YIDU JUNIORS 5th WIN

A very wet, but well presented, Hickleton Golf Club, the victim of overnight torrential rain was the venue for a very tense Inter District Junior match against a determined Harrogate team giving debut games to two players.

The wet conditions necessitated placing on all closely mown areas throughout the day, but fortunately all bunkers were in play and when the morning foursome matches began there was hope that the remainder of the day would stay dry.

With one exception the opening tee shots on the first hole were treated cautiously, with eleven of the twelve players taking an iron from the tee.  The one exception cleared the lake with ease but left with a second shot over a bunker onto a green where the bottom of the pin was not visible but a par was still the reward.

The early morning exchanges did not go the way the hosts had hoped with a one point return from the opening two, usually very reliable pairings, and for quite some time all matches were uncomfortably close.  This was an occasion when, with the exception of the final match, parity of handicaps meant there was generally a genuine equality between players.  Sheffield did forge ahead in the latter stages of the foursomes, however, to enjoy lunch with a healthy 9 – 3 points advantage.

The afternoon singles saw an equally fiercely contested encounter where some indifferent golf, poor course management; players have to appreciate they are playing an opponent not the course; and injudicious use of drivers in a strengthening wind from tees on holes where more respect was called for meant that no match got off to a flying start. When the Harrogate players began holing putts from unreasonable distances, whilst the Sheffield players were repeatedly lipping out, early indications were not good.  Perseverance, determination and eventual good results from the opening five matches made the afternoon a little more comfortable and whilst we did not get our usual very strong finish from the final matches, one having to fight back from three down with not many to play, to earn a very creditable half and another having to endure a fluctuating battle to achieve a one up victory,  Sheffield emerged with a flattering 16 – 8 point advantage from the singles, thus recording an overall 25 – 11 victory.

A matter of increasing concern is emerging from these encounters.  The pace of play is anything but, with foursome matches taking over four hours to complete meaning that singles matches are not getting out on schedule.  In yesterday’s encounter the final two matches were still on the course after 7.00pm.  Is a repeated 360 degree tour of the green, followed by 25 practice putts and constant realignment of the golf ball really necessary every time?

Nigel Ogden

SUGC Admin Manager

28 July 2023

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