September 22nd 2007
MURDO O’BRIEN TRIUMPHS AGAIN
A “free” Saturday before the end of the ( summer) season meant that the postponed Tupper Cup, was accommodated last weekend with some swift re-shuffling of the of the fixture list. Moving the Lifeboat spoon forward a week, means that we can “fit” the remaining competitions into the last fortnight by combining it with a Jackson Medal Qualifier, leaving the ( Jackson Medal) final in its traditional end-of-season slot. With these qualifiers frequently combined with normal stroke-play competitions, there is no real sacrifice, and enables us to fulfil the schedule for 2007.
It was only by chance that I was informed of the “seriousness” with which the top players treat the Tupper Cup, having been paired with Alasdair “Greens” MacLeod (and young Jordan MacLean) for my round on Saturday.
Alasdair is a club legend, having progressed from a Scottish Schoolboys cap in the mid-1970’s, through to six club championships and six Western Isles titles as a senior, along with every other “major” in the club on several occasions, and when he says “it’s a good one to win”, then I knew I wasn’t just playing the course, I was going to have to keep ahead of him. No small feat.
The Tupper is one of these competitions (a bit like the Flag Trophy) where we break from traditional stroke-play and stableford format, and the winner is decided in a somewhat “unusual” fashion.
Everyone plays match-play against the course, and at the end it is the player who has “beaten” the course by the most holes who wins. Confused? I know sometimes it’s not easy to explain, handicap, stroke-index and match-play in one paragraph, so here goes.
Every hole on the course is ranked by degree of difficulty 1-18 (it’s the same for all golf courses), and every golfer is given a handicap (max 28 for men, 36 for ladies and juniors). Depending on your handicap you will have none, one ,or two strokes “allowance” at a hole, calculated thus….If you play off 4 ( for example) you will have an additional shot at the holes ranked 1 to 4 on the card. If you play of 20 you will have an “extra” shot at every hole, but two shots at the holes ranked 1 and 2 (there being 18 holes on the course). If you play of the full allowance, men will have a shot at every hole plus two on the holes ranked 1-10, and ladies and juniors will have two shots per hole. If you are with me so far, then the rest is easy. Say you are playing a par 4, ranked stroke-index 6 and you have a “shot” ( you will have one if you play off a handicap of 6 or above); you par the hole, therefore with the shot it is a nett “birdie” so you win the hole. If you have a 5, then with your stroke it becomes a 4 (par) and therefore you have “halved” the hole. A double bogey (two over)becomes a bogey….but you still lose the hole. Using this format you play the course, count up all the wins, halves and losses, and determine whether you are “up” or “down” against the course. If you play to par over the 18 holes you will be “level”. Clear as mud? Sorry…but later on the importance of handicapping and how it makes golf such a great leveller will be highlighted.
On Saturday Al had a putt on the 7th hole to go 5 under, and at that stage he looked to as if there would be no stopping him. He had already disappeared beyond my (limited) horizon, but could not hang on at 4 up on the course, slipped to 3up at the finish, and lost out to the dreaded better inward half to eventual winner Murdo O’Brien.
Murdo himself is no stranger to these notes. Winner of the aforementioned Flag competition, and also the prestigious “Barber” trophy (for the second year in succession) this summer, he is also competing in the final of the Burns Cup (0-15 handicap match-play) competition in the next few days. One of the finest players in the club, he will reflect on another successful season, and a chance to attend the end of summer prize-giving as a proven winner.
In his match-play final he faces Jules Folkard in what should prove to be a hard fought affair. Another match-play final looming is the Consolation Cup (Pairs) between Huw Lloyd & Marten James and the Johnson twins, Murdo and Magnus. Huw and Marten are the in-form pair here, Martens’ recent form being one of the talking points in the club of late, and Huw, as ever, being as steady as a rock. No-one in the club, however, would rule the Johnson boys out of anything they entered. Knowing the way they both approach any competition, it would be folly to write them off (I have them at £5 each-way for next year’s Eurovision song contest), and we await the outcome with interest.
Of the match-play finals already completed Alan MacLeod defeated Alan Todd in the Bain Cup ( 16-28 Handicap) by one hole, and in the Clansman ( Over 55’s) final Norrie Munro beat Donnie Murray at the 19 th ( or was that to the 19th?)…after 18 holes of golf who could blame them?
The Stornoway Cup (Matchplay) final was won last week by Donald “Sweeny” MacSween from Colin MacRitchie, by one hole, and I highlight this magnificent achievement by referring back to the point I made earlier regarding the handicapping system. Open to all members, regardless of handicap, this competition always throws up shock results, and goes to prove that everyone has an equal chance of success at the game of golf.
Sweeny is a footballing legend in the Island, having terrorised goalkeepers for many years with his goalscoring prowess and having won just about every trophy possible in a glittering career. Since retiring from the game he has taken up golf, and his natural sporting ability has seen him reduce his handicap to 24.
Colin, being the best goalkeeper on the Island, and one of the best golfers (Ex Western Isles & Club champion several times over) was always going to be a tough opponent playing off a handicap of just 2. Sweeny, however, has a habit of making goalkeepers wish they hadn’t turned up, and despite being taken to the last whole, he will regard this win as his finest to date.
Well done to all the winners to date.
Allan Macleod
Donald Macsween
Murdo O’Brien