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2025 knock out matches - tales of death or glory

It was the final of our 4BBB knockout today, I was giving 14 shots to my partner, 3 to opponent A and 9 to opp B.

Hole 1, par 3, my partner gets a shot. Opp A finds front of green, rest of us are short, I chip to about 20 feet, my partner doesn't find the green, then chips of the back, other Opp misses green, Opp A leaves first putt short and me and her then take 2 more so halved in bogey.

Hole 2 par 4 shots for partner and Opp B, both partner and Opp B play the hole badly, me and Opp A both on green 3, me a lot nearer, she 3 putts, I take 2, hole won with bogey 1up

Hole 3 par 5 all others get a shot, Opp A makes a mess of the hole as does my partner, I am on the green in 3 about 10 feet away, Opp B in for nett bogey I hole birdie putt, 2 up

Hole 4, par 3 no shots, my partner misses green, all others on, me 20 feet away, Opp A 10 feet away, Opp B 3 feet away. I hole me putt for a 2, Opp A misses, Opp B holes, halved with birdies.

Hole 5 par 4 partner and Opp B with shots, Me and Opp B both on green in 3 I am in for bogey 5, she holes 3 footer for a net par, 1 up

Hole 6 par 5 partner with a shot, me and boths opps short of green 2, me a couple of yards off but in light rough, both opps on in 3, I have to chip and chip long, both opps in for par 5, my partner gets nett par to save me putting, hole halved in par.

Hole 7 par 4, shots for partner and OppB, the others make a mess and I win the hole with a bogey 2 up

Hole 8 par 5 shot for partner, me and OppA hit long drives, OppA goes for green in 2 and ball runs off back my drive has gone a little left and I am blocked out by trees and I have to short both partner and OppB are in penalty area. calamity on my 3rd shot when my 9 iron flies the green, I had lasered the trees behind the green instead of the flag, I didnt hit a great chip and OppA wins with a par 1up

Hole 9 par 3 no shots, We are all on the green, opponents both nearer than us, we both putt up ok but player A rolls in 20 foot birdie putt. Back to all square.

to be continued..
 
To continue, I was pleased with my play on the front nine, I played better than handicap sadly my partner wasn't really with it, and although our opponents were up and down, they gelled better than we did.

Hole 10, par 4 shots for partner and OppB, partner and Bpp A were out of the hole, I was in for bogey and OppB, although short in 3 chipped to 3 feet and holed the putt for a nett par. 1 down.

Hole 11 par 5 shots for partner and OppB, we all hit good drives, there is a PA just in front of the green so we all went to lay up, I thinned mine and found the PA, OppA was over 3, my partner was on green in 4 and OppB found the PA, myself and OppA were out of the hole OppB took a penalty drop and hit the ball to the green, then holed from 30 feet for a nett par, my partner although she overhit her first putt holed from 4 feet also for a nett par. still 1 down

Hole 12 par 3 shot for partner. I found a bunker and came out to 8 feet, all others were short of green but on in 2, my partner 2 putted for a nett par and then OppB holes from 8 feet for the half. Still 1 down.

Hole 13 par 4 shots for all the others, Opp A drives into trees, rest of us play fine and are all on the green or fringe in 3, OppB overhits putt, my partner putted up nicely and was given next shot for a net par, OppB has 12 footer for a half and the ball just slides past, back to all square.

Hole 14 par 3, I find back fringe, OppB is just off back on a bare lie, she hits a lovely chip to 2 feet on a downhill sloping green, I hit my putt close and we half with pars. All Square.

Hole 15 par 5 shots for partner and OppB, Wee all hit 2 good shots, but the other 3 all find sand with their 3rd shots, I am on the green, OppB comes out the best and we both 2 putt, for par/nett par. Still level.

Hole 16, par 4 shot for my partner, After 2 shots, I am on the fringe, OppA at back of green, OppB out of it, partner short but chips on fine. OppA leaves a long putt shot, I putt to a couple of feet, partner putts up to the hole for a conceded nett par, OppA misses putt for a half, 1 up.

Hole 17 par 5 shots for other 3, this is a very long par 5 wit ha ditch about 150 yards from the green which is in a bowl below the level of the fairway, we cannot clear the ditch in 2 but we are all nicely laid up, OppB and partner are both short of the green with their first shots, myself and Opp A and both just off the green, partner and OppB both play down onto the green, I chip to 3 feet but OppA chips long, but her first putt is close and conceded for a nett par, my partner overhit her first putt about 5 feet past the hole, but she holes for the half. 1 up 1, to play.

Hole 18 par 3 not shots, OOB just behind the green, My tee shot is hits the green but goes long, my partner finds a PA short of the green, both Opps also go long, due to the slope of the green we cannot see where any have finished. We find all 3 off the back of the green mine just short of an OOB post, sadly the post is in the way of my swing so I have no right handed shot and have to turn a wedge 90 degrees and try to chip left handed, I manage to get the ball onto the fringe, my both Opps chip onto the green, the green slopes quite steep away from the hole, I leave my putt short and bout 8 feet away, OppA just missed the hole but rolled past, OppB putts up to 18 inches. I have my 8 foot putt iacross the slope and I judge it perfectly and in it drops and we win the match one up.

I was really pleased with how I played and putted especially after my putting woes of recent times, my partner although not really with it on the first 9, really turned it around towards the end, Opp A really blew hot and cold, and Opp B although a bit erratic to start with chipped and putted really well, so I am very pleased we pulled off the win.
 
Seniors' knockout semi-final.
Playing against B who was receiving 8 shots.
Greens were hollow cored and slit last week and still a little bumpy in places.

Hole 1, par 4, no shot - Both okay drives, I hit what I thought was a good second but it came up just short, B hit a low one that ran onto the green. I chipped with 6 iron, B two-putted for par and I holed for the half.

