2025 knock out matches - tales of death or glory

Played a 4BBB match tonight against another club, at home. Got a half, which was a remarkable result.

One of the chaps I played against had a course handicap of 22, getting 11 shots. He was better than many single figure handicappers I play against, great ball striking and short game. He never really got out of 2nd gear, couple of pick ups, I worked him out to have 39 points. This included a 5 pointer, and two 4 pointers. Not bad on an away course many find tricky.

He missed a few shortish putts, and he looked fed up as he felt he was making careless mistakes. At not one point did he look like he was buzzing as he was playing fantastic relative to his handicap.

So, I diplomatically said to him after game "What is your best score, you must have shot in 70's before?"

His answer shocked me more than I expected. He said his best score was TWO UNDER GROSS

22 handicap, absolutely crazy
 
Round 3 of our 'McGovern Trophy' playing against a member who I know reasonably well - but who I haven't played with/against for about 5 years. He had to give me 4 shots. Had a lovely time. Chatted all the way round; there were never more than 2 holes in it; and the match wasn't decided until till the last put on the 18th hole. A grand day.
 
Swango1980 said:
Played a 4BBB match tonight against another club, at home. Got a half, which was a remarkable result.

One of the chaps I played against had a course handicap of 22, getting 11 shots. He was better than many single figure handicappers I play against, great ball striking and short game. He never really got out of 2nd gear, couple of pick ups, I worked him out to have 39 points. This included a 5 pointer, and two 4 pointers. Not bad on an away course many find tricky.

He missed a few shortish putts, and he looked fed up as he felt he was making careless mistakes. At not one point did he look like he was buzzing as he was playing fantastic relative to his handicap.

So, I diplomatically said to him after game "What is your best score, you must have shot in 70's before?"

His answer shocked me more than I expected. He said his best score was TWO UNDER GROSS

22 handicap, absolutely crazy
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Did he then go on to explain why he was off 22 though?
 
Last one of these from me for a while... I think I just write them as cathartic therapy now.

Mixed foursomes quarter final. Partner Gill and I giving 6 shots to GG (male, 19 hcap) and TG (female, 25 hcap).

1st, P3: One of the few teams we've faced over the years that have their male player on the odd holes, so GG goes first and misses the green right. Gill's shot looks like it's going short but it sneaks between two bunkers and up onto the green. TG chips nicely just onto the back fringe. My putt from a decent distance goes a couple of feet past. Gill just underhits our par putt but they take 3 to get down from the fringe. 1 up

2nd, P4: I hit a perfect 3 wood onto the fairway, TG hits a good drive too. GG misses short and right for them, Gill slightly duffs her shot but it rolls a long way and is only just short of the green. TG chips onto the front of the green, but I putt ours up to about two feet short of the hole. They take two to get down and Gill sinks ours for par. 2 up

3rd, P3: Gill is unlucky as her tee shot just catches the bunker. GG's shot is decent and finds the green. Sadly I don't get out of the bunker as there is next to no sand under the ball - Gills knifes it out to the very back of the green. They two putt for par. 1 up

4th, P4, shot: TG hits a decent drive up the middle. I aim mine a little left for the wind, hit it well but the wind completely disappears so I just go left of the trees - something very bizarre happened though, which is still baffling me now. We saw a ball which had rolled left towards the 7th hole, but a guy playing that hole got there first and said it was his and hit it, so we carry on looking. Then we see another ball in the nearby bunker on that hole, none of their group are playing that one - but it's not ours. Weird. Then, Gill has a word with them and there's a ball at the back of their green, which turns out to be ours - it's at least 50 yards further back than it should have been for the drive I hit, unless it hit a tree that I am absolutely convinced it sailed straight over. It sounds ridiculous to say this out loud, but I'm so sure the guy played the wrong ball, chipped it through their green, then tried to blag it when he realised and just said he found it there. Otherwise I have absolutely no idea how our ball got there.

Anyway, Gill slaps a good hybrid down the adjacent 7th as it's an easier shot, and I hit a 54° over the trees to the front edge of the green. Unfortunately we three putt from there though, and our opponents also make a 6 to win the hole with their shot. AS

5th, P4: GG goes a bit left but it's fine, Gill goes a bit right but also fine. TG finds the green but it runs on a bit to the back. I hit a high 50° into wind and it holds up perfectly, finishing about 12 feet from the pin. They three-putt and we two-putt for par. 1 up

6th, P3: I go up to a 9 iron as it's into wind, and find the middle of the green. TG is hitting something longer but finds the back edge of the green. Both teams make good, tricky two-putts for half in pars.

7th, P4, shot: Gill hits a little out to the right but it's ok, GG tops his drive about 80 yards. TG knocks one down there but that's their shot gone effectively. GG misses short right, I punch a hybrid down to a similar area. Gill hits a wonderful chip onto the top tier of the green - TG's chip goes a bit further to the back - GG lags the putt back. I have a left-to-right 10-footer or so - and I sink it for par! 2 up

8th, P5, shot: As it's windy I go extra safe it hit it well left, away from the pond and OB right. TG hits it decently up the middle, but GG slices fairway wood into the right trees. Gill hits a solid hybrid up the right hand side of the fairway. I hit a 9 iron in and it ends up just a foot or two short of front edge. They have a couple of attempts at pitching that hit trees, before pulling one left behind the bunker, then duffing into it - they've had about 6 shots already so even with their shot they give it up. 3 up

9th, P5: It's been a very slow front nine with us waiting for four-balls in front of us, there's another long wait here, and Gill subsequently tops her drive. GG slaps a great one right down there. I decide to rip a 3 wood as far as I can, and strike it nice so that gives us a chance. Gill hits one up the left, and I pitch onto the green nicely for four. GG hits their approach a little long, and TG duffs the chip only halfway to the pin, also for four so it's neck and neck now. We manage to two-putt from there, but it takes them three. A nice unexpected hole win after the tee shot. 4 up

