RND VETERANS v TIVERTON

Wednesday 11th June

There have been better, less surreal, days…

The Club Professional Shop had let out all the nearest the pin markers to a corporate society playing before us.  Some quick improvisation and ingenuity cobbled together a workable solution, so not all was lost.   

After the first two groups had left the first tee, it became clear that a hiccup in communications meant we were a player short in game three.  Some more quick thinking from within the team ended with Ray Jones being kidnapped as he left the 18th Green to play a second round.  Our gratitude goes to Ray for his flexibility, commitment to the cause and his stamina to play 36 holes in the heat. Thank you, Ray.

The match proceeded under blue skies and warm temperatures, but a strong wind kept the games interesting. 

The match progressed calmly enough until the first group were caught up by the third group on the fifteenth hole, who calmly announced that “the police had requested we clear the course due to an unexploded bomb having been found on the beach”.  Everyone was slightly amazed as the first groups were about half a mile from the beach and probably a couple of miles from the reported location which seemed to be closer to Appledore than the 15th green. But the police were insistent and so the first groups made their way off the course.  On the way in we met golfers commencing their rounds on holes one and two. On advising them of the situation they said they had been authorised by the Club to start their rounds.  Confusion reigned. Folks were leaving the course from every direction. The burrows car parks were emptying but others were just going out!  One group from our match bravely remained out on the course and completed their round while all the others retired to the safety of the bar.  

David Hudson won nearest the pin for RND, as the only player who played the 16th to have hit the green.

Rachel and the kitchen staff were amazing and brought the timing of the food forward as much as possible, producing and serving an excellent two course meal.

Our match was all square on the 15th due to some incredible play by Chris Taylor to keep us in it.  It took birdies or net birdies to win a hole which happened regularly.  The Tiverton pair had secured three gross birdies at this stage. The match situation behind us was up in one and down in another therefore in these exceptional circumstances the two Captains agreed a tied leg.  It seems from the match situations further back this would have been a likely result any way, with one group 5 up while another was well down.  The destination of the A361 trophy will therefore be decided at Tiverton in September under less calamitous circumstances we hope.

Steve Pryor

Match Captain

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