Hole 2, par 3, shot hole - B right of green, me in bunker, B decent chip, I got out but still away, putt for par missed and hole lost, 1 down.

Hole 3, par 5, no shot - Both hit poor drives and were pitching for our 4th shots, both found green, my putt for the hole lipped out, hole halved, 1 down.

Hole 4, par 4, shot hole - Both hit good drives, B hit a good second just short of the green, I hit mine a bit fat and ended up with a bogey, 2 down.

Hole 5, par 4, no shot - B hit a decent drive, I hit a stinker but an okay second, B put his second in a bunker, I hit 10 iron to the fringe, B out to the fringe and took three more to get down for a 6, I made 5 for the win, 1 down.

Hole 6, par 3, shot hole - I hit a lovely 6 iron, too good in fact and it bounced just over the green. B hit a poor one right and then chipped poorly. I chipped with 6 iron to about 4 feet, B blazed his first putt by and missed the return giving him a 5 net 4, I holed for par and the win, A/S

Hole 7, par 4, shot hole - Both drove okay but both hit poor seconds to right rough, B played a nice wedge out to 18 feet, I played an even better one to 6 feet, but B holed his putt for 4 net 3 and the hole, 1 down

Hole 8, par 5, no shot - Both drives and seconds okay, B hit a poor third, I found the green and two putts were enough for the win, all square again

Hole 9, par 4, no shot - Both hit good drives, my second found the back of the green but the hole was at the front. B's second went right through the green and his chip was well short of the hole. My first putt was never firm enough and a half looked likely but B holed from about 25 feet and I missed! 1 down at the turn.

Hole 10, par 5, no shot - both okay drives but mine in bunker, B hit to rough down the right, I hit a good 6 iron out the bunker. B could only hack out, I hit a good 8 iron to the heart of the green, B got on the green for 5 and I putted up to gimme for the hole, all square

Hole 11, par 3, no shot - I pulled 6 iron to bunker, B found the middle of the green, I splashed out but could only make bogey to B's par, back to 1 down.

Hole 12, par 4, shot hole - B's tee shot was a bit toppy and skipped over the pond to the other side but didn't emerge, I hit a decent shot down the left, B's provisional went way right and OB, conceded, all square again!

Hole 13, par 4, shot hole - I hit a good drive, B's was shorter but okay. B's second was on the front fringe, I hit a lovely 10 iron to 10 feet. B chipped long but holed a very good 15 footer for 4 net 3 meaning I had to hole mine for birdie and the half, thankfully I did and this was the first halved hole since the third. All square

Hole 14, par 4, no shot - Both okay drives, my second pushed right and short sided down a slope behind the bunker, B played but came up a little short. I surprised myself by playing a very good pitch over the bunker to about 8 feet. B two putted for 5 meaning I had a putt for par and the win, it slid by... hole halved, all square

Hole 15, par 5, no shot - Both on the green in 3 but some way from the hole, B away, he hit a very nice putt to about 3 feet, walked up to it and said, "shall I knock that in or are you going to give it to me", I replied "just put a mark on it for now and I'll see how mine goes". I hit mine too firm about 6 feet by and then the return just veered away at the last. "I'm going to have to ask you to putt that out now" I said, and unbelievably he missed it! Hole halved, still all square.

Hole 16, par 4 shot hole - I hit a good one down the middle, B's was low and dipped into the deep vegetation at the back of the pond we hunted for it but it was never to be seen again and he conceded, not sure if he was still rattled by the last hole or what, but I was 1 up and ahead for the first time in the match.

Hole 17, par 4, shot hole - both hit good drives and found the green in regulation but on the lower and wrong tier of this two tier green. B was away and hit a good line that looked like it had a chance but went about 10 feet by, I putted dead length but about 4 feet right. B missed his par putt and I holed mine for the half. 1 up 1 to play.

Hole 18, par 3 over water, no shots - I hit 3 wood right, B found the front bunker but got out to the middle of the green. I was down in a hollow and needed to get up onto the green and down onto the lower tier where the hole was. With my terrible chipping I opted to putt but didn't give it enough and though it got onto the green it stalled on the upper tier. I putted down to the hole and left about 3 feet. B missed his putt for par but was close enough for a gimme bogey so I had the 3 footer to win and remained calm enough to stick it in the middle for a 1 up win.

A very close and enjoyable match. :)

But wait!
What clubs was I playing I hear you ask?

Harold Bird & Son 1 wood, 1970s
Slazenger Bobby Locke 3 1/2 wood, 1960s
Slazenger Challenge 5 wood, late 1970s
Dunlop Maxfli by Roberto de Vicenzo irons 3 to SW, 1973
Spalding W model putter, 1930s, one of my favourites.

1755622801766.png
1755622968214.png
 
Crow said:
Seniors' knockout semi-final.
Playing against B who was receiving 8 shots.
Greens were hollow cored and slit last week and still a little bumpy in places.

Hole 1, par 4, no shot - Both okay drives, I hit what I thought was a good second but it came up just short, B hit a low one that ran onto the green. I chipped with 6 iron, B two-putted for par and I holed for the half.

Hole 2, par 3, shot hole - B right of green, me in bunker, B decent chip, I got out but still away, putt for par missed and hole lost, 1 down.

Hole 3, par 5, no shot - Both hit poor drives and were pitching for our 4th shots, both found green, my putt for the hole lipped out, hole halved, 1 down.

Hole 4, par 4, shot hole - Both hit good drives, B hit a good second just short of the green, I hit mine a bit fat and ended up with a bogey, 2 down.

Hole 5, par 4, no shot - B hit a decent drive, I hit a stinker but an okay second, B put his second in a bunker, I hit 10 iron to the fringe, B out to the fringe and took three more to get down for a 6, I made 5 for the win, 1 down.

