An away trip to Judgeford was always going to be a tough task to get the season underway and so it proved that the course wasn’t the only thing to trip the team up. The van only made it as far as Solway for their 8.30 tee-off time before it had to turn around due to forgotten footwear, a necessity to play/tramp the course. Without naming names let’s hope the Pro-Am prize the repeat offender won last weekend will provide a backup pair.
Once the team got to the course further challenges were presented with the host club keen to get play underway before 8.30 and the course being wet on the surface but playing firm and fast.
Despite the lack of warm-up (and the age gap) our lead-off pair of James Crawley and Jeff Ogg gelled well to get the team off to a promising start. Jeff plotted his way around the course showing his experience to win his singles 2up and James making his course and interclub debut halved his match. The pair won their fourball to gain 2.5 points.
Unfortunately, there were only 1.5 more points to come with narrow losses being the theme of the day with home course advantage prevailing.
Matt Sale had a successful jump from Div 10 to 7 with a determined 2/1 singles win while his partner Patrick Wellbrock played well in his second Interclub game but got some unlucky breaks, which tend to happen around Judgeford, to lose on the last.
Pete Forrester chipped in with a half to cap off a day of what could have been with the worst loss being 3/2.
Despite the overall score, it was a promising start.
Peter Forrester