Played with HTL against Smiffy and his mate Norman at Leatherhead this afternoon defending our unbeaten matchplay record. The weather was glorious and the course was in great condition. It's not that long even off the whites we used but it is very tight with tree lined fairways and very small and firm greens.
I wasn't feeling that great still healthwise and to be honest hacked my way round. HTL and I lost the first after a bit of a comedy of errors all round but we got it back on 3 when HTL made 4 nett 3. Norman took the 4th and Smiffy won the 5th with a good par on a tricky little sleeper hole. However HTL and I then got on the birdie trail. I hit a 7 iron close at 6 and made the putt and HTL made a good putt to birdie the par 5 8th before outrageously holing a greenside bunker shot for a 2 at the 9th to give us a two up lead at halftime.
Norman got a great par 4 at the 10th SI 1 but could only get a half with HTL who had a shot. I managed to finally give my partner some support at the uphill 12th thanks to a friendly kick off a greenside mound to set up a winning par. Smiffy then hit a great little pitch at the next to pinch a hole back but HTL and I both parred 15 to go back to 2 up. The deal was done when HTL blasted a drive down the 507 yard 16th and hit the green with his 2nd (but did three putt) to close it out 3&2.
I have to say that Smiffy and Norman were great company and both were very steady and hit a good long ball and they have invited us down to their manor for a re-match. I have to say that HTL has come on hugley since the start of the year and will be down to low teens or even 11 or 12 soon.
There was a stableford game on the side which unsurprisingly HTL romped with 37 points (including two blobbed holes). Norman had 31, Smiffy 29 and I limped home with 27. It was a great day and you should try and play Leatherhead if you can. It is a thinkers course as you can't afford to blast it wildly and has a lot of very interesting holes.
I wasn't feeling that great still healthwise and to be honest hacked my way round. HTL and I lost the first after a bit of a comedy of errors all round but we got it back on 3 when HTL made 4 nett 3. Norman took the 4th and Smiffy won the 5th with a good par on a tricky little sleeper hole. However HTL and I then got on the birdie trail. I hit a 7 iron close at 6 and made the putt and HTL made a good putt to birdie the par 5 8th before outrageously holing a greenside bunker shot for a 2 at the 9th to give us a two up lead at halftime.
Norman got a great par 4 at the 10th SI 1 but could only get a half with HTL who had a shot. I managed to finally give my partner some support at the uphill 12th thanks to a friendly kick off a greenside mound to set up a winning par. Smiffy then hit a great little pitch at the next to pinch a hole back but HTL and I both parred 15 to go back to 2 up. The deal was done when HTL blasted a drive down the 507 yard 16th and hit the green with his 2nd (but did three putt) to close it out 3&2.
I have to say that Smiffy and Norman were great company and both were very steady and hit a good long ball and they have invited us down to their manor for a re-match. I have to say that HTL has come on hugley since the start of the year and will be down to low teens or even 11 or 12 soon.
There was a stableford game on the side which unsurprisingly HTL romped with 37 points (including two blobbed holes). Norman had 31, Smiffy 29 and I limped home with 27. It was a great day and you should try and play Leatherhead if you can. It is a thinkers course as you can't afford to blast it wildly and has a lot of very interesting holes.