Hole 6, par 3, shot hole - I hit a lovely 6 iron, too good in fact and it bounced just over the green. B hit a poor one right and then chipped poorly. I chipped with 6 iron to about 4 feet, B blazed his first putt by and missed the return giving him a 5 net 4, I holed for par and the win, A/S

Hole 7, par 4, shot hole - Both drove okay but both hit poor seconds to right rough, B played a nice wedge out to 18 feet, I played an even better one to 6 feet, but B holed his putt for 4 net 3 and the hole, 1 down

Hole 8, par 5, no shot - Both drives and seconds okay, B hit a poor third, I found the green and two putts were enough for the win, all square again

Hole 9, par 4, no shot - Both hit good drives, my second found the back of the green but the hole was at the front. B's second went right through the green and his chip was well short of the hole. My first putt was never firm enough and a half looked likely but B holed from about 25 feet and I missed! 1 down at the turn.

Hole 10, par 5, no shot - both okay drives but mine in bunker, B hit to rough down the right, I hit a good 6 iron out the bunker. B could only hack out, I hit a good 8 iron to the heart of the green, B got on the green for 5 and I putted up to gimme for the hole, all square

Hole 11, par 3, no shot - I pulled 6 iron to bunker, B found the middle of the green, I splashed out but could only make bogey to B's par, back to 1 down.

Hole 12, par 4, shot hole - B's tee shot was a bit toppy and skipped over the pond to the other side but didn't emerge, I hit a decent shot down the left, B's provisional went way right and OB, conceded, all square again!

Hole 13, par 4, shot hole - I hit a good drive, B's was shorter but okay. B's second was on the front fringe, I hit a lovely 10 iron to 10 feet. B chipped long but holed a very good 15 footer for 4 net 3 meaning I had to hole mine for birdie and the half, thankfully I did and this was the first halved hole since the third. All square

Hole 14, par 4, no shot - Both okay drives, my second pushed right and short sided down a slope behind the bunker, B played but came up a little short. I surprised myself by playing a very good pitch over the bunker to about 8 feet. B two putted for 5 meaning I had a putt for par and the win, it slid by... hole halved, all square

Hole 15, par 5, no shot - Both on the green in 3 but some way from the hole, B away, he hit a very nice putt to about 3 feet, walked up to it and said, "shall I knock that in or are you going to give it to me", I replied "just put a mark on it for now and I'll see how mine goes". I hit mine too firm about 6 feet by and then the return just veered away at the last. "I'm going to have to ask you to putt that out now" I said, and unbelievably he missed it! Hole halved, still all square.

Hole 16, par 4 shot hole - I hit a good one down the middle, B's was low and dipped into the deep vegetation at the back of the pond we hunted for it but it was never to be seen again and he conceded, not sure if he was still rattled by the last hole or what, but I was 1 up and ahead for the first time in the match.

Hole 17, par 4, shot hole - both hit good drives and found the green in regulation but on the lower and wrong tier of this two tier green. B was away and hit a good line that looked like it had a chance but went about 10 feet by, I putted dead length but about 4 feet right. B missed his par putt and I holed mine for the half. 1 up 1 to play.

Hole 18, par 3 over water, no shots - I hit 3 wood right, B found the front bunker but got out to the middle of the green. I was down in a hollow and needed to get up onto the green and down onto the lower tier where the hole was. With my terrible chipping I opted to putt but didn't give it enough and though it got onto the green it stalled on the upper tier. I putted down to the hole and left about 3 feet. B missed his putt for par but was close enough for a gimme bogey so I had the 3 footer to win and remained calm enough to stick it in the middle for a 1 up win.

A very close and enjoyable match. :)

But wait!
What clubs was I playing I hear you ask?

Harold Bird & Son 1 wood, 1970s
Slazenger Bobby Locke 3 1/2 wood, 1960s
Slazenger Challenge 5 wood, late 1970s
Dunlop Maxfli by Roberto de Vicenzo irons 3 to SW, 1973
Spalding W model putter, 1930s, one of my favourites.

View attachment 59120
View attachment 59121
Click to expand...
A good close match, who concedes a 3 foot putt on the 15th when it's that tight?
 
sunshine said:
Absolutely! When I read that I knew he was going to miss it and lose the match!
Click to expand...
Agreed. Awful mindset that. I never expect to be given anything, especially not outside of a foot. Definitely wouldn't ask for one! 😂 Plays right into your opponent's hands when they know you're not comfortable knocking in short putts.
 
Was 1down with 2 to play in a match yesterday. Won 17 and 18 to win the match - not sure I’ve ever done that before!

Hit an absolute beauty into 18 with my 6 iron - full commitment on the swing, full aggression on the shot choice.
 
Sratch Semi final

Lost 1 down on the 18th green.

I was 3 down after 6.
It was hard.
I tried.

Really enjoyed the game.
Just what I want and like competitive sport to be at this level.

I was the loser, but it appears from our conversations that I do win respect for continuing to give chaps like this a game when I'm older than their dads.

Forgot to have any of that thing that begins with f, but I don't give a monkey's about that - I play golf the way I always have.

I don't know whether there is any prize for losing semi-finalists.
But If I spot £10 of pro-shop credit entering my account, I will have a 2 second experience of that thing that starts with f.
I'm easy to please.
 
Last edited:
Today was the final of the senior’s knockout competition, having got through 5 rounds of very close competition, 4 matches were won on the 18th or extra holes, I was keyed up for the day.
Having lost in the final on the first extra hole last year I made sure to get there early and hit a few balls on the range, practice my chipping and snatched a quick half a dozen putts. In hindsight a little longer on the putting green would have been time well spent…..

Clubs were:
  • Harold Bird & Son laminated maple 1 wood
  • MacGregor VIP persimmon 3 wood
  • Slazenger Challenge persimmon 5 wood (the 3 and the 5 wood I re-gripped on Sunday in readiness)
  • Dunlop Maxfli, Roberto de Vicenzo irons 3 to SW again
  • My favourite John Letters Golden Goose putter.
1758657857882.png

Nice day with a light breeze, I was giving 6 shots, opponent R won the toss and put me in.

