Weather conditions were perfect for golf but thick rough continued to annoy competitors and wreck some cards.

Sheena sailed past early clubhouse leader Cuneyt 61 with an astounding 57 – a back 9 just 2 over par and birdie at 2nd. But for 7s at 6& 7, Cuneyt’s score could have been even better.; there followed a quartet of 63s from new member John C., James A with French representatives Thierry and Denis.

Sheena had a Score Differential less than Handicap Index of 9.6 and earned what I think is RPGCs first WHS Exceptional Score Reduction. Congratulations! If it had been 10.0 or more than an additional handicap cut would have resulted. PCC for the field remained at zero.

Forecast rain held off and players celebrated Captains’Day with drinks and pizza.
Novelty prizes:
Women:
NTP 2nd: Maureen Slade
NTP in 3 10th: no one
NTP 16th: Lia Donath

Men:
NTP 2nd: Rannesh Jansari
NTP in 3 9th: R Esin
NTP 16th: Joe Goncalves

For the men this was3rd comp in the Order of Merit Top Dog comp attached with Rhys just a nose ahead on 12 ots from Sean and Cuneyt.

Scorching temperatures were a distant memory yesterday. Thick rough and receptive greens are now a firm part of the Duke’s course layout.

Looks like the men did well on the front 9 (Pete had 23pts and Keith scored 22pts). But some of the women were excellent on the back 9 (Susan and Cheryl to name a few). The poorer form of most of the men on the back 9 can in large be explained to the 17th and 18th hole (the MC teed off on the 17th on 32pts. He walked off the 18th green on … 32pts).

The winner, Susan Smith, lit up the back 9 for 24pts. Add that to a solid front 9 and she becomes the run-away winner. Best of the rest was Rick on 37pts (but he will rue the 18th hole). Alan King surprised everybody (even himself ?) by taking 3rd (he too NR’d the … 18th hole). Jeremy Ryan had 34pts teeing off on the 17th. Unfortunately he recorded just 1pt on the last 2 holes to finish on 35pts and 4th place. As mentioned above Keith used an excellent front 9 to take 5th place. Luke takes 6th place. But only 2pts on the last 2 holes (recognize the pattern) is something he will like to put behind him sooner rather than later. Cheryl Woodhouse managed just 9pts on the way out. But a blinding back 9 (24pts) earn her 7th place.

Coolish conditions prevailed allowing full concentration but rough still took its toll in the Shaw Cup.

A glance at https://www.richmondparkgolfclub.org.uk/the-golf-club/captains/
confirms A. Shaw was last Captain in 1953 when I think the club changed its name from The Priory Golf Club.

The winner on the day was Sean on 41 points by 1 from James S and George M. There was strong representation from the women with Joan 5th 39, Captain Val 38 and Julie R;

Shaun had best front 9 and James S best back 9 – both 22 points; Julie R had 10 points alone on the par 3s.

For the men this counted as round 2 of the Order of Merit ‘Top Dog’ Trophy – Rhys and Sean leading on 12 points each from Mike H and James S 8:

The dominating themes of yesterday’s golf were (in random order):

1) hot weather 2) players motivating each other (more on that later) 3) countback and 4) the fact that John Lewis make golf trolleys 😉 Nick & Ronnie.

Ross Hood kept up his excellent golf (contrary to the MC). A chip-in eagle on 12 set him up for 36pts and the lead in the clubhouse. He was able to hold onto 1st place until the game of Alan, Alvaro and Roger. That game managed to inspire each other to some excellent scores. Alvaro used a very good front 9 to overtake Ross with 39pts. Alan and Roger both had 37pts.

And for a couple of hours the 3 players from the same game held the first 3 spots on the leaderboard (not insinuating anything but what a coincidence …). A later game of Jeremy and Charlie Edwards upped the ante. Both of them played in the same game and managed to split the 2 bandidos and Irishman. Jeremy had a better back 9 than Alvaro (19pts vs 18) to take 2nd place. Charlie Edwards excellent back 9 (21pts) earned him 4th place. Today’s winner actually matched Jeremy’s back 9. But Chas’ score over the last 6 holes (15pts) beat out Jeremy (13pts over the last 6 holes). Tatiana, Joe and afternoon starter Pete Goodall round out the Top 8.

Women

Just a small select group of 5 playing today.

Although there were 4 of us in one game, it was only on the shorter holes from 14 on that the 3 in front got a way from us a bit. Guess they finally started to hit straight tee shots and kept to the short stuff, though one had 11 on the 18th. But although they’ve cut a second cut the rough is still penal, but we certainly ended up finishing with more balls than we started even if some of the originals made their escape.

Despite Ronnie telling us that she had no incentive after her playing partners NR’d on the 8th, her scorecard would dispute this with a back 9 that was 13 shots better than her front 9, dropping just 5 shots on the back 9.
Unfortunately for her, although Sheena’s back 9 was 4 shots higher than hers, Sheena’s front 9 was 10 better than hers giving her 1st place with a net 70 and Ronnie a 72.