10th, P3: Pull my tee shot left with hybrid, it comes back off a tree and looks to have gone into the ditch. TG is short but straight. Ours is playable as it turns out, and Gill chips up just shy of the front edge, while GG chips onto the green for them. I roll it up the hill to about 2 feet short, but TG rolls in her best putt of the day from 6 feet for par. 3 up

11th, P4, shot: Good drive from GG, Gill goes a bit left so I have to punch one through the trees - it comes out better than expected and rolls into a fairway bunker. TG pulls one a bit left. Gill only just gets it out of the bunker, and my chip doesn't take the slope as expected and leaves us a very long putt down the green. In the end we don't even make it in for 6 and they have two putts for it. 2 up

12th, P4, shot: TG doesn't get hold of her drive and it nearly goes in the first ditch that's about 140 yards down, but just bobbles out by the bridge. My drive is a bit dropkicky but it rolls for miles and ends up only a foot or two short of the other ditch that's 260+ yards down! GG's second for them wasn't great and TG still has to lay up with their 3rd. Gill goes for the green, it just about bobbles out of the third ditch on this hole, and stays short of the green. GG hit a good pitch that goes somewhere near the hole but rolls quite a bit by. I hit a chip that looks good but it checks up and stays a fair bit short of the hole. Gill putts well from there though and we're in for bogey. They two-putt for six net five and a half.

13th, P4: Two great drives end up the exact same distance away due to the big difference in white and red tees here. I try a pitch and run but hit it a bit thin, it just clings onto the back fringe. TG duffs her approach a bit short/right of the bunker and they get on in 3. Gill's putt goes a bit past the hole and leaves me a 7 footer ish. TG lags their putt past the hole as well - but I sink my putt for the par! 3 up

14th, P3: I strike my 7 iron great but it just rolls off the left side of the green. TG hits a hybrid that rolls down the slope and onto the green. Gill has to putt up over a bump and hits it a little too hard - it runs off the back of the green. I chip up with hybrid, it looks great but then it just checks up and stops abruptly three feet short. GG lagged his putt well short, and TG pushes hers two feet past. Gill's putt lips out and they sink theirs to take it. 2 up

15th, long P3: GG hits a great shot onto the back of the green. Gill can't reach the green, plus her tee shot runs a long way left, but we're lucky it's a front pin and an uphill shot. I managed to chip it up really well and leave us three feet away. TG hits an excellent lag putt down the green. Both Gill and GG miss their putts so it's halved in bogeys.

16th, P4, shot: TG finds fairway. I hit a cracking drive but it stays slightly left with no fade, just creeping over the trees and only just staying out of the ditch as well. GG slices his fairway wood but a tree keeps them in bounds. Gill can only chip back to fairway, but it leaves me a PW in - and I hit this beautifully onto the green, about ten feet away. TG's approach goes through the back, but GG plays a lovely chip from there. Gill misses the par putt by an inch, and TG rolls in their bogey putt to win the hole. 1 up

17th, P4: GG hits his drive through the left trees, Gill hits it nicely up the middle. They chip up left of the trees to about 30 yards left of the green. I'm in two minds whether to hit PW or AW, I go for the lesser club, but it still fires through the back of the green somehow. I was hitting off a rock hard bare lie, so maybe that had something to do with it. GG's chip looks good but it's on a downslope and just runs off the other side. Gill has to chip from a horrible lie at the back, but just gets it on the green. TG plays a fantastic chip that looks to be going in but stops inches short for a tap-in bogey. I have a right-to-left putt that should be very quick, but it inexplicably stops two feet short of the hole. Gill sadly just misses the right edge of the cup, so we end losing the hole from nowhere. AS

18th, P4: TG's goes a bit left. I bloody hate this hole these days, I'm in three minds of what club to tee off with, I choose 7 wood and slice it right. We're to play first, and Gill plays an excellent punch that runs all the way up the hill to the green, but keeps running to the back of it. GG plays a superb shot though, just over the flag by about 9 feet. I have a very long left-to-right breaking putt, thought I hit it nice, but after missing the hole by two inches it keeps running about 4 feet past. TG lags their up to about 2 feet. Gill needs to hole out for us, but unfortunately it lips out. GG drops their two footer and it's game over. 1 down.


Honestly, this game. How have we lost that?? Other that the fact I just lose all matches now for some reason. I was in shock. Personally think I played really well. Gill maybe missed a couple of putts for us that she normally makes, but I think we were very unlucky a couple of times too. Thrown away a 4 up lead in nine holes - we lost four of the last five. Mental.

Honestly think I need to cut down on the matchplay knockouts next year and save myself the pain.
 
Orikoru said:
Last one of these from me for a while... I think I just write them as cathartic therapy now.

Mixed foursomes quarter final. Partner Gill and I giving 6 shots to GG (male, 19 hcap) and TG (female, 25 hcap).

1st, P3: One of the few teams we've faced over the years that have their male player on the odd holes, so GG goes first and misses the green right. Gill's shot looks like it's going short but it sneaks between two bunkers and up onto the green. TG chips nicely just onto the back fringe. My putt from a decent distance goes a couple of feet past. Gill just underhits our par putt but they take 3 to get down from the fringe. 1 up

2nd, P4: I hit a perfect 3 wood onto the fairway, TG hits a good drive too. GG misses short and right for them, Gill slightly duffs her shot but it rolls a long way and is only just short of the green. TG chips onto the front of the green, but I putt ours up to about two feet short of the hole. They take two to get down and Gill sinks ours for par. 2 up

3rd, P3: Gill is unlucky as her tee shot just catches the bunker. GG's shot is decent and finds the green. Sadly I don't get out of the bunker as there is next to no sand under the ball - Gills knifes it out to the very back of the green. They two putt for par. 1 up

4th, P4, shot: TG hits a decent drive up the middle. I aim mine a little left for the wind, hit it well but the wind completely disappears so I just go left of the trees - something very bizarre happened though, which is still baffling me now. We saw a ball which had rolled left towards the 7th hole, but a guy playing that hole got there first and said it was his and hit it, so we carry on looking. Then we see another ball in the nearby bunker on that hole, none of their group are playing that one - but it's not ours. Weird. Then, Gill has a word with them and there's a ball at the back of their green, which turns out to be ours - it's at least 50 yards further back than it should have been for the drive I hit, unless it hit a tree that I am absolutely convinced it sailed straight over. It sounds ridiculous to say this out loud, but I'm so sure the guy played the wrong ball, chipped it through their green, then tried to blag it when he realised and just said he found it there. Otherwise I have absolutely no idea how our ball got there.