Hole 1, par 4, 355 yards, no shot – Both hit okay drives, R’s second missed left, I was on the fringe but in a bare hollow, R chipped short, I putted and the ball jumped in the air out the hollow and also came up short, R took 3 more and I took 2 more for the hole, 1 up.

Hole 2, par 3, 167 yards, shot hole – Hole was at the back so I took 5 iron and hit the green pin high about 25 feet away, R in front left bunker, he played out to centre of the green, I putted a little too firm and left about a 4 or 5 footer, R got his 4 net 3 and I missed my par putt, all square. That missed putt set the tone for much of what followed and left me a little rattled as I’m normally a solid putter.

Hole 3, par 5, 504 yards, no shot – Both hit good drives, I was some way behind but hit a good 5 wood, R hit an iron and we both hit half wedge shots to the green and 2 putted for a half.

Hole 4, par 4, 428 yards, shot hole – R into left rough, I hit a good one down the middle, R played a good iron out, I hit 5 wood to the back quarter of the green but the hole was at the front. R chipped on but also some way away. I hit a weak putt and left it about 6 feet short, R down in 2 and I missed the 6 footer, 1 down.

Hole 5, par 4, 374 yards, no shot – R hit a good one, I hit a low hooky drive into left rough and couldn’t reach the green with my second. R also missed the green but played a very good chip to 5 feet, I had wedged on and then 2 putted for 5 but R holed his for par and the hole, 2 down.

Hole 6, par 3, 149 yards, shot hole – R hit a very good shot right over the hole to about 15 feet, mine was on the green but long right, I made a good putt but it didn’t drop and R made a comfortable 3 net 2 to go 3 up.

Hole 7, par 4, 368 yards, no shot – Both away okay, I hit a nice second but rolled through the green and into the rough, R missed left in the rough and played his third almost to the same spot as mine, after some poor short game play I won the hole with a 5 against R’s 6, 2 down.

Hole 8, par 5, 496 yards, no shot – I hit a good drive, R’s ballooned a bit into the wind but okay, he then hit a decent shot but pushed into the light rough on the right. I hit a good 5 wood to leave a 9 iron. R hit a great shot from 150 yards close to the hole, in response I shanked my 9 iron into the rough, hacked out onto the green but could only make 6 and R rubbed salt into the wound by holing for birdie, 3 down.

Hole 9, par 4, 391 yards, no shot – R hit a long drive, mine was decent but some way back, I hit an 8 iron second and found the edge of the front fringe. R found the green about 25 feet away. I made a good first putt that shaved the edge and rolled 3 feet by, R putted to gimme and I was not feeling it with the putter and a bit of tension saw me push it wide from 3 feet! 4 down at the turn. At this point I was one over handicap while R was 4 under.

Hole 10, par 5, 532 yards, no shot – R hit a good 5 wood, I was short of him with a steery 1 wood, I hit a low scuttler 5 wood, R hit an iron. I hit a lovely 7 iron to 12 feet, R played to front of the green to a back flag. R 3 putted and my par won a hole back, 3 down.

Hole 11, par 3, 162 yards, no shot – I hit a lovely 5 iron into the breeze, pin high, R was front edge of the green, he then putted 8 feet past, I made par and he missed, 2 down.

Hole 12, par 4, 417 yards, shot hole – Both hit good drives, I hit a poor fatted 5 wood, R short with an iron, I found the green with my third, R just over the green, both took two more and the shot gave the hole to R, 3 down 6 to play.

Hole 13, par 4, 367 yards, shot hole – R hit a good one, I hit a succession of terrible shots and conceded the hole when R was on the green in 3 net 2, 4 down 5 to play.

Hole 14, par 4, 345 yards, no shot – Both hit good tee shots, R’s second was short, I hit a beauty to 3 or 4 feet. R got up and down for par and the way I’d been putting I was very nervous over my short one but sank the putt for birdie and the hole, 3 down 4 to play.

Hole 15, par 5, 469 yards, no shot – I hit a good one and this time R hit a stinker, he recovered well but pulled his fourth left of the green from where he made a good up and down for bogey, I’d hit the green and safely two putted for par and the hole, 2 down 3 to play.

Hole 16, par 4, 396 yards, no shot – I pushed right into the rough, R sliced badly onto the adjacent fairway from where he hit a poor one into the ditch 80 yards short of the green. I gambled on a good strike out the rough and got it, coming up 5 yards short of the green. R took a penalty drop and played onto the green, I putted on and R conceded, 1 up 2 to play.

Hole 17, par 4, 388 yards, shot hole – I ballooned my drive a bit but R pushed his under some trees and then played a poor recovery shot still in the rough. I decided to hit my 3 wood instead of the 5 wood which had been pretty reliable until then, the logic being that I’d most likely be hitting 3 wood on the 18th tee and I’d not yet played a shot with it, anyway I played a bit of a topper and left 95 yards to go. R meanwhile had hit another poor one and was still in the rough. I hit 10 iron but criminally left it short of the green. R played a decent shot from his lie but still short, he chipped on but long for 5 net 4, I putted but only just got it onto the green leaving a testy 8 footer for bogey. R two putted for 7 net 6 and I couldn’t hole my putt so hole halved in net 6, what a wasted opportunity!

Hole 18, par 3, 201 yards, no shot – I do not like this hole, a raised green with a big pond in front and a bunker short. Out with the 3 wood and thankfully I got it well and finished pin high about 20 feet away. R landed short but ran up onto the green and all the way to the back. He had a long putt but this is a two tier green and if he could get his ball rolling down the slope it should roll out close to the hole, he played what looked to be a good putt but it came up 8 feet short. Still felt I had to hole mine but it slid agonisingly by, par. R then hit a putt that looked destined for the bottom of the hole but just turned at the end. All square and extra holes!


