March 22nd 2008
NIFTY AT 50, PAT WINS FIRST SINGLES COMPETITION OF 2008 BUT THE JURY IS OUT
(At the time of going to press the result of the competiton played on Saturday was under review by Match & Handicap, so next weeks notes may be an interesting read!)
Since the last putt was struck on the 6th of October last year, we have all been waiting to take to the course as “individuals” once again. Many of us have participated in the Winter League on our own, on occasion where our partners have been posted “missing”, but that has never detracted from our “status” as belonging to a team. The mindset of the Winter League golfer, irrespective of the regular availability of their playing partner, is very different to that of the same golfer(s) during regular summer play. There is (nominally) back up, and the unfailing belief that at some point your errant shot(s) will be rendered meaningless by your faithful companion stepping into the breech to rescue you, and your score, from disaster.
Well that’s the way it’s supposed to work, though I dare say many golfers will be reading this and thinking (wishing?)exactly the same thing about their own playing partner. Instead of……..
“Where were you when I (we) needed you?”
“Over there in the rough”, “Playing three off the tee”, “I’ve already picked up mate” or “You’re on your own here, sorry”, will be some of the answers we are all accustomed to.
To my own (long-suffering) partner, I can only apologise. Leaders, or at least joint leaders after the first two weeks, we spectacularly failed to capitalise on our early season promise, and ended up as not even also-rans to the also-rans. As the senior partner; older, wiser (this is called poetic license) and the lower-handicapper, I would have been expected to “support” my partner more ably and consistently (we’re moving into the real fiction now!). Sorry mate, I realise why you breathed a huge sigh of relief last week. You didn’t have to make allowances for me ruining our card after three holes any more. Whilst not back to “normal” summer golf, we were allowed a taste of being let out to play on our “own” again, stand on our own two feet, and take responsibility for our individual endeavours on the course. It was good to see so many participants thrive and, indeed, enjoy this first foray of 2008 as independent men. It was also worrying to see so many good players struggling to learn to ride a bike again, with the “stabilizers” removed.
It was the best metaphor I could think of……there were some skinned knees, and not a few crashes. Never mind guys, there will be more to come; but hopefully interspersed with the odd successes.
Winner on the day, and, he tells me , relieved to be free from the shackles of having to play conservative golf to protect his team score from his partners’ wild excesses off the tee, was Pat Aird.
Having already demonstrated an uncanny ability to adapt to the Stableford format on a recent outing to Harris, his 29 points over his 12 home holes were enough to claim top spot from several John Gilles’s and a Cal Robertson.
Pat, having only picked up his clubs again in real earnest at the tail end of last season, will definitely be looking to reduce his handicap this summer, win a few trophies, and kick into touch the misconception that the team you support is in any way related to golfing prowess. Norrie “Onions” and a few others may help him in this. Can you tell I’m getting nervous as the season(s) draw to a conclusion, and I fret over 3 and 6 pointers, and I’m not talking Stablefords? Having recently celebrated his half century, his win,again, proves that age, length of time playing competitively, and handicap are no hurdle to winning golf tournaments.
Just playing to the best of your ability on the day will always give you a chance; the handicapping system, and the fairness for all this creates, makes golf a level playing field for all.
Well played Pat.
Personally I think the inclusion of an attractive caddy may be the answer. After his win he was seen holding auditions at the bar.
Once again we were indebted to our new greens convenor (much better than the last fellow) for our golf on Saturday. Not to be thwarted by the flurries of snow, sleet and hail which had threatened to curtail any activity other than sledging on the course, he was up at the crack of 7:30 am to sweep the greens clear for the first participants of the day. Step forward and take a bow Alan “Biddley” MacLeod. Thanks from us all.
Last Thursday saw the Nicolson pupils travelling on an exchange visit to Pendleton (U.S.A) hold a very successful bingo night at the club. We wish them well on this trip of a lifetime, and as any golfers will tell you, Carolina is a fine place indeed for a visit. Maybe as Stornoway is twinned with Pendleton we should attempt to organise a golf trip across the pond? I typed the key words “golf” and “Pendleton” into Google and found 20 courses. Not bad for a town of just over 2,000 people. Everyone must be a greenkeeper or a caddy. Or a damn fine golfer?
Hmmm, maybe not….let’s see if we can take care of Harris and Ullapool first.
This week sees the conclusion of the Spring Cup for our regular quiz teams (Friday night, tomorrow, 28th, 7:30 for 8:00 pm). With several teams in the running for the trophy, and with prizes for teams on the night (any team of four can turn up and participate) a good night is guaranteed.
Senior’s Winter League – w/e 22/3/2008
In excess of a dozen players made an appearance on both Monday and Wednesday. Once again the scoring failed to match the weather with the best return being a par round of 24 points from John MacKinnon. One stroke behind on 23 points was Dennis Hall, Norrie MacLean and Jimmy Mackenzie.
The top of the of League table remains unchanged – neither of the top two improved their scores, but John MacKinnon’s round has moved him up to fourth spot. With only two weeks to go, his challenge is probably too late.
A welcome visitor to the club on Saturday afternoon was John Dingwall who is back on the Island for a short spell. We look forward to his company on the course over the next few weeks.
Senior’s -Top Scores
John MacKinnon 24
Dennis Hall 23
Norrie MacLean 23
Jimmy Mackenzie 23
Senior’s League Table
Dennis Hall 247
Norrie Munro 247
Norrie MacLean 235
John MacKinnon 233
Duncan MacLean 232
Pat Aird and Caddy Emma
John Mackinnon