Anyway, Gill slaps a good hybrid down the adjacent 7th as it's an easier shot, and I hit a 54° over the trees to the front edge of the green. Unfortunately we three putt from there though, and our opponents also make a 6 to win the hole with their shot. AS

5th, P4: GG goes a bit left but it's fine, Gill goes a bit right but also fine. TG finds the green but it runs on a bit to the back. I hit a high 50° into wind and it holds up perfectly, finishing about 12 feet from the pin. They three-putt and we two-putt for par. 1 up

6th, P3: I go up to a 9 iron as it's into wind, and find the middle of the green. TG is hitting something longer but finds the back edge of the green. Both teams make good, tricky two-putts for half in pars.

7th, P4, shot: Gill hits a little out to the right but it's ok, GG tops his drive about 80 yards. TG knocks one down there but that's their shot gone effectively. GG misses short right, I punch a hybrid down to a similar area. Gill hits a wonderful chip onto the top tier of the green - TG's chip goes a bit further to the back - GG lags the putt back. I have a left-to-right 10-footer or so - and I sink it for par! 2 up

8th, P5, shot: As it's windy I go extra safe it hit it well left, away from the pond and OB right. TG hits it decently up the middle, but GG slices fairway wood into the right trees. Gill hits a solid hybrid up the right hand side of the fairway. I hit a 9 iron in and it ends up just a foot or two short of front edge. They have a couple of attempts at pitching that hit trees, before pulling one left behind the bunker, then duffing into it - they've had about 6 shots already so even with their shot they give it up. 3 up

9th, P5: It's been a very slow front nine with us waiting for four-balls in front of us, there's another long wait here, and Gill subsequently tops her drive. GG slaps a great one right down there. I decide to rip a 3 wood as far as I can, and strike it nice so that gives us a chance. Gill hits one up the left, and I pitch onto the green nicely for four. GG hits their approach a little long, and TG duffs the chip only halfway to the pin, also for four so it's neck and neck now. We manage to two-putt from there, but it takes them three. A nice unexpected hole win after the tee shot. 4 up

10th, P3: Pull my tee shot left with hybrid, it comes back off a tree and looks to have gone into the ditch. TG is short but straight. Ours is playable as it turns out, and Gill chips up just shy of the front edge, while GG chips onto the green for them. I roll it up the hill to about 2 feet short, but TG rolls in her best putt of the day from 6 feet for par. 3 up

11th, P4, shot: Good drive from GG, Gill goes a bit left so I have to punch one through the trees - it comes out better than expected and rolls into a fairway bunker. TG pulls one a bit left. Gill only just gets it out of the bunker, and my chip doesn't take the slope as expected and leaves us a very long putt down the green. In the end we don't even make it in for 6 and they have two putts for it. 2 up

12th, P4, shot: TG doesn't get hold of her drive and it nearly goes in the first ditch that's about 140 yards down, but just bobbles out by the bridge. My drive is a bit dropkicky but it rolls for miles and ends up only a foot or two short of the other ditch that's 260+ yards down! GG's second for them wasn't great and TG still has to lay up with their 3rd. Gill goes for the green, it just about bobbles out of the third ditch on this hole, and stays short of the green. GG hit a good pitch that goes somewhere near the hole but rolls quite a bit by. I hit a chip that looks good but it checks up and stays a fair bit short of the hole. Gill putts well from there though and we're in for bogey. They two-putt for six net five and a half.

13th, P4: Two great drives end up the exact same distance away due to the big difference in white and red tees here. I try a pitch and run but hit it a bit thin, it just clings onto the back fringe. TG duffs her approach a bit short/right of the bunker and they get on in 3. Gill's putt goes a bit past the hole and leaves me a 7 footer ish. TG lags their putt past the hole as well - but I sink my putt for the par! 3 up

14th, P3: I strike my 7 iron great but it just rolls off the left side of the green. TG hits a hybrid that rolls down the slope and onto the green. Gill has to putt up over a bump and hits it a little too hard - it runs off the back of the green. I chip up with hybrid, it looks great but then it just checks up and stops abruptly three feet short. GG lagged his putt well short, and TG pushes hers two feet past. Gill's putt lips out and they sink theirs to take it. 2 up

15th, long P3: GG hits a great shot onto the back of the green. Gill can't reach the green, plus her tee shot runs a long way left, but we're lucky it's a front pin and an uphill shot. I managed to chip it up really well and leave us three feet away. TG hits an excellent lag putt down the green. Both Gill and GG miss their putts so it's halved in bogeys.

16th, P4, shot: TG finds fairway. I hit a cracking drive but it stays slightly left with no fade, just creeping over the trees and only just staying out of the ditch as well. GG slices his fairway wood but a tree keeps them in bounds. Gill can only chip back to fairway, but it leaves me a PW in - and I hit this beautifully onto the green, about ten feet away. TG's approach goes through the back, but GG plays a lovely chip from there. Gill misses the par putt by an inch, and TG rolls in their bogey putt to win the hole. 1 up

17th, P4: GG hits his drive through the left trees, Gill hits it nicely up the middle. They chip up left of the trees to about 30 yards left of the green. I'm in two minds whether to hit PW or AW, I go for the lesser club, but it still fires through the back of the green somehow. I was hitting off a rock hard bare lie, so maybe that had something to do with it. GG's chip looks good but it's on a downslope and just runs off the other side. Gill has to chip from a horrible lie at the back, but just gets it on the green. TG plays a fantastic chip that looks to be going in but stops inches short for a tap-in bogey. I have a right-to-left putt that should be very quick, but it inexplicably stops two feet short of the hole. Gill sadly just misses the right edge of the cup, so we end losing the hole from nowhere. AS

18th, P4: TG's goes a bit left. I bloody hate this hole these days, I'm in three minds of what club to tee off with, I choose 7 wood and slice it right. We're to play first, and Gill plays an excellent punch that runs all the way up the hill to the green, but keeps running to the back of it. GG plays a superb shot though, just over the flag by about 9 feet. I have a very long left-to-right breaking putt, thought I hit it nice, but after missing the hole by two inches it keeps running about 4 feet past. TG lags their up to about 2 feet. Gill needs to hole out for us, but unfortunately it lips out. GG drops their two footer and it's game over. 1 down.