Men

A hot and sunny day was promised and ensued;

Kim played a captain’s innings for a 64 – always good to end on a birdie; Kim was one ahead of midweek winner Ross. Ross had best front 9,best back 9, and best gross with 4 birdies. His handicap index drops to 3.7.

3rd round GMT leader Brian M had 66 and consolidates his position leading GMT 206 from Richard O and Jannesd 210.

 2nd cut for rough helped but still 14 NRs.

Oh, England won a football match.

The field enjoyed very nice weather. Some crazy ginger even claimed that he likes the current layout of the course. Strange people these Northeners. 21 players (i.e. 36% % of the field) disagreed with him and NR’ed today. Staying clear of the rough was the best course of action. Ross returned an excellent result of 73 gross (60 Nett). His margin of victory would even have been more impressive had it not been for an ugly 6 on the 18th. Woman in form Cheryl “unfollowed” Rickie Fowler and swapped her Sunday tangerine outfit for more “classic” colours. The change didn’t affect golf karma (or “Momentum” as Keith Cassidy would call it). A very impressive 2nd place (67 Nett – despite a few wobbles around Amen Corner) can only be called a very good day at the office.

High on his excellent performance in the NAPGC Bourne-Vanheck Trophy Angus sailed to 3rd place. 4th place must have looked like a very distant possibility for Alvaro after an untidy front 9. But coming back 1 over par (a bogey on the last hole) made the impossible all of a sudden possible. Oliver Khan, MW Captain Henry (who will kick himself for his score on holes 12 and 18), Thierry Andretta and Gina complete the Top 7.

Ross is the comfortable leader in the Anniversary Accumulator standings after just 1 round.

Weather conditions seemed perfect for golf with just a passing shower, not too sunny etc.

It suited Shaun who won with a fantastic 62 from Richard I 64 with fine glorious 65s from Denis P and Cheryl [the in form lady with a 64 from Wednesday]. Keith Cassidy commanded best gross

Perhaps it was the impact of earlier rain in week thickening up the rough but there was a high incidence of 19 NRs although PCC remained at zero.

According to PGA.com the probability of hitting a hole in 1 is 12,500 to 1. It is becomes even crazier when you get 2 players acing on the same day. So well done to John Perkins and Julie Ryan (in chronological order)  for achieving this remarkable feat on the 2nd hole. See report immediately below*

What a difference a couple of summer days make. The soft fairways and receptive greens were a distant memory today. Remember the rain from a short while back? The thick rough is the only indication of the downpours from a couple of weeks ago. So you needed to be precise (or lucky) off the tee.

Today’s winner is Cheryl with an excellent score of 64 (Net). She was a model of consistency (45 on front and back 9). Richard Back is on a roll. Strong of his win last Sunday he jumped on an early tee slot and calmly carded a round of +3 gross. He recorded 2 5s on the back 9 (13 & 18). But still finished with a stronger back 9 to beat Charlie Edwards on countback. The women seemed to enjoy today’s conditions. Besides today’s winner Cheryl, Ann Gardner recorded an excellent score of 66 (Net). VC John Ahad, Angus “Braveheart” Robertson and John “Ace” Perkins were just 1 shot back from the leading women. Richard Hanna used a better back 9 to hold of Joe Goncalves.

Angus takes the lead in the Midweek Medal Trophy on 206 (closest competitor is on 211- cf. attached).

It was a chilly start but the sun eventually broke through for a glorious warm day.

Winner of the Bank Holiday Plate was back in form Richard B 41 points with Mike Shabani runner-up 40. Katharina took 3rd on contback g=from Lica for 3rd and 38 points. Ned was best 37 on countbacks from Geoge T and Daniel.

There wer 9 ‘Twos’ recorded. Best front 9 24pts – Luca whilst John A and Katharina best back 22.

Richard B re-featured in birdies report attached – both he and George M had 4.

The rain of the last couple of days created some trouble: there was little roll on the fairways. The rough has grown quite rapidly since the rain made its return. The softer greens created some very welcome grip. But they could’ve done with a better roll. Some men will have been in a bit of a shock to see the white tees moved all the way to the back on 17 and 18.

Today’s Top 4 all seemed to follow the same course of action: get at least 20pts on the back 9. Leader in the clubhouse Joe Goncalves set the bar very high with his 39pts. 3 people came close. Charlie Edwards had an excellent back 9 (23pts) but has to settle for 2nd. First woman today, Gina, is keeping up her good form (save some good shots for the Hawtree …) on her way to 3rd. You guessed right: she scored 20pts on the way in. Richard Young scored 20pts too but the countback moves him into 4th. The 2 players who finished on 36pts both had 17pts on the back 9. Pete’s final six holes were just a bit better. So he takes 5th place.

Only 3 2s were recorded today. All took place on the 10th hole. Looks like Pete Goodall won the Founders Cup with 118pts.