Men’s Golf Captain’s Blog
Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu said ‘A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Adversity is inevitable, but difficulties or misfortunes don’t have to keep you from achieving your intended goals and finding the happiness you seek in business and in life. It’s how you overcome these adversities can make all the difference’.
With that mindset, I don’t want to talk about golf but want to pay enormous credit to the performance of the Food and Beverage (F&B) team during the Men’s Invitation who overcame the lack of one of the three basic human needs – water!
For those who don’t know, at one of the most important days of a Captain’s year, the Club found itself without water – no water to cook, no water to shower and no water to re-hydrate. As I came off the course to be greeted with this news by the ashen faces of Marc Newey and Matt Fidler, the challenge was clear. With 90 Members and guests, I don’t believe the team could have had a bigger challenge to overcome – yet they did it! The F&B team provided a fantastic meal and service with good humour in the most trying of circumstances. On behalf of all the participants in the Men’s Invitation, we salute you!
As it turns out, the requirement to re-hydrate with beer / wine seemed universally popular and added a new dimension to the day! The course was in fantastic condition and the golf matched. As scores came in it was clear that everyone found the course to their liking. In first place were Ben Wilson and Karl Murray (44 pts), with Maxime Jacqz and Guy de Cacqueray (43 pts.) taking second place on a countback from Simon Butler and Trevor Rolls. Longest drive was won by Greg Whitaker, nearest the pin in two at the 12th by Jamie Richards from the Centurion Club and nearest the pin at the 13th by Fredrik Lindgren from West Byfleet Golf Club.
The previous weekend had seen the Founders Cup played. Scoring was fantastic with no less than three scores under par and 13 scores under net par. In first place was Bengt Grunberg with a 79-15 = net 64, in second Bryn Rocke with 69-3 = net 66 and Simon Kempton 84-17= 67 net. Special mention to Connor Hamilton and Shaun Feldon who achieved the rare feat of three ‘2s’ on the card. In this instance Shaun takes the plaudits for his included eagle 2 on both the 4th and 5th!
This weekend sees the Club Championships with probably the strongest ever field. The leading ten players all have plus handicaps and scoring is sure to be good. Good luck to all competitors – and when it gets tricky – please refer to my opening quote to this blog!
The First Team return to action on Sunday when they are away to West Hill in the third round of the Surrey Scratch KO. Ensuring the team will be picked from those in best form, Captains Vince Thorne and Pete Crocombe will select a team of five after the Club Championships are concluded. The squad of Luke Gorman, Finn Begley, Connor Hamilton, David Birn, Scott Stanley, Max Stanley, Peter Crocombe and Vince Thorne are all fantastic golfers and regardless of the selected five, we are sending a fantastic team!
Simon Butler, Men’s Golf Captain