Honestly, this game. How have we lost that?? Other that the fact I just lose all matches now for some reason. I was in shock. Personally think I played really well. Gill maybe missed a couple of putts for us that she normally makes, but I think we were very unlucky a couple of times too. Thrown away a 4 up lead in nine holes - we lost four of the last five. Mental.

Honestly think I need to cut down on the matchplay knockouts next year and save myself the pain.
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Sounds like a tough round. Foursomes is a rough format where you have no control apart from the shots you're playing.

To lose the four out of the last 5 holes is an odd one. You'd have hoped to have stole a couple of halves.
 
MACM85 said:
Sounds like a tough round. Foursomes is a rough format where you have no control apart from the shots you're playing.

To lose the four out of the last 5 holes is an odd one. You'd have hoped to have stole a couple of halves.
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I mentioned as well, it was a very slow round with four-balls in front of us as well, makes foursomes even harder I think when it's ten minutes since you last hit a shot! I didn't feel like it was nerves, not for me anyway, I still played pretty well, apart from maybe the 18th. My partner is normally a good putter as well but she didn't make the putts on the last two greens on this occasion. Them's the breaks I guess.
 
Orikoru said:
I mentioned as well, it was a very slow round with four-balls in front of us as well, makes foursomes even harder I think when it's ten minutes since you last hit a shot! I didn't feel like it was nerves, not for me anyway, I still played pretty well, apart from maybe the 18th. My partner is normally a good putter as well but she didn't make the putts on the last two greens on this occasion. Them's the breaks I guess.
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That is the issue. You're technically a two ball so will be much quicker. Does your club not have the guidelines that a Knockout match takes priority and you can play through the groups in front?
 
MACM85 said:
That is the issue. You're technically a two ball so will be much quicker. Does your club not have the guidelines that a Knockout match takes priority and you can play through the groups in front?
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Not sure - it was one of those situations where a group three groups ahead of us was holding everyone up but not taking responsibility. And they were all part of the same roll-up and seem to have this idea that they can't be broken up! To be fair it's not often that slow at my place, this was a bit unfortunate.
 
Orikoru said:
I mentioned as well, it was a very slow round with four-balls in front of us as well, makes foursomes even harder I think when it's ten minutes since you last hit a shot! I didn't feel like it was nerves, not for me anyway, I still played pretty well, apart from maybe the 18th. My partner is normally a good putter as well but she didn't make the putts on the last two greens on this occasion. Them's the breaks I guess.
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This happened to me on Friday - playing a foursomes KO stuck behind groups of visiting 4 balls (write up to come). A lot of time standing around waiting on the tee. I can't stay in the zone focusing on my shot... it's too long, I need to switch off and chat about something, but then it's hard to get back in the zone when it's time to play.

Reading the write up it sounds like neither of you could chip it close, just left yourselves too much work to do on the greens and led to missed short putts. Better luck next year!
 
Mixed Foursomes match that took for ever and a day to organise and ended up having to play on my Birthday celebrations weekend ,became an OAP 😂.
5 down at the turn but then won 10 and 11 . Halved until 15 which we won as well as 16 and 17.
Pulled tee shot left and had to take an unplayable and then put it in greenside bunker which we didn't get out of so shook hands .
 
sunshine said:
This happened to me on Friday - playing a foursomes KO stuck behind groups of visiting 4 balls (write up to come). A lot of time standing around waiting on the tee. I can't stay in the zone focusing on my shot... it's too long, I need to switch off and chat about something, but then it's hard to get back in the zone when it's time to play.

Reading the write up it sounds like neither of you could chip it close, just left yourselves too much work to do on the greens and led to missed short putts. Better luck next year!
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Chipping has been the worst part of my game lately, but I did hit a few decent ones - if my partner can't hole it from 3 feet I can't just keep it chipping it closer. 🤣
 
A busy week of golf and knockouts for me this week as deadline day approaches. Today it’s seniors singles, tomorrow it’s club singles, Wednesday it’s Captain’s away day and Thursday it’s seniors BB, I’ll be knackered by the end of the week!

Today was a weird one. My opponent is not a long hitter but he is straight and steady, with the recent dry weather and lack of growth his shots will be travelling a lot further than usual and he’s also been playing well. Last week he scored 41 points in the Stableford, that means I’m giving him one less shot but still 7 shots. I was pleased to see that there’d been quite a bit of overnight rain as that might take some of the run off his shots but have to admit I still felt it was going to be too big a hurdle for me.

Hole 1, par 4 ,no shot He was there before me and eager to get off, I had a couple of putts on the practice green, we shook hands and I went to get my driver out for a couple of practice swishes, but before I could do that I thought I saw him from the corner of my eye teeing off, I asked him and he said yes, he had. Without us even drawing for who has the honour! I decided to let it go and asked him where his ball had gone and he made a joke about hitting a great drive before admitting it was ordinary. I too hit an ordinary drive. I didn’t see his next but he didn’t look pleased and it was well short of the green, I hit a good 3 wood to the green and 2 putted for par and the hole.

Hole 2, par 3, shot hole I found the middle of the green, he was left fringe. He played a good chip to about 12 feet, I putted to gimme and thought that would hopefully be enough for a half, but he blazed his first putt past and then carelessly rushed his next and missed that! 2 up, he just didn’t seem to have his heart in the game, like he’d already conceded the match, bizarre.

