Club Championship

Orsett played their Stroke play Club Championship at the weekend in near perfect conditions (with a small exception mid-afternoon for lightening). 128 players teed up to qualify and make the cut, with the top 32 and ties playing a second round on Sunday. Leading the way at halftime was Dan Vaughan, a carpet fitter by trade, (69) on 3 under followed by county player Will Percival (70) and Cadet Captain Joe Green (71).

The final round got under way with further fine scoring from the field, notably Thornton Cup player Chris Dreher`s 69 to move him up to 6th overall. At the top, things were beginning to unfold with Dan getting to grips with the greens early. He piled on the pressure to the "young guns" who played steadily but couldn’t quite keep to the pace. It looked like with 3 holes to go, Dan was going to lay claim to another Championship after birdieing the long 15th. Will finally found the right gear but could he warm up that ‘luke warm’ putter? Joe played steadily all day in top company and in the last group. Dan made a solid par up the difficult 16th and on the 17th he short sided himself to where others had taken plenty, and this gave Joe and Will a little hope perhaps.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man (it seemed like that the time he took to survey his options) with the growing gallery whispering their anticipated ideas on the shot. Dan hammered home his advantage by "doing a Tiger" and chipping in for a very unlikely birdie, deflation for Will and Joe was clearly visible leaving Dan just the awkward 18th hole to negotiate. Long iron off the tee and a 5 iron to 25 feet surely was good enough with a 6 shot lead? Only a bout of the yips was going to stop him, thankfully that didn`t occur and he completed the job to roll out a Championship winning 137 score of a 7 under par total.

Dan thanked all the Club staff for their efforts over the weekend, especially the green staff for setting up the course so spectacularly. Fresh holes each day, ideal putting surfaces and pin sheets all added to this flag ship event on the calendar. Well done Dan and by your own admission your winners voucher can get some new shorts!

Pro’s Day a week away

Next Saturday is Pro’s Day and just to remind you to confirm with me or the staff in the Pro shop who is in your team! If your team is not able to play or there are changes to be made to your team then PLEASE let me know, I have a lot of cards to fill in!

Format and starting positions will be available on the day. Let’s hope the weather finally falls right and we all have a good time out there. Please arrive for 9.30 to collect card/rules sheet and get to starting hole for the shotgun at 10.30.

We still have the last few NXT balls available. Remember we recently offered 3 Dozen for the price of 2, which has been very positive. Get yours while stock lasts, maybe this weekend?

Sport update

It’s the last Major of the season and it truly is open this week. Perhaps Japanese sensation Hideki Matsuyama may have something to say about that. Having blitzed the field with a final round 61 at the WGC event last week at Firestone, he may have a small edge but Quail Hollow is a particular favourite of many of the top players such as Rory and Ricky. Mr Spieth has a personal goal to achieve and DJ has his last chance to make something of a topsy turvey year or could Hideki be the first Japanese player to win a major? It will all come down to the three most important clubs in the bag as the 300 yard drive is well and truly upon us. Only last week Rory hit 39, 300 yard plus drivers (52 out of 56 in total) in the fairway on consecutive holes at Firestone, yet his wedge game was more like a C minus. Rory is getting close to winning and moving ever closer to the top spot, if he sorts that part of his game out along with his putting, in my mind is still the one to beat.

The Premier league kicks off this weekend too. It only seemed like last week the season finished.

Who is your pick for the title?
 
End of an era...

Usain Bolt ran his last 100 metres championship race and lost! The whole population that don’t regularly follow athletics until the great man runs expected another gold for the Jamacian. Sadly he bowed out with a bronze beaten by old adversary, Justin Gatland and new missile of the track Christian Coleman (doesn`t he manage Wales?). Still what a stella career for the entertaining Bolt. Will we ever see the likes of him again? A mention for Mo Farah, another gold in the 10,000 and another possibly in the 5,000. What a legend of long distance running who has sacrificed plenty to get where he has. Of course the rewards are huge even for top athletes but to keep going for as long as those two have at the top is nothing but stunning.

If you want to be good at any sport, sacrifices to the norm just have to be met. Bear that in mind when you have a tough pitch over a bunker from a bare lie and it falls short in the sand. You just got to practice!

Have a good weekend playing,

David