Hole 1, par 4, 355 yards, no shot – I felt this was a must win hole as I’d be giving a shot on the par 3 second. I hit a nervy drive not very far up the right while R hit a lovely 5 wood up the left. I hit a good 5 iron but the wind had got up slightly and it only found the front of the green with the hole at the back. R played similar to the front left fringe. I putted first and left it 10 feet short, aaagh! R putted his about 8 or 9 feet past. I missed the par putt but so did R, halved in bogey.

Hole 2, par 3, 167 yards, shot hole – I hit 5 iron to the middle right side of the green, back flag. R found the same bunker he found first time round. He then played out to leave a similar distance to the first time round. I was not feeling confident but thought I’d hit a decent putt only to see it stall 4 or 5 feet short. R got down for 4 net 3 leaving me with the same putt I had on the first time round, surely I could make it this time, but no, a little tension in the arms and I pulled it left, GUTTED!

I can’t really complain though, R played very well and I just wasn’t able to hole anything over 5 feet in length, and a few even shorter than that!
Looking at the Stableford scores for the 18, I had 36 and R had 38 so we both played well, just annoying that I’m usually a reasonable putter and I had one of my favourite putters in the bag, it was a favourite anyway. :ROFLMAO:
 
Crow said:
Today was the final of the senior’s knockout competition, having got through 5 rounds of very close competition, 4 matches were won on the 18th or extra holes, I was keyed up for the day.
Having lost in the final on the first extra hole last year I made sure to get there early and hit a few balls on the range, practice my chipping and snatched a quick half a dozen putts. In hindsight a little longer on the putting green would have been time well spent…..

Clubs were:
  • Harold Bird & Son laminated maple 1 wood
  • MacGregor VIP persimmon 3 wood
  • Slazenger Challenge persimmon 5 wood (the 3 and the 5 wood I re-gripped on Sunday in readiness)
  • Dunlop Maxfli, Roberto de Vicenzo irons 3 to SW again
  • My favourite John Letters Golden Goose putter.
View attachment 59511

Nice day with a light breeze, I was giving 6 shots, opponent R won the toss and put me in.

Hole 1, par 4, 355 yards, no shot – Both hit okay drives, R’s second missed left, I was on the fringe but in a bare hollow, R chipped short, I putted and the ball jumped in the air out the hollow and also came up short, R took 3 more and I took 2 more for the hole, 1 up.

Hole 2, par 3, 167 yards, shot hole – Hole was at the back so I took 5 iron and hit the green pin high about 25 feet away, R in front left bunker, he played out to centre of the green, I putted a little too firm and left about a 4 or 5 footer, R got his 4 net 3 and I missed my par putt, all square. That missed putt set the tone for much of what followed and left me a little rattled as I’m normally a solid putter.

Hole 3, par 5, 504 yards, no shot – Both hit good drives, I was some way behind but hit a good 5 wood, R hit an iron and we both hit half wedge shots to the green and 2 putted for a half.

Hole 4, par 4, 428 yards, shot hole – R into left rough, I hit a good one down the middle, R played a good iron out, I hit 5 wood to the back quarter of the green but the hole was at the front. R chipped on but also some way away. I hit a weak putt and left it about 6 feet short, R down in 2 and I missed the 6 footer, 1 down.

Hole 5, par 4, 374 yards, no shot – R hit a good one, I hit a low hooky drive into left rough and couldn’t reach the green with my second. R also missed the green but played a very good chip to 5 feet, I had wedged on and then 2 putted for 5 but R holed his for par and the hole, 2 down.

Hole 6, par 3, 149 yards, shot hole – R hit a very good shot right over the hole to about 15 feet, mine was on the green but long right, I made a good putt but it didn’t drop and R made a comfortable 3 net 2 to go 3 up.

Hole 7, par 4, 368 yards, no shot – Both away okay, I hit a nice second but rolled through the green and into the rough, R missed left in the rough and played his third almost to the same spot as mine, after some poor short game play I won the hole with a 5 against R’s 6, 2 down.

Hole 8, par 5, 496 yards, no shot – I hit a good drive, R’s ballooned a bit into the wind but okay, he then hit a decent shot but pushed into the light rough on the right. I hit a good 5 wood to leave a 9 iron. R hit a great shot from 150 yards close to the hole, in response I shanked my 9 iron into the rough, hacked out onto the green but could only make 6 and R rubbed salt into the wound by holing for birdie, 3 down.

Hole 9, par 4, 391 yards, no shot – R hit a long drive, mine was decent but some way back, I hit an 8 iron second and found the edge of the front fringe. R found the green about 25 feet away. I made a good first putt that shaved the edge and rolled 3 feet by, R putted to gimme and I was not feeling it with the putter and a bit of tension saw me push it wide from 3 feet! 4 down at the turn. At this point I was one over handicap while R was 4 under.

Hole 10, par 5, 532 yards, no shot – R hit a good 5 wood, I was short of him with a steery 1 wood, I hit a low scuttler 5 wood, R hit an iron. I hit a lovely 7 iron to 12 feet, R played to front of the green to a back flag. R 3 putted and my par won a hole back, 3 down.

Hole 11, par 3, 162 yards, no shot – I hit a lovely 5 iron into the breeze, pin high, R was front edge of the green, he then putted 8 feet past, I made par and he missed, 2 down.

Hole 12, par 4, 417 yards, shot hole – Both hit good drives, I hit a poor fatted 5 wood, R short with an iron, I found the green with my third, R just over the green, both took two more and the shot gave the hole to R, 3 down 6 to play.

Hole 13, par 4, 367 yards, shot hole – R hit a good one, I hit a succession of terrible shots and conceded the hole when R was on the green in 3 net 2, 4 down 5 to play.