Hole 3, par 5, no shot I was green in reg, he greenside bunker and thinned his next over the green, my 2 putt par was good enough, 3 up

Hole 4, par 4, shot hole I hit a good drive and he hit a very poor one about 50 yards into the rough, he then hit a good second and after our next shots we were both about 30 yards short of the green in net two. He played a decent short pitch to about 15 feet, mine landed short but got a good bounce and rolled out to gimme for par, he then missed his putt for the half, 4 up…

Hole 5, par 4, no shot Halved in bogey, I was almost relieved as the match up until this point had seemed so odd.

Hole 6, par 3, shot hole I missed the green right, he was short, we both chipped on to similar distances which should be cast iron bogeys meaning I’d lose the hole to his shot, but his first putt was raced miles past again, such that if I could make mine I had a good chance of winning the hole, it just stayed wide though but he did miss his return so halved in net bogeys.

Hole 7, par 4, no shot I skied my drive, he pushed his right, I hit a fair second about 10 yards short, he was on in 4. I played what felt like a reasonable chip but it rolled off over the back, he 2 putted for 6 and I took three more to halve in double bogeys.

Hole 8, par 5, no shot I again hit a poor tee shot, he hit a good one, we were both off the green for three and played mediocre chips but he then went and holed a long putt for par which I couldn’t match, hole lost. I was still three up but couldn’t help wondering if I’d end up rueing the missed opportunity on the 7th hole.

Hole 9, par 4, no shot Another poor tee shot from me but a good recovery from the rough just short of the green. He hit a good drive but after two was also just short of the green. His chip came up 12 feet short, I putted on to almost gimme, he missed, I holed, Back to 4 up

Hole 10, par 5, no shot Both hit good drives, I then skied my second, he hit a good one. I then hit a 3 wood from 230 yards and found the green, my best shot of the day, he missed the green right and my 2 putt par won the hole, 5 up

Hole 11, par 3, no shot I found bunker, he was short, he played a good chip to about 4 or 5 feet. I was near the back of the bunker and could only just get the ball onto the green. I tried to hole the putt for half but I was still outside my oppo, holed the next for bogey and he missed his par putt, halved!

Hole 12, par 4, shot hole Both played it well but he played it better, scoring par to my bogey so not needing his shot, 4 up

Hole 13, par 4, shot hole Both hit okay tee shots, he then topped one but it came up short of a cross ditch at 100 yards. I decided to play just short of the green and take the RH bunker out of play but I hit it great and found the front of the green. He hit a good third, I rolled a long putt to gimme so he had a putt for the win, again he whacked it but this time it hit the flag which slowed it down and he was able to hole the bogey putt for a half.

Hole 14, par 4, no shot He hit a poor drive which headed towards a tree but it looked to go by, I opted for 3 wood and hit it well. Unfortunately for my opponent he was in an unplayable lie at the base of the tree and had to take a drop, then hit his third about 35 yards short. I had 135 to the middle and just need to get something in the vicinity of the green, which thankfully I managed to do finishing on the front right fringe. He pitched to right fringe meaning I had two, most likely three for the win. Took my time and holed the putt for birdie and a 5 & 4 win.

As I said, a very strange match where my opponent seemed to have given up before we even teed off, although he did rally after four holes the damage was already done.

For those interested:
1970s Harold Bird & Son, Jaguar, 1 wood
1960s Alex Pirie, Pro-Made, 3 wood
1973 Dunlop Maxfli, by Roberto de Vicenzo, 3 to SW
1970 John Letters, Golden Goose, putter
 
I started this thread back in May to share an epic (for me) foursomes knock out match. Here’s the next round, my partner and I are both off 11, our opponents were off 9 and 6 so we received 5 shots. Another warm and breezy day.

1. 490 yard par 5:
My partner starts with a solid drive starting down the middle, but his draw plus a right to left wind sees the ball drift left and run out of fairway as the hole doglegs to the right. Opponents find the fairway then safely lay up with their 2nd. We’re blocked behind trees but I can see a window, and thread a low punched 5 iron down the fairway. Both teams hit wedge into the green, I have a tricky 25 foot curling down-hiller, and I lag it nicely for a gimme par. They safely two putt from below the hole. All square.

2. 400 yard par 4 (shot hole):
After a really long wait on the tee, I smother my drive 200 yards into the left rough. Opponents are down the middle. My partner pushes his 8 iron lay up into the right rough, meanwhile opponents find the front left greenside bunker. We get to our ball and it’s rolled into a ditch and we need to take a drop, that’s our shot gone. I have 70 yards to the flag, my pitch checks up 5 yards right of the pin. They safely splash out and we both 2 putt for a half. All square.

3. 200 yard par 3:
Our opponent plays first, out of turn, he finds the middle of the green but it rolls over the back. I joke that I would have asked him to replay it if he had found the green. My partner pushes it into the right bunker, it’s pin high, but short sided above the hole. I hit a lovely bunker shot with the face wide open, but it runs 15 feet past. They chip to 10 feet, but it’s a tricky putt, and we half in bogeys. All square.

4. 340 yard par 4:
I absolutely flush a 3 iron into the wind, such a nice feeling. Our opponents strike a nice 3 wood but it’s too straight and leaks into the right rough, then they miss the green right. My partner only has a pitching wedge but he pulls it into a bunker. I have another delicate splash shot, I try to get too cute, decelerate, and it catches the lip and rolls back down. My partner then plays a decent shot out. Our opponents chip on and take 2 putts for bogey, I have a tricky downhill 7 footer which slides by. 1 down.

5. 450 yard par 4 (shot hole):
Our opponents are straight down the middle again. My partner carves it right into the trees - gone. My provisional is a poor strike into the right rough. From there, my partner has a slash with a fairway wood and pulls it into the deep rough. I find it and hack it out a few yards then my partner goes over the back with his approach. I knock it to 6 feet, but our opponents are safely in the middle of the green in 3 so we pick up. 2 down.

6. 390 yard par 4:
Our opponent pulls his drive towards the left trees and thick rough… I follow him. My partner tries to hack it out with a gap wedge, I tell him to take something less lofted to avoid the tree branches, he ignores me and it hits the tree and rebounds back into the heavy rough… it’s all starting to unravel. I chop it out and my partner pitches on to the green, but our opponents make a safe bogey and I can’t hole my 30 footer for a half. 3 down.

