Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Played my 1st round match in the HowdidIdo knockout singles this morning. Drawn away to a 14 handicapper at East Brighton. Good draw for me because I have played the course quite a few times and always enjoy it down there.
Teed off just after 10, took an early 2 hole lead courtesy of good pars on the 1st and 2nd, but my opponent (Peter) suddenly clicked into gear and I found myself 1 down at the turn. I hadn't really done anything wrong but Pete was playing the front 9 really well.
We traded blow for blow on the next 3 holes, dropping one shot each to the card and I hit a nice drive down the 13th which took a massive hop to the left and into the rough. "You'll find that" says Pete, so off we trot. Spent the full 5 minutes looking for it to no avail, so as he was on the green for 2 I gave him the hole. 2 down with 5 to play and not looking good.
Bit cheesed off after hitting a good drive but losing a ball, managed to halve the 14th, but then knuckled down, put my head into gear and won the 15th and 16th to find myself back to all square.
Hit a lovely drive down 17, Pete hit a horror, I then 6 ironed into the green for par to go one up with one to play.
18th at East Brighton is a downhill par 5, Pete managed to chip to gimme range for his par, my third shot had hit the downslope but stayed on the green leaving me 40' from the hole. Knowing I had to two putt from 40' to win the match didn't fill me with confidence because I hadn't been putting that well all day and I stuck the first one about 4 feet by. A bit of a knee knocker for me coming back because I am well known for my crap putting from short range, but I managed to can it for a 1 up win.
Well chuffed going from 2 down to 1 up in 3 holes, a bit of the old Dunkirk spirit there methinks.
A great game. Pete was terrific company, his putting was great all the way round and I couldn't relax for one minute knowing that he was never out of the hole all the time his putter was working.
Teed off just after 10, took an early 2 hole lead courtesy of good pars on the 1st and 2nd, but my opponent (Peter) suddenly clicked into gear and I found myself 1 down at the turn. I hadn't really done anything wrong but Pete was playing the front 9 really well.
We traded blow for blow on the next 3 holes, dropping one shot each to the card and I hit a nice drive down the 13th which took a massive hop to the left and into the rough. "You'll find that" says Pete, so off we trot. Spent the full 5 minutes looking for it to no avail, so as he was on the green for 2 I gave him the hole. 2 down with 5 to play and not looking good.
Bit cheesed off after hitting a good drive but losing a ball, managed to halve the 14th, but then knuckled down, put my head into gear and won the 15th and 16th to find myself back to all square.
Hit a lovely drive down 17, Pete hit a horror, I then 6 ironed into the green for par to go one up with one to play.
18th at East Brighton is a downhill par 5, Pete managed to chip to gimme range for his par, my third shot had hit the downslope but stayed on the green leaving me 40' from the hole. Knowing I had to two putt from 40' to win the match didn't fill me with confidence because I hadn't been putting that well all day and I stuck the first one about 4 feet by. A bit of a knee knocker for me coming back because I am well known for my crap putting from short range, but I managed to can it for a 1 up win.
Well chuffed going from 2 down to 1 up in 3 holes, a bit of the old Dunkirk spirit there methinks.
A great game. Pete was terrific company, his putting was great all the way round and I couldn't relax for one minute knowing that he was never out of the hole all the time his putter was working.