Hole 14, par 4, 345 yards, no shot – Both hit good tee shots, R’s second was short, I hit a beauty to 3 or 4 feet. R got up and down for par and the way I’d been putting I was very nervous over my short one but sank the putt for birdie and the hole, 3 down 4 to play.

Hole 15, par 5, 469 yards, no shot – I hit a good one and this time R hit a stinker, he recovered well but pulled his fourth left of the green from where he made a good up and down for bogey, I’d hit the green and safely two putted for par and the hole, 2 down 3 to play.

Hole 16, par 4, 396 yards, no shot – I pushed right into the rough, R sliced badly onto the adjacent fairway from where he hit a poor one into the ditch 80 yards short of the green. I gambled on a good strike out the rough and got it, coming up 5 yards short of the green. R took a penalty drop and played onto the green, I putted on and R conceded, 1 up 2 to play.

Hole 17, par 4, 388 yards, shot hole – I ballooned my drive a bit but R pushed his under some trees and then played a poor recovery shot still in the rough. I decided to hit my 3 wood instead of the 5 wood which had been pretty reliable until then, the logic being that I’d most likely be hitting 3 wood on the 18th tee and I’d not yet played a shot with it, anyway I played a bit of a topper and left 95 yards to go. R meanwhile had hit another poor one and was still in the rough. I hit 10 iron but criminally left it short of the green. R played a decent shot from his lie but still short, he chipped on but long for 5 net 4, I putted but only just got it onto the green leaving a testy 8 footer for bogey. R two putted for 7 net 6 and I couldn’t hole my putt so hole halved in net 6, what a wasted opportunity!

Hole 18, par 3, 201 yards, no shot – I do not like this hole, a raised green with a big pond in front and a bunker short. Out with the 3 wood and thankfully I got it well and finished pin high about 20 feet away. R landed short but ran up onto the green and all the way to the back. He had a long putt but this is a two tier green and if he could get his ball rolling down the slope it should roll out close to the hole, he played what looked to be a good putt but it came up 8 feet short. Still felt I had to hole mine but it slid agonisingly by, par. R then hit a putt that looked destined for the bottom of the hole but just turned at the end. All square and extra holes!


Hole 1, par 4, 355 yards, no shot – I felt this was a must win hole as I’d be giving a shot on the par 3 second. I hit a nervy drive not very far up the right while R hit a lovely 5 wood up the left. I hit a good 5 iron but the wind had got up slightly and it only found the front of the green with the hole at the back. R played similar to the front left fringe. I putted first and left it 10 feet short, aaagh! R putted his about 8 or 9 feet past. I missed the par putt but so did R, halved in bogey.

Hole 2, par 3, 167 yards, shot hole – I hit 5 iron to the middle right side of the green, back flag. R found the same bunker he found first time round. He then played out to leave a similar distance to the first time round. I was not feeling confident but thought I’d hit a decent putt only to see it stall 4 or 5 feet short. R got down for 4 net 3 leaving me with the same putt I had on the first time round, surely I could make it this time, but no, a little tension in the arms and I pulled it left, GUTTED!

I can’t really complain though, R played very well and I just wasn’t able to hole anything over 5 feet in length, and a few even shorter than that!
Looking at the Stableford scores for the 18, I had 36 and R had 38 so we both played well, just annoying that I’m usually a reasonable putter and I had one of my favourite putters in the bag, it was a favourite anyway. :ROFLMAO:
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Hard luck, sounds like it was a real nail biter.

I noticed that you had to give shots on the two shortest holes: 167 and 149 yard par threes. This seems like a very tough and unusual allocation of strokes. Par threes are typically hard par but easy bogey. For this reason the par threes at my course are stroke index 15-18, even though they are definitely not the four easist holes on the course. Even high handicappers should fancy their chances of reaching the green in regulation on a 149 yard hole, so to receive a shot there does not seem equitable.
 
sunshine said:
Hard luck, sounds like it was a real nail biter.

I noticed that you had to give shots on the two shortest holes: 167 and 149 yard par threes. This seems like a very tough and unusual allocation of strokes. Par threes are typically hard par but easy bogey. For this reason the par threes at my course are stroke index 15-18, even though they are definitely not the four easist holes on the course. Even high handicappers should fancy their chances of reaching the green in regulation on a 149 yard hole, so to receive a shot there does not seem equitable.
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Yeah I found that weird as well, giving 6 shots and two of them on par 3s is unheard-of. Unless they were 200+!
 
Quarter Final of the singles KO. I'm not going to do a super long write up this time. I was giving 6 shots to a well known match player who is a stalwart of several club teams.

The match started off with a lot of promise, we traded blows early on. I won the 1st with a par, but then pulled my approach on 2 into a gorse bush to hand him the 2nd hole. I rolled in a tricky downhill 8 footer for par and a win on 4, but then we both made bogey on the long SI1 5th hole, shot hole so a loss for me.

All square after 5, nicely balanced. What happened next was I put my foot on the gas and reeled off 6 pars in a row, whilst my opponent managed a couple of pars to halve two holes. The highlight for me was the 11th: after a pushed drive I was blocked out by trees, I had to punch out on to the fairway and my opponent fancied his chances of getting one back. But I then fired a wedge into the green that pitched about 8 feet beyond the hole and then spun back* around 9 feet to leave a tap in for par and a win. As we walked off the 11th green with me 4 up I could tell he was a defeated man.

12 was playing very long into the wind, and even though I was giving a shot I played it as safely as possible. My bogey 5 was enough for a win after my partner put his approach into the stream in front of the green. A regulation par on the next was enough to wrap up a 6 and 5 win.

I holed every putt within 10 feet and got up and down 5 times. One of those days when the hole looks like a bucket. I wanted to carry on to see what I could score over 18, but we had caught up with a club match ahead of us so it made sense to walk in.