7. 140 yard par 3:
My partner and I have a little pep talk, no need to panic yet. Our opponents pull their tee shot on to a downslope above the hole, and my partner hits a lovely pitching wedge into the middle of the green. Our opponents can’t chip it close but then putt up to a couple of feet. Our ball has finished at the top of a slope, it’s only 15 feet from the pin but severely downhill. I need to aim 10 feet left of the hole, I gently roll it on its way, it curls sharply, starts to straighten, slows nicely and drops into the centre of the cup for a confidence boosting birdie. 2 down.

8. 520 yard par 5 (shot hole):
Another drive smothered left from me. My partner then pulls his shot into the left rough. From there I hit a horrible hook 20 yards left on to the adjacent hole. It’s pin high but I’ve given my partner no shot. Meanwhile our opponents have serenely progressed down the middle of the fairway and found the green in regulation. It takes us 2 chips to get on and although I roll in a nice 8 footer for double bogey, they make a solid par. I’ve made a complete mess of this hole. 3 down.

9. 340 yard par 4:
Our opponents are down the middle again, and then safely find the middle of the green in regulation. My partner flushes his drive 280 up the right. I have 60 yards to the flag, my pitch with my 58 degree wedge lands just where I want it, I’m expecting it to release out of the rough, but it grips instead. Our opponents 2 putt for par, and my partner has a straight 10 footer for birdie, which he pours in. 2 down.

10. 190 yard par 3:
An intimidating tee shot over the lake. I flush my 5 iron, all four of us watch it admiringly as it arrows to the heart of the green, but a gust of wind seems to blow it right and down and it drops into the front right bunker. Our opponent lands it short but it trickles on to the front of the green, and from there they putt it up to the hole. My partner has plenty of green to work with and plays a nice bunker shot to 4 feet. I calmly stroke it in for par and a half. 2 down.

11. 400 yard par 4:
My partner pulls it into the left rough. Our opponent hits a scruffy drive but gets a lot of roll up the fairway, then his partner bails him out with a lovely long iron into the green. I have a terrible lie in the rough, I tried to smash down with a 5 iron but can only advance it 165 yards up the hill. My partner then has a little chip over a bunker, but it doesn’t have the legs to stay on the top tier and it rolls 50 feet away down to the front of the green. Our opponent lags his long range putt dead to secure a par, I’ve got 70 feet for par but my putt never threatens the hole. 3 down.

12. 430 yard par 4 (shot hole):
Opponent hits a lovely drive again, carrying the fairway bunker at 240 yards. Once again I don’t find the centre of the clubface, at least this time it’s straight and it comes up just short of the fairway bunker. My partner hits a lovely 5 iron to the front of the green, and they find the back right bunker. They just about escape from the sand but now have a downhill putt from the back of the green, to a nasty pin perched on the edge of the top tier. Their putt has too much pace, four feet past the hole it catches the slope which sweeps it away to the front of the green. They putt again from the front, our opponent has to make sure it climbs up to the top tier and he sends it 10 feet past. The best they can make is a double bogey 6, and I’m putting for a 3 nett 2, but they want to see me putt. I don’t blame them. From 40 feet I judge the pace nicely, it rolls up to the top tier and finishes 3 feet past the hole. 2 down.

13. 500 yard par 5:
My partner hits a scuffy drive about 180 yards up the hill, at least it’s straight. I have to negotiate the dogleg, I play a conservative but solid 5 iron, but push it a touch into the wind and it drifts into the right rough. Our opponents are down the middle off the tee and then play a nice lay up to wedge distance. We have some overhanging branches to negotiate, my partner feels a punched 9 iron will keep it low under the first tree but get it high enough to clear the second tree. He executes it wonderfully, but it’s a few yards right of the flag and rolls up the bank at the back of the green. Our opponent then pushes his wedge shot way right, it just clears a bunker and hops forward nicely on to the fringe. They’re on the correct tier, but have a good 90 feet putt across a steep slope. I play a deft chip from above the hole, dinking the ball into the bank and allowing it to roll round and down to the hole. After our opponents inevitably three putt, my partner taps in a nervy 3 footer for par and the win. 1 down.

14. 500 yard par 5 (shot hole):
Another weak drive from me, straight but it barely travels 200 yards up the hill. My partner then drills a 7 wood up the right side to get us back into position. I have 70 yards to the flag to a front pin, guarded by a bunker and false front. I play a 54 degree wedge from the rough, but it feels too much club downwind, I don’t commit to it and duff it 20 yards… should have made a full swing with the 58. My partner then leaves his pitch short too. Meanwhile our boring opponents have driven it down the middle and safely found the green in regulation again. I haven’t got much green to work with and choose to putt from the fairway, up the false front and it looks good but rolls 4 feet past. Our opponents’ turn, it’s the guy who sent it racing past the hole on 12, maybe that’s in his mind because he tries to lag it and leaves it 6 feet short. It's a flat green but his partner pushes their par putt wide and my partner calmly taps in for a 6 nett 5 to steal the hole. All square.

15. 320 yard par 4:
My partner plays a 4 iron for safety off the tee, but blocks it into the trees. It’s probably lost. They are down the middle of course and then safely on to the green in two. Luckily I find our ball in the hay, we’re blocked out but I chop it on to the fairway – this is a good result. My partner then pitches on to the green, his effort is way short but bounces on to the front of the green. This is an extremely treacherous green, I take a long time stalking my 40 foot putt from all angles. I then play it perfectly, it looks like it’s going to stop a couple of inches below the hole, but it just trickles on 5 feet. Our opponents can’t judge the slope and take three putts, so it’s over to my partner to roll his 5 footer straight uphill into the cup for a half. All square.

