Orsett determined to make the semi finals
Orsett`s Thornton Cup side won a gripping last 16 encounter against The Rayleigh Club 8.5 -6.5. The score was 2.5 each at lunch with the home team feeling disappointed to not be 4-1 up.
Rayleigh Club hit some great shots to "steal" a couple of points we felt should have been ours, but that's golf." Remarked team member, Chris Dreher. "So we were determined to put things right in the afternoon and got a good 3 point lead in the first few games. I think it unsettled their side, especially as we kept all losing matches out late, which meant they were never sure of any points back. We then sealed victory with a run of 3/2 wins .Graham our team Captain has added some great team rapport this year and we would now love to win our quarter final against Boyce Hill."
Congratulations boys keep up the great playing.
Worth a visit but beware
I recently went to the PING Fitting Centre at Gainsborough, Lincs, with a couple of clients, what an impressive set up. Three space aged bays using Trackman to help create the best possible combination of products for each person.
Around the venue as you can see were all the products PING offer. It is like a grownups toy shop, go in for a set of irons and be tempted drivers, fairways and putters, not to mention all the soft goods as well. Difficult to resist when they are displayed all around.
If you would like to get fitted at the venue, please get in touch, I can organise an appointment, they do charge but some times that little extra is well worth it.
Gary spends Christmas at Burhill
Gary Mason finally got to use his Christmas Sweepstake winning prize last week. With 3 of his golfing friends (and there were many who were available). A great day was had with the golf matching the venue. They took advantage of the good weather and an empty M25 for once to collect his prize of a 4 ball at Burhill GC. Burhill is located near Walton on Thames and is rated 34th in the top 100 courses in the UK.
Joined by Orsett members and new best friends Charles Locke, Dave Stitson and Rob Coston at the club where the factory used by Barnes Wallis of Dambusters fame is still located in the car park they played the Old course dating back to 1907. Playing off the whites the course is 6479 yards with a par of 70 and was in excellent condition with the greens running at 10 and a half on the day. The combination of some interesting and challenging holes added to the fast greens with subtle slopes led to a few bouncing bombs being seen once again at Burhill and many a groan as a putt past the hole left 10ft back.
The rivers of Jordan keep running…
Superstar Jordan Spieth overcame the Chamber of horrors which was Chambers Bay golf course, to snatch a brilliant victory from under the nose (oops) of the unlucky Dustin Johnson who dramatically three whacked the last to miss a playoff. I have thought of two reasons why he may have missed that four footer and both will or would have haunted him.
1. The adrenalin control for the first putt wasn't in place and it just went off in his hands leaving him a longer 2nd putt than expected
2. Or the thought of holing the putt, would have meant a further 18 holes on what must be agreed to be THE worst greens ever used in US Open history.
Perhaps the USGA either had no staff to check the course condition or felt it was the only way to stop the superstars blitzing the course. If the greens were that poor at your own course the green keeper would probably be looking elsewhere for a job! The course itself as I mentioned last week wasn`t the best. Having seen the slopes in the green the architect must have designed them in centimetres and built them in inches. If he wanted to get a feel of a proper links course it might have been wise to get on a plane and visit the UK coast line.
If only the TV people could have hidden a microphone in the player's locker room we might have heard far more truths about the course. How about if the wind had blown, it could have been the first time golfers had gone on strike! Just £160 gets you a game there. Anyone fancy it?
Jordan Spieth though, showed what a brilliant talent he has. The youngest since Bobby Jones to win back-to-back majors, Spieth is now in line for the season Grand Slam with St Andrews clearly on his horizon. The Texan played superb all week but so did Johnson. Yet so near but so far, in fact DJ played the best golf ,but for one putt he may well have been wearing the winners medal . As for the others?
Rory got us out of our seats with a World No1 charge that faltered on the last couple of holes. Oosthuizen may well have won had he not been paired with a couple of choppers, Mr Woods and Mr Fowler for the first 2 rounds. Couldn't have been easy looking for Tigers ball all the way round! What is really going on with him?? Branden Grace had it to win until his drive on 16 took the 6.45 to Seattle.
Deep down were we hoping Aussie, yes an Aussie, Jason Day could stand up and survive his difficulties of vertigo, to hold on (sorry) to win? He has been close numerous times and this is one he will be thinking, if only… Mind you with those 2 short par 4s at Chambers Bay , the Americans who continually shouted " get in the hole" from tee shots nearly got their wish a couple of times! St Andrews looks like it will be a birdie fest for the players. Sadly our three representatives, Ricky, Dan and Shaun who entered the pre-qualifying all missed out. It will be a great event at golfs HQ.
Ian, our Assistant Head Green keeper, is working up there for the week. Let's hope he isn`t sadistic with the hole positions. If its great weather, it might be a record winning score at least it won`t be laughable to watch.
Everyone really enjoyed the course and the news received in the impressive clubhouse that Dave had won the Limit Cup added to the day. Well worth the price of a few raffle tickets!