*I switched to Chrome Softs after using Pro V1's over the summer. Definitely noticed a lot more spin on iron approaches, wedges spinning back whereas my gut feel says a Pro V1 would have stopped next to its pitch mark.
 
sunshine said:
Hard luck, sounds like it was a real nail biter.

I noticed that you had to give shots on the two shortest holes: 167 and 149 yard par threes. This seems like a very tough and unusual allocation of strokes. Par threes are typically hard par but easy bogey. For this reason the par threes at my course are stroke index 15-18, even though they are definitely not the four easist holes on the course. Even high handicappers should fancy their chances of reaching the green in regulation on a 149 yard hole, so to receive a shot there does not seem equitable.
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Orikoru said:
Yeah I found that weird as well, giving 6 shots and two of them on par 3s is unheard-of. Unless they were 200+!
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Hole 2 is 167 yards from the whites, but 206 from the blue tees. The SI seems allocated for the blues and it is 6.
If you watch Mr Crow on Youtube, you will usually see him playing from the yellow tee and that is 141 yards.
 
Voyager EMH said:
Hole 2 is 167 yards from the whites, but 206 from the blue tees. The SI seems allocated for the blues and it is 6.
If you watch Mr Crow on Youtube, you will usually see him playing from the yellow tee and that is 141 yards.
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Ok, but 206 yards is a hard par but still an easy bogey
 
sunshine said:
Ok, but 206 yards is a hard par but still an easy bogey
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Our longest par 3 is 215 yards and uphill, and that's stroke index 7. I quite agree with you as well, when playing the mixed foursomes it's normally the ladies who tee that one off, none of them can reach it so the second shot is a chip on. Very annoying when we have to give a shot there because everybody bogeys it.

S.I. 8 is also a par 3 now, it's 175 yard carry over a load of bunkers. The remaining par 3s are S.I. 13, 15, 16 & 18.
 
sunshine said:
Hard luck, sounds like it was a real nail biter.

I noticed that you had to give shots on the two shortest holes: 167 and 149 yard par threes. This seems like a very tough and unusual allocation of strokes. Par threes are typically hard par but easy bogey. For this reason the par threes at my course are stroke index 15-18, even though they are definitely not the four easist holes on the course. Even high handicappers should fancy their chances of reaching the green in regulation on a 149 yard hole, so to receive a shot there does not seem equitable.
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Most of the members moan about the par 3 indexes, especially the second!

I've been involved in more than a couple of matches where it's gone to extra holes and the team/individual with a shot seals it on the second.
It's often said that the index relates to the blue tee yardage but all club knockout comps are played from the whites, the only time the blues are used in matchplay is for the scratch team, and then the indexes are irrelevant anyway!

I've been told that the indexes are going to be reviewed so hopefully we'll get something more sensible then.
 
Winter foursomes knockout - me and partner Ben (both 12 hcap) up against 'C17' and 'M19', giving them 6 shots. I've not swung a club in two weeks so I get down nice and early to run through the bag in the nets, and hit a few putts with my partner's ball which he would like to use for the match.

1st, P3: M19 tugs it left but it bounces out off a tree - Ben sticks it on the front/middle of green. C17 pitches on nicely, but with my first golf shot in two weeks, I sink a 20-foot putt for birdie. 1 up

2nd, P4: We're on in two, they are on in three. I have a tricky snaking downhill putt but leave it right next to the hole for a tap-in par. It's a good start. 2 up

3rd, P3: Ben misses the green long and left but at least it's not in a bunker. M19 finds the back of the green. I played a beautiful chip, which was pleasing because my chipping's been poor recently - left a two-foot breaking putt. Unfortunately Ben misses this and we lose to a par. 1 up

4th, P4, shot hole: This was the hole when we started to realise the luck was going to be against us today. C17 tugs his drive left but it bounces back into play off a tree. I hit a lovely drive down the left side of the fairway, and it kicks left into the trees. M19 toe shanks his fairway wood towards the out of bounds - I thought it had to be out, but it turns out one of the group in front, who were standing aside to let us play through, had been struck in the leg by M19's ball, and this in fact kept it in bounds. Ridiculous. Ben chips out for us, I hit a reasonable wedge to the green, but it lands just on the back slope of a bunker and flies through the back of the green. From there Ben tries to bump it on, but it lands on a wet leaf and stops 20 feet short of the hole. We two-putt for a 6, they end up having a putt for 6 and the win, but they narrowly miss - still think they can count themselves lucky to get a half let alone nearly winning the thing.

5th, P4: M19 doesn't clear the bunkers that are halfway up the hole. I'm standing up the fairway waiting, so I'm surprised to see my partner's shot land short of these bunkers - for some reason he decided to lay up with an 8 iron rather than sail over them with an easy 5 wood. Baffling but here we are. That leaves me 8 iron to the green out of a scrappy rough lie because his 'lay-up' was only about 3 feet short of going in said bunkers. I hit it ok but just miss the green right. We end up making a half in bogeys, it feels like an early missed opportunity to me when the hole is a normally a driver/wood and a short wedge to the green.

