30 May 2024

NWMGA Team Match - Week 2, Home vs Stand GC

This fixture was due to be played last Wednesday 22nd May, however due to some bad weather being forecast, it was decided to postpone the match and play it at a Later date. The NWMGA only allow you 2 weeks to rearrange the match, which is difficult to do, firstly by getting a team together (outside the normal fixture list) and then trying to fit it in to the already busy club diary full of Social Golf and Knockouts – something that I think needs to be brought to the attention of the NWMGA. So after a bit of juggling we eventually squeezed the match in last night, special thanks to ex Bury Member and Stand Team captain, Mick Anderson, for his efforts to make the game possible. Please note the below is the playing order the lads went out in.

Match / Player Report

Andy Hall

was first out and after his stunning 8&6 Victory away last week at Ellesmere, and receiving 4 shots on his home track, should have been a banker for our first point of the night, however during a very close game, Andy ended up losing on the last Hole after pulling his Tee shot left into the cabbage and just like Lord Lucan, the ball was never seen Again. 🪓

Alan ‘Les’ Battersby

Was Making his Team Debut and he also received 4 shots on the night. I have to say Les looked very geared up and ready to go on the First and Janice would have been proud of him, as he went 2 up very early in the game only to be 1 down a few holes later, however being supported by his biggest cheerleader (And NWMGA fellow squad Member Neil Winstanley) Les brought home the bacon and Won 2up – Well Done Les👏👏👏👏

Cosmo

I sat with Cosmo and told him I expected a 6n5 victory in his match, after winning away last week 5n3 and receiving 2 shots at home, I thought it should be an easy Victory for him, but after the first 4 holes which saw the game still being A/S – Cosmo went into overdrive, produced the ‘Piece of String’ and the drives started finding the fairways, then hitting the greens and rolling in the puts, and just like Mr Poulter – Cosmo – our own Postman Pat (or words that rhyme with Pat) – Delivered and won 6n5. He now sits proudly at the Top of the Order of Merit win 7 points from 2 wins. Well Done Cosmo 👏👏👏

Dave ‘Flanny’ Flanagan

Was another making his Team debut (Scratch Match), and Flanny had been in a bit of good form lately in medal comps, culminating with him having a Hole in one on 17 in the ‘Spring Meeting’ . As you can see from his picture, he is unfortunately a ‘Ginger’ and comes from a long line of ‘Travellers’ and more akin to selling Pegs and Lucky heather. The match for Flanny was a nice distraction after recently moving house and now down in the Unsworth area, after his move from the Principality of Heywood. His match was another that Ebbed and flowed like the Bering Sea on a bad Day (If Anybody is familiar with the ‘Deadliest Catch’ TV Programme, then you will know exactly what that means) and as the game entered a crucial stage on 16, Flanny 3 stabbed it to go 1 down, but then gathered himself to Win both 17 and 18 to win on the last 1up – Well Done Flanny 👏👏👏

Steve ‘Hammertime’ Hamer

Was next out, and after snatching a Draw last week on his debut, was looking forward to his Home debut (Getting 3 shots) against his big hitting opponent. Not the best of starts seen him go 1 down early on and when in position to get 1 back on 5 he rushed his putts and 4 stabbed for Half, which had a knock on affect with him as he lost 2 of the next 3 holes to be 3 down stood on the 9th Tee. His opponent then hits one in the Trees left up the fairway and Steve finds the fairway, his opponent then hits his Provisional in the same trees, and somehow finds his First, in-bounds!! Steve won 9 and then made a great 3 on 10 to drag it back to 1 Down – Then did the Cardinal Sin on the next Tee by firing it into the trees on the right of 11, and basically handing the Hole to his opponent. Not to be out done he battled back into the game and eventually won on the last 1up. So Steve seems to prefer the back 9, as in back to back weeks he has salvaged both a Draw and a win from the Jaws of defeat – Well done pal . 👏👏👏

Si Daniels

Was next out playing his first game of the season, against a young lad off 3 – I never caught much of this game – but funny how he Also made a great 3 at 10 after being left of the Green, to win the hole and to go A/S – He then committed the same cardinal Sin as Steve and carved his drive into the Trees up 11 – back to 1 down. However in true Mechanic style, a quick oil and filter change on the back 9 seen Si win on the last Hole 1 up – Well done Pal 👏👏👏

John Eaton

Our Steward, Also making Debut for the Team (Getting 2 shots) , just never got going and after losing the First hole, he was fighting with his putter all night, as it was permanently Cold all night – and after being 3 down on 11, it seemed the writing was on the wall for John, a Gallant late effort however proved fruitless, as he lost on 17 – 2n1. 🪓🪓🪓🪓

Ross Speight

Last Match out and against their Team Captain, Mick Anderson, - Not quite sure of the final result in this – But Ross was back in early enough to give Beth a lift in the Kitchen with the Chilli and Rice if that’s any indication – I am sure the Lefty wont thank me for going on about it, so on this occasion, foot off the Gas and lest just say Ross has better rounds in front of him – but he may have done better playing righthanded last night!! 🤔🤔🤔

So in the end the above resulted in a good 5 – 3 Victory, which could of quite easily gone the other way, when looking at the games that finished on the 18th.

All joking aside, yet Again me and Gaz Thank you for giving up your Tuesday evening to play for us and for the Club – We win as a Squad and we lose as a Squad – Well done to all 👏👏👏👏