Golf is hard. Very hard.
It’s also very fickle. One day you can play very badly, the next you do little wrong.
I’m currently in La Manga. On Tuesday I played a qualifier with a friendly group. I couldn’t hit my nose. The next day I played the Residents Golf Association annual Men’s versus Ladies better ball. My partner Andy and I played well and beat a strong ladies pair 5 & 4. Sue and Leah were well fancied particularly as Andy had a back injury and I had no form.
I was not confident going into the weekends Summer Owners Championship, one of La Manga’s big events!
One hundred and twenty players. Two days of Stableford on the North and South courses. Two divisions of Men and Women. Fantastic organisation and a very committed organising committee. Great courses. A gala dinner on Sunday evening in the Hyatt Hotel.
What’s not to like?
Well just one small thing. The weather forecast for Saturday was dreadful: heavy rain and possible thunderstorms!
Day 1. Saturday arrived. The forecasts were correct. We were among the late starters on the North course 10th tee. Ian, David, Nigel and I began in the dry but the clouds were gathering and the blustery wind was cold. Dark angry clouds filled the sky. By the time we were on the 12th we could hear rumbles and lightning could be seen above the hills to the north. This isn’t supposed to happen in May!
LaManga is in a bowl of hills and I’ve written about its complex microclimate in my other blog. It can be really hard to predict the weather.
Rain began to fall. The thunder got louder. Was that our resident photographer Bridget’s camera flash? No that was not: it was very close lightning!
The hooter went and fortunately we were all called in, although we were at nearly the furthest point of the course!
One hundred and twenty competitors together with other players from the South crammed into Bar37. The rain was now torrential and the lightning display dramatic. Most had coffee but my friend Martin suggested a beer. The Director of Golf, his assistant and the Chair of the Organising committee spoke. “We will review in 30 minutes.” Thirty minutes later… “We will review in 30 minutes.” “We’d better have another beer” I said to Martin.
The rain was torrential but the electrical activity abated.
“We will resume in 15 minutes”. Not everyone was happy. I live on the island of Ireland. I’m used to golf in bad weather. I’ve wet weather gloves in plastic bags and towels similarly in plastic bags. Wet weather golf is about good humour, preparation and being conservative. Preferred lies were in operation so cleaning, and crucially drying, golf balls was possible.
Play resumed. We putted out on the 12th green and despite the continuing heavy rain played on. The rain abated as we played our ninth hole: the difficult par 4 18th. At that point I had 13 points. A nice par with a shot took me to a creditable 16 points! We then made the turn. The rain had stopped and the wind dropped. I then scored 21 points on my back nine. My 37 points was the best of the day by 2!
I’ve no doubt that the two beers from Martin during the interregnum had a role in making me very relaxed!
Day 2. Sunday. Sun and blue skies. The draw is in reverse score order, so I’m playing with 3 division one players who were the next best scores. I was on 37, Tony, Mark and Steve were on 35, as was my beer drinking friend Martin in the group immediately in front.
The front nine on the South is the easier 9: I scored well and had 21 points.
The wheels, as they say, then came off. The wind got up. It was quite tough, albeit easier than Saturday! I got tight and tense: it’s amazing how tension affects the body. Approach shots kept going right: I wasn’t turning-not completing my swing. Mistakes and more mistakes. But some scoring holes. Had I done enough on the front nine?
I knew things were probably tight. The last hole: a par 5. Bunker ahead. Water right. Water over the bunker. Trees and bushes left. A wide barranco in front a well bunkered green. My plan: 5 wood that can’t reach the bunker and then 4 rescue to short of the ditch. That would leave a wedge or short iron.
Five wood. Perfect. Middle of the fairway.
Four rescue. Perfect. Fairway short of the ditch leaving 105 yards: pitching wedge.
A par would probably be enough … it’s an easy shot. Bread and butter. Focus. Concentrate. Turn!
But the tension and the failure to complete the swing that had plagued the back nine returned. A block. I dumped the ball into a right green side bunker. I cross the bridge and get to the bunker. The ball? Plugged on a downslope albeit pin high. Plugged! Downslope! Short sided? You bet!
I tried hard to keep the ball on the green, but it shot across into the opposite side bunker. Again on a downslope but not plugged (a result). I splashed out and then had two puts. Seven. But points!
My three playing partners all parred.
We shook hands, thanked and congratulated each other in the time honoured manner. It had been a friendly and convivial round.
How did we all lie in terms of points?
We walked to the side. We checked our scores and cards as well as the electronic record. Two of the partners had not scored well.
I had 33 points. Just 12 on the back nine.
Mark had played well but also had 33 points.
Maybe I had won but Martin ahead may have scored well, or maybe his partners who had started on 34.
All would be revealed at the gala dinner!
The Hyatt Hotel puts on a really great show. The organizing committee are active, able, experienced and committed. Sponsorship was very substantial. The prizes generous!
After the meal results were announced.
Nearest the pins.
Third place for men and women’s division 2 and then division 1.
Then second places.
Winner division 2 women, then division 2 men: my name. I’ve won my division!
Then winners of division 1 women, then division 1 men: Mark! But I’d beaten him. Am I the overall winner?
The men’s and women’s Scratch Prizes were next.
Then the overall Ladies Champion was Clare. She spoke generously and very well.
Finally I was announced as the overall Men’s Champion.
My Major!
The next post on Craigavad Golf is not to be missed!
What the R&A and USGA get wrong: the World Handicap System
Coming Saturday 16th May
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