16. 370 yard par 4:
This hole doglegs round to the left, and based on my poor driving so far today I aim a bit further right than normal to reduce the risk of blocking us out behind the trees. For the first time today I flush it, straight at the fairway bunker at 250 yards. I’m not too concerned, I expect the ball to follow the contours and kick left on to the fairway, but I’ve hit it so well it flies straight into the bunker. Our opponents find the middle of the fairway and then the middle of the green. My partner has a good lie in the sand, it’s 9 iron distance but he wants to hit PW and I back him as there is no penalty for coming up short. He strikes it well and it finishes 5 yards short of the green. From the fairway apron I judge a nice long putt from 60 feet that finishes 6 feet past. Our opponents safely two putt for par and it’s over to my partner again to roll in a flat putt for par. Clutch! All square.

17. 170 yard par 3:
We have a long wait on the tee and park ourselves on a bench. The group behind us, also playing the same foursomes competition, finish 16 and join us on the tee for a natter. I’m a little concerned about the impact this might have on my partner, but he steps up and drills a 7 iron up to the back of the green. Our opponent pulls it into the left rough a couple of yards off the green. His partner chooses to putt from the rough and sends it 8 feet past. I’ve got another one of those lightning quick curling downhillers – 30 feet to the hole but I’m aiming 15 feet left – it slowly banks round the back of the green and down to the hole, finishing 3 feet short. Our opponent has an awkward par putt across the slope, it catches the lip on the high side, rolls around the back of the cup and out. Yet again it’s over to my partner, it’s only 3 feet this time, but it’s downhill. It’s not the smoothest of strokes but it catches enough of the hole to drop, he breathes a sigh of relief, I pump my fist, and we are ahead for the first time in the match! 1 up.

18. 410 yard par 4:
I don’t really get hold of my drive again, but it’s up the middle, my opponent hits a similar shot and we’re side by side in the fairway. We’re up first, 190 yards uphill, my partner wants to hit 7 iron but that feels a big ask so I suggest 6 iron. He rifles a low bullet that shoots past the flag, must have been some adrenaline in that swing. Our opponent hits a hybrid, pin high into the left rough. It’s their turn to go first, a very similar shot to the previous hole, but this time he judges his putt from the rough much better and it finishes 4 feet above the hole. Over to me, another 30 footer down a sheet of glass. I ease it down the hill, it drifts left, looks like it is going to stop by the hole but trundles 6 feet past. We line up the one coming back: it looks straight, partner says it’s straight, but I’ve just seen my putt break left, so it must break right up the hill. I call left edge – he rolls it confidently but it breaks across the hole and just misses. Our opponent now has a real knee knocker to square the match. He’s looking very pale and sweaty, somehow he pulls his putter back and taps in from 4 feet for par. All square.

Time for another play off!
 
Sudden death play off: We go again.

19. 490 yard par 5:
Our opponents find the fairway again then safely lay up with their 2nd. My partner has blocked it behind a tree, I have a gap under the tree, but it’s an awkward stance and my low punched 5 iron clips a tree up ahead and bounces straight down. My partner tries to repeat his stinger from the 18th fairway, but gets it all wrong and finishes 40 yards short. Our opponents hit a nice wedge that finishes 20 feet below the hole on this sloping green. I play a nice pitch but it doesn’t get the bounce I was looking for and also finishes 20 feet away. My partner gets the pace right on his putt but not the line, and it’s good for a 6. Our opponent tries to lag it up to the hole but leaves it 5 feet short. They then miss the next one too – we’re still alive! All square.

20. 400 yard par 4 (shot hole):
Our opponent crushes one down the middle into a strengthening breeze. I then flush my driver up the right hand side, everyone thinks it might be heading into the bunker at 250 yards. We get to our ball and it’s 40 yards short of the bunker, we can’t understand how it’s so far back. Anyway, my partner tries the low stinger 5 iron again, but blades it into the face of the fairway bunker and it pops out on to the fairway. Our opponents then play a lovely 7 iron into the heart of the green. I have 122 to a back flag, all uphill and into the wind. I’d normally hit a full pitching wedge in this position, but this is no time for safety. Smooth 9 iron. It feels lovely off the clubface, it starts 2 yards right of the flag then draws back on line. It pitches in front of the hole, hops and stops. Magnifico. Our opponents have a 25 footer, downhill left to right. It’s a tough putt, but he rolls it on a good line, it breaks late and topples in for birdie. Unbelievable. My partner taps in for the half and on we go. All square.

21. 200 yard par 3:
Our opponent hits a lovely hybrid to the back of the green, and my partner blocks it out right, but I’m not phased, this match has shown that we can rival Houdini when it comes to escape tricks. I get to the ball, short-sided in the rough above the hole and I need to chip it over a bunker. Except I can’t, because there’s a tree right in front of me so I need to keep it low. I play a bump and run that flirts with the edge of the bunker and trickles on to the front of the green. It’s very steep at this point though, and there’s nothing to slow the ball down, so it keeps on rolling, past the hole, down to the bottom of the green and into the front bunker. Brutal. Our opponent then lags a lovely long putt to 18 inches. I pick their ball up – suddenly my partner needs to hole a short bunker shot to keep things going. He makes a decent effort, but it never threatens the hole, and the adventure is over. 1 down.

What can I say? We hung in there, it was immensely fun and exciting, but our lack of consistency off the tee caught up with us eventually.
 
sunshine said:
Sudden death play off: We go again.

19. 490 yard par 5:
Our opponents find the fairway again then safely lay up with their 2nd. My partner has blocked it behind a tree, I have a gap under the tree, but it’s an awkward stance and my low punched 5 iron clips a tree up ahead and bounces straight down. My partner tries to repeat his stinger from the 18th fairway, but gets it all wrong and finishes 40 yards short. Our opponents hit a nice wedge that finishes 20 feet below the hole on this sloping green. I play a nice pitch but it doesn’t get the bounce I was looking for and also finishes 20 feet away. My partner gets the pace right on his putt but not the line, and it’s good for a 6. Our opponent tries to lag it up to the hole but leaves it 5 feet short. They then miss the next one too – we’re still alive! All square.