6th, P3: C17 absolutely stiffs his wedge to about 5 feet. I hit a good one but I'm not as close as him. We two-putt but they sink theirs for birdie. A/S

7th, P4, shot hole: M19 pulls it left, Ben fades his a bit right into trees so I have to just chip out. They have to play up the adjacent 4th, but it works for them - they end up making a 6, we also make a 6 after being on the wrong tier of the green and three-putting. 1 down

8th, P5, shot hole: C17 hits a decent drive (he's a very short-hitter though) - I feel my backswing get too long, panic-shut the face and hook it onto the practice ground. A tale as old as time on this hole. It's pretty playable from there, but ultimately both teams end up making 6s - my par putt from 8 feet lipped out. 2 down

9th, P5: The second example of my partner being massively too conservative as he hit an iron to 'play safe' despite us being two down now. Luckily, he eventually makes up for this odd decision by holing a nice 5-foot par putt to win the hole against their bogey. 1 down

10th, P3: Probably my worst swing of the day as I slice 7 wood to the right of the front right bunker - they hit the green. Ben flops it on and once again I lip out an eight-footer, which I thought was going in all the way. 2 down

11th, P4, shot hole: M19 tugs his drive straight into the trees on the left of the tee box. Third example of my partner being stupidly cautious as he again hits an iron down there - bear in mind his longest iron is a 6, so he leaves me about 220 yards to the green. When I question this he says he didn't realise they were getting a shot on this hole and thought we'd only need a bogey. I hit 7 wood, push it a little and leave him needing to chip over a bunker. He completely duffs this, but hits the ball again with his follow-through - a spectacular double hit which actually rescues it by ensuring it just about carries over the bunker instead of dropping in it. At this point I should note that the green is being heavily worked on, and while it's not a temporary green, it might as well be as they have the pin about one foot from the front, with a lot of filled-in trenches around from drainage work. Due to this it takes us another three to get down from off the green, while they scrape a 7 - we've gifted them a half.

12th, P4, shot hole: C17 hits it nice, but I hit my best drive of the day so I'm a good 40 yards past him. They need to lay up but M19 slices it well right, to a place they have to chip out from. Ben aims his approach way too far left for the 'wind' which actually didn't do a lot, but it's not a bad miss. Uphill chip from there, I get it on the green but do leave it about 15 feet short of the pin. Still, all we need is a two-putt to pinch their shot hole, as they are making 7 again. Ben then absolutely steamrolls his putt four feet past, leaving me a quick, breaking downhill putt, which I'm not able to hole, so we gift them a half AGAIN. I am fuming.

13th, P4: Ben hooks his drive a COUNTRY MILE left. The 16th is adjacent to this hole, but he carried it clear over that, and onto the far side of the next adjacent hole, the 15th. I have to hit a shot I have never previously hit from - a 6 iron from a pretty poor lie so I'm not able to strike it well, leaving it well short. Luckily for us, our opponents find the bunker from position A on the fairway so this gives us a chance. Ben atones for his error with a nice wedge to the back of the green, and I judge the speed perfectly to roll it up for a tap-in bogey. They miss their bogey putt from six feet, so somehow, we have won the hole. 1 down

14th, P3: I strike my 6 iron really nicely, but it just misses the green left and goes a little long. C17 tugs his more left and hits a tree. Ben bumps it across the green, while they take two chips to get on. We manage to two-putt from the fringe for bogey, whereas M19 misses their bogey putt from four feet to get us back level. A/S

15th, long P3: Both players miss short, we're a bit further right than them. C17 and me both chip onto the green but leave 15-ish foot uphillers. M19 leaves their attempt well short. Ben, for the second time, gets a rush of blood to the head and smashes it five feet past, leaving me a horrible rapid breaking downhiller. Cheers mate. It's a nightmare putt, I don't even try and hole it to be honest, just trickle it down so it doesn't run miles past the hole. So we make double, but luckily, they don't hole their bogey putt either.

16th, P4, shot hole: I hit a straight pull over the left trees which carries miles and it finds the ditch across the front of the 13th. Gutted. Ben hits superb shot after the drop, just short of the front edge, and I roll it up to the hole really nicely from there, but a bogey isn't good enough. They actually played the hole really well too, so we give it to them as they have a par putt from three feet (with two for it). 1 down

17th, P4: Bit of drama here. M19 tees off, neither of us were paying attention, but we look up and see that he's just hit it from the yellow tee markers. We have no idea what the rule is, so I momentarily get excited, thinking there must be a penalty involved - we Google it and find out there's only a penalty in strokeplay, but in matchplay there isn't, we can just tell him he has to hit again from the correct tee. What sort of rule is that?? On our side, Ben is once again pulling an iron out, and I beg him to hit something longer as I want to be hitting a wedge to this green, but he doesn't listen and stands firm. Then heel strikes his iron into the right-hand rough - it only stays in bounds by about six inches. We exercise our right to make M19 tee off again from the whites (since his first one was striped down the middle), and he tugs it left, but they get another friendly bounce off a tree and back to the fairway. I have to chip out, C17 hit a nice fairway wood to 20 yards short of the green. Ben hits a wedge that looks like it's all over the pin, but it falls out of the sky and into one of the deepest bunkers on the golf course. M19 scabs his chip into the ground, but it rolls up the steep hill to the green which takes all the sting out of it and leaves his partner an 8-footer for par. I'm happy to report I got of the bunker first time at least, but there's no chance of stopping it, it runs over the far side, where Ben bumps it back down about four feet past the hole. C17 nudges their putt up to tap-in distance though and that's good enough to seal the match 2 & 1 for them.


Matchplay can be so bloody frustrating sometimes. They were absolutely there for the taking, but every time we had a chance, we just gifted them a half to keep them in the game. We certainly did that on 11, 12 and 15 - three doubles from us that should never have been worse than bogey. I've no idea why my partner was so overly conservative from the tee either, he never even hit a wood or hybrid once - hit driver only twice I think and mid-irons on all the others! Madness. I usually don't like to have a long conversation about what club he's hitting as I don't want to put doubt in his mind - but I didn't expect him to do that. My long game isn't my strong point, so usually our strength in foursomes is that he hits it a bit longer than me and leaves me a comfortable mid-iron in. And as for his 'lag' putting, I think sometimes he just gets this last minute "don't leave it short" mentality and then adrenaline takes over and he absolutely pelts it.

Not to say that I'm blaming him for the defeat, I hit some poor shots myself, the worst of which were on 8th, 10th and 16th. And they certainly got all the luck in the match as well.

We played the 18th individually once the match was done, and I stiffed a wedge to 18-inches for birdie. Typical.

Oh well, we'll try again next year.
 
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