On The Road Again.......

Given our poor away form how prophetic is Willie Nelson – “On the road again Goin’ places that I’ve never been, Seein’ things I may never see again” probably aptly describes our venture away from Shirley to the distant fairways and greens of Templeton especially as we discovered parts of the course that haven’t been used by members since the middle of last century! The second verse of “Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway We’re the best of friends” clearly refers to the widely divergent course management techniques adopted by the 4 groups of Christchurch players as there never seemed to be two players in the same place at the same time except on the tees and sometimes on the greens where we reintroduced ourselves as friends.

Having been drenched the week before in Dunedin it was with some trepidation I watched the weekend weather patterns and in particular the rain radar. It is not often that the Met Service gets the forecast correct but credit where credit is due they hit the nail on the head at the weekend. I closed my eyes on Saturday night confident I would not be required to play on Sunday so it was with some surprise my one-eyed survey of the atmospheric conditions from the horizontal position evinced a clearing sky and a realisation I was in danger of being late. The problem compounded as the “Yellow Rocket” were not rocket like in supplying my morning shot of caffeine. I was for the first time last to the course!

The playing sheet showed we were ahead in the handicaps at the top but behind at the bottom. However we were under the pump from the initial tee-off and never really gained any ascendancy. Playing one up in the six spot I was better placed to observe the course happenings but the reports received were only dire. Cran & Steve at 7 & 8 quickly went behind and Steve Ellis’s visage never bore a cheerful look from the time of his first drive headed left off the tee till the time he confirmed on the 15th fairway-while playing his second for the 16th - that they had both succumbed 4/3 thereby avoiding extra fines but placing additional pressure on the top half of the team.
In my pairing I had chopped the ball around but somehow managed to turn square while JD lost the first 2 holes and halved the next 7 to go into the second 9 only 2 down. As JD confided to me “He wasn’t having much luck, couldn’t sink a putt and his opponent was getting up & done from everywhere”. JD’s woes continued and he suffered a second loss this time 4/3 -apart from the first JD never had an honour throughout the match. As usual Savill was zooming around on his cart creating mayhem and havoc but assured me he was in control on his match. Ben was in a tight encounter and fighting to stay in the match.

Going down 16 I ascertained the best we could do was to half the match. Dennis was four down with four to play Tony Park was three up, I was 1 up and Ben was two down after 14. We really needed Dennis to get up for an unlikely half and for Ben to rally for a win. Dennis’s comeback never eventuated so from there on it became largely academic. I had played 15 & 16 well but missed shortish putts to improve on my 1 up lead. On 17 I hit a good drive but left my second perched on the bunker edge with a bare sandy lie – my opponent hit his third for a gimme par and I chipped straight into the bunker - all square. As to what happened next; well all I can say is my trauma with the 18th continues unabated I am seriously considering seeing the same Sports Psychologist as Steve Ellis. Needless to say I lost one down but my opponent under no pressure had made par. In accentuating the positive at least I am getting my matches to the 18th unlike some of my fellow team members!!

Ben followed me in with a 1 down defeat but continuing their competitive starts to the season Tony Park & Savill held on to record wins. The final score was a fairly dismissal 6/2 loss and the disappearance of our unbeaten record. How to win on the road is a key question still to be answered but our home games now also assume even greater importance. Our next match is at home on the 15 March against Harewood who are traditionally a very strong team. This coincides with the New Zealand Open so we are down on numbers a new look team could be in the frame.

Till next time and in the interim good golfing especially in the Club Champs.