20. 400 yard par 4 (shot hole):
Our opponent crushes one down the middle into a strengthening breeze. I then flush my driver up the right hand side, everyone thinks it might be heading into the bunker at 250 yards. We get to our ball and it’s 40 yards short of the bunker, we can’t understand how it’s so far back. Anyway, my partner tries the low stinger 5 iron again, but blades it into the face of the fairway bunker and it pops out on to the fairway. Our opponents then play a lovely 7 iron into the heart of the green. I have 122 to a back flag, all uphill and into the wind. I’d normally hit a full pitching wedge in this position, but this is no time for safety. Smooth 9 iron. It feels lovely off the clubface, it starts 2 yards right of the flag then draws back on line. It pitches in front of the hole, hops and stops. Magnifico. Our opponents have a 25 footer, downhill left to right. It’s a tough putt, but he rolls it on a good line, it breaks late and topples in for birdie. Unbelievable. My partner taps in for the half and on we go. All square.

21. 200 yard par 3:
Our opponent hits a lovely hybrid to the back of the green, and my partner blocks it out right, but I’m not phased, this match has shown that we can rival Houdini when it comes to escape tricks. I get to the ball, short-sided in the rough above the hole and I need to chip it over a bunker. Except I can’t, because there’s a tree right in front of me so I need to keep it low. I play a bump and run that flirts with the edge of the bunker and trickles on to the front of the green. It’s very steep at this point though, and there’s nothing to slow the ball down, so it keeps on rolling, past the hole, down to the bottom of the green and into the front bunker. Brutal. Our opponent then lags a lovely long putt to 18 inches. I pick their ball up – suddenly my partner needs to hole a short bunker shot to keep things going. He makes a decent effort, but it never threatens the hole, and the adventure is over. 1 down.

What can I say? We hung in there, it was immensely fun and exciting, but our lack of consistency off the tee caught up with us eventually.
Click to expand...

Quick question if Foursomes how did you get 5 shots?

11+11 = 11 shots as a pair
9+6 - 8 shots as a pair with the usual 50% of combined handicaps.

Unless these were just the HI's?

Sounds like it was a real up and down match though.
 
MACM85 said:
Quick question if Foursomes how did you get 5 shots?

11+11 = 11 shots as a pair
9+6 - 8 shots as a pair with the usual 50% of combined handicaps.

Unless these were just the HI's?

Sounds like it was a real up and down match though.
Click to expand...
Those were the rounded HI's. Team PH's were 12 and 7.
 
Semi final of our single knockout this morning, playing a girl who I often play pairs with and who is a very similar standard to me, but who I have to give 4 shots to, Ii was going to be a tough match.

Hole 1. I am on the green with my tee shot, she is short but chips to around 8 feet, I notice the greens have been sprayed so think I need to give my putt a bit more, knock it 4 feet past the hole, she roles hers in I miss. I down

Hole 2 Long par 4 both on green in 3, she putts almost to the hole, I hole a 12 footer A/S

Hole 3 Par 5 shot hole, both just short in 3 she chips 15 feet long but then holes for a par, nett birdie, 1 down

Hole 4 par 3, she is short with her tee shot, mine is a nice one but runs right of the back we both chip on and 2 putt

Hole 5 par 4 shot hole, I find the green in 2 she is short, chips on and 3 putts, I hole my 3 footer for a par to win A/S

Hole 6 par 5 both on in 3 both have downhill she putts first and runs 6 feet past, I am too tentative and 6 feet short, she misses, my put lips out half

Hole 7 par 4 She hits 2 good shots and is on the green in 2, my 2nd finds a bunker I get out and my putt horseshoes, she 2 putts, for par I down

Hole 8 par 5, We both drive well, then she hits a poor shot that looked like it had gone into a PA that crosses the fairway I top my 2nd right into the PA
we both fail to reach the green with our 4 shots, both chip on and 2 putt for a double bogey half.

Hole 9 par 3, both have long birdie putts, both miss, hale halved in 3. So 1 down at the turn.

Hole 10, par 4, I hit an awful tee shot and don't recover from it, she wins the hole with a bogey, 2 down

Hole 11 par 5, after a good drive I hit another awful 2nd shot could not reach the green in 3 then hit a poor 4th, opponent won the hole with a bogey, 3 down

Hole 12 long par 3 both missed the green so on in 2, I holed a 10 footer for par to win the hole, 2 down

Hole 13 par 4 shot hole, both just short in 2 both chip on and 2 putt, lose the hole to a nett par 3 down

Hole 14 par 3, She is through the back with her tee shot, i am on the fringe with mine she chips on and 2 putt, I leave my first putt 4 feet short but hole for a par 2 down.

Hole 15 par 5, we both find ourselves in greenside bunkers in 3 both out and 2 putt half

Hole 16 par 4, 2 good drives, I hit a nice 6 iron pin high, she misses the green and doesn't get up and down, get my par, 1 down

Hole 17 par 5 shot hole, into the wind, longest hole on the course we both hit reasonable drives, I was in a better position in 2 and had half a chance to reach the green, which is in a bowl about 20 feet below the level of the fairway, unfortunately I didn't quite reach the green and was at the edge of the fairway above the green, she was 50 yards short in 3 and played down pin high about 20 feet from the green, i had to try to get close and hit a lob wedge to 8 feet, she was in for a bogey nett par and I had to hole to keep the game alive, in it went for a half, on to the last 1 down.

Hole 18 par 3, into the wind to a back flag, I hit a reasonable tee shot but it was just short of the green, she found a greenside bunker, I play up to about 6 feet, she leaves her ball in the sand and hen hits her next off the green, it looks like we are going to the 19th but then she holes out from 30 feet leaving me needing to hole my 6 footer to square the match, I holed it, on to 19.

Hole 19, a wait on the tee as a group were already playing the hole, then I tee it up and hit it way wide of the green, she is safely on, I needed a good chip over a bunker, I duffed it! then came out to about 12 feet, she putted short, I needed and other good putt, but it just slipped past, leaving her an easy 2 putts from 6 feet to win the match.

I think two things let me down, after coming through the first two shot holes all square I think I relaxed and lost focus for a few holes and similarly after fighting back to square the match I was maybe a bit too relaxed on the 19th.

Still it was a good match and I was pleased that I managed to come back from 3 down even though I failed in the end.
 
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