Dynamic duo lead Captains day parade...

Colin Hodges and Issa Pooloo carried on from our recent Captain’s Charity day exploits but this time without the help of messers Tong and Vanderhook.

In pretty miserable conditions last Sunday from the 'tips' Colin and Issa amassed 43 points better ball. A long soggy course with intermittent rain storms wasn`t enough to stop them. Issa has been in a great vein of form with a sweep handicap of scratch (club, 7). A brilliant short game and straight driving, with a bit of help from Colin, saw them past Neil Dennis and Colin Morris who had a great back nine for 41 points. They too edged in front of Gordon Irving and Martin Gregory who had 2 very different halves of 16 and 24 points for their third place finish.

As you can see from the pictures Colin and Issa were happy to celebrate their win in customary fashion at the bar.

Ladies Competition played the day before in much more suitable weather saw Karen Batch and Tina Gregory cruise to a huge win, of 43 points that included not one single point hole.

The Captain treated all the ladies to a Cream tea which went down perfectly with not a single cake was left on the plates.

The cadet section top three were Zach Chedwiggen back to winning ways, Davis King, runner up and Alfie Buttle who have the chance to go hovercrafting , thanks to the Captain as their prize sometime in the school holidays.

A successful weekend if wet one, tough to believe we were in the middle of August really. Many thanks to Captain, David Turner and wife Patrice who drove round all weekend keeping everyone`s spirits up with food and drink on the course.

Pro Am celebration...

Orsett held its annual regional Pro Am on Tuesday in really difficult conditions. Only one Professional broke par (70) on a windy, soggy afternoon with the course playing its full length. Rob Pritchard from Norfolk tied second was level par again excellent scores in the weather.

More importantly in the team event Thorpe Hall Professional Mark Talbot lead his team to victory with a 13 under total

Just behind them was Orsett team of Captain, David Turner, Chairman, Graham Button, last minute stand in Max Kelchar and yours truly on 11 under. We were so bad after 7 holes getting any wetter was beginning to become less of an option but an inspirational 40 foot birdie on the 8th changed our minds and we played in 17 under from there! In fact we were 19 shots better on the back nine than the front nine. I can`t ever remember a team fitting together so well (ok The Fordies did on Charity day) but not in a Pro Am.

Due to the nature of the event we can`t show the photos to prove it, but if you would like to see the results go on the PGA website and east region tournaments.

Special mention to Andy, who finally got his last card which should now allow him to graduate!

Thanks to all the members who took part. Next year we hope to offer a bigger and better event so keep a look out for the date in the 2015 calendar.

World Class, World No 1, world whatever you want…

Rory McIlroy re-wrote his own piece of history last week with a third straight tournament win. Not just any events but 2 Majors and a WGC event. The Irishman from Holywood really did give a Starlight performance around a wet and very lengthy Valhalla golf course.

McIlroy lead going into the last round only to be a little edgy of the front nine which allowed some adrenalin filled golf played by Stenson, Mickleson and Fowler (he of the top 5 finish all majors this season) to move past him on the leader board. At the turn it looked like Rory would be the one losing touch. But an unbelievable 283 yard 3 wood to 6 feet got him back one behind the 3 leaders and “game on”. Eyes were getting wider, I wasn`t sure if it was the stress of trying to win or peer through the ever deepening gloom. Stenson blinked first and 3 putted the 14th, Fowler bogey 16 and Phil once again made a late sickening bogey. Rory, lifted by the unlikely eagle, birdied further holes to lead by two on the last tee and literally played it alongside the group in front. Perhaps the course had been booked and the PGA weren`t going to be able to play the next day but it seemed strange to rush them up the last and it appeared Mickleson definitely didn`t want that decision to be made. Rory nearly drove it in the hazard but just stayed on dry land, Mickleson nearly holed his eagle and equalizing pitch shot at the last but, in the dark, the World No 1 proved why it was so.

A really exciting end to Major Championship golf for the year. Perhaps the Ryder Cup could still be a close affair after all.

At least we won`t have to listen to Mr McGinley tell us how Phil is feeding of Ricky and both from the crowd in the last round that week. If he said it once on Sunday he said it nearly as often as the US deficit! They still couldn`t stop the kid from Holywood walk up and take the trophy could they.